Kirkus Reviews

I was very pleased with the review Kirkus Reviews gave to The Starflower:

A fast-paced SF novel featuring a vast world rich in intricate cultural details.

In Kenny’s SF novel, a woman finds herself at the center of a universe-spanning prophecy.

Gayle Zimmon, going by the military call sign “Starflower,” is an “Under,” a class of human that is considered lesser and relegated to working in the military forces and service jobs, living under strict rules regarding relationships and procreating. Despite this lowly designation, Zimmon has made a name for herself for her skill and prowess in the campaigns she has served in during the war against the alien Aldrakin. But Zimmon’s growing popularity with the oppressed Unders has made her the bane of the Star Lord Malik and the Star Council, who force her to serve in the desolate world of Bai-Yota, stuck in the middle of nowhere. Despite how quiet this assignment was expected to be, Zimmon finds herself in the middle of a decisive battle ending with the Aldrakins’ surrender. It’s when meeting with the Aldrakins to finalize the terms that she hears about their prophecy (“The Starflower blooms in the enemy camp, and you shall know her, for she shall be the warrior you cannot defeat”) for the first time; the weight of a whole universe seems to fall on her shoulders, even if she doesn’t fully believe it. Though the war may be over, Zimmon’s trials are just beginning: The Star Council refuses to allow the possibility of her serving as a figurehead for an underground uprising, so she must dodge assassination attempts, play diplomat to a variety of species, and potentially start a new life with her lover, all while somehow fulfilling the mysterious prophecy. In this SF yarn, the author weaves a wide web of fascinating alien cultures. Zimmon is a fascinating character, though she seems almost too perfect at times; perhaps it’s hard to not be spectacular when you’re the object of an alien race’s belief system. Kenny really shines in his depiction of the cultural aspects of the different alien groups—each is distinct, clearly thought-out, and entertaining to read about.A fast-paced SF novel featuring a vast world rich in intricate cultural details.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/k-kenny/the-starflower-3/

The Starflower

This has been a great year for “Strange Things Done”.

Several of my short stories have been published, four this year, my best year. And Austin Macauley Publishers informs me that advanced copies of my SF novel THE STARFLOWER are available in soft back now on their site: https://www.austinmacauley.com/us/book/starflower

The official publishing date is 18 August 2023. The Epub and audio should be available at other sites shortly.

The Starflower

“Once People Danced”

My fourth short story for ’23 “Once People Danced” was published in ACROSS THE MARGIN on 27 July: “A work of science fiction wherein enlightened life forms from a civilized future consider the dark days of a twenty-first-century teeming with primitive humans…” This has been a great year. My SF novel THE STARFLOWER is set to publish on 18 Aug.

Once People Danced

“What I Played for Love”

Another of my short stories was published at the end of June. That makes three this year—a personal record. In “What I Played for Love” an older man smitten by a younger woman fails to read his contract and gets taken. Dark Horses: the Magazine of Weird Fiction No. 18 is only in hard copy and is available on Amazon:

Amazon.com: Dark Horses: The Magazine of Weird Fiction No. 18: July 2023 (Dark Horses Magazine) eBook : Spitzer, Wayne Kyle, Watson, Stuart , Lang, Noah , Bondies, Michael , McGlyn, Jessica , Franks, Lillie E. , Sumner, Tiffany, Gielo, Bob , Harper, James , Kenny, K.A. : Kindle Store

Ever-Endeavor

In the spirit of keeping one’s mind active, I have taken to writing down my ideas and aberrant thoughts. Some of these become stories and some are picked up for publication. My flash fiction piece “Ever-Endeavor”, a look back at life from the beyond, was published yesterday in the online magazine ALTERED REALITY for their Spring edition: https://www.alteredrealitymag.com/ever-endeavor/

Second Chance – A Bewildering Story

Bewildering Stories welcomed me as one of their authors and gave me my first publication for 2023. “Second Chance” began as a character study with no redeeming characters. Kip told me what happened in an interview.

Kip a criminal serving time collecting trash in space is given an opportunity to mend his ways…or not. See the story by K.A. Kenny.
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue987/

Xeaven Sent

“Marta, is that you? You’re as beautiful as you were when we first met fifty years ago.

“Yes, Alex, this is me here at Xeaven Sent.” She tossed her head and brushed a tress of raven hair behind the shoulder of her red sundress.

“You look so healthy…so, so alive.” He scratched the paunch over his wide belt.

“Yes, and I always will. That’s because you loved me enough to buy me the Xeaven Sent premium package. That allowed me to select my age for eternity. And because you also signed up for the special, I was able to pick a new skill. I can play the piano, now, something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s all because of you, Alex, your love for me, and the wonderful people here at Xeaven Sent.”

“Don’t thank me, Marta. I never gave it a second thought. For a reasonable down payment and low monthly fees, I’ll be able to care for you forever. You’ll never die and never grow old.” Alex shook his head. “But how will I ever keep up with you?”

“Don’t you remember, Alex? Since you took the double-bonus option—for only a small increase in your monthly fee—you’ll be able to join me whenever you wish. You can call on the friendly euthanologists here at the Xeaven Sent any time. There’s no need to wait, and you don’t have to go through that messy business of dying.”

“Oh Marta, that sounds wonderful. I can hardly wait.”

“Yes, and if you apply before the end of the year, you’ll qualify for the Xeaven Sent world tour. I’m already signed up.”

The view receded to reveal Marta in front of an arched doorway. Smiling, she gestured Alex to follow and stepped through the door. “Paris,” she called and, as the mist cleared, pointed to the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe beyond. “Come soon, Alex, and we can share wine, cheese, a baguette, and a stroll along the Champs-Élysées. I always told you we should come here. Now, we can, thanks to Xeaven Sent.”

The scene shifted to a dark, handsome man in a white shirt, red-and-blue-striped tie, and flashing a wide, toothy smile.

“Wanna live forever? Here at Xeaven Sent that’s not a trick question.” He leaned forward and lifted a finger. “We pride ourselves on offering the best afterlife services on the market, state-of-the-art, with benefits and options to suit every taste and wallet—as Marta just said, including eliminating the formality of actually having to die.”

He stepped from his desk into a garden of mulched flowerbeds, manicured lawns, and broadleaf trees. “Everything you love in life you can have here in Xeaven Sent. Yes, you can take it with you. Work, certainly, if you insist, and better. You can instantly attend meetings anywhere on Earth, even two or three at a time. Or—” He stepped toward a slender, cornsilk-haired beauty and passionately embraced her. “Xeaven Sent is not only about business meetings.”

He winked as the scene ended.

# # #

“And cut.” The director swiveled to the actors seated behind him. “Fabulous. Love it. You can all pick up your checks at the front desk.”

He looked to the fat, bald man in the t-shirt who played Alex and pointed. “I wanna keep you on contract. We can always use a common everyman type.” He then turned to the fashion model who played Marta.

“You were beautiful, just beautiful, sweetheart. I wanna use you in my next major film. Of course, we must wait till this commercial is off the air a couple months. You available for dinner tonight and drinks? I wanna introduce you to our sponsor.”

The Parable of the Three Sailors

Kalon Kuday took his seat in the market square just as he did every week. After the children gathered, he told them a story. “Three men went down to the sea to sail,” he began.

The first man walked to his boat and climbed in. While he waited for someone to untie the lines and push him off, the man’s gaze never left the horizon. A breeze filled the sail and carried the man and his boat out from shore and onto a calm sea. The breeze remained at his back and shifted occasionally, also shifting the sail, so the man had no need to touch either the sail or the tiller. A short while later, the man found himself across the sea, entering a safe harbor, and lined up with a berth. A cheering crowd greeted him, tied his boat securely, and helped him ashore.

The second man, before untying his boat, studied the rigging of the sail and motion of the rudder. He then stepped aboard and, when others came to advise and help him, he thanked them. By this time, the gentle breeze had grown brisk and unsteady, and clouds gathered. Leaving the harbor required the man to steer and adjust the sail. Shifting wind and waves demanded constant adjustment to remain afloat and on course. No one noticed when he entered the far harbor, stepped onto the pier, and tied his boat.

In no hurry, the third man inhaled the sea air, felt the breeze pick up, and watched the clouds gather. When people onshore said it had gotten late and a storm was coming, he scowled and waved them back. As if to prove them wrong, and with no preparation, he took his place in the boat. The untrimmed sail snapped and swung; the lashed tiller remained immobile. When no one came to help, the man shouted, waved a fist, and cut the bow and stern lines. The misaligned sail folded in the wind and the boat spun, forcing the man to row in order to leave the harbor. The boat drifted and rocked, moving forward only when a wind shift caught the sail just right. When waves flooded the boat, the man cursed at his fate bailed water with a bucket. After many days, the boat grounded on a reef, and the man washed ashore. Locals to this day recount the odd man swearing and blaming everyone for his misfortune.

Kalon Kuday rested his hands on his crossed legs. The children waited for his first question.

“Which of the three men was most successful?”

Radib had his answer ready. “Easy. The first one, because he crossed the sea and didn’t have to work much.”

Anik agreed. “And everyone cheered when they saw him.” He paused. “And now everyone knows him so he can be the King.”

Tima shook her head. “The second man learned how to sail, so he did the most, and he’s the smartest.”

Anik protested. “But nobody saw him, so he didn’t get any credit, and his trip was wasted.”

Kalon Kuday stroked his thin mustache. “And which of the three would you say got what he wanted most?”

“The third man didn’t, but the other two did.” Tima bobbed her head.

A wide-eyed girl sitting in front spoke up. “No, everyone got just what they wanted.” Kalon Kuday smiled down at little Sibanya.

Radib frowned at his sister. “All the third man got was angry.”Sibanya held up her chin. “That was what he wanted—to be angry at everyone all the time. All three men got what they wanted most.”