New Novel Portrays Space Odyssey FARAWAY

In the darkness of the far future, humanity has formed the Earth Empire, and with unsurpassed technological might, it has managed to conquer countless worlds and sentient species, exploiting them brutally, oppressing them with no mercy. This dominion will not go unchallenged, however, as noble freedom fighters seek to cast away the yolk of oppression and spark a revolution in Faraway. This marks the beginning of Edmund Ironside's grand space opera, the first novel in an epic sci-fi trilogy.

Across the stars, amidst the endless worlds conquered by man, a sense of malaise has gripped nearly all of the people, who yearn for something better than the Earth Empire's tyranny. Human technology, as great as it is, and an accommodating social structure have been used efficiently, but not wisely. Lost in a fog of bizarre state-imposed controls supported by an endless stream of imperialistic propaganda, the people do not know how to escape their meaningless and servile existence. They do not even know what they want in their lives - for even 'purpose' has been denied from them.

At an outermost base called Faraway, a small group of humans learn of some ancient writings, although incomplete, which suggest that there is more to life. They immerse themselves in this new way, and discover thoughts like respect, compassion, community, and beauty, purpose, and especially love. This marks the tenuous beginning of something more, something greater, the dawn of a new hope. The Empire seeks to suppress the adherents of this way, and a struggle begins between the old order and the way to the future. This revolution spreads across the galaxy and beyond, all starting from Faraway.

With resonant themes and messages that touch upon universal human values, Ironside's novel is a compelling work of science fiction reminiscent of the classics of visionaries such as Asimov and Bradbury. Nonetheless, it blazes its own unique path, its own portrayal of the future and the struggle for freedom and enlightenment playing out amidst the stars. For ardent sci-fi enthusiasts and casual readers alike, a cosmic spectacle awaits at the edge of the galaxy, across time and space in a place called Faraway.

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About the Author
Born in the last year of the great depression, Edmund Ironside found himself growing up on a small farm in Alberta. Starting his formal education in a one room school allowed him to see the world in unorthodox ways. Only his wife has managed to temper his wild imagination. Currently, he and Mary Ellen are living in British Columbia.
Faraway * by Edmund Ironside
First Journey, A Trilogy
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Trade Paperback; $23.99; 806 pages; 978-1-4797-7422-7
Trade Hardback; $34.99; 806 pages; 978-1-4797-7423-4
eBook; $3.99; 978-1-4797-7424-1

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