Pickle, Colored Rocks, and Toad
A novel by Noel Seif.

   Noel A. Seif is a graduate of Aquinas College (English Lit.) and Michigan State University (Creative Writing). She has taught writing classes at Grand Valley State University and her past publication credits include stories in the PrePress Awards, Cicada Magazine, and the Awakenings Review. Noel's first novel is inspired by computer games, especially Civilizations® and Age of Empires® and a love of sci-fi and fantasy novels.

    An old derelict space ship sits gathering dust in Mr. Waldermulder's transport bay in the community of Redsun on the planet Iperia. Dillon, one of Mr. Waldermulder's indentured servants, dismisses it as a mere hobby while Jules, another indent skilled in things mechanical, works furiously to restore it. Todd, the newest indent, hatches his own plan for it. Shavval, Mr. Waldermulder's niece, gives the boys the gift of her friendship in a society that has marginalized them. Unbeknownst to them all the ship possesses a mysterious power, and a stranger will stop at nothing short of burglary and kidnapping to take back what once belonged to him. In the end, the boys who start out as orphans and co-workers become the brothers none of them have, and Shavval helps give them the greatest gift of all.