Self-published author of SF & fantasy tales
Mark W White
The Novels and Short Stories of Mark W White
Available now: The Pantheon Triptych, an SF novel that blurs the boundaries with fantasy.
Subscribe to Mark W White's newsletter to keep up to date with the latest news and access bonus content. You'll be able to download a free copy of Substrate Constraints, a collection of short stories set in the extended world of his early novels.
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The Pantheon Triptych
An SF novel with fantasy trappings
Steffan's loyalty to his leader, Rurik, is unshakable. Katsu and Tomlin change his mind. Rurik must be stopped.
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Interstellar arkships colonised the world of Pantheon generations ago. Unexpectedly, the settlers developed mild psionic powers thanks to exotic flux channels running beneath its surface. These soon became part of life.
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Living in the isolationist state of Anatol, fealty to his leader is everything to Steffan. He would give his life for Rurik, Anatol's ruler, despite being his designated successor. It is engrained in his soul.
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On the established continent of Kitara, flux expert Katsu Sumara sets out to investigate tantalising signs of new abilities emerging. Cynical investigator Tomlin Gaudy travels the southern state of Temani to uncover why minor celebrities have spoken in support of a niche, potentially seditious, cause.
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When their paths collide, it reveals the threat Rurik poses to Pantheon's future that only Steffan can counter. The answer lies somewhere in the combined stories of their lives, and Magritte, Rurik's secretary, likely holds the key.
Book 2: Fractal War
The reconciliation session was over. The murder has been solved. That was the easy bit.
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Valerity Novak's boss recruits Everson Polk and the other survivors of the reconciliation session to sort out the mess they uncovered. The ragtag team of misfits and murderers are among the few people guaranteed not to have been compromised by the conspiracy behind the peace process.
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With a warmonger still running one planet, an enemy admiral in hiding with his fleet waiting to strike, and those who ostensibly brought peace not being all they seem, it's like the war never really ended. ​It's still being fought, hidden behind the veil of the peace process.​
Book 3: Fractal Legacy
The century-long war was over at last. Attention turns to the lingering threat of the ancient conflict that caused Fractal Space to be built in the first place. The newly-formed Fractal Commission aims to open all the remaining gateways and warn the races beyond of the danger. Only then can everyone be safe.
The Kitrano know nothing of Fractal Space, but that doesn't blunt their determination to explore nearby star systems. Laz Turka begins his career working with genius Cayt Noosk. She knows how to create wormholes. ​They're at a loss when their experiments fail catastrophically, having no idea they've attracted the attention of one of the ancient enemies.
The Fractal Commission has problems of its own. New schisms emerge to threaten their mission and keep them unaware of the Kitrano. It becomes an unwitting race against time. Only death awaits the losers – if they're lucky.
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Book 1: Fractal Peace
Everson Polk's morning walk was ruined when he stumbled across an alien body. It was no big deal, nothing more than an occupational hazard in his role as a facilitator in the Reconciliation Commission. These things happened. Then celebrity detective Valerity Novak arrived to investigate.
The century-long Fractal War – a battle for supremacy over Fractal Space, an artificial realm created by an ancient and long-lost race – was over. On paper, the Olvin and their Falki partners emerged victorious against the ruthless Ungaleth and Enella. In reality, the war only ended due to an internal Ungaleth uprising, and plenty were unhappy with the outcome. It was up to Earth to maintain the fragile peace. The murder was the least of Polk's probems.
Fractal Space
The worlds linked by the ancient alien artefact of Fractal Space are finally at peace. But at what cost?
An SF trilogy.
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The Mufflers
In a world with everyday magic, technology must be suppressed.
A light fantasy trilogy
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Book 1: The Muffler's Ministry
Rowan Webb is head-hunted into the secretive Ministry responsible for ensuring technological advancement is suppressed – the Mufflers, who turn out to be a surprisingly friendly and eccentric bunch.
Venturing out into the community with a familiar called Pythia, Rowan has every intention of having as good a time as possible while working undercover.
Then the shadows of the past re-emerge to spoil the fun – and threaten ultimate destruction. To cap it off nicely, his ex, Tia Tobin, isn't happy with Rowan either.
Book 2: The Muffler's Mission
After the Battle of Gooseport, Portsea may never be the same. People call for change, but a more urgent threat emerges to cause the Mufflers to reevaluate their priorities.
Personal matters have to wait. The lingering dangers from the old world can't be ignored, so the Mufflers head out to prepare their neighbours for the threat.
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All roads lead to Ringwall, but what lies within this mysterious region?
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Book 3: The Muffler's Misery
Cronos has been defeated again, but the latent threat remains. The Oracle – AKA The Muffler – is working on a plan for long-term safety but is reluctant to reveal the details.
Rowan and Tia have more pressing concerns. Tia's ever-growing magical ability threatens to kill her unless it stops. Rowan's Dad is missing, spreading unfamiliars across the land, causing chaos in his quest to weaken the Oracle.
First, Tia must visit Emforth to get a minor marital mess sorted. At least nothing could possibly go wrong there. Could it?
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Scouring Juventas
The human colony on Juventas seeks to expand. History stands in its way.
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The human colony of Juventas was founded a century earlier with the arrival of the Juno II. A critical election now looms with one item dominating debate: is it time to finally begin to expand after the tough early years?
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Jess Kimber runs a prestigious product development team, but after a tumultuous year, decides to hand over the reins to her deputy. After a painful divorce, she needs space to find something worthwhile, but her ex keeps getting in the way.
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Ravi Antic joins Till Bullen's expedition as they set out to explore what lies beyond the local region. A long supporter of expansion, Till hopes their discoveries will turn the tide of opinion in the election.
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A major system outage puts the election in doubt, but that's the least of the colony's problems. Their lack of knowledge about why the colony's foundation was so difficult is nothing compared to their ignorance of the planet's past.
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Jess and Ravi get swept into the centre of events as they begin to uncover the truth. The mysterious entity Bekomdef already knows. It watches patiently from afar, deciding whether to intervene again.
The Tamboli Sequence
A trilogy of science fiction novels exploring the unexpected legacy of Raj Tamboli
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Book 1: A Vision of Unity
Raj Tamboli risks everything to avert nuclear war. Carole Cantor is the last person to see him and vows to hold him to account.
Two centuries later, historian Kofi Albus is tasked with investigating what happened as new deaths mount.
Learning the lessons of history is tough when that history turns out to be a lie.
Book 2: A Division of Order
In the authoritarian society of Juno, Jemma is determined to find out the truth behind the world.
Knowing it needs reform, are the Resistance forces, led by a man called Tamboli, worse than those already in power?
Can a society kept ignorant of its own nature survive a malignant force knowing the truth?
Book 3: A Revision of Reality
On Earth, Katinka Farkas has to flee for her life as her closest friends go missing at a ritual dedicated to Raj Tamboli.
On Juno, the appearance of a mysterious presence sends Nevin on a new path to enlightenment.
The collision of these two worlds is driven by an unknown force. What is their agenda?
In Memory of Chris Parsons
A speculative family drama of life, death and confusion set in rural Wiltshire
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Chris Parsons' life is transformed by tragedy after losing his wife, Lisa, and his daughter, Alex, in a ridiculously hazy accident. Luckily on some days, Lisa is still there to help him; on others, Alex tries to cheer him up – not that he'll remember it by tomorrow.
He turns to a new therapist, Erica Immurson, to try to make sense of his life. Her repetitive therapy uncovers a world of contradiction: one where his own future is as uncertain as his past.
Inspired by the wonders visible from rural Wiltshire – including the West Kennet Long Barrow, the Cherhill White Horse, the aurora borealis, and Avebury – gradually, he begins to recall the truth.
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Of course, Lisa has a different story to tell. Alex isn't happy either.
Substrate Constraints
Short stories that add colour and connectivity to the early novels of Mark W White
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You may wonder what the family SF drama In Memory of Chris Parsons, the more traditional SF fare of The Tamboli Sequence and Scouring Juventas, plus the light fantasy series The Mufflers, could possibly have in common. They're all set in the same extended universe, naturally.
If after reading some of these, you've no idea how that could possibly be, then this is the collection for you.
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To download Substrate Constraints, a free collection of short stories set in the extended world of his early novels, plus other bonus content, simply subscribe to Mark W White's newsletter – or purchase it below.
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You can also read the stories here.
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