Hello Folks!!! My name is Ed Crandell, author of the West World series of books. The story of West World is a combination of the science fiction, western, and steampunk genres set on a planet in a far-off solar system. The West World narrative follows the adventures of Tom Shallowhorne. In the first novel—West World—Shallowhorne is a young army officer sent to a world as part of a militia force ordered to “civilize” the planet. Shallowhorne soon discovers that the task involves exterminating an indigenous race in order to clear the way for industrialists to get at a precious ore. In order to stop the massacre, Shallowhorne kills his commanding officer. In the remainder of the novel, Shallowhorne is a fugitive on the run from the law, continuing the fight for what he believes is right.

Return to West World is set a few years after the events of West World. In this latest installment in the planned trilogy, starship pirates kidnap Shallowhorne’s wife and son. Little does Shallowhorne know that this is all a plot to get him out of the way to further rape the planet of its natural resources—a plan concocted by an eccentric industrialist who is the puppet-master villain of the series.

Though the setting is otherworldly, many of the issues involved evoke the world we live in today: hybrid transportation, depletion of natural resources, and the protection of the environment. The underlying story of the series involves the dangers of greed and prejudice, along with the consequences we suffer for the choices we make. However, while examining these serious issues, the West World story never crosses the line by becoming preachy. Instead, the series might best be described as thoughtful entertainment, and is presented in a way that is appropriate for readers of all ages.

I am now in the process of writing the third and final installment in the West World trilogy—Battle for West World. For more information regarding the “West World” series, please visit my web site. The West World Homepage is: [link]