Interview+Giveaway: Red Planet Lancers by Brian H. Roberts

Interview with Brian H. Roberts, author of scifi thriller Red Planet Lancers

How far will you go to save a friend?

After sweeping Dallas Gordon and the American base from Earth’s moon, Emperor Zhang Aiguo launches an armada to conquer Ep City and control Mars.

Ruthless Colonel Song Dajing leads his Emperor’s flotilla to defeat EPSILON’s isolated Mars colony. He brings the same armaments he used to defeat Dallas Gordon on the moon, plus a high yield missile to annihilate Ep City and its occupants. The US Space Force, occupied with plans to take back the moon, refuses to intervene.

In a race against time, Dallas Gordon must organize a mercenary squadron and pursue Song before he can deploy his weapons on the defenseless colony. Ep City commander Genady Antonov must prepare his civilian workforce for the coming invasion and plan for the unthinkable should Gordon fail to reach Mars before Song does.

Taught and fast-paced, Red Planet Lancers builds tension until the exciting climax. Once you start this Earth-to-Mars rocket ride, you won’t want to stop. Order your copy today!

Excerpt from Red Planet Lancers

Steve sat back in his chair and folded his hands together. “I’m sure if some stranger asked you why it’s important to stop Zhang Aiguo from kicking us off Mars, you could tick off several good reasons:” he tapped his fingers with the index finger of his opposite hand, “the oxides returned to us are the lifeblood of our autonomous vehicle division—frankly of the entire western world’s microchip manufacturing capacity. That manufacturing capacity is vital for our national security, and the fight to contain Emperor Zhang.

“But did you know that I donate ten percent of my personal wealth to a number of causes? This organization,” he lifted the upper half of his tee shirt off his chest for emphasis, “community colleges across the country that serve low-income communities, organizations that build and manage housing for the homeless with comprehensive drug, alcohol and mental health treatment, remedial job training, and follow-up support. … “It’s for these reasons that I seek someone to rescue EPSILON from the peril it now faces. In short, I’m seeking a messiah.”

Dallas waited for the shoe to drop.

“I’ve procured the weapons. Half a dozen Water Bugs and their lasers. Now I need someone to recruit, train and lead the pilots. Dallas, will you lead this squadron?”

Dallas felt like he was being examined under a microscope. Steve’s gaze was unflinching. After what felt like an interminable silence, he blurted out, “Yes. I’ll do it.”

Interview with Brian H. Roberts

-What inspired you to become a writer?

Over the course of my life I’ve read hundreds of titles. I’ve learned what moved me, what inspired me. And I learned I wanted to write stories that would do the same, so I could bring others along on the journey I created. I’m now publishing my fourth book, and writing my fifth.

-If you could visit your book’s world for a day, what one thing would you do?

I want to go prospecting on Mars with my character Dave Caraway. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, and as he likes to point out, he’s the best (and the only) geologist on the planet. Being our with him would allow me to see first hand, the features I’ve only been able to see with my mind’s eye. And I’m sure to be regaled with his tall tales about prospecting in the Canadian arctic, and on Mars.

-It’s two in the morning. What does your protagonist reveal in confidence? (Don’t worry, we won’t tell.)

That he’s shy. It was Ann who pursued him when she was his student at that back country climbing class. He didn’t renew their relationship when they ended up working together in the space program at EPSILON even though he was still in love with her. It took a near-death experience on Mars for him to realize she was the one, causing him to reach out to her across 200 million miles.

-Which of your characters would you go out for drinks with?

Genady Antonov, the commander of Ep City on Mars. He’s cool as a cucumber under pressure and has a dry sense of humor. And chances are, he’d invite Dallas Gordon, the main character along. The two would swap ice climbing stories. Dallas would talk about flying F35s in the Iran War. Genady would talk about his defection to the US, the sabotage of his Russian stealth fighter and his life flying for a midwestern crop dusting outfit.

-You’re in a tavern, and a dwarf challenges you to a duel. What do you do?

Invoke my right to a champion, select another dwarf to make it a fair fight, then make book.

-Is there a genre you could never write? Which and why?

Honestly, steamy romance. I’d be so embarrassed, I’d never get any writing done.

About Brian H. Roberts

In his first life, BRIAN H. ROBERTS worked as a contractor and civil engineer in bustling Seattle. In his spare time he read novels by the greatest names in science fiction: Andy Weir, Frank Herbert, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and so many others. As he read these authors’ works, he was inspired to write Sci-Fi Thrillers to engage and entertain readers like him.

As with so many of us, life intervened. Raising a family, work, remarriage and finally retirement all placed demands on his time. Desiring a change – and time to write – he and his wife traded big city life for the outdoor adventures of Central Oregon. His writing draws deeply on his lifelong loves of science/technology and adventure sports. The EPSILON Sci-Fi Thrillers is Brian’s first series. Subscribe to Brian H. Roberts’s newsletter – Just Over the Horizon – for regular updates including preorders, new releases, sales, cover reveals, giveaways, and more!

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Giveaway

Brian H. Roberts will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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