Under Umber Seas (Preview)

Life in the Empire is often filled with pain, and Sergeant Karsten Ritter's is no exception. His wife was convicted of treason against the Kaiser, and executed by being forced to jump from the floating city of Brandstadt into the Umber. Between his mere association with a traitor and his newfound apathy stemming from depression, Karsten's infractions have gotten him demoted in the ranks until his career hangs by a thread. Just as he is ready to turn his life around, Karsten is wrongfully implicated in the murder of a fellow officer and sentenced to death. He is to jump or be pushed off the Totenfall-"dead drop" in the old language-where he will fall over a kilometer, through the Umber, to the earth below. At least he would finally be with his departed wife, Veronica.

After the execution goes horribly wrong, Karsten finds the spark to stand up to the Empire, which leads to his discovery that everything he thought he knew about the post-catastrophic world is a lie.

Under Umber Seas is a sci-fantasy adventure with elements of romance and steampunk. The current manuscript is about 73,000 words. Included here is the first seven chapters, with a preview of the eighth.