num_pages: 95
description: Every future has dirty roots.Marooned in the galactic backwaters of the HardCell company colonist Runt struggles to eke out an existence on a newly-terraformed tropical planetoid. Since his clone-wife died on entry hes been doing the work of two on his failing protein farm. Overworked and undersized Runts dwindling hope of earning corporate citizenship has turned to fear of violent retirement.When an overdue crate of provisions crashes on his beach Runt searches frantically for a replacement wife among the tools and food. Instead he gets Ox a mute hulk who seems more like a corporate assassin than a simple offworld farmer.Shackwacky and near-starving Runt has no choice but to work with his silent partner despite his mounting paranoia and the unsettling appeal of Oxs genetically altered pheromones. Ox plays the part of the gentle giant well but Runts still not convinced he hasnt arrived with murder in mind.Between brutal desire and the seeds of a relationship Runts fears and Oxs inhuman past collide on a fertile world where hope and love just might have room to grow.
language: English
title: Grown Men
publisher: Riptide Publishing