out november 16, 2026
Stones of Orcus hyperbolizes the so-called immortal gene used in medical science by asking, what if, through medical malpractice, the holy grail could be achieved? How far might the seeker of such a prize be willing to go to obtain it? Stones connects historical medical negligence from a speculative angle by underlining the exploitation of bodies through Henrietta Lacks and her “HeLa cells”, which are still in virtuous use in medical science today. Stones is a call to masculinity and fatherhood, occupying themes of bondage, altruism and greed with care to the budding africanfuturist aesthetic.
Concept art by artist Evgeniia GurchevaConcept art by artist Evgeniia Gurcheva
About Tim
Timothy E. Stroud is a father of two, a US American immigrant, author, lecturer, sailor and stargazer.
He wrote Stones a year before his father transitioned and never got to share it with him. The Empress’ Heir trilogy is dedicated to his father, Timothy A. Stroud.