After submitting to mandatory conscription, two young men begin Basic Training, or, "Vacay in Hay."

Xaxall Dwyer Knightly saunters onto base without a care in the worlds, filled to the brim with sass. He has the strength of five warriors and earns the distinction of being the only trainee to throw someone through a supporting wall.

Vivoxx Nathan Tirowen, son of a prominent general, carries himself with a naturally-commanding presence. Possessing an uncanny talent with weaponry, his drill sergeant is convinced Vivoxx could "trim the pits of a rodent without nicking the skin."

When the two recruits meet, one smiles warmly while the other speaks gibberish. Little do they know the bond they feel will lead them to become the venerable military pairing known as

The Stealth.

Cait (pronounced like 'cat') Gordon is a Canadian disability advocate who writes speculative fiction that celebrates the reality of diversity. Originally from Verdun, Québec, Cait worked for over two decades as a technical writer, then channelled her love for words into storytelling.

She is the author of the humorous space adventures Life in the 'Cosm and The Stealth Lovers.

Her short stories appear in Alice Unbound Beyond Wonderland (Ed. Colleen Anderson), We Shall Be Monsters (Ed. Derek Newman-Stille), and Stargazers: Microtales from the Cosmos (Eds. Jarvey and MacNab). The Hilltop Gathering from We Shall Be Monsters features a disabled protagonist and was discussed at a symposium about Frankenstein at Carleton University.

In 2016, Cait founded the Spoonie Authors Network to connect with writers in the disability community. Her desire to find better disabled and autistic representation in fiction prompted Cait to co-edit Nothing Without Us with Talia C. Johnson. The multi-genre anthology features authors and protagonists who are disabled, Deaf, neurodiverse, and/or who manage mental illness.

Nothing Without Us was included in the syllabus of a disability studies course at Trent University and earned a 2020 Prix Aurora Award nomination.

Even though her own works deal with issues about identity and human/alien/monster rights, Cait has always felt humour is an important part of world-building. "Without humour, it doesn't feel realistic."

Cait is also a musician and singer who has been living in Ottawa with her guitarist husband, author Bruce Gordon, since 1998. She's friendly, somewhat feisty, and really loves cake.

Cait Gordon's profile page

"The fiercest, most formidable warrior-lovers in the 'Cosm are back. And the battle has never been so fabulous!" -Stephen Graham King, author of A Congress of Ships

"Cait Gordon sent us on a ride full of pew-pew physics and one of the absolute best traits of people: our humour." -Nathan Burgoine, Lambda Literary finalist and author of Light

"HOLY STARS, I loved everything about this novel!!!" -Jamieson Wolf, author of Little Yellow Magnet