Ethan Nahté

Wings of Mercury Ethan Nahté

Aliens don't care what Earthlings say, Rock 'N' Roll is Here to Stay! The latest novella from speculative fiction author & entertainment journalist Ethan Nahté is a YA story set on Zardün, a moon in a distant galaxy, very far, far away. Drap is a typical teenage Pleisian. He's a bit of a loner and brainy with an embarrassing issue: He wears his emotions, not on his sleeve, but by the coloration of his skin -- like a living mood ring. His nerdiness and ever-changing skin tone make him an easy target for his nemesis, Klarg, and his gang of bully misfits. Drap has a handful of buddies he hangs with, both at school and at Bok's Diner, which orbits Zardün. It's the happening joint where most of the teens and young adults fly their shuttles to chill out and eat arok burgers. Drap enjoys Bok's for more than just the food. Like several of Bok's male patronage, Drap has his eyes set on Sylenshia, an exotic and beautiful spacehop, who works at Bok's. She's a gal with unusual antennae and who definitely knows how to take care of herself when creeps try to make a move. Once Drap learns about a long dead planet named earth in one of his classes, he discovers all he can about a particular era -- the birth of rock 'n' roll! Drap falls in love with the exciting music, the classic cars and the pop culture of the period, including teenagers cruising drive-in restaurants and carhops on roller-skates. His newfound love drives him to educate his friends and take them on a rocket ride as they change their moon! He soon discovers popularity has its benefits, but the attention brings about the wrath of Klarg. Drap finds himself caught in a trap -- can he walk out -- alive? Come twist and shout with Drap, Sylenshia and the gang for an out-of-this-galaxy ride where Bill Haley and the Comets find new life blaring through the speakers of souped up cruisers and shuttles blasting thrusters in outer space -- possibly past Telstar -- and a Rocket 88 has wings instead of wheels. Wings of Mercury is a bit of Grease and American Graffiti facing off with Rebel Without a Cause.