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Our 2008 Catalog
is online at this time ...
Click right here to download the PDF (download size is 1.12MB),
and take as read your permission to copy, print, forward, and generally pass it along. (If
anyone gives you grief, send them here!)
READER ALERT / CAVEAT:
the sample readings offered here encompass about the first 10% of these works, and they're uncensored, unabridged. If you will be disturbed by candid descriptions of same-gender romance, or by realistic violence, please don't download! These samples are not intended for younger readers. By clicking to open these documents, you agree that you are of age in your local jurisdiction; you know what you are about to read; and the material will not disturb you ... 'nuff said.
Any "content warning" to readers?
Anti-drug war, related themes,
realistic violence, frank description
of same-gender relationships.
PUBLISHING HISTORY:
Cover art by Nicholas Hoare
1992/2000 GMP Edition
ABRIDGED VERSION:
Four editions produced.
First printing: Nov. 1991,
ISBN: 0-85449-165-7;
Millivres reprint: 2001,
ISBN: 0-85449-290-9.
IN PRINT?
The GMP original and Millivres reprint - no.
The DreamCraft Unabridged edition - yes.
(The GMP and Millivres editions might be availble
on eBay for ridiculous prices. Please don't
pay US$400 for the original version! It was so heavily cut,
once you've read the 'real' one, from DreamCraft, you'll
never go back.)
"A thrilling sci-fi adventure of interplanetary drug wars,
mind-bonding and gay passion..."
On the high-tech worlds of the [23rd] Century, the lethal
designer drug Angel has become an epidemic disease. Kevin
Jarrat and Jerry Stone are joint captains in the paramilitary NARC
force sent to combat the Death's Head drug syndicate that controls
the vast spaceport city of Chell. Under the NARC code of non-
involvement each of the two friends hides his deeper desire for
the other. When Stone is captured on the urban battlefield and
forced into Angel addiction, Jarrat's love for him is his only
chance for survival ... but the price is that their minds will
remain permanently linked in an empathic bonding.
Cover notes from the original printing:
"In his second novel, Australian author Mel Keegan keeps up the
action and suspense of ICE, WIND AND FIRE, displaying the same
imagination and confidence in the SF field as he did in the
comtemporary thriller.
THE UNABRIDGED EDITION:
from DreamCraft was first published in March '04.
It's 30,000+ words longer than the original GMP issue;
its new jacket was designed in consultation with MK.
Want to know the backstory of the COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED issue
of this book? Why it was cut ... how it was cut ... how it's
been restored and reissued? Click here to
visit The NARC page.
REVIEWS:
"A powerful futuristic thriller" — Capital Gay.
"Unputdownable" — Him.
Reader reviews for this novel are online on the site here (visit our Reader Reviews page),
and at Amazon.
You can post your own comments to this site via the Readers Review page.
Please note that this is a "moderated forum," where comments will be monitored,
and may be edited prior to posting to prevent burned fingers and trodden toes!)
SEE ALSO
Mel Keegan comments on DEATH'S HEAD
Of the thirty-odd novels and stories I've written, the "NARC universe"
pieces are in my top-three. I love this universe, and I think the
potential of the NARC concept is still 90% untapped, even after
EQUINOX. Jarrat and Stone are "icon" characters set against a
background where there's no confusion of right and wrong: it's as
clear as black and white, good and evil. No need to rationalize the
conflict which must be fought to rescue a generation of humanity (and
the future of the colonies). On the most basic level, too, I get a
big kick out of the technology. In a NARC book I get to dogfight in
jetplanes, shoot it out between characters in space armor and high-
tech machines ... and at the exact same time, explore the empathic
bond between my heroes. Notice, it's not telepathic, but empathic,
which changes the playing field utterly. The jacket blurb states that
these stories take place in the 23rd Century ... dead wrong! Many
times, I tried to convince GMP of the 24th Century dating, but to
no avail ... no one was listening before the jackets were printed!
The interesting thing is that the explosive conclusion to this book
is due in large part to the input of the commissioning editor, the
late Richard Dipple (who was the hub around which GMP revolved,
and who is still missed). My original ending for the novel was
a twist of irony: Jarrat chased down the chief villain who had
taken Stoney's armour and Jarrat's own weapon in various previous
altercations. Jarrat found himself looking down the business end
of his own Colt AR-60. He knew exactly what that weapon could do to
him ... and for the first time in the service lifetime of this
particular firearm it jammed, giving Jarrat the advantage. I was
happy with this ending and sent the novel in. Richard was happy
with everything except the ending, which he said (and he was right)
it didn't "go off" with big enough bang!!, and it should be
redone. So I took the whole thing to pieces, and the version which
was printed back in late '91 is the result.
Are you looking desperately for the old GMP editions
to complete a collection? In our experience, here is your best shot:
Copies often change hands there, although it's also true they don't change hands cheaply. In recent years, since the DreamCraft editions have been published, the price of an original GMP Death's Head is around US$80 - $100 ... which is an improvement on the price years ago, then it wa 4-5 times that high! Incidentally, when you buy a Mel Keegan title second hand, via an eBay trader, from a link on this site — Mel Keegan will earn a royalty, which is extremely appropriate. A new window will open; search on 'Mel Keegan,' and you'll see what's available at this time. NOTE: few people auction their MK titles, so the first result in your search results window is almost certainly going to be be '0 results for Mel Keegan.' Don't be deterred: scroll down to the Ebay Stores. At the time of this upload, for example, you could buy four MK titles, including both the GMP editions of Death's Head and Equinox, at very reasonable prices! Happy shopping ... and good luck! (Tell us how you go.)
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