Arran Gimba is the author of several short story and science fiction novels, including Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award nominee Elaine and Anastasia: An Intergalactic Space Romp.
More information can be found on his Kirkus Pro Connect website.
Elaine and Anastasia
Elaine is the assistant (don’t call her a lady’s maid) to Anastasia, the beautiful but rather airheaded and spoilt daughter of the recently divorced Emperor and Empress of the Galactic Union of Planets. Anastasia wants to head off on the traditional Year Out tour of the known worlds. Unfortunately, Daddy has put his foot down for once, so any sensible princess would just have to stay at home. Thankfully for the plot, she’s not that sensible, so she arranges to sneak off on it anyway, taking nothing but a backpack, enough credit cards to sink a battleship, and her trusty assistant, who believes that everything is totally approved, and that the fact they are leaving in a small shuttle under an assumed name is just a security precaution. After all, at a time when anti-monarchy feeling is running high, even Anastasia wouldn’t be stupid enough to wander off without a security detail or two following discretely behind, would she?
“Gimba has written a refreshingly zany work that has the potential to become a cult classic. The witty, third-person narration takes aim at everything from fandom culture to materialism and inequality, but it never takes a tone that feels preachy. Instead, Gimba delivers refreshingly funny dialogue and fresh worldbuilding.” - Kirkus Reviews
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The more I read, the more I liked it. A solid four stars; the satire and parody exist but are woven well into the work. There are some scenes that resemble some you may have seen on the big screen, but they’re unique. This is original work that happens to have a few scenes resembling other works.
It is just what it claims to be - a fun, not overly serious, enjoyable adventure. I look forward to seeing other works by the author.”
Not So Heartwarming Stories
Arran Gimba’s collection of short stories takes the reader to new universes & new dimensions as he explores science fiction. The tightly crafted stories collected here are full of deftly drawn characters, universal truths, and often, like good jokes, surprising humor. These stories will shatter readers' perceptions with an unexpected final paragraph. Gimba presents a group of the most surprising and devious twists - from the tragic to the humorous by way of the downright sinister.
“The results are charming, as if one is reading a script for a fantasy-based sketch-comedy show. Ambitious and energetic flash fiction.”
Educate This
Kathy has just come out of teacher training, and is delighted to get her first job at Z Corp’s school, run as part of the program that gives corporations complete control over running some schools. She arrives to find a seemingly model school environment. All right, so the principal is an AI, a few of the lessons seem a little unorthodox, and the library has just been swapped for a data stick downloaded directly into pupils’ brains, but at least they get their homework in on time now. Right? Kathy quickly finds out that all is not what it seems, and has to choose whether to go along with it, or fight against the system.
Writer’s Block
Tony is a writer of romances and romantic comedy, and his own love life seems to be going okay for once, since he has found himself swept up in a romance with the formidable Ursula (whether he wants to or not, largely, given that Ursula tends to steamroller him into things). They’re even due to get married. It’s then that Lucy, the lead character from his last couple of novels, shows up on his doorstep. She has been encouraged to take a break from fiction by her friend Penny, after complaining to her about all the stupid, annoying things that keep happening in her life. Yes, characters aren’t really supposed to take unauthorized portals out, but she has to know why someone is messing up her life like this for the sake of fiction. And, oh by the way, hunters from fiction show up, determined to capture Lucy. Tony must spend his time trying to ensure that his wedding goes ahead okay and fending off the strange things that have leapt out of fiction, saving his lead character in the process.