Showing results by narrator "Gareth Davies" in All Categories

Meet The Pan of Hamgee: coward, unwilling adventurer and, by some miracle, K’Barth’s longest surviving outlaw. He just wants a quiet life so working as a getaway driver is probably a bad career move. Then he falls in love at first sight with a woman he hasn't even met who comes from an alternative reality. That’s when things really begin to get complicated.

With limited funds, and a long way from Texas, Rosamund must pretend she's a wealthy catch. Meeting the Duke of Studborne, have her prayers been answered? Perhaps...but what of the mysterious disappearances at Studborne Abbey? If she is to uncover the truth, only one person can help her...the duke's annoyingly principled, far-too-honourable nephew.

As Cory takes a well-earned rest and finally submits to proper weapons training, he and a couple of people from his household go on a hunting trip in the marshland between Barresh and the turquoise sea. A bad storm has come through recently and on a deserted beach, Cory finds something Earthly that doesn’t belong there: A message in a bottle, a piece of paper with "HELP" scratched on it with a sharp object. In Isla. Cory has a list of all humans in Barresh: It’s very short and no one is missing.

Texan rancher Rye Dalreagh, the long lost Dunrannoch heir, has been thrown in the deep end. During what should be the merriest of seasons, he must choose a bride, navigate an ancient curse, avoid being murdered, and try not to fall in love with his manners tutor.

Cory is not the only person who dislikes the new president of Nations of Earth, Simon Dekker. Many people at gamra and even within Nations of Earth have similar issues. In fact, the discontent was so bad that there was talk to unseat the president.

As Christmas approaches and the snow falls deep, a malevolent force stalks the ancient corridors of Castle Kintochlochie. Someone, or something, is determined to derail Lady Ophelia's love affair with estate manager Hamish, so ruggedly handsome yet wildly unsuitable. She must call upon her wits—not just to discover the culprit...but, perhaps, to escape murder.

It's 1928, and Bright Young Things are taking London by storm, but debutante Ophelia's life is all mapped out: marriage to a cod-faced aristocrat and a life of dull respectability. Refusing to play along, Ophelia is banished to her ancestral home in the Highlands of Scotland. There, she'll be so bored, she'll come to her senses, won't she?

Five years after her heartbreak and humiliation, Sofia is determined to find out—and to claim her rightful place by his side, even if it means travelling to the wild mountains of Carpathia to make her home in a decrepit castle.

At Castle Kintochlochie, deep in the wild and windswept Highlands, Society debutante Ophelia is determined to wed wildly unsuitable estate manager Hamish, and nothing is going to stand in her way. Not her vastly disapproving mother. Not the unexpected arrival of Hamish’s vampish former fiancée. Nor the fact that someone is sending her poison pen letters, warning against the marriage. But then accidents start befalling those she loves. And her dear little terrier, Pudding, goes missing. Someone will stop at nothing to prevent Ophelia walking down the aisle.

The Pan of Hamgee, starving outlaw, bumps into Big Merv: the meanest, scariest gangster in the City, and without thinking what he is doing, steals his wallet. When Big Merv realises what has happened our hero's future looks short. Will he talk his way out of it or will he be "recycled" into a stanchion of the Outer Ring Road extension?

Arriving in Italy, Lady Cecile McCaulay is enchanted by the Castello di Scogliera and its glamorous inhabitants, but does their lavish welcome hide darker motives? A sumptuous tale of gothic romance, filled with mystery and intrigue.

Cory and his association finally return to Asto on the invitation of his father-in-law, for his official induction ceremony into the Domiri clan. They are housed in a magnificent villa overlooking a valley, away from the hustle of cities or the military base. But why can't they stay with their host? Is it for security? Is it because their host fears upsetting his household?

Deadly creatures, hostile climate, and that is just the scenery. For many years, mysterious things have happened on the ice world of Tamer, but when a scientist goes missing from Barresh thought to be on Tamer, Cory is forced to take the issue by the horns. Problem is, he is dealing with unexpected side effects of his fertility treatment, and, like his Coldi companions, he's lost much of his night vision and has trouble tolerating low temperatures. Trouble is, a recent addition to his team has sent shockwaves through his group, and things are still sorting themselves out.

Never has there been more at stake for the people on Earth. The referendum question is simple: does Earth join gamra, the organisation that governs the Exchange, the FTL space travel network? While a “yes” vote would mean big changes, a “no” vote would leave Earth isolated and alone to face those waiting to fill the void, and those dark forces are already on the prowl. Cory is one of the few people who can see the big picture. But he and his team went on a holiday to New Zealand, and communication has been mysteriously cut off.

Two men went on a surfing trip in a remote area. Only one came back, accused of murdering the other. Sounds simple, right? Not quite, because the alleged murder happened on another planet. The accused is a member of the secretive Pretoria Cartel of super-rich business tycoons - with illegal off-Earth ventures - and the only person who can remotely be called a witness is an alien, the elder Abri from the Pengali Thousand Islands tribe.

Cory has made several commitments to members of the Asto inner circles. He needs to spend time with Thayu's son. He has also been asked to give a favour to a boy of the Azimi clan. What better to do with a couple of pre-teens than to visit the theme parks that are historic relics from the 21st century on Earth?

Ceren, the world that's the home of the city of Barresh, has vast swathes of untamed wilderness, most of it tribal land belonging to meta-human tribes like the Pengali. For many years, illegal organizations have seen these tribes as inroad into the lucrative gamra economy, abusing the local population with next to no payment, inflicting damage on their society. Cory's Pengali worker Ynggi has indicated he'd wanted to visit his home tribe, giving Cory the perfect reason to check out Pengali involvement in smuggling activities.

The Pan of Hamgee doesn't believe in miracles but if he’s going to save K'Barth it looks as if he might need one. He's not quite as alone as he thought. The punters from The Parrot and Screwdriver are right behind him and he has rescued three of his friends from the Grongolian Security Forces, who are now of course, three of the nation's most wanted, which doesn't make life easy. He even has something of a plan for once. It involves making peace with the Resistance, trying to resurrect the Underground movement, and toppling Lord Vernon.

The Pan of Hamgee needs answers, although he’s not even sure he knows the questions. He has a chance to go straight but it’s been so long that he’s almost forgotten how. Despite a death warrant over his head he is released, given a state-sponsored business, and a year’s amnesty for all misdemeanors while he adjusts. On the down side, Ruth has left him for his nemesis, Lord Vernon. The Pan doesn’t have a year, either. In only five days Lord Vernon will gain total power and destroy K'Barth. Unless The Pan can stop him.

The Pan of Hamgee is not a natural knight in shining armor. Yet he has escaped from police custody in K’Barth, switched realities and foiled Lord Vernon’s attempt to kidnap Ruth, the Chosen One, from the Festival Hall. Pretty good, he thinks. However, Ruth thinks otherwise. Being pursued by Lord Vernon is bad enough. Now, thanks to The Pan, she’s on the run. They are both alive, of course, but with Lord Vernon on their tail neither of them can be sure how long for.