The Moon Panther:
And 3 Other Stories of the Mongolian Book of the Sky
An Anthology
2019
In a dystopian, post-technological Australia, Mongol horsemen and warlords form the upper crust of a conquest society. Harujin, the great conqueror styling himself a new Genghis Khan, has wrapped his talons around the entire globe. The conquest is finished, and now it’s a new beast entirely – bureaucracy.
From the desert wastelands of Western Australia to a lavish royal gala in Auckland, to the almost garish casinos and palaces of the imperial capital, The Moon Panther builds upon the incredibly rich world first established in The Hounds of Harujin. Presenting four novellas set in Jason Shannon’s The Mongolian Book of the Sky – a femme fatale assassin goes unarmed into a royal function under the watchful eyes of a hundred bodyguards; a conniving concubine digs her claws into the imperial government, cajoling and manipulating to make herself empress in all but name; desert bandits operate their own warlord state of drug running, human trafficking, and murder deep in the badlands....
This collection features four novellas:
The Conquest of Qongqor Caine - femme fatale assassin Josephine targets a corrupt official in New Zealand; 18,5000 words
One Night in Ikh Khulan - low-level bureaucrat is tapped for a prestigious position, has to impress the Machiavellian empress-concubine before he gets the job. A whirlwind of intrigue, decadence, assassination schemes and political maneuvering ensues; 40,000 words.
The Pirate's Lass - Local businesswoman takes the camel train through the desert, is beset upon by bandits of the worst sort hunting down a sex trafficking victim who's escaped; 31,000 words.
The Moon Panther - Vigilante assassin George ventures into the deep desert of western Australia to pursue the most vicious bandit king of them all, the man known as the Moon Panther; 70,000 words
Content note: Language: liberal use of the f-word and “see you next Tuesday” Sexual content: explicit orgy scenes, quasi-incest between adult sisters, references to rape and sexual enslavement, sex workers Violence: murder, executions described Drugs/alcohol/illicit substances: imbibing of alcohol and illicit drugs Race/gender/sexuality: Lesbian/bisexual female characters Other: roadside banditry as a result of extreme poverty Personal rating: R
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The Conquest of Qongqor Caine
Insurrectionist. That’s what they would call her – and the punishment for it was the most obscene she could even think of. It terrified her to her core, but that’s what she was: an insurrectionist. She waged war against the state in secret, she assassinated state officials.
With a prince in the other room, she’ll go after her most ambitious target yet: Dzuku, divisional tax overseer for Waikato, New Zealand. This will be the first time she’s left the mainland, the first time she’s done the deed surrounded by imperial security. And she’ll do it without her sword or her bow, dressed to the nines in stilettos and a backless dress.
Dzuku deserves to die; of that, she is certain. As to whether she’s the one that should be endowed with such a power – the grand arbiter – this is the question, above all others, that will eat at her....
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The Pirate's Lass
Her greatest literary hero is a kickass, take-no-prisoners, seaborne scallywag who binds her breasts and slays devious figures while her bird parrots back lusty things the assassin has said during carnal pursuits. But for Penelope Humberton, while the idea of gunning down monstrous figures gets her heart pumping, her own ambitions are much safer: getting her bookshop and printing press off the ground, expanding her market, introducing more readers to the titillating world of Moxie Breastbind comic books.
Safer, that is, only in theory. To move past small-time book sellers in Leinster, she needs to premiere her artist’s newest MB series at the convention in Geraldton, which means a three and a half week trek from her comfortable home in Leinster, travelling by camel train, through harsh desert, with company that’s ten-to-one men, and who’ve never heard of polite company.
And bandits. Pedro Kimbers, the bandit king of the western Outback, the ‘Duke of the Desert’, as he’s known in Moxie’s world, is by now largely believed to be dead – the only reason she’s agreed to leave the town’s boundary. But when a ravaged and traumatized young woman comes wandering out of the desert halfway between Leinster and Geraldton, with gruesome tales of her bandit overlords, Penelope must decide how – and if – to help this woman, and face the reality of what these overlords might do to get her back....
Sex slaves, military agents, security contractors and bandit emperors collide in this standalone novella of The Mongolian Book of the Sky.
Listen to an excerpt
Reviews
"It's bazookariffic - that's my review for your entire series. It'll explode right in your mouth. Business women, concubinage, post-apocalyptic society, party in your mouth - it's gonna be huge." - a reader
Purchase the novella
2 hours, 45 minutes
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One Night in Ikh Khulan
"One Night in Ikh Khulan" takes readers on a thrilling journey through a post-apocalyptic Mongol global empire. In this enthralling tale, we follow the ambitious small-town governor, Dzondzuukii, as he rises through the ranks of power. However, his ascent comes at a price as he finds himself caught in a web of deceit and manipulation.
As Dzondzuukii travels to the capital city of Ikh Khulan, a vibrant metropolis brimming with casinos and entertainment districts, he is thrust into a world far different from his humble origins. In order to secure his newfound position, Dzondzuukii must undergo scrutiny from the various ministries that govern the empire.
Amidst this high-stakes atmosphere, Dzondzuukii encounters the captivating Empress-concubine Viola. With her striking beauty and irresistible charm, Viola ensnares Dzondzuukii in her intricate game of power and seduction. As their paths intertwine, Dzondzuukii becomes increasingly aware of Viola's conniving nature, yet finds himself unable to resist her allure.
As the night unfolds, secrets and agendas come to light, leading Dzondzuukii down a treacherous path. In a world where loyalty is a luxury and survival is paramount, Dzondzuukii must navigate the dangerous labyrinth of political intrigue while battling his own desires and ambitions.
"One Night in Ikh Khulan" is a riveting tale of ambition, betrayal, and forbidden
love set against the backdrop of a decaying empire. Will Dzondzuukii succumb to the manipulations of Empress-concubine Viola, or will he find the strength to resist her charms and uncover the truth hidden beneath the glittering façade of Ikh Khulan?
Want more of One Night in Ikh Khulan?
There's an exclusive bonus scene - One Night in Telfer. This bonus scene only exists in The Special Edition of the audiobook. It's an additional 34 minutes of material, written in the same style, adding that little extra onto the ending. This bonus scene is available in the audiobook Special Edition, available on my website store.
Listen to an Excerpt
Purchase the novella
5 hours
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The Moon Panther
In the aftermath of global conquest that has transformed Australia into a mere province of the Empire, George Deerborne navigates a perilous existence as a vigilante assassin from the secluded Cobie estate at Lake Darlot. With a fierce determination and a heavy heart, he becomes embroiled in a high-stakes plot alongside his guild of assassins, who gather in the dusty hayloft to strategize the demise of the continent's most feared criminal: Aybars, known as The Moon Panther. This notorious bandit kingpin operates his criminal empire deep within the unforgiving Australian desert, his influence extending into the shadows of a broken society.
Competing with less-than reputable mercenaries, hired by the church to rescue women forced into the Moon Panther’s harem, George must navigate between enemies on all sides. This journey challenges him to confront the moral dilemmas of his assassin’s life while facing the harsh realities of a world where survival frequently overshadows justice. Encounters with corrupt officials and rival criminals test George's resolve and push him deeper into the heart of darkness, blurring the lines between heroism and villainy.
In a race against time and against a backdrop of despair, George's quest leads him to the most remote reaches of the desert, where he must ultimately confront The Moon Panther himself. As the clash between hunter and hunted unfolds, George must reckon with his own demons and the cost of vengeance. Will he emerge as a savior for the oppressed, or will the weight of his choices consume him in the unforgiving shadows of a world ravaged by chaos? The Moon Panther is a gripping tale of survival, morality, and the relentless pursuit of redemption in a fractured reality.
Update: recording of the audiobook is ongoing. I am aiming for release in 2025. Join my mailing list for updates.
