Gaslight Fantasy: A Ripping Yarn by Jaqhama

[Mrs. Sullivan]

Wow!  Thanks so much for posting this story...I really loved that it was in installments, and kept me hanging on the edge of my seat!

Great ending as well, with possibilities for the future!

Thank you Jaqhama!

[B. Fugu]

...SEEEEQUELLL.....

[James Harrison]

Ths was BRILLIANT.  It had me in suspense for weeks!  I'm sorry it has come to a conclusion... I second the motion for a sequel...

[elkedoring]

Yes! A Sequel is in order!

[Mich]

That was fantastic! ( Sorry I didn't repluy sooner, but I was away for the weekend. We NEED a sequel!)

[Victoria The Mistress]

More!! More!!!!

*Giving standing ovation and stamping feet in possibly unladylike manner*

Seriously.

Brilliant.

Thank you. 

[Jaqhama]

I am heartened by all the responses. 

Many thanks to all of you who have followed the adventures of my characters.
A sequel you demand?
Hmmm...I shall consider...but be assurred that if I don't write a sequel straight away I shall pen another tale about something else to keep you all entertained.
Just give me a couple of weeks to sort out the stuff below.

In the next weeks I have to finish a paying story for an anthology to be published in America next year.
I also have to confer with my editor at Flashing Swords regarding the collection of my sword and sorcery stories that will be published in one complete novel, also next year. (The story to editing to publication seems to run to about 12 month months in most cases. Sad but true.)
Some of the stories will have already appeared in the FS magazine, but there will also be two complete new novella's and two new short stories.

In the post below I have supplied a synopsis for A Strange Knight's Tale, my story that appears in FS magazine issue # 11, in August.

[Jaqhama]

A Strange Knight's Tale
 

Kessler the knight. Loved, honoured, respected. The Sheriff of Talonsburg.
Elia...Kessler's wife...beautiful, haughty, scheming.
Malbone...he had no title, nor riches, nor beautiful wife...but desired all three.
 
Two knights went hunting a ferocious panther. A wily killer of local livestock. Only one returned.
 
In the sea-side city of Crenella it is the time of the Summer Festival. It is also the time of the choosing of the Regent's Champion.
As the knights joust for the Champion's title, one by one they are defeated...until a single knight is victorious.
He waits to be acknowledged the new Champion...as the sunny skies grow dark with storm clouds. As claps of thunder drown the applause of the crowd. As bolts of lightning flash down from the heavens...and a strange knight rides onto the field.
 
I am Crow, the Thiefmaster, I am also Hawkeye the assassin, killer of King Lothar...and others.
I was there that fateful day.
I witnessed first hand the events that transpired.
 
I shall share with you the tale of the Sheriff of Talonsburg.
It is a tale of love and treachery. Of lust, greed, revenge.
 
It is...A Strange Knight's Tale.

Kelly...the current Editor of Flashing Swords magazine has this to say:

Oh you guys are in for a treat. FS 11 is one of the best issues yet. It's 300 pages, packed with all sorts of fantastic stuff. It's going to cost a bit more than 10 because it is a double sized issue.

I've just gotten the first proof and it looks fantastic. Johnney's painting on the cover stands out and A.R. Stone's illustration on the back just makes it very hard to decide if the book... I mean magazine... should be rightside up on the coffee table or upside down.

Don't miss this issue.

The Flashing Swords magazines can be ordered either as an actual print copy or as a download copy straight to your computer.
The 'magazines' resemble books more than mags, as they have very thick paperback style covers.
http://flashingswords.sfreader.com/titlepage.asp

FS Issue # 11 available from August 1st 2008.

[Jaqhama]

For those who have further interest in Jack the Ripper might I suggest that these two movies are well worth watching:
The Michael Caine move: Jack the Ripper. A three hour extravaganza of superb acting. Caine won an award for his portrayl of Frederick Abberline.

And: Murder by Decree...a rather fanicful tale of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on the Ripper's trail. Again well acted and some very suspensful moments.

I don't think we'll ever really know who the Ripper was, although I do tend to lean towards Patricia Cornwall's excellent novel about the orgins and identity of who the Ripper might have been.

Cheers: Jaq (the Writer)

[elkedoring]

The Strange's Knight's Tale is very intriguing... I may also have to read up on Jack the Ripper some more. And I say again. . .Lewis Carroll? Really? 

[Jaqhama]

The Strange's Knight's Tale is very intriguing... I may also have to read up on Jack the Ripper some more. And I say again. . .Lewis Carroll? Really? 

I consider A Strange Knight one of the best stories I've written actually. The story is slow at first, but builds up to an edge of your seat climax. No one who has read has been disappointed.

The Ripper and Lewis Carrol...the list of suspects for whom the Ripper might have been is almost limitless, although people were really clutching at straws in some cases.
People even questioned why Sherlock Holmes didn't really investigate the Ripper case...some obviously aren't aware that Holmes is a fictional character.

[elkedoring]

The Strange's Knight's Tale is very intriguing... I may also have to read up on Jack the Ripper some more. And I say again. . .Lewis Carroll? Really? 

I consider A Strange Knight one of the best stories I've written actually. The story is slow at first, but builds up to an edge of your seat climax. No one who has read has been disappointed.

The Ripper and Lewis Carrol...the list of suspects for whom the Ripper might have been is almost limitless, although people were really clutching at straws in some cases.
People even questioned why Sherlock Holmes didn't really investigate the Ripper case...some obviously aren't aware that Holmes is a fictional character.

Oh my goodness! I fear for the human race! Yes clutching at straws in some cases I find others to be interesting ideas. . .such as Jill the Ripper. . . how fascinating would that be?

[Jaqhama]

I believe that if the Ripper was working alone he was someone that all the murdered women knew well.

I also believe that he knew the back streets and alleyways of Whitechapel very well.

He must have been a familar figure..if he was a member of the gentry as as been suggested...he would have been a stranger to the locals...and the target of footpads and robbers.

He must have been covered in blood...so he couldn't afford to be on the streets after a murder for very long. Which then suggests that he lived locally and was able to use the alleys to get back to his lair unseen.

He was apparently, left handed.
It has been remarked on that Inspector Abberline knew who the Ripper was...and that he caught him and killed him.
Had the Ripper lived would he not have continued to perfrom more and more diabolical murders?

The questions remain unanswered...the case remains as 'unsolved'.

[elkedoring]

And so remains the appeal of the case and the mystery that shrouds Jack the Ripper.

[Mich]

There was a TV program about Francis Tumblety being the Ripper, and that there were no more murders here because he fled to the U.S.A. But in the Wiki info on him, it says :One objection to Tumblety's viability as a suspect lies with his alleged homosexuality, since in general male homosexual serial killers kill other men.

[Jaqhama]

Wherever he fled, the Ripper would have continued to kill I think.
The brutality of the killings grew worse as they went along.
I don't believe he would simply have stopped.
No matter what country he went to.

[James Cromwell]

Jaqhama I must say that this story has kept me glued to my screen and utterly entertained.  Is nothing short of utter  brilliance and a joy to read.   I look forward to your future writings.   Thank you for a most enjoyable read.

[Jaqhama]

Jaqhama I must say that this story has kept me glued to my screen and utterly entertained.  Is nothing short of utter  brilliance and a joy to read.   I look forward to your future writings.   Thank you for a most enjoyable read.

Thank you James
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
As I see this is your first post on this forum allow me to welcome you also.

Would you care to take a shot in my competition regarding the characters in the story?
All are welcome to have a go.

Cheers: Jaq.

[Jaqhama]

Well now...

For anyone who enjoyed my Gaslight Fanatsy and would like to read A Strange Knight's Tale at Flashing Swords...the entire August Issue # 11 magazine is now available for a $5 download fee. Or a slightly higher price if you want a paper copy.

For any of you who might choose to buy a copy...assuming you don't think you'll win a free copy in my small competition...if you decide to buy an actual print copy send me your home address details in PM and I'll post you a signed book plate that you can stick inside the front cover.

For those of you who have attempted to guess the characters in the Gaslight Fantasy story...Midnight August 15th is the cut-off date.
The winner gets a free paper copy that I'll sign and post to them myself.

Apart from my own novella there are at least a dozen or more other sword and sorcery tales within the magazine and many of them are also worth reading.

Currently available here, if not the actual FS website:

http://www.lulu.com/content/2732155

Cheers: Jaq.

[Jaqhama]

Roll up, roll up

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, vampires and werewolves...

The time for the closing of my small competition is almost here...and Mich has so far deduced TWO of the characters in my Gaslight Fantasy who were based on either another fictional person, or indeed a real person.

It's not too late to enter. You have until midnight of 15th of August. A few days to go.

James Harrison guessed Alan Quartermain correctly. So that's 1 point for him.

Mich guessed Alan Quartermain AND Sir Arthur Conan  Doyle. So that's 2 points for her.

But there are SIX other characters in my story who can be attributed to a famous fictional or real life person.
(Susan Saunders is not one of them. Alan Quartermain and Arthur Conan Doyle have already been guessed.)
Frederick Abberline and Shaka don't count.

It's not too late to make your own attempt...or for James to add two more of his own. Or for Mich to add more if she can.

Good luck..clock's ticking.

And for those of you who wish to read another of my on-going stories...go to this website and you will find a free to read military sci-fi action/adventure suspense story.
The journal of Sgt. Iron Ryker. Colonial Armed Forces. A soldier in the A.L.F. Warz!

http://alfwarz.blogspot.com

Note: Graphic violence and some bad language. But the swear words modified for a futuristic translation of current expressions.
The latest entry is always on the top of the first page. Go to the last page to read the begining. Journal Entries are numbered.

Feel free to make observations or add comments. Either here or on Sgt. I. Ryker's journal site.

Cheers: Jaq the Ripper...errr....I mean Riter...no, no...Writer!

[Jaqhama]

Ok.....

It's midnight the 19th of August here so I'll now announce MICH as the winner of my competition.

She guessed Allan Quatermain.
And; Sir Arthur Ignacious Conan Doyle. Author of Sherlock Holmes and the Professor Challenger novels.
(Ignatious was in the library of the Explorers Club, researching a book to help him write his famous novel: The Lost World.)

The other charcaters that were mentioned in my story that have a fictional or real person as their basis were...

Uncle Henry.  Alan's Uncle in the story = Henry Rider Haggard. Famous author and creator of Alan Quartermain.

Noble 'Bull' Sacket. The Sackett's were a fictional western family created by world famous author Louis L'Amour. Bull was based on Tell and Logan Sackett. The Sackett's were from Tennessee. As I mentioned in my story.

Tex Willer. The Texas Ranger that Bull mentioned had shot the Baylok back in America. Tex Willer was and still is, a famous western comic book character who is still in print today. Many of the Tex Willer stories are 'weird western tales'.

Solomon Kane and N'Longa and the cat-headed staff of Sulieman...all charcters created by Robert E. Howard, the author and creator of Conan of Cimmeria. All the Kane stories featuring N'Longa took part in Africa. N'Longa gave the magical staff to Solomon in one of the stories.
N'Longa was a witch doctor/sorcerer of great power who had lived for centuries.

Frederick Courtney Selous...The famous great white hunter/explorer/adventurer on whom Alan Quartermain was based. The famous Rhodesian special forces unit; The Selous Scouts, were named after him.
Wilbur Smith's first novel When the Lion Feeds, had Sean Courtney as the main character, obviously also based on Selous.

I believe I made mention of Bula Matari? Henry Morton Stanley. The man who found Livingstone in the depths of Africa. Bula Matari means Breaker of Rocks in the local Congo native lingo.

The Baylok...based on various myths and legends from different countries and periods of the world's history. A dark figure, often man-like, often able to change into an animal, with red, hellfire glowing eyes, has featured in the eerie tales of mankind for centuries. The American Cheyenne called it Akuba. The English, Welsh and Scots call it the Black Dog. The Hound of Culloden was one aspect of it. It is often depicted as a Vampire that drinks either souls or blood, or brings bad luck or death.
The Skin-Walkers are part of many Navajo Indian myths. Different Amerind tribes have similar tales. They can be soul/blood drinkers. Vampires or Werewolves or Werebears etc.

So there you go...I'm really surprised no one guessed who Uncle Henry was. But of course, he's always written as H. Rider Haggard, and not as Henry Rider Haggard.

Mich...send me your address details in PM and I'll post you a signed copy of Flashing Swords issue # 11.

Thanks to everyone who read my story and also had a go at my comp.

Cheers: Jaq.

[Jaqhama]

Elkedoring was so keen to investigate the origins of my characters that I gave her a few clues that I did not share with everyone else.
This took her out of the comp...but she did a great deal of very impressive research.
And came up with some correct answers. At the same discovering some great authors she has never read.
I have set aside a copy of FS for her because she deserves to be rewarded for her excellent investigations and conclusions.

Cheers: Jaq.

[Mich]

PM'd you ( Just got back from holiday)

[elkedoring]

Yes and I was so very excited to get it and today I did! Mich you really will not be disappointed by the story (and really I don't see how that could be possible anyway) I devoured the story immediately. I would encourage anyone wanting to read it buy the magazine. It's definately worth it. Jaq, I have also PM ed you with a question or two on a semi related subject.

[Jaqhama]

PM'd you ( Just got back from holiday)

Been Tomb Raiding again have we, Lara?