I’m Brantley Thompson Elkins, and I was one of those whose stories were left homeless when the old Aurora Universe site was taken down. But thanks to Greg, webmaster of ubergirls.org, I have my own site, called The Bright Empire (brantley.ubergirls.org), plus the editing tools to go with it, and all of my stories are now posted here, along with some essays and other material.

I'm also hosting stories by Joe Haley, another AU exile, and even classic Sharon Best AU fiction and reference materials – some available nowhere else, even at the restored AU archive and download links. I have begun a gallery of erotic superheroines, small thus far because I'm very finicky about picts, and am in the process of adding picture links to stories.

My stories thus far are all set in the AU, more or less (given that different writers have different takes on the AU), the version Shadar (formerly Sharon) now calls Generation 3. "Throne of the Gods," was the first to be set offworld as opposed to here on Earth. I’m working on another called "Sleeping Beauty," a sequel to "Mundane Secrets of the Yo Yo Brotherhood." That too is set offworld, although the original story wasn’t. My most recent works include "Pictures of an Expedition," a prequel to TOG; and "Terms of Enhancement," a sort of sidequel. For all stories, present and future, the usual word of caution for a site such as mine: these are for mature readers only. If you're not 18 or older, please be gone. And if the Church Lady or her ilk stumble across my site, let them be gone too!

The Bright Empire takes its name from a passing reference in the work of Cordwainer Smith, one of my very favorite science fiction writers. But it relates perfectly to the essence of the Velorian Enlightenment and its Protectors, whose beauty and valor bring light and hope even to the darkest corners of the universe. It is a vision that I think may be of greater significance than even its original creator realized. It may be erotic fantasy in large part, and yet it is also a fantasy of female empowerment. A few of my women friends even consider it feminist, although I have never made such a claim and hesitate to do so now.

Anyway, forget about theories. The Bright Empire is about what I like. So let’s just say that I like my superheroines to be beautiful and sexy and powerful and intelligent -- and benevolent. You won’t find me writing dominatrix fiction, or the kind where the superheroines deliberately or accidentally kill men while trying to have sex, or engage in wanton vandalism. And you’ll never find me writing the kind where the superheroines are stripped of their powers and raped or otherwise abused. I think women are wonderful, and should be treated as such in fact and in fiction.

The strange tale of how I came to write in this genre is told in "A True Story about a Fictional Story," an introduction to "Throne of the Gods." Further notes may be found in "Behind the Stories." I offer my gratitude to all who have helped with my writing and with this site, including Greg for having provided me a home under the umbrella of übergirls.org, Random for the home page banner (which features the smart and sexy Mandi Steele), my fellow superheroine fiction authors and superheroine manip artists for advice, assistance and encouragement; and, yes, Sharon Best (who as Shadar now hosts a new version of the AU): my first muse and mentor and honored as such whatever ups and downs our relationship has gone through since.