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We Humans Could Destroy Ourselves
Ocellicon: Future Visions follows a military prosecutor who must draw on her battle-hardened past to conquer an adversarial court system and a fearsome judge and extraterrestrial enigmas. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
At this moment in time we appear to be at a crossroads – institutions no longer have the stature they once did and technology is developing faster than humans can adapt. The unscrupulous take advantage of these conditions for their own power and don’t give a rip about “mankind” and how or if we will survive. Though there may be physical disasters, a climate crisis, or biological diseases that threaten our existence, it seems as likely that we humans could destroy ourselves.
Annalisa Farrell is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
It was challenging to create a character who was abused, traumatized, and misunderstood, but had the instinct, intelligence, physical attributes, and inner strength to survive. Annalisa developed a rigid code of honor and service that helped her hold together psychologically. She navigated her circumstances under maximum pressure, but strict adherence to her code also kept her distanced from others.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I often wonder how humans have survived on this planet up until now given our violent and predatory nature. Certainly, loyalty to our “tribes” helped early on. Though we have long since passed the primitive stage, what have we learned? We are emotional creatures, not always in control of those emotions so that areas of our lives become unbalanced. We try, but is there anything close to actual justice? If everyone had the same value system, such as under a military structure, would it keep the majority in check?
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
This time around I’m going back to World War II to our last “good war” when Americans were more united. It’s going to be a three-book, neo-noir detective series that takes place in Brooklyn, New York. There were numerous challenges, including crime, on the homefront as people were coming out of the Depression of the 1930s and straight into a world at war. I plan to publish it this September. It’s called, O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc., The Cases Nobody Wanted.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
As a “wild child of the tunnels” her extraordinary journey to a position of power was unparalleled. Adoption by General Farrell saved her life and gave her the loving family she never had and a mission as a daughter to be proud of. Suspected of being genetically engineered, unfounded prejudice followed her through the ranks. Though Annalisa learned to control her emotions better than most humans, even relaxed Military standards could not keep some relationships from disaster. Marriage contracts, casual sexual standards, and freedom to pursue multiple partners, could not totally eliminate human passions and obsessions.
An apocalyptic struggle for power and control from within threatened to destroy years of Earth peace and interrupt alliances with other planets, unless the traitors could be discovered and stopped. Aliens distrusted tumultuous human emotions. Answers had to be found before disaster occurred. Could heroic warriors save humans from their own self-destruction?
ContentWarning: Please be aware this book includes descriptions of child sexual and physical abuse, military war violence, interpersonal violence, imagined injuries and violence, and death and destruction.
Previously published as OCELLICON Episodes 1-38 on Kindle Vella.
OCELLICON: Future Visions
Immerse yourself in A.G. Russo’s captivating military science fiction universe with his novel, ‘Ocellicon: Future Visions.’ Unfolding in an atmosphere of military supremacy over authority, the narrative follows Prosecutor Major Annalisa Farrell, who finds herself contending with an adversarial court system. Driven by her quest for justice and haunted by the ghosts of her traumatic past, Farrell battles against the formidable Judge Bennett McCrae, the ultimate arbiter of her fate. Despite the odds, she draws strength from her previous victories in special operations, interstellar ventures, and encounters with extraterrestrial beings, finding her court challenge yet another battlefield to conquer.
In Russo’s intricately devised world, which surpasses conventional norms, the reader’s curiosity is fueled as he reshapes our perception of Earth. The narrative powerfully presents themes of authority and dominance from the outset, placing our protagonist in challenging circumstances. The reader is then drawn into the tense atmosphere of the courtroom, where the intricate details of the crime under scrutiny unfold, presenting differing perspectives in a clash of argumentative might. Even as she battles her personal demons of childhood abuse, violence, and trauma, Annalisa’s trajectory remains unyielding, her commitment to securing justice never wavering.
Russo orchestrates a blend of science fiction noir, hinting at the underlying complexity of issues that can eclipse the fragility of human existence – our emotional reality. As the established order faces disruption, one must question whether the pursuit of justice in this narrative leads the characters to victory or their downfall? Russo deftly weaves in raw emotions and graphic depictions of physical abuse and violence, which serve to heighten the authenticity and compelling nature of the story.
Oscillating between post-apocalyptic, science fiction, and thriller themes, with a significant element of courtroom drama, ‘Ocellicon: Future Visions’ occupies its own unique space. It beckons the reader to unravel the mysteries surrounding each character. This novel is a must-read for lovers of science fiction and those intrigued by explorations of the unknown.
Pages: 387 | ASIN: B0C39BJWT6
LITERARY TITAN 