One Man: No Plan, K'Barthan Series: Part 3

A man chosen by fate. The wrong man.

The Pan of Hamgee needs answers, although he’s not even sure he knows the questions.

He has a chance to go straight but it’s been so long that he’s almost forgotten how. Despite a death warrant over his head he is released, given a state-sponsored business, and a year’s amnesty for all misdemeanours while he adjusts. On the down side, Ruth has thrown in her lot with his nemesis, Lord Vernon.

The Pan doesn’t have a year, either. In only five days Lord Vernon will gain total power and destroy K'Barth. Unless The Pan can stop him. Because even though the Candidate, the person prophesied to save K'Barth, has finally appeared it's still going to be down to The Pan to make things right. But he has no clue where to start or whether he even can.

The future hangs by a thread and the only person who can fix it is The Pan: a man without a plan.

This is a humorous science fiction fantasy action adventure - yeh, it's a genre mash up! Think Terry Pratchett meets Dr Who. It's written in British English with some light swearing.

Note: This digital edition includes ePub and Mobi (Kindle) versions of the book.

If you like portal fiction, this series might float your boat. This book is number three of four. The first is Few Are Chosen, K'Barthan Series: Part 1 the second, The Wrong Stuff, K'Barthan Series: Part 2, and the fourth and final book is Looking for Trouble, K'Barthan Series: Part 4. Unless you read them in order they won't make much sense..

These books are written in British English with some light swearing.

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

Q – So, tell us about the K’Barthan Series. What made you write it? What makes it special?

A – I wanted to write the books I wanted to read that hadn't been written. This is still why I write. I also wanted it to reflect the books I love, Terry Pratchett's discworld, Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde, Tom Holt, Robert Rankin ... Also stuff like Heide Goody's Clovenhoof series, The Stainless Steel Rat series and strains of Harry Potter.

The hero, The Pan of Hamgee, had to be normal; someone who is aware of the risks he is taking and human – ie scared – for whom bravery costs. In Ruth, the heroine, I wanted to create someone pragmatic, sensible and grounded. She’s not going to lose a shoe and fall over, so the hero has to go back and help her, and they both get caught by the monster. She’s a strong female protagonist who is a bit more of a hero than The Pan, frankly – to start with at any rate. I think he catches her up as the story unfolds.

Q – Do our readers have to read the K’Barthan Series in order?

A – Yes otherwise the character development – and some of the technology – will make less sense. That said, the series of K'Barthan Extras I'm currently writing to go with it can be read any time. The rest of the books go in this order:

- Unlucky Dip, K'Barthan Series: Prequel
- Few Are Chosen, K'Barthan Series: Part 1
- The Wrong Stuff, K'Barthan Series: Part 2
- One Man: No Plan, K'Barthan Series: Part 3
- Looking For Trouble, K'Barthan Series: Part 4

Q – Will the scary bits frighten me?

Hopefully not. Basically, if you have read the Harry Potter series and weren't freaked out by the scary bits in that, you should be fine with the K'Barthan Series.

Q – What will readers enjoy most about The K'Barthan Series?

A – Hopefully, the same things as I do: the laughs, the romance – where it appears – the fast pace and the action – especially the flying car chases – and I hope they will like its deeper side.

Q – What is your favourite kind of Book? Would The K'Barthan Series fit on the list?

A – Oh yes. As I mentioned earlier, I love humorous novels although a lot of my influences come from TV. There was this evening slot in the UK, after homework but before supper, when they showed old stuff on BBC2; original StarTrek, Get Smart, Hogan's Heroes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The persuaders, the Avengers, the Saint, Randal and Hopkirk Deceased, Space 1999. Then there's Blake's Seven and Dr Who, and Red Dwarf, of course. I loved all that.

Q – Do you have a target reader?

A – Officially it’s young adults and teenagers but it's turning out to be age 10 and up. Sure, now that it’s complete the series is certainly proving popular with teens and young adults and I had my nephew in mind when I wrote them, who was a teenager at the time. However, I firmly believe that all the best books should hold a universal appeal, so I also wrote it for me. Thus far – if the people who contact me are anything to go by – it appeals to a certain type of person across the board. The oldest fan of the series I know of is in his 90s and the youngest is 10.

Basically, if you like British Comedy you will probably enjoy the K'Barthan Series. If you enjoyed the Narnia books and the Harry Potter books you will probably like it. You might even like it if you enjoy historical novels like The Children of the New Forest, or Moonfleet.