WINNER of Preditor and Editor’s Award for Best
Science Fiction
EPPIE Award Finalist for Best
Fantasy/Paranormal/Science Fiction Romance
Golden Rose Award Finalist for Best Science
Fiction/Fantasy
Re-Released!!!
My award-winning science
fiction romance, JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD, had a bit of an unusual start. I’d
always wanted to write in that genre, but at the time, I was busy with
Regencies, paranormals, and mysteries. My current project was THE
MAGIC TOKEN, a Regency, and I was at the library doing research. I honestly
don’t remember what triggered it, but in the middle of looking for books on the
English countryside, the phrase JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD popped up in my mind.
I stopped what I was doing, pondered those words, and then wrote them down in
my notepad. “What a cool title! I thought. The rest, as they say, is history!
After I finished THE MAGIC
TOKEN, I began brainstorming, and then researching for JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED
GOD. Janus, the two-headed Roman god had to play a part in the novel and, since
this was to be a science fiction, I needed a setting, preferably in the future.
A clash of cultures soon followed with the heroine, Sophia, from the backwaters
planet Earth butting heads with one of the leaders of the Galactic Core
Coalition, JorVaal 5 Lanquist.
Seeking a cure for her
ill brother, Sophia McLaren must leave Earth to journey into the unknown to Xaspaar,
in the center of the Milk Way Galaxy. She finds dangerous intrigue... plus a
love transcending the vast expanse of space. But can she persuade JorVaal 5
that love can be forever?
JorVaal 5 Lanquist has a
galactic catastrophe on his hands¾plus a headstrong female from the despised planet
Earth. Will he be able to set aside age-old prejudices and admit he’s actually
feeling an ancient emotion called love?
As I previously wrote for my
Author
Notes on ALIEN HEAT, world-building in science fiction stories can be very
difficult. And for JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD, I had some heavy duty research
ahead of me. The planet Xaspaar, in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, is a
distance of over 30,000 light years from Earth. With today’s technology, by the
time a spaceship arrives, roughly three million years would have passed.
Obviously this is not an option! To keep the science in science fiction, an
author must follow the natural laws of the universe in order for the novel to
be believable. So I used wormholes or black holes--tunnels in space with
gravitational fields so intense that nothing can escape, not even light--as a
plausible method to cut through the stellar highway. I bought two of
theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking’s works to help me with these concepts.
Not easy reading!
Previous Ebook Cover and Print Cover
JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD
was published by Awe-Struck Books (Mundania Press) and had with them for many
years. I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my
Awe-Struck books--a total of twelve. JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD is the seventh
to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!
What
happens when the Human leader at Milky Way’s core must deal with a headstrong
female from the despised planet Earth?
JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD
has garnered an impressive list of awards and reviews. This book won the
prestigious Preditor’s and Editor’s Award for Best Science Fiction.
Also, my novel was selected
as a finalist in the prestigious EPIC Awards (now EPIC eBook Award) for Best
Fantasy/Paranormal/Science Fiction Romance.
In addition, JANUS IS A
TWO-HEADED GOD was a Golden Rose Award Finalist for Best Science
Fiction/Fantasy, on the #1 Best-Seller list for Fictionwise.com, and earned the
highest review rating from the Romantic Times Magazine.
This book is part of the
prestigious Fascinating Sci-Fi line.
For
those of you who like to read reviews, here they come!
4 Stars! This book is so richly detailed and multi-layered I
could almost believe that Xaspaar is in the universe. There are aliens,
genetically altered humans, and, of course, the Earthlings who migrated
hundreds of years before, who only remember Earth with distain. This one is not
to be missed.--Romantic
Times Magazine
Sound interesting so far?
I've only scratched the surface of this intricate and nicely detailed science
fiction romance. There is also heavy political intrigue, which gives the reader
a nice glimpse into the other species (fourteen) that form part of the
[Galactic Core Coalition]. There are highly entertaining villains (of all
shapes and sexes) that add suspense and thrills. Mention of the 'Ancients' is
also fascinating, and I haven't even mentioned what the title is all about.
That should be about enough to whet your appetite, but if it isn't, keep in
mind that JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD is extremely well written, with good
character development and excellent attention to detail, the latter most
important in any science fiction novel, in my opinion. The book moves smoothly
and it takes very little time before the reader becomes engrossed in the world
of space travel and wormholes, unicopters and Uortzks. What are wormholes, you
say? Don't wait any longer, get your copy of JANUS right away and find out for
yourself!--Romance Reviews Today.
5 Stars! A Phenomenal Science Fiction Read! Science-fiction
romance doesn't get any better than this. JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD has a
superb opening that hooks you right in from the beginning and takes you on a
fantastic voyage to an exciting new world with great characters and aliens. I
had to stay up into the night to finish; it was just phenomenal, and I didn't
want it to end! JANUS is just the kind of book I love to read and I hope
there'll be a sequel.--Amazon.com.
JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD is
a fast-paced futuristic romance that confronts questions of culture, destiny
and ultimately, the nature of love itself. Knight's characters are complex and
very human, but still heroic. The story has a bunch of loveable secondary
characters to round it out but the meat of the romance itself is the cultural
differences between JorVaal and Sam. Though both are from fully human stock,
JorVaal's upbringing in a different world leads to more than a few conflicts
over any future that they may have together. It is an excellent example of
science fiction romance written properly -- using the cultures and
possibilities of the future to full advantage.
Paranormal fans may latch
onto the prophecy aspect of the story which, though, minor, was still
interesting. Destiny is always a fun concept in a romance novel, and though it
is at times subtle it is interesting enough to leave one with the hope that we
will learn more about the Ancients in the future! JANUS is a delightful novel
with enough thrills and warm moments for any reader, but those who enjoy their
romance with a twist of otherworldly allure will enjoy it most of all.--ParaNormal
Romance Reviews.
4 Stars! Some of the best science fiction stories explore the
nature of humanity. Some of the best romances feature a couple learning to
compromise. Sometimes, if we're really lucky, a book like this comes along
which combines both.... Choosing to read a science fiction romance can be a
risky proposition -- few authors can blend the science and the passion to
produce a book that is well-rounded in both genres. I'm happy to say that Ms.
Knight has indeed accomplished this feat -- the world of Xaspaar may be alien,
but the emotions of the lovers are basically as human as they can be. Perhaps
that is part of the charm of this tale -- to think that even after experiencing
the wonders that the galaxy has to offer, it still all boils down to love!!--A
Romance Review.
4 Stars! Science Fiction is provocative and expands the mind
to think of the now. Susanne Marie Knight has done that with 'Janus Is A
Two-Headed God'. Her premise is interesting: her characters are full of
surprises. The tale itself is full of twists and turns. Plot and subplot add
layers of interest. Her worlds are believable and well-thought out. Her diverse
cultural mores make for realism. Such an enjoyable read deserves many kudos and
mine is the belief that this is a keeper.--Sime-gen Reviews.
This is a very well done
science-fiction romance book. The characters are fun and detailed, the sparks
between the main characters entertaining. There is enough Sci-fi technotalk to
carry the feel of the future, while the story remains on the people, just as it
should be in a book like this.--PNR Reviews
It is great to have a
romantic subplot to a fine science fiction plot... the book was well written
and the author had some nice descriptions.--D. Winkle Reviews
Your JANUS series is
wonderful! I love both books and am anxious for number 3!!--D.T.
I started JANUS IS A
TWO-HEADED GOD at my son's football practice, and I got so grossed, I couldn't
stop reading. The game was over before I was ready to leave!--S.C.
JANUS IS A TWO-HEADED GOD
had an exciting new world. What a story!--D.H.
JANUS is wonderful! I didn't
know what to expect and... wow! Couldn't go to bed until I finished it. Great
book!--L.U.
I thought [JANUS] was just
phenomenal! Thanks for writing such a fantastic book!-K.B
I stayed up into the night
to finish! I loved JANUS!--C.A.
I loved JANUS IS A
TWO-HEADED GOD! Will there be a sequel?--J.P.
JANUS is just the kind of
book I love to read. Well-done!--D.C.
Science-fiction romance
doesn't get any better than this. All I can say is WOW!--C.K.
What a superb opening! I was
hooked right from the beginning.--R.H.
I didn't want JANUS IS A
TWO-HEADED GOD to end!--K.P.
I enjoyed LORD DARVER'S
MATCH. Now I can't wait to read JANUS!--C.C.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s a snippet from real
life. As Sophia does, I used to wear a Yankees’ baseball cap as a kid. For
awhile, the Bronx Bombers’ hat was rarely off my head. Sophia has another
reason for wearing her cap. The first section, below, is where Sophia learns
from Fredd, a genetically altered Human, that long hair is forbidden on planet
Xaspaar. The second section shows how she tries to hide her long hair. The
third section reveals that the jig is up!
Fredd turned back to the
console. “As you wish, lass. We have fifteen of yer Terran days remaining to
the trip so I suggest you study the viewer to learn the ways of Core
civilization. It will go easier on you if you do.”
“Yes, thank you, Fredd.
That’s a great idea.”
“You might find some of
the information disagreeable. Fer example, you must cut the flowing cascade of
yer rich, dark hair.”
“I must?” Sophia fingered
a lock and curled it around her finger. “And why is that?” At times Fredd spoke
so poetically.
“No one, male or female,
wears hair below the base of the neck on Xaspaar. Long hair represents the
barbarous past -- a symbol of more sensuous, less disciplined times. If you
refuse to cut yer hair, once we land, you must expect confinement with other
criminal violators.”
Oh great, she was a
criminal now? And over what, the length of her hair? Incredible.
Fredd spread his hands.
“My regrets, Sophia.”
“Don’t worry about it.
Maybe I’ll just stay inside the ship.”
She furiously cleaned out
the water bottle and slammed it down. Just what kind of society equated
someone’s hairdo with theft or murder? Or perhaps those activities were
tolerated?
“Well, it seems I have a
great deal of viewing to do. See you later, Fredd.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sophia stood and smoothed
down the stiff fabric of her cabin suit. She was comfortably warm, but for her
neck. Newly bare, her skin produced goose bumps in the cool pressurized air.
She fingered a wisp of
hair coiled by her ear. No, she hadn’t cut it, certainly not! Instead, her
long, barbarous hair was neatly
wound into a bun atop her head. Also, to further hide the offending tresses,
she’d pulled on a Yankees’ sports cap. Maybe not très chic, but it would
have to do. Imagine having a law against long hair!
Still, a law was a law,
and she couldn’t stay inside the ship as she’d quipped earlier. Plus, she
wouldn’t be much help to Mart from inside a GCC jail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JorVaal pulled her away,
which caused Sophia to lose her balance and stumble on the jagged rock. When
the brim of her Yankees’ cap hit the stone, it flew off her head, landing at
her feet.
JorVaal reached down to
fetch it. “My apologies, Sophia, for this mishap. You are so slight, I
miscalculated the force...”
His gaze met hers. For
one long second, she was suspended in time -- lost in his magnetic presence.
JorVaal’s brows then
lowered, meeting at the bridge of his hawk sharp nose. Extreme displeasure
radiated from him.
She dusted the seat of
her pants. Why was he annoyed? She was
the one who fell. Shaking her head, she stopped short. A long tendril of hair
had escaped from her makeshift bun.
Oh,
good heavens! He knows. I hope this doesn’t mean I have to cut my hair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, soon to be re-released
is JANUS IS A TWO-FACED MOON--taking place six years later and follows a
different couple, Blade and Christopher--however Sophia and JorVaal do play a
role.
I hope you enjoy Sophia and JorVaal’s
story.
Happy
reading,
Susanne
Marie Knight
Read
outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!
