Conroyverse Series by Lawrence M. Schoen

The Amazing Conroy is a stage hypnotist, a likable rogue who's been booked to perform in mediocre club in the human ghetto of a city on the Arconi world of Gibrahl. People come to this planet for one reason: it's the only place where Terrans can buy buffalo dogs. These cute creatures resemble a miniature bison, can eat quite literally anything, and fart oxygen. And they cost ten million bucks each, no more than one to a customer, and they can only be transported by a licensed courier... moreThe Amazing Conroy is a stage hypnotist, a likable rogue who's been booked to perform in mediocre club in the human ghetto of a city on the Arconi world of Gibrahl. People come to this planet for one reason: it's the only place where Terrans can buy buffalo dogs. These cute creatures resemble a miniature bison, can eat quite literally anything, and fart oxygen. And they cost ten million bucks each, no more than one to a customer, and they can only be transported by a licensed courier.Any attempts to smuggle, steal, or otherwise make off with an illegal buffalo dog is punishable by death, and the Arconi have a quirky telepathic ability to know when someone is telling them something that's not true. In the midst of performing his stage act, Conroy runs afoul of an Arconi cop and loses his job. But just one things are looking their worst, an opportunity for a courier's license lands in his lap. Will he leave the stage behind and pursue an effortless and lucrative career, or will he pit his hypnotic skills against alien telepathy and find a way to beat the Arconi at their own game?* This is the first story in the Conroyverse series * less

"Makes for a fun read, especially given such a fantastic cast of characters." -BOOKLIST. "Only Lawrence Schoen could blend the Mayan eschaton, nightclub hypnotism, corporate elitism, radical environmentalism, and good old-fashioned slam-bang adventure fiction." - Jay Lake. "Fast-paced and mind-bending." - Karl Schroeder. A former stage hypnotist, the Amazing Conroy really just wants to have a good meal... more"Makes for a fun read, especially given such a fantastic cast of characters." -BOOKLIST. "Only Lawrence Schoen could blend the Mayan eschaton, nightclub hypnotism, corporate elitism, radical environmentalism, and good old-fashioned slam-bang adventure fiction." - Jay Lake. "Fast-paced and mind-bending." - Karl Schroeder. A former stage hypnotist, the Amazing Conroy really just wants to have a good meal. He's now the wealthy CEO of a company that leases buffalo dogs, alien creatures capable of biting into and devouring nearly anything. When he attempts to implement a solution for cleaning up massive industrial waste sites, Conroy becomes targeted by ecological terrorists who resent the use of alien technology (living or otherwise) to heal the Earth. But kidnapping and the destruction of his corporate headquarters are the least of Conroy's problems. An unknown, telepathic intelligence has begun invading his dreams, warning of geological disasters that hinge on what Conroy does next. Further complicating his life are several groups of aliens, each believing that he has a special destiny to fulfil, though they don't necessarily agree what it is. Accompanied by his pet buffalito, Reggie, Conroy must elude terrorists, confound alien zealots, withstand temporal distortions throughout the former state of Texas, and explore ancient Mayan ruins. His adventures will result in his reunion with a long dead relative, a chance to experience the world's greatest sandwiches, exposure to alien bliss, a battle with a megalomaniac on the slope of an active volcano, and a trip to the asteroid belt for a final face-to-face confrontation with the creature that had been invading his dreams. Somewhere in the midst of it all, he has to find his true destiny. less

For years, Lawrence M. Schoen has been producing stories about the ever more popular Amazing Conroy and his companion, a buffalito named Reggie. Here he presents a collection of those stories, including a new novella (the Nebula Award-nominated "Barry's Tale"), which adds to the adventures of the hypnotist-turned-business-owner as he and Reggie travel the known universe, as well as beyond Human Space. Buffalitos are alien creatures that look like miniature bison and can consume anything... moreFor years, Lawrence M. Schoen has been producing stories about the ever more popular Amazing Conroy and his companion, a buffalito named Reggie. Here he presents a collection of those stories, including a new novella (the Nebula Award-nominated "Barry's Tale"), which adds to the adventures of the hypnotist-turned-business-owner as he and Reggie travel the known universe, as well as beyond Human Space. Buffalitos are alien creatures that look like miniature bison and can consume anything. Their only waste product is oxygen. Which makes for limitless possibilities. less

What wouldn't you do to save your best friend?The Amazing Conroy has lost his fortune and fled Earth.Now Reggie is dying and the buffalito’s internal nuclear furnace is growing unstable.Their only hope lies with the Arconi, the same aliens Conroy robbed to create his empire.He must surrender to alien justice — a trial in a telepathic court where everyone already knows he's guilty!But Conroy's a hypnotist and has spent his life altering perceptions of reality... moreWhat wouldn't you do to save your best friend?The Amazing Conroy has lost his fortune and fled Earth.Now Reggie is dying and the buffalito’s internal nuclear furnace is growing unstable.Their only hope lies with the Arconi, the same aliens Conroy robbed to create his empire.He must surrender to alien justice — a trial in a telepathic court where everyone already knows he's guilty!But Conroy's a hypnotist and has spent his life altering perceptions of reality. To save Reggie's life — and avoid multiple lifetime prison terms — he'll have to convince a truth-telling tribunal that up is down, day is night, and his crimes of smuggling were a good thing!The Amazing Conroy series is an intergalactic adventure by a 6-time Nebula Award-nominated author. Mind control, mayhem, and metaphor abound in a story that will keep you brilliantly entertained. less

Publishers Weekly: "Fans of old-fashioned SF will love this fast-paced, chaotic, and good-natured adventure full of semi-farcical humor and pleasantly believable aliens." Conroy has left Earth far behind and taken his hypnosis act beyond Human Space... morePublishers Weekly: "Fans of old-fashioned SF will love this fast-paced, chaotic, and good-natured adventure full of semi-farcical humor and pleasantly believable aliens." Conroy has left Earth far behind and taken his hypnosis act beyond Human Space. It should be show business as usual, except for the energy being the size of a hundred suns that wants to study him, a plot to smuggle liquid gravity, a troupe of alien sex wrestlers, a hypnotized ghost, and Reggie his buffalito stuck in a saurian toilet... BUFFALITO CONTINGENCY is the exciting sequel to the popular BUFFALITO DESTINY. less