Alice's sense of naturalism leaves something to be desired.

[seanan_mcguire]

It's time for some free fiction, and for the second story of the Alice and Thomas era. The year is 1954. Thomas Price is new in town, and Alice is just trying to be hospitable. Honestly, that's all she's doing at the house.

With "The Lay of the Land," we begin the slow dance between Thomas Price, Covenant researcher, and Alice Healy, too young, too untrained, and too foolhardy by half. It's going to be a long one. Best that we get started.

You can download the new story now from the InCryptid short fiction page.

This also serves as your discussion post.

Comments

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was delightful. Thank you so much for posting. Thomas definitely seems to be of an entirely different Covenant stripe than anyone is expecting; I loved seeing him be so gentle with the tailypo. (With a quick check to the field guide to see if it was there; my, that is a lot of tail!)

[anne_d]

Thank you so much, this was lovely.

[bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful surprise! I enjoyed this very much, even though I got a little misty when Thomas was musing about Alice's mother. Even "preternaturally good luck" has a tendency to run out.

[artofcheatery.livejournal.com]

I posted in the giveaway thread that I wanted Alice and/or Thomas to show up and the next day I get short fiction.

Let's try this again: I want a new car.

[laurenthemself]

I also asked for more Alice! #blessed

[sathena9.livejournal.com]

Me three!

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I also said more Alice, because Alice is the best.

[reedrover]

Thank you! I'm enjoying the background and development of Alice a great deal. And rock scorpions! So cool!

[ancelinegrey.livejournal.com]

Oh Lord... I love Alice more and more the more I hear about her. This was amzing.

[sylphon.livejournal.com]

Great little story! Definitely needed a pickmeup today. A laptop died AND my dang phone. So yay for soothing little ditties from Seanan :-)

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you! Looking forward to reading it this weekend.

[mrs-norris-mous.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Wonderful. Thank you!

Ah, parenting and The Law of Unintended Consequences.

[rebekah rose lange (from livejournal.com)]

How wonderful!

This is exactly what I needed and was a pleasure to read!

[galeni.livejournal.com]

InCryptid is a gateway drug to other Seanan books. I fell in love with this series, even though I hadn't really liked October Daye when I tried. Then I read the Parasite series. Now I'm devouring these short stories. So I re-tried the Amazon sample of the first Daye and (gulp) went and ordered all ten books. Thought I ought to let you know.

[lastalda.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for another fabulous story!
I love the piece-by-piece way you are telling us the years and years of background of this fascinating world, even if waiting in between is agony (which just shows the quality of the work, so no complaining!).

[clayin.livejournal.com]

Ha! Strict parents raise the best liars. At least Alice has the support of her grandmother.

This story was a delight!