The Unweeded Garden — Brian Rappatta

When it comes to warfare of the mind, the battlefield is an unweeded garden . . .

Dusan is a young outsider on Ora, a remote island inhabited by a telepathic species who actively avoid the humans who live far across the ocean. He is effectively “deaf” -- unable to communicate mind to mind with his peers. In fact, his people regard him as little better than the feebleminded humans. Shunned and taunted by his own people, he leads a dreary existence . . . until a chance encounter with a human boy from across the sea changes everything.

Together, Dusan and his newfound friend discover that their minds aren't nearly as feeble as they've been led to believe . . . and that they're the linchpins in a war between the Oran people and their past.

Novelette - 13,000 words


About the Author

Brian Rappatta's short fiction has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, both online and in print. His recent publications include Shock Totem #1, Steampunk Tales #1, the first venue for original short fiction designed exclusively for the iphone, and the anthology Zencore: Scriptus Innominatus (the 7th volume of the Nemonymous anthology series, which was shortlisted for the British Fantasy Society Award for Best Anthology). His novelette, “Tongues”, won 2nd place in the annual Writers of the Future competition in 2006. He is a graduate of the Odyssey Writers Workshop, where he studied with World Fantasy Award winner Jeanne Cavelos and #1 New York Times bestselling author George R.R. Martin.