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

Rogere picked me up in his new skimcraft: Didem.We already had our personal gear aboard his wonderful ship "Halcon". We greeted each other with a handshake-not exactly sure how much friends we are-but we grinned at each other. It'll be all right.


Rogere set Didem down about a half mile from the launch area. He indulged my urge to walk to the port so I could let my body feel the solid ground before we took off; not to feel a natural surface for several weeks.


As we talked and drew closer to the port, there on the outskirts of Garner, many business travelers and vacationers were rushing to the port master's building from various taxis, trickles, bubbles, skimcraft, etc.But there was a noisy crowd of maybe 100 people gathered around the entrance.They carried signs with slogans like: YOU CAN'T JUST STEAL A MOON; DON'T SHOOT PISTO; NO MOONJACKING. They were mostly young, noticeably shabbily dressed, and seemed to be upset about something.


Chapter 31: Trip to Pisto