Rococo

It's the year 2100. Nan has had to leave her peaceful home above what used to be the Arctic Circle for something extraordinarily old-fashioned: a physical meeting with someone in, of all places, a city. If she doesn't contract a fatal disease first, she might choke to death on Manhattan's Rococo holography. And why hasn't she heard anything from her best friend, Trix? But things are about to get a whole lot worse than having dinner with the man who hired her to devise a craft, which should get all those annoying aliens off welfare and back to their home planet.

Sue Hollister Barr's first publishing credits included articles in The New York Times and Twisted, a somewhat tongue-in-cheek horror novel first published conventionally in 1992 and still selling. "Holly" has also taught creative writing, with the blessings of state certification, and was senior editor for a literary agency for ten years.

"Welcome, my dearest dear, to Rococo—a novella with as many plot flourishes as its name suggests. In a richly imagined future, Nan is designing the propulsion system for a vessel with a mysterious itinerary, and she's working for an elusive boss. Her work, she discovers, is of interest to many parties, and she has the dark suspicion that not all that interest is healthy. There is indeed something sinister afoot, and the voice of Nan's grandfather echoes in her mind: 'Only you can overcome this.'

Sue Hollister Barr's characters will draw you into this tale, leading you through fantastic settings and swirling twists. But be warned: once may not be enough. Rococo is a story that invites—and rewards—re-reading."

Amanda Coffin, Editor