Facebook, you suck

Problem with Facebook? Tell me about it.

So, here I am, creator of the Lokians Science Fiction series, and naturally I have a Like page.

Everything was fine for some time, but a few days ago, BOOM! internal server error. This means the problem is through Facebook's server, nothing I can do on my end.

Naturally, I wait a day. No resolution.

I send a message through their customer contact. No resolution.

So, I call the Facebook customer service line, and get some guy who barely speaks English. That's ok though. I let him know what the problem was, and he says a technician will call me back. Now I have to give my name and number. I'm not happy about that, but I want to get this solved. I comply. "We'll have a technician call you back in no more than 30 minutes," he says. An hour and 20 minutes later, I get a call.

I speak to the technician, and he tells me I need to go download some software, so they can see what the problem is through my end. I explained the problem is on their end, and they need to look through their server network, but he couldn't understand.

Facebook, are you for real? You need to resolve this issue or you're going to start losing customers. I've done this before, and I'll do it again. I'm going to call, complain, blog, and ask my fellow internet users to support me.

Please, comment on this post, or share it with others if you're sick of Facebook's crap, and by extention, all the crap the broken-ass internet does in general. Thank you - Aaron Dennis www.dennisauthor.com

And when did extention become extension? It's a form of the word extent, not extens..... anyway...Facebook, check yo self before you wreck yo self.

Read From Blood Today

So, I've been touting this new work for some time now, and it's finally ready for some observations, and critiquing. For the next few weeks, I will give free PDF copies of the current version of From Blood to anyone interested in reading it, in exchange for critical feedback. A questions, and comments, form will be included.

To whet your appetite, here's a quick synopsis

Dysart, a castrated mute, travels to his homeland of Volgunther in order to slay a Daemon, who granted him a power from blood.

Wielding blood in many forms, be it runes, brands, or summoning, Dysart must battle his way through several monsters, all the while fighting off his own Daemonic practice. Though imbibing blood grants enhanced abilities, it turns the practitioners of Sang Daemanus into crazed beasts.

So, how can Dysart hope to slay the Daemon, who gave him such a gruesome weapon?

Taught by his grandfather to use the power responsibly, Dysart makes many friends, and enemies, upon the cursed island. He even comes across an opposing practitioner of Sang Daemanus, Tygron, who wishes only for the Daemon, Salamandrus, to continue its reign of terror from the bowels of Volgunther.

E-mail me at aaron@dennisauthor.com or comment here with your e-mail address, and I will send you a PDF copy along with the comments form.

Thanks for your help.

Losing Human

Losing Human
By Aaron Dennis
(Soon to be) Published on www.smashwords.com
Check out my other titles on smashwords

Eudora
Hunting
Expedition
Skirmish
Extraction
The Planet Machine (Coming soon)

Visit www.dennisauthor.com

When roboticist Steven Heisler loses funding on Project Human, he uploads his own mind into a Mobile Robotic Construct


Losing Human

It was supposed to be sad

“I can’t believe that’s it. Growing up, granddad was always around…guess I’ll just have to keep his memory alive, you know?” Greta cried. “Steven? Are you even listening to me?”

“Hm?” Heisler muttered.

Doctor Steven Heisler, and his girlfriend of the past seven months, Greta, stood outside the funeral home. Appropriately, it was a dreary day, cold, and windy. Greta’s red, teary eyes twitched in fury. Heisler, as usual, was a million emotional miles away.

“I just lost my grandfather! What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t even give me your attention?” she was losing it.

“Honey, I heard every word. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say, here,” he answered.

“Gee, I don’t know, how about; it’ll be all right, I’m here for you. I love you,” she huffed.

He just looked at her. She was a beautiful woman, even in mourning, with her smile lines, and button nose.

“Don’t you believe in God?” he asked.

“What? You know I do. So what?” she accused. “Is this your way of mocking religious beliefs?”

“That isn’t it at all,” he clarified. “Your beliefs tell you this man has moved on to a better place, Heaven, and there, he rests in the glory of God. Why would you be sad about that?”

“Oh my God…I can’t even look at you right now, Steven. I mean, you really don’t get it, that I have a hole in my heart? My beloved grandfather, a man I, I, I can’t even comprehend a life without him. He’s gone. I’m sad, Steven, because I’m never going to see him again,” she explained in disbelief.

Again, Heisler just looked at her. An older couple approached.

“Greta, honey,” her father called. “Why don’t you ride home with us?”

“Here,” she yelled, throwing a set of keys at Heisler. “Thanks, dad.”

Heisler didn’t catch the keys. They bounced off his black coat, and jingled upon hitting the concrete. Greta’s father glared at him. Heisler didn’t mind, They’re just acting out, based on emotions…everyone does that.
He bent over, snatched the keys then made his way to the Ford Expedition. He climbed in, but waited a few minutes for the crowds to disperse. All these people, all of them, they’re only acting like they feel these particular ways. So what if her grandfather is dead? She didn’t act like this when she got the call, no she was ‘in shock’ then days later, miraculously, she’s sad. Ridiculous.

Most everyone left. He turned the key then started the drive home when his phone rang. Using the hands free device, he answered.

Project Human

“Dekker, what have you got?” he asked.

“Stevie, you won’t believe it! Come to the lab right away, it’s working. Can you believe it? It’s freaking working,” Dekker cheered.

Heisler smiled. His colleague Charles Dekker knew better than to call him Stevie, but he never cared, especially when he was excited. Dekker was ecstatic about the work in progress, uploading intelligences into a digital system.

“All right, Dekker, I’m coming in. keep your pants on,” Heisler replied then disconnected.

For months, the team of programmers, neuro-scientists, and roboticists worked in unison to complete Project Human. The first step, after the completion of a Mobile Robotic Construct or MRC, was uploading brain waves from a cat into a mainframe. The second step, which had just been successful, was uploading a digital copy into the MRC. Heisler arrived, late in the afternoon, at MIT. He parked, ran inside, scanned in then proceeded to the lab.

Doctor Dekker, the programmer of the team, a chunky Irishman, was all smiles. Heisler walked past the myriad of robotic components he designed, and approached the robotic cat.

“Look!” Dekker said with wide eyes.

“I see it,” Heisler answered.

“Oh, that’s it, huh? You see it. Dead inside as always…at least you’re consistent,” Dekker joked.

Heisler smiled. The cat walked around the room for a minute then it leapt awkwardly onto a steel table. It acted as though sniffing itself.

“It genuinely thinks it’s a cat,” Dekker stated.

“Where are we on the ape?” Heisler asked.

“What? Years, bud,” Dekker asserted incredulously. “I don’t know why I thought you’d be impressed.”

“There’s nothing impressive. We knew, in time, this was going to work. Success was imminent,” Heisler stated. “Let’s keep monitoring the MRC’s activities. I want to know how it behaves with its new body. A cat is designed to survive. Even domesticated felines never relinquish the urge to hunt, mark their territory, and mate.”

“This was a neutered, house cat. It isn’t going to want to mate…it won’t have any of its biological urges,” Dekker explained.

“I am aware,” Heisler said. “Which is why I wonder what changes in behavior we’re going to see.”

“Boy, you know how to rain on a parade, don’t you,” Dekker mocked.

Heisler shrugged. They sat around, watching the cat move from one area to another. It was evident that the creature required time to adjust to its new balance. The differently proportioned strength, and weight, ratios were something it needed to recalibrate. Constructed of Titanium, Copper, and Silicon, the MRC piddled around, seemingly uninterested in much of anything.

“See, it’s a house cat, Stevie,” Dekker said.

“Please, call me Heisler,” he corrected.

“So, you are human. You get upset,” Dekker snipped.

Heisler shot him a look of mild contempt, and derision.

“Why did you start this project if you’re not invested?” Dekker asked.

“I am invested. I want to see the culmination of our work,” Heisler replied.

“The Singularity,” Dekker said.

“Of course,” he replied. “What else is there? We’ve gone as far as we can with everything else. I’ve created all manner of prosthesises, and replacement organs, but what’s the point?”

“What’s the point?” Dekker interrupted. “We’re helping people who are sick. We’re helping humans live longer so they can accomplish more.”

“More what, Dekker?” Heisler complained.

“More, more…I don’t know. Where would we be if DaVinci had artificial organs? If he lived to be like three hundred, or something?” Dekker probed.

“Right here. Time, Dekker, in time, which is relative and inconsequential, we’d get here, like we just did, today. It’s time for something different, something…humanly inconceivable,” Heisler ranted.

Dekker rubbed his chunky cheeks.

“I don’t know…let’s change the subject while we wait for the others. How’s Greta?” he asked.

“She’s fine,” Heisler said.

“You guys have been together awhile now, right? She getting used to living with someone who’s never home?” Dekker pried.

“We’re not living together,” he replied.

“What? So you’re not going to marry this one either? What’s wrong with you? Don’t you like companionship? Why do you even date?” Dekker accosted.

Heisler drifted away. Letting his attention meander from his compatriot, he observed the MRC. What’s the point? If we attain the Singularity, no one will have children, and the only point of children is the propagation of the human race, and the only point of that is to uncover new concepts…why am I in a relationship? I don’t plan on having children. Doubtful they’d ever pick up where I leave off anyway.

“Well?” Dekker demanded.

“Hm?” Heisler mumbled.

“What are you doing with your life?” he asked.

“That’s a stupid question. I won’t dignify you with a response if you’re going to be like this,” Heisler retorted.

“You’re a dick, Stevie,” he said.

“All right. I’ll play. What are you doing with your life?” he asked.

“I got a wife and kids. I’m living the American dream…I, I…” he trailed off.

“See, you aren’t doing anything either, unless you’re here. Like me, whether you like it or not, you’re working towards one goal. The culmination of which, will lead us to a point in time where the concept of family is as derivative as drinking a glass of water when you aren’t thirsty,” Heisler explained. “You’re only acting like you’re supposed to have a wife and kids. Me, I’m not acting.”

“Whatever. I’m going out for a smoke,” Dekker said.

“See. There you go. You’re doing something anathema to raising a family. You act like you care about them, but then you go to poison yourself, and work towards an early grave,” Heisler pointed out.

Dekker blinked, blindsided by the truth in the assertion.

Then he said the same old thing everyone says when they’ve run up against a logical wall, “Life is short. I’m not going to keep myself from enjoying the little things.”

“Well, Charlie, I’m only going to enjoy the big things, and when we attain the Singularity, I’m going to uncover the biggest thing. Truth,” Heisler mused.

“Go home to Greta,” Dekker replied.

Heisler watched his comrade exit before giving his attention to the MRC.

“Ntch, ntch, ntch, ntch,” he clicked, calling the cat.

It approached then rubbed its head against Heisler’s calf.

“You don’t have anymore scent glands,” he said. “Eventually, you’ll learn to accomplish more than any cat ever has…then we’ll know just how smart a cat really is.”

Over the next few weeks the MRC grew restless. With no need to carry out mundane rituals, like eating or pooping, it was relegated to the only need any awareness on planet Earth exhibited, the need to explore. So, the team of Doctors let it roam around the lab. The MRC, subsequently called, Mittins, as was its name prior to being a robot, became a crowd favorite. Naturally it had a monumental business value, an immortal cat with no need for food, litter, shots, and available to people who even had allergies.

Losing Human is currently undergoing revisions, but should be published to smashwords soon. Drop by the IAI to what writers, and bloggers, can do for you. If you liked what you just read, you may also like Lokians

E reading and Entertainment

   

image copied from gazetteteachers.net

The ereader has been slowly evolving, but reading in general, is still falling short in the competitive world of entertainment.

So, you might ask yourself, what can be done? We've already moved from paper books to virtual books. What else is there?

Well...I have an idea. I'm working on it, and the patent has been filed. The Ereader Music app. Learn more on my Rockethub Project Page

With this crowdfunding project, I hope to pool together the resources needed to finish developing this application. Naturally, the donations meeting the required amounts will receive gifts based on my novels. These include sticker, shirts, and actual signed copies of my novels.

Now that you know a little bit about what the gifts are, and what I'm up to, stop by my website Dennisauthor.com

I'm also a proud member of the Independent Author Index Join today

Dennisauthor

Writing is a wonderful and rewarding hobby but many aspiring authors dream of being published and becoming famous for their very own, unique, creation. It's a tough world out there and everyone deserves a helping hand. From the novice writer to the seasoned novelist, Dennisauthor.com offers services to help promote books, promote authors, critique unpublished works, review novels, and link your site.

In a struggling economy, we all wish to maintain financial security and Dennisauthor.com provides inexpensive help to everyone. What better way to get known in the world of writing than approaching an established site that has already helped a few in your shoes? Dennis has struggled too and understands how difficult it can be to break into the world of publishing and that's why he wants to provide help to his fellow authors and writers.

If you've just completed your first manuscript and you'd like to have it reviewed before submitting to a publisher or literary agency, or if you've just been published and would like some publicity, Dennisauthor.com may be the site for you. All services are conducted safely through Paypal.

Dennis's word is his bond and he replies to your messages and concerns in a timely fashion. He even keeps in touch every step of the way. Why shop around, looking for a different site, a different person, sifting through site after site for each service? You can find just about everything you need in one place. Dennis even links to the sites of other authors, advertisers, bloggers, and artists. From book cover design to video trailers, to publisher sites, you can find what you need for you and your writing at Dennisauthor.com

The exciting sequel

The amazing sequel to the action packed phenomenon, Lokians: Book2 They Lurk Among Us, boasts alien conspiracies.

While the Lokians appear to be defeated, alien hybrids have ensconced themselves in Earth government and pose quite the serious problem. Former Captain O'Hara is called in again to save the galaxy. Now working on behalf of The Bureau, O'Hara faces a new challenge with new allies. He's been tasked with retrieving a live Gray from alien harvesting vessel.

No boring redundancies in this novel. Author Aaron Dennis works hard to bring together a level of intrigue, action, and entertainment to his wonderful fans. See what everyone is talking about.

Excerpt:

            “Sir? They died from blunt trauma,” Swain reported as he squatted over a few corpses.

            “There must be a few dozen,” Ivan commented.

            “What do you make of this?” Korit asked.

            “John’s right. There’s something else in here,” Riley answered as he looked about the room.

            Lokians? Maybe they were running experiments too and the space skirmish set them free… The floor above them revealed the room served as some kind of medical or research facility. Tables were bolted to the floor keeping them in place. A few large glass canisters were secured against the walls. After a quick inspection, Riley noticed they were all cracked and badly damaged.

            “Some kind of experimental facility?” Swain asked.

            “Unlikely… this is a harvesting ship right?” Riley asked.

            “Da, Betagon for harvesting.” Ivan answered.

            “Perhaps they need these for the safe transportation of your kind,” Korit suggested.

            Riley grit his teeth. He did not like the sound of that answer. But he’s probably right.

            “Nothing here. Keep moving,” Riley ordered.

            Korit pressed onwards over the carcasses to the next door. It sat perched a few feet above the Humans but Korit’s large stature allowed him the reach to not only open the door, but help the Humans climb into the next room. Before entering, Riley turned to look over the carnage. Tiny Gray’s were strewn about covered in blue puss or blood.

            “Fitzpatrick.” He called.

            “Nothing yet Sir. We appear to be in the engineering deck. A few dead Grays here and there but nothing else,” she relayed.

            Riley and crew were helped into the next hallway.

            “I don’t… wait. There’re some stairs here. The Grays must have had use for elevators in this ship,” Riley commented as he looked at the upside down, steel, staircase.

            “Sir, I only saw four decks,” DeReaux relayed.

            Riley thought about the Phoenix and the Thewlian Explorer. They only had four decks or so, of course the Explorer was utilized as a crew quarters when docked with the Carrier…. His thoughts trailed off as Korit took his hand and helped him climb into the stair well. Riley took his jump cord and handed one end to Korit.

            “Hold this. I’m repelling,” Riley said.

            Korit held the tie off while Riley dropped down the well. About seven feet down he touched the bottom. Another white door stood in his way. Riley placed his hand against it. A prolonged moment eased by. Riley’s eyes darted about for a second then it slid away revealing another hallway. What he saw shook him at his foundation.

The corridor itself was another long, white, steel, hallway. About halfway down was something resembling a man clad in skin tight, silver, armor. He held a Gray in his hand by the neck. Upon seeing Riley he dropped the lifeless Gray to the ground.

            Riley’s heart skipped a beat but he wasted no time. Quickly he cut his jump cord with the photon blade and charged at the man. The silvery creature held his left hand aloft. A thunderous blow knocked Riley against the stairs. As he let out a scream, Ivan dropped down to his position.

            “Riley!” Ivan yelled.

            Ivan knelt down to his comrade attempting to help him but Riley pointed firmly to the man down the hallway. Ivan turned and saw the same thing over his shoulder. A bald, silvery man about six feet tall. The man opened his mouth as though screaming but no sound came out.

            “Po’ shyul ‘na hui!” Ivan screamed and fired Lyudmila’s red laser into the man’s chest.

            The blow staggered him leaving a small scorch mark in his plated chest. After falling, the laser scorched the white walls of the corridor. Quickly, the man recovered and stood. He looked down to his chest and touched the scorch mark then held his left hand aloft again. He tightened his fingers into a fist. The resulting action created a vacuum effect around Ivan’s body. He was pulled off his feet, careening towards the man.

            “Get down here!” Riley yelled as he charged at the man with his photon blade.

            Suddenly a few Grays ran in from behind the creature.

            “Aw God dammit,” Riley muttered while closing the distance.

            He gleaned a look of shock or surprise from the robot as it spun around. The Grays raised their hands in similar fashions and the robot flew backwards. Having lost his grip, or concentration, caused Ivan to fall. The telekinetic attack from the Grays sent the robot crashing into Ivan.

            “Get down sir!” Swain called out.

            “What the hell is goin’ on? What’s your twenty?” Fitzpatrick yelled to the crew.

            “No time,” Korit answered back as he tried to join the fray.

            Swain fired a few rounds into the Grays. One was hit directly. The bullet tore through its scrawny body and it fell back dead. Korit came in behind Swain, firing a well-aimed plasma burst. Upon impact, a second Gray exploded leaving blue guts and blood all over the walls. Then the robot recovered. With darting optics it looked at the spec ops team with confusion. As Riley ran passed Ivan, he too recovered and stood to take aim once again.

Riley reached striking distance. He leapt and brought the photon blade over his head to perform a downward strike but the robot sidestepped and punched him in the stomach. The potent, steel, fist sank deep into Riley’s midsection expelling all the air from his lungs. Riley fell to the ground but kept his eyes on his target.

            An invisible impact sent the robot hard into the wall to his left. Whatever was going on, this robot seemed to be everyone’s enemy. The remaining Gray blinked his large black eyes. Ivan fired another red beam from his rifle. It walked across the robot doing little damage then struck the Gray, searing it in half.

            “No! We need them!” Riley said as he stood.

            “What’s happening?” the robot called out in confusion.

            It raised its hand again, knocking all four members down the hallway to the stairs.

            “Oh man,” Swain gasped.

            He was the first to recover and give chase as the robot ran down the corridor. While running, Swain threw the rifle over his shoulder. The shoulder strap kept it from falling and he drew his automatic shotgun. Before the robot rounded the corner, Swain stood his ground. With feet firmly planted, he fired three sequential rounds at its rear. Two hit the robot in the hips causing him to stagger. The third hit him in the back of the head and he fell forward. For a moment he did not move.

Find out what this robot is in the awesome sequel. Available in E-book and print at Dennisauthor.com

Action in your Sci fi

You enjoy reading. You love hard science fiction but you're sick of the same Dystopian novels with the same boring characters. Spice up your sci fi with some serious action and comical dialogue. Lokians: Book1 Beyond the End of the World is the first installment of the Lokians series. Filled to the brim with dynamic characters and choreographed battles, this action packed novel introduces Captain O'Hara of Earth Navy as well as some distinctly unique aliens.

A battle for the safety of the entire galaxy takes place on several planets, in the cold reaches of space, and even in subspace where the vile Lokians, an insect-like race of aliens, reside under the guiding antennae of their queen.

Excerpt:

“Captain behind you!” she screamed all too late.

The Captain had kept his gaze fixed on the four giants that entered the fray after the initial two had broke through the line. His rifle pulsated with power as he fired repeatedly into the invulnerable enemies. He turned to his rear after Fitzpatrick’s warning only to stare a destroyer in the abdomen. It gripped him tightly with both pincers and lifted him off the ground. O’Hara felt the plates in his armor flex as the Lokian crushed his chest. Fear ravaged his heart. He felt the raw unmatched power of the creature, its red slit burning with hate. He pulled a knife from his belt and jammed it into the red eye. The creature recoiled then flung him clear across the cavern. He smashed into Swain who just came to his knees from the ground. Both men tumbled over each other.

“Captain they-,” Swain tried to speak but a Thewl leg smacked him over the top of his head.

Another Lokian had grabbed Jore-Tune by the shoulders and head-butted him hard enough to send him staggering backwards. Jore-Tune fell over top of both Swain and O’Hara while they tried to pull themselves together. Korit screamed a Thewlish order then started gasping. All of the men heard his breathing over the battle screams then another Thewl gasped, then the third. The gas from their helmets filled their lungs and they absolutely exploded. At once all three broke free from the grip of the roaches.

Time was slowed to a near halt for the Thewls as they worked in unison. They focused on the closest destroyer working circles around it. They punched and kicked its legs, grasped tubes and pulled it to the ground. As they reached their hands around any and every plate, they jammed their side arm barrels in the openings firing plasma into the enemy. The two other Lokians attempted to halt their assault but this time the Thewls were too powerful. They continued firing, blasting off more and more tubes.

As the apparatus broke, it started leaking a white substance. The destroyer tried to stop the Thewls by grabbing them with its smaller pincer arms but whatever pain they should’ve felt was dissolved. The creature shook violently, managing to its feet. It swung over in an attempt to grab two Thewls by their heads but they both ducked. Sirt spun and placed himself behind the massive shell, climbed it, grasped the top of the monster’s mouth as Korit thrust his cannon barrel in. He fired blowing off the head of the roach sending Sirt to the ground with it. The Human crew stood baffled by the new momentum their Thewl counterparts showed.

“We can do this!” Adams screamed.

A destroyer grabbed Franklin and hit Adams across the face with the man. Adam’s mind went blank. He felt the ground fall away from his feet. It quickly struck him in the face. All he saw was the white ground receding then pain spread across his back. He'd been knocked into a pillar. Swain scrambled to his feet a third time and tried to pull O’Hara off the ground but a roach slammed into the duo. Again they fell, this time into DeReaux’s line of fire. A bullet tore into Swain’s shoulder as he fell. DeReaux saw his mistake and mentally kicked himself. A click of his tongue followed but there was no time to despair.

Ice, guns, bullets, and men were all over the ground. The Captain finally pulled himself to one knee. He fired everything he had at the enemies. Casings hit the ground but the echoes were swallowed by the commotion. With all his effort there was nothing he could do. The slit. They’re weak there, he thought, but there was little hope of closing in and fighting with his knife, after all, the enemies were eleven feet tall. O’Hara took a quick second to survey.

The Thewls were losing their momentum, new ammunition was veritably useless, and the agents were being demolished as well. A destroyer stepped in from behind Sirt. It lifted him off the ground like a doll, moved under him, and crashed the heads of the remaining Thewls into each other as Sirt then fell over eleven feet to the ground with a thunderous crash. The gas wore off and normal time resumed for the Thewl trio. Their bodies grew slow and stiff. Korit took a knee, his hands were shaking under the weight of his cannon. With one last look around the cavern, he saw his comrades were in the throes of a crisis.

“Oh man,” Fitzpatrick whispered in fear.

“No time for that Helen, stay focused,” DeReaux reassured her through clenched teeth.

“Hit them in the slit!” The Captain yelled.

He continued to fire. Swain took to his feet again and ran to help the agents. He rolled one over and looked at him.

“Man oh man oh man, which one are you? Shit,” he said.

He looked up to see enormous, brown, legs. One powerful kick sent him flying backwards. Swain landed high on the back of his neck. His knees came falling down on his face. The last thing he saw as he tilted his head was Nandesrikahl’s limp body. He tried to reach for his friend when a Lokian crushed his arm. Swain let out a violent scream.

            There was nothing to be done. The Captain stood and aimed at one roach, then another, he saw men and weapons strewn about the ground. The agents were over powered, the Thewls were over powered, he sighed hard and fired for the sake of firing but it was still useless. Even with all their effort, the snipers could do nothing. They were sharp enough to damage more of the apparatus, which grew about the beasts, but it did not slow them. The enemy’s movement made it difficult to hit them in the eye. The final blow came from overhead. As O’Hara fired, one heavy Lokian fist came down across the top of his head. He fell to the ground with a grunt.

E-books and print copies available at Dennisauthor.com