Lorinda J. Taylor
@termitewriter.bsky.social
Retired librarian, writes SF/F about intelligent termites, first contacts, future history. Books at http://amzn.to/u9bYWa
Pinned
Featuring my series The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars. 7 5-star reviews on v.1: "... a story of flawed heroes and perfect plot, of hard science and tender hearts. It is intelligently written, fantastic entertainment for the imagination." amzn.to/2iTNuUd
#BraveWrite He saw Gilzara in a stand of moontrees and he started to call to him, but the cry stifled in his throat and he shrank against an ancient bole. Hovering in the air before Gilzara’s outstretched hands was an enormous, #translucent white bird.
January 27, 2026 at 5:03 PM
#BraveWrite He saw Gilzara in a stand of moontrees and he started to call to him, but the cry stifled in his throat and he shrank against an ancient bole. Hovering in the air before Gilzara’s outstretched hands was an enormous, #translucent white bird.
#BraveWrite Gilzara raised his head, looking up at Thav where she perched #translucent gold on a hummock of opal before him. “Thav, this must be a dream.“
“Yes. Ziraf’s best dream.”
“Yes. Ziraf’s best dream.”
January 27, 2026 at 5:03 PM
#BraveWrite Gilzara raised his head, looking up at Thav where she perched #translucent gold on a hummock of opal before him. “Thav, this must be a dream.“
“Yes. Ziraf’s best dream.”
“Yes. Ziraf’s best dream.”
#BraveWrite A movement at the thicket’s edge caught Halrab’s eye. A Troi he had never seen before was emerging, gliding over the rocks. It resembled a bundle of #translucent amber and smoke-colored fern fronds; it was limbless and had large, pale-green eyes …
January 27, 2026 at 5:02 PM
#BraveWrite A movement at the thicket’s edge caught Halrab’s eye. A Troi he had never seen before was emerging, gliding over the rocks. It resembled a bundle of #translucent amber and smoke-colored fern fronds; it was limbless and had large, pale-green eyes …
#BraveWrite They lunged through the small aperture and slid across the inward-sloping floor until the interior wall stopped them. The fire bags slid with them; one lodged in a small depression, sending blue light playing serenely through the #translucent ceiling.
January 27, 2026 at 5:02 PM
#BraveWrite They lunged through the small aperture and slid across the inward-sloping floor until the interior wall stopped them. The fire bags slid with them; one lodged in a small depression, sending blue light playing serenely through the #translucent ceiling.
[1/2] “And you never got the Builder Master back. Was she really abducted?”
“Oh, yes. But we did not get her back – that was never Roi’za’chu’s intention. The embassy was only a ruse to get into No’bu’cha and steal its Mother.”
#vss365
“Oh, yes. But we did not get her back – that was never Roi’za’chu’s intention. The embassy was only a ruse to get into No’bu’cha and steal its Mother.”
#vss365
January 25, 2026 at 3:48 PM
[1/2] “And you never got the Builder Master back. Was she really abducted?”
“Oh, yes. But we did not get her back – that was never Roi’za’chu’s intention. The embassy was only a ruse to get into No’bu’cha and steal its Mother.”
#vss365
“Oh, yes. But we did not get her back – that was never Roi’za’chu’s intention. The embassy was only a ruse to get into No’bu’cha and steal its Mother.”
#vss365
[2/2] As I left the prison chamber, Tei’mo’ma’na’ta spoke hauntingly after me. “Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer, make them remember me…”
And so I try to do that, Chi’mo’a’tu – I speak of the Stolen Mother to all who may receive this written tale, even in the worlds among the distant stars…
#vss365
And so I try to do that, Chi’mo’a’tu – I speak of the Stolen Mother to all who may receive this written tale, even in the worlds among the distant stars…
#vss365
January 25, 2026 at 3:47 PM
[2/2] As I left the prison chamber, Tei’mo’ma’na’ta spoke hauntingly after me. “Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer, make them remember me…”
And so I try to do that, Chi’mo’a’tu – I speak of the Stolen Mother to all who may receive this written tale, even in the worlds among the distant stars…
#vss365
And so I try to do that, Chi’mo’a’tu – I speak of the Stolen Mother to all who may receive this written tale, even in the worlds among the distant stars…
#vss365
#SciFiSat (cont.) [1/2] Bu’gan’zei’s addresses the glacier with an Invocation against Harm:
Power of death upon the mountains, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my cry to praise your power …
Take my speech to summon pity …
Spirit of Ice, be merciful to those who walk your holy places …
Power of death upon the mountains, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my cry to praise your power …
Take my speech to summon pity …
Spirit of Ice, be merciful to those who walk your holy places …
January 24, 2026 at 4:42 PM
#SciFiSat (cont.) [1/2] Bu’gan’zei’s addresses the glacier with an Invocation against Harm:
Power of death upon the mountains, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my cry to praise your power …
Take my speech to summon pity …
Spirit of Ice, be merciful to those who walk your holy places …
Power of death upon the mountains, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my cry to praise your power …
Take my speech to summon pity …
Spirit of Ice, be merciful to those who walk your holy places …
#SciFiSat (cont.) [2/2]
Wonder of the mountain stronghold, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my word to praise your wonder …
Take my soul that calls for pity …
Spirit of Ice, harm not those who brush the surface of your glory …
Wonder of the mountain stronghold, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my word to praise your wonder …
Take my soul that calls for pity …
Spirit of Ice, harm not those who brush the surface of your glory …
January 24, 2026 at 4:42 PM
#SciFiSat (cont.) [2/2]
Wonder of the mountain stronghold, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my word to praise your wonder …
Take my soul that calls for pity …
Spirit of Ice, harm not those who brush the surface of your glory …
Wonder of the mountain stronghold, Fierce Blue Dreamer …
Take my word to praise your wonder …
Take my soul that calls for pity …
Spirit of Ice, harm not those who brush the surface of your glory …
#SciFiSat [1/6] But we survived. The wind moderated – it never subsided entirely in that forsaken place – and the ice stopped pelting us, and the sun came out and melted the crust of rime that made all the rocks impassable.
January 24, 2026 at 4:41 PM
#SciFiSat [1/6] But we survived. The wind moderated – it never subsided entirely in that forsaken place – and the ice stopped pelting us, and the sun came out and melted the crust of rime that made all the rocks impassable.
#SciFiSat [2/6] When it seemed safe, we set out again, along the shelf-like border of the lake. We had to creep along the path in single file, with Bu’gan’zei going first, then Ki’shto’ba. I came next, biting onto Ki’shto’ba’s silly-looking tails.
January 24, 2026 at 4:40 PM
#SciFiSat [2/6] When it seemed safe, we set out again, along the shelf-like border of the lake. We had to creep along the path in single file, with Bu’gan’zei going first, then Ki’shto’ba. I came next, biting onto Ki’shto’ba’s silly-looking tails.
#SciFiSat [3/6] After an interminable time, the lot of us safely reached the place where the base of the ice field tapered up to meet the scarred stone side of the valley. Bu’gan’zei took us to an ice-cave, where we rested in an eerie aura of shimmering blue light.
January 24, 2026 at 4:40 PM
#SciFiSat [3/6] After an interminable time, the lot of us safely reached the place where the base of the ice field tapered up to meet the scarred stone side of the valley. Bu’gan’zei took us to an ice-cave, where we rested in an eerie aura of shimmering blue light.
#SciFiSat [4/6] The beginning of the ordeal was over, but worse was yet to come. At the top we could finally see what lay ahead – a vast sweep of ridged and folded ice that sloped upward to a termination that was hidden in a misty haze. We picked our way along as fast as we could, …
January 24, 2026 at 4:40 PM
#SciFiSat [4/6] The beginning of the ordeal was over, but worse was yet to come. At the top we could finally see what lay ahead – a vast sweep of ridged and folded ice that sloped upward to a termination that was hidden in a misty haze. We picked our way along as fast as we could, …
#SciFiSat [5/6] …trying to hold our bellies away from the cold surface and jigging from one numb foot to another whenever we stopped for a rest. We felt like we were turning to ice ourselves.
January 24, 2026 at 4:39 PM
#SciFiSat [5/6] …trying to hold our bellies away from the cold surface and jigging from one numb foot to another whenever we stopped for a rest. We felt like we were turning to ice ourselves.
#SciFiSat [6/6] Then we met our first crevasse. One of Bu’gan’zei’s probes poked deep into the snow and a quantity of it fell away and tumbled down into a deep crack. [Bu’gan’zei speaks one of his Invocations against Harm and the crevasse narrows mysteriously.]
January 24, 2026 at 4:39 PM
#SciFiSat [6/6] Then we met our first crevasse. One of Bu’gan’zei’s probes poked deep into the snow and a quantity of it fell away and tumbled down into a deep crack. [Bu’gan’zei speaks one of his Invocations against Harm and the crevasse narrows mysteriously.]
#SciFiFri [1/6] Bu’gan’zei continued, “I said to Yon’a’saia, ‘I thought it was called On’ya’a’weio [Path toward Death] because it leads to the ice field.’”
“Ice field!” we all cried.
“Ice field!” we all cried.
January 23, 2026 at 3:21 PM
#SciFiFri [1/6] Bu’gan’zei continued, “I said to Yon’a’saia, ‘I thought it was called On’ya’a’weio [Path toward Death] because it leads to the ice field.’”
“Ice field!” we all cried.
“Ice field!” we all cried.
#SciFiFri [2/6] “Get on to the ice field,” ordered Za’dut, jigging with impatience.
“It is just that – a great field of ice many Shshi-lengths thick, which fills a whole valley. It is called Chi’chi’nuk’mi [Place of Frozen Danger]. A deep lake lies at its foot …
“It is just that – a great field of ice many Shshi-lengths thick, which fills a whole valley. It is called Chi’chi’nuk’mi [Place of Frozen Danger]. A deep lake lies at its foot …
January 23, 2026 at 3:20 PM
#SciFiFri [2/6] “Get on to the ice field,” ordered Za’dut, jigging with impatience.
“It is just that – a great field of ice many Shshi-lengths thick, which fills a whole valley. It is called Chi’chi’nuk’mi [Place of Frozen Danger]. A deep lake lies at its foot …
“It is just that – a great field of ice many Shshi-lengths thick, which fills a whole valley. It is called Chi’chi’nuk’mi [Place of Frozen Danger]. A deep lake lies at its foot …
#SciFiFri [3/6] “… with the bluest, coldest water that you have ever encountered. That lake is the source of the On’ya’a’weio. The foot of the ice field melts into the lake, and the snows that fall at its head endure for more years than can be counted. …
January 23, 2026 at 3:20 PM
#SciFiFri [3/6] “… with the bluest, coldest water that you have ever encountered. That lake is the source of the On’ya’a’weio. The foot of the ice field melts into the lake, and the snows that fall at its head endure for more years than can be counted. …
#SciFiFri [4/6] “It is full of humps and crags of ice and huge cracks where one could easily fall to one’s death, but it can be crossed, for I have done it.”
January 23, 2026 at 3:19 PM
#SciFiFri [4/6] “It is full of humps and crags of ice and huge cracks where one could easily fall to one’s death, but it can be crossed, for I have done it.”
#SciFiFri [5/6] [Later] When we looked across the deep blue of the water, a wall of ice confronted us – bluish-gray, seamed and creviced. Pieces of ice were floating in the lake, moving slowly and ominously before the wind.
“What do you see?” cried our eyeless friends.
“What do you see?” cried our eyeless friends.
January 23, 2026 at 3:19 PM
#SciFiFri [5/6] [Later] When we looked across the deep blue of the water, a wall of ice confronted us – bluish-gray, seamed and creviced. Pieces of ice were floating in the lake, moving slowly and ominously before the wind.
“What do you see?” cried our eyeless friends.
“What do you see?” cried our eyeless friends.
#BraveWrite [1/3] “What is your name?” I said.
“My name?” said the Worker stupidly.
“Yes, yes! What do they call you? I believe they #give their Workers names in Kwai’kwai’za.”
“And I wasn’t aware it was the custom in Kwai’kwai’za to cast out surplus Workers,” remarked Wei’tu.
“My name?” said the Worker stupidly.
“Yes, yes! What do they call you? I believe they #give their Workers names in Kwai’kwai’za.”
“And I wasn’t aware it was the custom in Kwai’kwai’za to cast out surplus Workers,” remarked Wei’tu.
January 19, 2026 at 3:56 PM
#BraveWrite [1/3] “What is your name?” I said.
“My name?” said the Worker stupidly.
“Yes, yes! What do they call you? I believe they #give their Workers names in Kwai’kwai’za.”
“And I wasn’t aware it was the custom in Kwai’kwai’za to cast out surplus Workers,” remarked Wei’tu.
“My name?” said the Worker stupidly.
“Yes, yes! What do they call you? I believe they #give their Workers names in Kwai’kwai’za.”
“And I wasn’t aware it was the custom in Kwai’kwai’za to cast out surplus Workers,” remarked Wei’tu.
#BraveWrite [2/3] There was another, somewhat tenser pause. From behind the Herder Ki’shto’ba said with gentle menace, “Perhaps it wd be wise to speak your name, little Worker.”
The Worker seemed to deflate, its belly sinking closer to the ground. “Good rescuers, my name is Za’dut.”
The Worker seemed to deflate, its belly sinking closer to the ground. “Good rescuers, my name is Za’dut.”
January 19, 2026 at 3:54 PM
#BraveWrite [2/3] There was another, somewhat tenser pause. From behind the Herder Ki’shto’ba said with gentle menace, “Perhaps it wd be wise to speak your name, little Worker.”
The Worker seemed to deflate, its belly sinking closer to the ground. “Good rescuers, my name is Za’dut.”
The Worker seemed to deflate, its belly sinking closer to the ground. “Good rescuers, my name is Za’dut.”