Terminus can’t help it, he keeps getting in trouble, and somehow just about stumbling out again. He reminds me of Tucker Jenkins, a character I used to watch many years ago in a BBC show called Grange Hill.

He’s persuaded his crew to take in the sights of the pleasure planet of Babel. But the pleasures of this planet are only for those who can pay…

‘Listen, I made a massive drent-up. It wasn’t the others’ fault, it was mine. If you’re gonna punish anyone, do it to me.’ He put his hand down. ‘However, if you wish to pursue this line of action I’d better warn you that we’re on a diplomatic mission, and if anything interferes with that you might just find three hundred Skyfirean Sundogs blasting this city to drent.’

She continued to stare, unmoved. That hadn’t worked, then.

‘Are you gonna stare at me all night or put a spike up my digest-spreader?’

‘Interesting.’ She spoke at last. Her thin lips almost smiled. ‘I sense that your destiny-line is strong. However, your life-line is short. Very short.’

‘What?’

She stood, a fluid movement, and passed through the desk. Terminus had to look again. This woman had just walked through a solid object. Her butt now rested against the desk, choosing to allow the ochre stone to bear the weight of her now solid buttocks. Terminus found himself staring at her legs: white, smooth, perfect and long.

‘Why should I kill you? You’re practically already dead. I’ve no need to waste my time.’

Click here for more information  on Terminus, including the author’s introductions to space-monsters and space-swearing. Click here to enter the Goodreads competition to win a paperback copy.

The second book of the Skyfire Chronicles, Unauthorized Contact, will be launched at Fantasycon 2012