The Amazing Adventures of Tortoise & Gecko
Preface & Contents
When Tortoise leaves his island home to join Gecko on the high seas, he discovers that the stories we tell and the ones we’re told always transform us…
Welcome! The Amazing Adventures of Tortoise & Gecko is a four-part, cross-genre novel with talking animals, pirates, empire, and buried texts. It’s a shapeshifting philosophical tale that explores the ways we read reality—and rewrite it.
Part 1 is a finished 52-episode novella that is written for adults but can be enjoyed by older kids and teens. Episodes are very short and posted every Wednesday.
Click ‘Next’ below to begin, or jump straight into Episode 1. Subscribe for free to get all the episodes by email—paid subscribers also get access to the Discussion forum and occasional bonus posts. The News section has general updates about the book. See the About page for acknowledgements.
Episodes
Part 1: The Pegasus
Begins 1st January 2025
Ends 24th December 2025
Section 1 (complete)
Episode 1: Wake Up, Tortoise - Tortoise, meet Gecko.
Episode 2: First Contact - In which Tortoise and Gecko meet a stranger.
Episode 3: Prisoners on the Beagle - Tortoise and Gecko meet an educated dog.
Episode 4: Polly Wants a Cracker - The Beagle encounters the pirate ship the Pegasus.
Episode 5: Captain Polly - Tortoise and Gecko make a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Episode 6: The Pegasus - Tortoise meets Penny and learns more about the Pegasus.
Episode 7: The Galley - Tortoise gets lost and asks for help.
Episode 8: Things That Are Known, And Things That Are Unknown
Episode 9: The Bunk - Tortoise ruminates, and meets another shipmate.
Episode 10: And So The Weeks Slid By… - Tortoise explores life aboard the Pegasus.
Episode 11: Attack! - Tortoise trains on the guns and a battle drill escalates quickly.
Episode 12: The Drill (Part 2) - The Pegasus and her crew are tested.
Episode 13: The Storm - Battles have consequences.
Section 2 (complete)
Episode 14: A Port - The Pegasus arrives in a northern port.
Episode 15: Vår - A brief history.
Episode 16: Shore Leave - All but one of the gang gather for a meal on dry land.
Episode 17: The Docks
Episode 18: Midwinter - The gang celebrates in style.
Episode 19: Hidden Fire
Episode 20: Underway - Gecko faces consequences.
Episode 21: The Black Remora - Another ship is hunting.
Episode 22: Bludger - Bludger of the Black Remora.
Episode 23: Captain Hyde - Captain Hyde of the Black Remora.
Episode 24: The Fog of War - The Pegasus meets the Black Remora.
Episode 25: The Boat - Polly makes a decision.
Episode 26: On High Seas - The narrative takes a Shackletonian turn.
Section 3 (ongoing)
Episode 27: The Boat Journey
Episode 28: The Island - Some of the crew attempt a perilous crossing.
Episode 29: Self-assembly - Four basic ingredients.
Episode 30: The Whaling Station - The expedition receives a mixed reception.
Episode 31: Squid Soup - A reunion and a welcome respite.
Episode 32: Gudge - On a walk in winter.
Episode 33: The Cairn - The gang experience an unexpected loss.
Episode 34: Once More Into the Sea