#j.p. babb

[quasi-normalcy]

“You see before you your Prime Minister,” she declares, laying a hand upon my shoulder. “Charles Oakes—whom I am pleased to call my husband! An everyman! A working man! A man who has been called the salt of the Earth! Humanity at its purest and most flawed!” I flush with embarrassment, but do not look up from the ground. “And Charles—Chuck—is proud of what he is! He has not hesitated to say so.” She emits a small laugh. “But, in his human mind and in his human heart, he has come to understand that this very condition—the humanity he loves so well—is a dead end! There can be no future for it! And so, to set an example for you—for all of us—he has consented to cast off this pall and embrace life eternal…as one of us!” Elestrine walks around to face me. “Humanity’s dominion is at an end. The dominion of the Fae…will now begin!” And with that, she lays an icy finger on my forehead.

That's "A Hill to Die on", this week in Reality's End!

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[quasi-normalcy]

After a moment, he asks. “Why didn’t you betray me?” “If you’re referring to not asking about ore-spinning, I didn’t do it for you, I assure you.” “Who did you do it for?” I consider it. “The universe.” Elsevier smiles—probably the most genuine smile I’ve seen on his face, if only a small one. “That will do.” “Mr. Elsevier…” “Yes?” I take a deep breath. It’s a gamble, I suppose, but I have little left to lose. “How does magic work?”

That's "True Sorrow", this week in the grand finale of Reality's End!

Yes, the whole book is now available to read for absolutely free on AO3! But please, don't let this stop you from giving me money:

Purchase Link | Audiobook

[quasi-normalcy]

Since the Holidays are coming up soon, I thought I would just remind you that my novel, *Reality's End*, would make an excellent gift for all of your friends and relations; or, if you would prefer, kindling for your Yule Log. I'm really not particular!

To some, the return of magic is a miracle; to others, a catastrophe. For physicist Julia Chen, it’s all a colossal headache. Now, she’s setting out across the wintry, post-apocalyptic landscape of Fairy-occupied Canada in search of answers. The subject of her inquiries: an enigmatic Fae known only as Mr. Elsevier, who seems to have power over matter and energy at the most fundamental level and who is willing to share this knowledge—for a price. But Julia’s quest does not take place in a political vacuum. In Ottawa, the new Fairy Viceroy draws up her plans for the country, even as her puppet Prime Minister, Chuck Oakes, struggles desperately to protect his people. But rebellion is brewing, and Mr. Elsevier may just be the key to human victory. Now, with the murderous politics of the Fae heating up, Julia will soon learn that, in sorcery as in science, simple questions can sometimes have very dangerous answers. She is on the cusp of ultimate knowledge: a theory of magic that would explain what has become of the world and how it can be reversed. But if she asks the wrong question may well unravel reality itself... Full of science, magic, dark humour, and memorable characters, Reality's End is a sci-fi/fantasy adventure that you will not want to miss! Written by me, an actual credentialed physicist with degrees and everything!

[quasi-normalcy]

For a long moment, nothing is said. The three of us stand frozen in tableau, the only significant movement being that of Charles’s eyes, which at once go from weariness, to confusion, to revelation, and then dart twice back and forth between his prisoner and myself. “This!?” he finally blurts, pointing at her wildly. “This is your mother? This is the Winter Queen!?” “Yes,” I reply, overcome with amusement. “Though she appears to have fallen on hard times.” “You’re saying that I ran down and tackled the Winter Queen of Everglace and hooked a chain around her head?” “It would appear so. Though it does raise the question”—I study my mother’s scowling but immovable countenance—“what exactly was she doing here, alone and unannounced, a full day before her official visit?” “I came to take stock of the situation,” she monotones. “To observe your actual management of this colony, unfiltered by whatever pageantry you had prepared.” “The hell she did!” Charles snaps. My mother pays him a glare that (but for the chain bounding her head) could easily freeze his soul, but he ploughs on undaunted. “Your mother disguised herself—tried to seduce me! I made a citizen’s arrest.”

That's "Elestrine Victorious", this week in Reality's End!

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**Note that this chapter contains NSFW material**

[quasi-normalcy]

Royce glances at his wristwatch—a Rolex or some other expensive piece. “Do you know what time it is, Miss Chen?” “After sunrise,” I reply simply. “And what does that mean to you?” “It means the attack could come at any minute.” “It means,” Royce answers, “that you’ve already blown your first chance to help us.” He sighs. “That was a grave disappointment to Colonel Montpetit, Julia…may I call you Julia?” “No.” “Very well. Miss Chen. You see, Arnaud—the Colonel—is an idealistic man. A great man. And he thinks the best of everyone. I don’t think there was ever any doubt in his mind that you would come around; and then…when you didn’t…” He shakes his head. “You’ve really let him down.” “He’ll live.” “And now the attack is delayed,” Royce says, fishing a ring of keys from his pocket. “Do you know why?” I shrug. “It’s God giving you a second chance,” he declares. “To do right by your people. By your country. By the Colonel, though I doubt you care about that. And these second chances—they don’t come by often. So, what do you say?” With that, he turns the key in the lock and swings the door open. He stands, passive but firm as iron, between me and escape, and then shuts the door behind him. I take a moment to consider his question. Not to determine my response, because we both already know the answer, but to think of a snappy-sounding way to phrase it. “I think,” I say at last, “that your time would be better spent trying to figure out what the word ‘quantum’ means.” Royce’s moustache twitches. “Pity.”

That's "Divine Intervention", this week in Reality's End.

{Content warning for torture, homophobia, threats of sexual violence, and gore}

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[quasi-normalcy]

“What is the meaning of this!?” my mother roars as from a great distance. I can barely hear her. My head feels wrapped in gauze; I am half-deaf, half-blind, and my touch—the touch of my fingers as I run them over my deformed, ape-like face—seems the merest remembrance of true sensation. This can’t be happening! I bring my hands before my face, willing them back to my lovely blue. But no; they remain the drab, earthen tones of human skin. And beneath that? Blood, I imagine with disgust. Bone. Pus. Snot is in their somewhere. All those vile condiments comprising the human stain. Oh spirits! There are hairs on the skin too! I must look a positive sasquatch! I put the grotesque, meaty paws where once my hands were to my side, able to bear their sight no longer. Charles! I see him a short distance away. It’s difficult to tell with these misbegotten eyes, but he looks mostly the same, only slight revisions to his appearance. He looks first astonished and then…smug. Entirely too pleased with himself. Before I know what I’m doing, I throw myself at his self-satisfied face. “You bastard! You did this!”

That's "Frailty of the Flesh", this week in Reality's End

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[quasi-normalcy]

Engaging Elsevier’s services is feeling like a very poor decision in retrospect. Which is only symmetric, because it felt that way in prospect and during as well.

Reality's End, chapter 7

[quasi-normalcy]

In all of the excitement over that Publisher's Weekly review, I guess I neglected to mention that there's a new chapter of the audiobook up.

09 - The Disorderlies - Reality's End

 Julia and Géraldine deal with a patrol of Fairy soldiers.