{"title":"About Children of the Consortium","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"wsite-content-title\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #3a96b8;\"\u003eSummary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exploration of a science station gone dark causes a drone-influenced recorder to experience being \"human\" for the first time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"wsite-content-title\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #3a96b8;\"\u003eStats\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"paragraph\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenre: \u003c\/strong\u003eAdult science fiction\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeries length: \u003c\/strong\u003eTrilogy (two currently available)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eViolence: \u003c\/strong\u003eModerate, not graphic, including things like explosions, fist fights, and \"disciplinary\" shocks\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMagic\/Supernatural:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eNone (all attributed to science)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRomance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light. A few kisses, some romantic attraction between different characters, implied sex outside of marriage in past.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChristian\/spiritual element:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eVery light, with elements implied. Themes include the value of individuals, the gifts of emotions and free will, and the exploration of what it means to be human. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommendation: \u003c\/strong\u003eReaders who enjoy a blend of soft and hard science fiction\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou might like this book if you liked...\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eStar Trek\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eBlade Runner\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"recorder-by-cathy-mccrumb","title":"Recorder by Cathy McCrumb","description":"\u003cp\u003eBook 1 of Children of the Consortium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Consortium is All. But Recorder Can No Longer Obey.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecorder has no family, no friends, and no name. Donated to the Consortium before birth, her sole purpose is to maintain and verify the records. A neural implant and drone ensure compliance, punishing for displays of bias.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuddenly cut off from controlling technology, Recorder tastes what it means to be human. But if the Consortium discovers her feelings, everyone she knows will be in danger.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith no name, no resources, and only an infinitesimal possibility of escape, Recorder's time is running out.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpening Line:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI did not have a name--none of us did--but once when I was young, I had a friend. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Imagination Investigation Bookstore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46557241082082,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/8348\/5410\/files\/ScienceFictionRecorder-McCrumb.png?v=1747000487"},{"product_id":"aberration-by-cathy-mccrumb-copy","title":"Aberration by Cathy McCrumb","description":"\u003cp\u003eBook 2 of Children of the Consortium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFreedom Awaits, but the Consortium is Watching\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen rogue drones threaten citizens and the ship’s crew falls ill, the Recorder answers their call for help, once again drawing scrutiny from the Consortium.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith no other option and under an Elder’s overbearing watch, she returns to Pallas Station where she nearly lost her life in the hope of finding something—anything—to save her friends and countless others. Her friends are determined to keep her safe, but for the Recorder, saving others comes first, no matter the cost.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpening Line:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolitude and its companion, apprehension, wrapped around me like a drone's trendrils. Air whispered through the vent over the holding-cell door, and quiet pressed through the walls to roar in my ears. Overhead, the red emergency light throbbed like the ship's visible heartbeat, and my imagination provided its sound--the faintest, gentlest click. I concentrated and uncurled my toes, pressing bare feet into the ribbed antistatic flooring, and the barely perceptible but steady rumble of the engines tickled my soles. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCTV \u003cem\u003eAgamemnon\u003c\/em\u003e was not dead, whatever might have happened to her crew. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Imagination Investigation Bookstore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46557241278690,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/8348\/5410\/files\/ScienceFictionAberration-McCrumb.png?v=1747000606"},{"product_id":"guardian-by-cathy-mccrumb","title":"Guardian by Cathy McCrumb","description":"\u003cp\u003eBook 3 of Children of the Consortium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe Recorder's fate has been sealed, but the Consortium is not the only enemy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLabeled an aberration by the Consortium, the Recorder is not yet free. Time is running out as an engineered bioweapon wreaks havoc on friend and foe alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStopping both the biological agent and the people who created it is no easy task, especially since the Recorder and her friends are trapped on a research station infested with behemoth insects. Without Consortium technology, the probability of neutralizing the threat falls to nothing. In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpening Lines:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubzero surface air hissed through the closing hanger doors, its sulfur burning my nose and its cold creeping through my inadequate black jacket. Nate spun me around once again, and grit and dust swirled around our legs. I coughed into my elbow before resting my bare cheek against his armored chest while the debris settled. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Imagination Investigation Bookstore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46557242654946,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/8348\/5410\/files\/ScienceFictionGuardian-McCrumb.png?v=1747000860"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0734\/8348\/5410\/collections\/ScienceFictionRecorder-McCrumb.png?v=1759195581","url":"https:\/\/yvbmmp-18.myshopify.com\/collections\/about-children-of-the-consortium.oembed","provider":"Imagination Investigation Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}