AT THE EDGE OF ALL WORLDS WITH MATT BETTS

Hello there, friends and fiends, 

Today in the Madhouse, we're cheering on one of our dearest friends and colleagues, Matt Betts, as he celebrates the release of Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds, his first book in the Edgar Rice Burroughs universe. For more information on the book, and to read a short excerpt, see below!

[And congrats again, Matt. This is so wonderful!]

Synopsis/Info:

The groundbreaking Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe launches with Carson of Venus: The Edge of All Worlds—the first in a series of all-new canonical novels expanding Edgar Rice Burroughs worlds of wonder and adventure! For the first time ever, softcover and hardcover editions, as well as a limited Collector’s Edition with a signed bookplate, will be available in a simultaneous release.

When a mysterious enemy attacks his adopted nation of Korva, Earthman Carson Napier discovers his own arrival on Venus years ago may have unknowingly triggered the strike. The invaders’ trail of death and destruction leads Carson and his beloved princess Duare headlong into battle against a seemingly invincible, primordial race. But that is not Carson’s only challenge, for an uncanny phenomenon has entangled him with two strange individuals from beyond spacetime. Will Carson be able to solve the mysteries of his past and the enigmatic visitors before the entire planet descends into chaos?

Excerpt:

Fire and ash blackened his armored bands, but he advanced without the appearance of concern. The black smoke rippled off him as he stepped from the fiery mess. Each step of his large feet seemed to hasten the floor cracks that still moved in our direction.

“Stop!” I shouted. “This is a grand fight we have going on here, but if you advance any farther, you’ll shatter this floor and hurl us both to our deaths.” He continued forward as if he hadn’t heard me, one heavy step after another. I looked to the broad strip of white rock that encircled the room, hoping it would be sturdier than the glasslike material that composed the floor.

At that moment, the whole building seemed to shake. There came a tremendous cracking sound, and the section of the flooring upon which I stood lurched down several feet with a sickening screech. I flung myself to one side and grabbed a thick section of the clear floor, holding on with one hand as I watched the great chunk of glass upon which I had just been standing twist and turn on the way to the ground far below.

Fingers bleeding, I clutched the sharp edges in order to keep myself from following the broken section down. The sounds of combat around me fell away until I heard nothing but my own breathing, ragged and desperate, fearing the slightest breeze would cause my fragile handhold to break free.

Copyright © Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. All rights reserved. All logos, characters, names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks or registered trademarks of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Used by permission.

BIO:

Matt Betts is the author of such science fiction novels as the critically recognized adventure Odd Men Out and its sequel Red Gear Nine, the urban fantasy Indelible Ink, and the giant monster vs. giant robot tale The Shadow beneath the Waves. He is also an accomplished speculative poet, and lives in Ohio with his wife and children.