The Slyburn Girl and Leonard

The Slyburn Girl, Nedra, finds a kindred spirit in a depraved world. Reuel arrives in the city of Slyburn looking for a Lunakolb Girl. He once saw her as a youth in a home for rejected clones, and he never forgot her. He follows his only lead to her through the parched and creepy passages of that world. Once he finds Nedra the malevolent will of Estes (Nedra’s one-time handler) insinuates itself into their lives. Feeling cornered, they decide to undertake a dangerous journey with a coyote to the fabled city of Brazeal. Barely escaping an ambush, Reuel finds himself separated from Nedra and sets off in pursuit. He catches up with the group, kills the coyote and takes his money, and rescues Nedra. They continue to Brazeal and arrive with their pocket of funds, the unfamiliar breath of hope, and each other.

Leonard is the story of an ordinary young man, Hugo, and an extraordinary man from another place, Leonard. Leonard gives Hugo the gift of stopping and re-starting time in exchange for eliminating a mysterious character he calls Traveler. Then Leonard disappears. Hugo falls under the addictive spell of his strange new power, which he wields like a film director, while drifting into an uneasy malaise. In the process he angers a co-worker, Eric, who tries to penetrate the strange goings-on. Circumstances draw Hugo to a fantastical house where he finds a changed Leonard, then Traveler. Finally, knowing he will soon lose his gift, he has a final showdown with Eric.