David Selby was born and grew up in Berkeley, California. He taught elementary school in California, Mexico, and New Mexico for thirty-six years. He and his wife live in Northwest New Mexico.  He has written many short stories including the Joe the Man with Gills series. Mica is his first novel.

Mica, an expert navigator, uses the currents of the Darkstream to pilot his ship across the galaxy to join his love, Olivine. On the way, he befriends Ronnie, a stowaway who can look like a coat or a first aid kit, the mysterious Vuud, and the translucent “Slight People”. They experience the savage planet of Carnage and the whirling destruction of the Moon of 10,000 Drones before they even reach Olivine in the brand-new city of Garner in the midst of an unknown world.


Mica

"Is robbery a great problem? I have not had any bad experience with anyone wanting to rob or molest me," said Vuud.


"Crime—is not so much a problem as a way of life. Like everything of importance, it is a business. It controls a sizable chunk of our cash here."


"Why do marchans tolerate it, why don't the people work together to stop it?"


"Work together?" Davin repeated incredulously. "Why, that sounds like Government!No, we won't be having that. Anyway, usually we aren't harmed much we just lose our valuables to them.See, most people have some kind of security, such as me and my boys here. Rich people have what you might call plainclothed policemen around them. But the crocks are clever-organized.The young Newcrocks often get hurt or even killed plying their trade, but the older Tradecrocks have their own guilds and work with other less obviously criminal businessmen."


Chapter 24: Reviving, Part 2