Aphelion

Nice enough plot, but the characters were a bit too stereotyped, the dialog was WAY too breezy and often downright flippant, and I didn't much care for the plot mechanism whereby Mr. Ernspiker wound up in the clutches of the IMC. Oh, yeah -- and that 'coolant' line sure picked a convenient time to break, didn't it?

And, how do those 'windspears' (whatever they are) manage to hit anything they're aimed at in hurricane-force winds?

I kinda saw that ending coming, too.

Mildly amusing, but too shallow to satisfy. Mr. Hyatt needs to reach for more depth and complexity and lay off the deus ex machina.

I agree with Lester.

As an added note, you do have talent but don't reflect other stories or characters. Be yourself which sometimes can be 'scary.' Look into the caverns of your mind and be prepared to run, fight, wed! learn, teach, and capture or drive out. For in those caverns hides the most evil beings, or the most grandfatherly figures---depending on which cavern you take!!!