Terre Nouvelle

In twenty-five years of net access and fiction reading thereon I have been sufficiently impressed to write to only two internet authors to thank them for their work, Mike Arram is the second. Terre Nouvelle is an expertly told tale, simultaneously historic and futuristic, unlike anything I ever read in many years of sci-fi reading in my youth. None of that science fiction had any homoerotic content – times have changed greatly in that regard fortunately, and Terre Nouvelle is both romantic and very sexy, with carefully drawn, believable characters. The historic part is richly developed – I was reminded of the complexities of Westeros – and so well handled that I could not fault it, though I’ve read a good deal of European history. That 19th century history is used as a source, which is transmuted in sometimes fascinating ways, and how the author did this was one of the pleasures of the tale. A story set on another planet, with an indigenous population of sentient life, might be expected to have some “unusual elements” and sure enough this one does… Don’t let them put you off, this is the most imaginative work I have ever read on the net. It is also a rollicking tale, so much so that I repeatedly stayed up far too late reading it.

This is a beautifully conceived and well thought out alternative universe populated with interesting characters and a storyline that draws the reader in, especially the reader who is able to accept the concept of steamboats contemporaneous with horse-drawn carriages. At the moment there are apparently only a few chapters published, but many more promised for a complete story.

Very interesting story, it gives a mix feeling of future and past. In truth it's done and the end doesn't disappoint, but it still leaves an unended sense that opens the door to a sequel, or just your to your imagination 

This was one of the best stories I read on crvboy. I'm very happy to have found it here and re-read it with pleasure. It seems to be slightly revised and a little tightened up from the earlier version --- all to the good.

Many thanks for posting it.

Tom

All I can say is that this is one of the most imaginative and intriguing tales in my five decades of reading science-fiction.  Once I picked up reading in first grade, the Dick and Jane books got boring and by third grade I was ordering books from Scholastic Books Services then, and the first was one called 'The Runaway Robot'.  I forget the name of the author, but I was hooked on the genre from that moment on.  By fifth grade I was trying my hand myself with bad short stories in longhand on notebook paper.  I won't go into the alien invasion by a canine species who are tamed on first contact by being petted.  Sigh, I was ten or so...gimme a break.

I've gone through all the classic authors from Asimov to Heinlein and Sawyer, but Mike Arram's world has combined my love of futuristic drama with history which has always been my second major interest.  Early Modern Europe wasn't my favorite era, but through this story I could appreciate the intricacies and contradictions very well, and I hope he'll do another book in this universe.

Well crafted, Mr. Arram!

This was the first story that I read on GA, but I only write a review now after reading the discussion about reader feedback in the writer's club.

This story has been with me since I read it 2.5 years ago. It tells a wonderful story of discovery in a sci-fi yet historic setting. The characters, the world and the world's history that is uncovered are wonderfully crafted. I was drawn into this story, not being able to stop reading.

Thank you for one of the best SF stories that I have ever read!