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Our Only Hope For Survival
Caitlin Lynagh Author Interview
Lost Frequencies follows a group of people trying to survive a dystopian world while fighting an evil but pragmatic corporation. What was the inspiration for the setup to this intriguing story?
Truthfully, I was inspired by what is happening to Earth and modern-day humans. Climate Change is one of the biggest threats to mankind, there’s still not enough action to solve the issue and opinions are too widely divided. Too many are apathetic to our climate crisis and think it doesn’t affect them or their lives so they don’t worry about it. People with the power to act seem more interested in money and the economy, and unfortunately many solutions to Climate Change will mean change, which affects the economy. People, in particular wealthy people, are the most resistant to change, especially if it’s likely to affect their income. Then there are the people who deny Climate Change altogether, despite the evidence and warnings from scientists around the globe. This creates a world where nothing significant gets done and change happens too slowly. Humans are walking a fine line, and it is easy to imagine Earth becoming like the dystopian world in Lost Frequencies in the near future.
There are many well developed and interesting characters in this book. Who was your favorite character to write for?
This is a tricky question to answer as I enjoyed writing all of the characters because they are all so different, but my favourite characters are Ehi, Ahrl and Varth. Varth was particularly interesting to write as he isn’t a typical ‘bad’ character. He is tormented by grief and guilt and with most of his decisions he has conflicting emotions.
I appreciate the depth with which this story is told. What are some sources of inspiration that guided you while writing?
I was inspired by a collection of ideas that I came up with and let flow. I’m not sure where all of my ideas came from but many have real-life parallels.
One idea came from a series of questions; ‘What would extra-terrestrial life look like?’, ‘Why haven’t we found any extra-terrestrial life like us?’ and ‘If Earth is a basic blueprint for the evolution of life, would life on other planets evolve in the same way?’ These questions led me to imagine Iyeeka and its inhabitants. Conscious species which look very much like humans, with slight differences, and a different history.
I also thought about how human history would have been much different if we weren’t a violent species. What if instead of killing each other, communities helped each other instead? What would that world look like today?
Other ideas came from Climate Change, human destruction, and how unpredictable nature can be. As terrifying as it may be, all it would take to wipe out humanity would be a series of catastrophic events. So I thought about the survival of the human race in the long term. We can’t live on Earth forever as one day our planet will die. This means our only hope for survival is if we inhabit space and master space travel. This has always intrigued me and I keep an eye out for any science related news.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have just finished working on my latest novel, Quantum Messenger. It is the last novel to be released in The Soul Prophecies Series. Hopefully it will be released later this year or early next year in 2021. Quantum Messenger follows the first sentient robot on Earth as he becomes aware of himself, the world and his feelings and develops a soul. I’m looking forward to hearing about people’s thoughts and reactions. You can read the books in The Soul Prophecies Series in whichever order you like, as they have an endless loop. Indeed, they probably work best in reverse release order.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![Lost Frequencies: The Soul Prophecies by [Caitlin Lynagh]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41pMj7zc6SL.jpg)
You are being watched. All your pathways have already been seen.
During a salvage hunt in the desolate wastelands of Planet Iyeeka, a strange naked woman is discovered inside a metal machine. No one has lived in the area for decades.
Ten wise Iyeekens are drawn to the woman through their dreams and eventually follow her, along with the three who found her, through their war-torn land in search of truth. They believe she is the key to saving their dying planet. She has knowledge even she doesn’t understand. Yet.
Who are these aliens she so vividly remembers? What is the significance of this planet Earth and its inhabitants? And why is her knowledge essential in saving their world?
Enemy Of The Gods
![Enemy of the Gods: Sometimes, Dreams are Overrated (Challenges of the Gods Book 2) by [C. Hofsetz]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ggvFX5XsL.jpg)
Enemy of the Gods picks up where Hofsetz’s previous book, Challenges of the Gods left off. The book begins with antihero Zeon imprisoned and alone on a planet with his trusty cat-like robot Harry for company. Assuming he has left his previous existence behind him, Zeon has settled into a sense of normality. Obviously, that doesn’t last long when a missile drags Zeon back into a life he thought he had left behind. The opening chapter was an excellent introduction to the book that made me keep reading for the next few hours. A cat robot that can speak to missiles – now that’s cool!
The story itself really flows nicely, and much of the imagery depicted by Hofsetz really helps bring the lands of Pangea and umpteen parallel worlds to life. Zeon himself is kind of a bumbling nuisance, but you can’t help forming a soft spot for him. Humour is injected throughout the book which I loved, and at times it really works to distract you from the utter destruction that is going on around him.
The obvious question is – do I need to read the first to understand what is going on? In my opinion, yes, probably. Although you could get away without it, although it will take you a minute to catch up. I spent a lot of time trying to work out the difference between a hypersphere and dreamsphere, and who was good or bad. Concerning the latter, it seems our hero himself has trouble at times, so I am sure Hofsetz does this in an attempt to keep you guessing (it works!).
One thing is for sure, you need to concentrate when reading this book. A few times, I had to stop and revisit a page or chapter to work out exactly what was going on. Given there are multiple parallel earths, some of which have slight variations of the same character (with similar-sounding names), I think I can be forgiven.
If you love sci-fi or dystopian fiction, this one the novel for you. As I suggested, it would be beneficial to pick up the first book in the series, as it would ease you into this universe much quicker. That being said, this was an entertaining and enjoyable novel to read, and I will undoubtedly pick up more of Hofsetz’s work.
Pages: 333 | ASIN: B0846T483N
Metrofloat New York
![Metrofloat New York by [Belle, William Quincy]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51J0-PlRZZL.jpg)
A rampant epidemic wipes out a large chunk of the world’s population, leaving behind a meager percentage to fend for itself and save humanity from extinction. With the use of highly sophisticated scientific and technological methods, man attempts to increase his chances of survival by creating floating cities and Metrofloat New York finds itself among them. The levitating city is run by five powerful members of the OligCouncil and everything seems peachy untill tragedy strikes. Someone begins to murder the ruling members. Detective Heart and Sergeant Stanton are called upon to find this harbinger of death before the equilibrium of the city’s government is disrupted and chaos rises. But they soon discover that sometimes, things aren’t as they seem.
William Quincy Belle’s Metrofloat New York is a gripping science fiction thriller set in post-apocalyptic times. Marked by tremendous advancement in science and technology and its adaptation to man’s peculiar circumstances. The author paints a vivid picture of the changes the world has gone through by introducing several elements like flying vehicles, brain siphoning weapons, ingrained ID chips, mutated bacteria and surprisingly, new meals devoid of any form of meat but dominated by insects and worms.
Although SciFi novels describe new realities, the best of them involving humans reveal that though times may change, our fundamental values, prejudices and quirks will not. Metrofloat New York does this with its resonating themes. For example, the writer shows that although tools of social stratification may become incredibly limited in the future, man will still get creative. In the book, we discover that the very human frailty which we are currently trying to subvert can be turned into a marker of status when it becomes a rarity. Also, we see that man’s present shallowness and pettiness will not be suddenly altered by the alienation of over half of humanity. He will still struggle with common defects like greed and the belittlement of others who seem slightly different. But thankfully, we won’t get to retain only our cynical traits, the qualities of compassion, love and solidarity will also remain with us. The writer also emphasizes the complexity of the core of humans: our thought process. Our consciousness is so intricate that it might prove impossible to recreate.
One thing I like about the book is what William does with the characters. He makes them real by progressively unraveling their traits, thereby reiterating the fact that people aren’t always what they seem. Based on first impressions alone, one may consider one of the key characters; Detective Heart, a frivolous and shallow-minded bum, but upon subsequent encounters, one soon discovers that he is far from that.
If you are one who fancies a SciFi novel whose plot rolls along quickly but still provides sufficient thrills and is greatly imaginative, then this book has your name on it.
Pages: 216 | ASIN: B07K631LDS
Planet of Gods
![Planet of Gods (Enigma Book 1) by [Crane, David]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Krn6FLtkL.jpg)
Planet of Gods by David Crane is an exhilarating and intelligent sci-fi adventure set in the depths of space. The protagonist is a man called Peter Blackwood who is on the verge of retirement in the year 3500 AD. He’s looking forward to a relaxing and joyful life away from the stress that marked his earlier years. But those hopes are dashed when he’s suddenly captured and sent to an alien planet via a hyperspace tunnel. The new planet has a social divide and is filled with unrest. Through strange circumstances, Peter finds himself in the middle of all this turmoil. Using his military skills and expertise along with a diverse range of supporting characters, Peter navigates and revolutionizes this strange new world.
What impressed me the most about Planet of Gods is the unique and realistic touch to all of Peter Blackwood’s experiences. Although the novel takes place in a world that is vastly different from our own, the reactions and thoughts of the protagonist are perfectly captured to convey a sense that this character is real. I could picture myself thinking and doing the same things as Peter Blackwood, and that’s a pretty refreshing aspect to find in a book.
Although this is can be considered a dystopian novel, I didn’t find it unnecessarily dark or moody. The story is punctuated by a diverse assortment of exciting missions and varied characters that are constantly cropping up. The author manages to create a hard-boiled science fiction story with a thrilling plot. I enjoyed the rich history of the planet, making it an intriguing character on it’s own rather than just a backdrop.
Peter Blackwood as a character gave me strong Jack Reacher vibes. Both are middle-aged, ex-military men always finding themselves the unlikely heroes of their situation. Although I enjoyed the humanity in Peter’s character, he could be cold and calculating but also empathetic and sensitive. Although I wasn’t completely satisfied with the ending, I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series. This is an exceptional read that will be enjoyed by any fan of science fiction adventure stories.
Pages: 231 | ASIN: B007FL0KO8
Transference
![Transference by [Keaton, B.T.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51K5XhLHp9L.jpg)
In B. T. Keaton’s Transference, sci-fi and technology take center stage as the reader is led through a thrilling story with incredible characters. The reader is introduced to Barrabas, whose words and actions confirm that he is among the most impressive character to follow. Barrabas is confident. He introduces himself with contentment and boasts of his actions. I like how the author created this particular character as it was difficult to predict what his next step would be. He takes pride in being the most infamous thief to grace the earth since Jesse James, compares himself to Robin of Locksley and talks about his prowess. It is comical that even though Barrabas appears a braggart that’s full of himself, I still found him exciting. He is one of those characters I’m glad the author created.
I like the time travel concept in the book. The author takes us to the year 2102. The people living in that era are lucky, as man has come up with a way that makes them live forever. ‘Transference’ is the process through which one can experience eternal life. Thanks to technology, this method involves moving a soul from one person to another. I enjoyed reading about the transference process and the author’s creativity really shines in these moments.
One reason I liked Barrabas was his tenacity. His character was solid and aggressive when necessary, but also cunning and knew when to trick people to his advantage. Reminding me of Malcolm Reynolds in the show Firefly. Barrabas was no stranger to controversy, he rubbed people the wrong way and was unfortunately exiled to a mining colony far away from home. Even while in deportation, Barrabas never ceased to amaze me. Jovian was another fantastic character that I liked. The man commanded the masses through his dominion and controlled every part of the colony. His relationship with Barrabas made them a great pair in the story.
The suspense in this novel is something that is constantly building due to the mix of mystery and ever present anticipation of danger. Transference seamlessly incorporates action and drama with satire and excellent narration to make a story that is persistently compelling. Transference is an electrifying sci-fi thriller that uses interesting characters to drive a story that is ultimately, I think, about the purpose of life. We see the extent people go to avoid suffering and how humans innovate for survival. This is an exceptional story that I would recommended to readers who enjoy gritty dystopian fiction.
Pages: 404 | ASIN: B082WPHTHH
A Single Light
![A Single Light: A Thriller (The Line Between Book 2) by [Lee, Tosca]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/513wJ8s5GwL.jpg)
It was early on a Monday morning at 4 am that I had gone through over one third of the book in one night. This book quickly became one of the best reads I have gone through in the past 3 months.
A Single Light begins with around 60 odd people forced to take shelter in a time vault due to the outbreak of a virulent epidemic. A runaway named Wynter and a former soldier turned bounty hunter, Chase are at the heart of the story. Both appear to be an unmatched pair as they have their own motivations and secrets. For the people in the vault, the only source of comfort and connection with the outside is periodic transmissions from Noah, the person who brings hope to the individuals. But all of a sudden, the link goes dark, causing to lose their composure. And when the time vault door opens all of a sudden, it begins a whole new set of unknown dangers to the group, stressed for many months. Infected animals, ghostly town, and people driven to the brink of anarchy. The support systems have failed, all semblance of order and law lying bare. What do you do? That’s where we find the characters in the story.
The story is intense and riveting as is the description of the dynamics at play between the different characters in a confined space. The notes that the story touches are really fundamental, fear, loss, joy but the presentation is remarkably somber and in line as to the way the plot is weaved. I really liked the way the author describes the gritty and raw emotions at play which I have seen only in a very few authors.
The best thing is that the author does not try to bend the story in a way that seems disjointed. It is a skill that is honed by working at the craft for many sleepless nights and long hours.
Though the story may not have political beliefs one may have, I wholeheartedly agree with what the author has penned about the need to break down the walls and be more exclusive. Normally a stickler for neat wrapped endings, I love the way the story concluded. I can’t wait for the next book.
Pages: 384 | ASIN: B07P5JKYT8
Sleep State Interrupt
![Sleep State Interrupt by [Weber, T.C.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51j6uL8ulbL.jpg)
If most contemporary sci-fi is headed in the direction that Sleep State Interrupt is taking, I will be more than pleased. And a lot more concerned for humanity. Sleep State Interrupt tells the tale of protagonist Waylee who wrestles Big Media’s omnipresent influence. In this dystopian world, the government and people are heavily influenced and practically controlled by the media that surrounds them. Waylee and a couple of her technologically proficient friends plan a simple but brilliant plan to end this problem. They decide to capture and bring to light some incriminating dialogue that will shed light on how truly awful the situation has turned. However, she faces hefty roadblocks along the way, that occupy both her inner and outer world.
The premise of this story is like Mission Impossible meets the Avengers, but smarter in its portrayal of a dystopian world. There’s no question about the role media plays these days. Targeted advertising, subliminal influencing, endless privacy violations- all this is already unsettling. Weber takes this concept and pushes it to a terrifyingly believable level. The story is heavy on politics without naming names, I feel like I could probably point out some similarities in their evil politicians and our own.
One of the more interesting aspects of the book was that it forced me to take a stance on some issues that I would generally avoid thinking about it. There are a lot of moral and philosophical questions that are subtly posed throughout- and it’s a refreshing take for a cyber sci-fi novel.
Weber has clearly put in a lot of effort to nonchalantly feature a diverse set of characters. While all of them were interesting and unique, sometimes the characteristics felt a bit forced. Waylee’s character on the other hand was a masterpiece. From the realistic perspective offered on her disease to her upbringing and environment, her protagonism was undeniable. I could tell where all her actions and motivations were coming from.
I have always enjoyed politically-charged thrillers because it brings to light the fact that humanity is capable of creating its own nightmarish vision. Sleep State Interrupt portrays this with clarity and believability, without compromising all the fun that a government takedown story offers.
Pages: 331 | ASIN: B01KKMA1D8
Makers of Destiny
![Makers of Destiny - Sequel to Die to Live Again by [Crane, David]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51r6R6eNdCL.jpg)
Makers of a Destiny by David Crane is an enthralling mash-up of dystopian fantasy and a pulse pounding thriller.
The book is set in a post-apocalyptic New America, where Tanya Grey is one of the Panthers. The Panthers are a superior race, with a host of special forces that they intend to use for the growth and development of the other races in New America. However, a national emergency leaves Tanya Grey in the wake of a situation that requires all of her skills and power to fight the antagonists. They are the Neo Spartans, equipped with technological prowess and ruthlessness, they will stop at nothing to take down New America. Apart from this, an increasingly unstable political situation threatens the nation and Tanya Grey’s personal life.
Although this is a sequel to the novel Die to Live Again, reading that book is not required to read and enjoy this book. There are plenty of detailed explanations for all the characters, elements, and creatures. The descriptions of the Panthers’ lives and motivations were particularly fascinating. I wouldn’t be surprised if in our own post-nuclear holocaust (I don’t suppose it’s too far) we find ourselves in the company of these creatures. Apart from the Panthers, there were elaborate depictions of new species and animals, like the Hunter leeches. Although these were equally fascinating, I felt that they were a bit lengthy and did not contribute much to the plot.
Apart from these elements, equal amount of focus was devoted to Tanya’s personal lives and the characters that surround her. Her attachments and vulnerabilities made me especially empathetic to her decisions.
While reading, I was struck by the number of antagonistic elements in the book that were comparable to the realities of today. From racism to an endless lust for power that threatens the foundation of humanity, it was not a far stretch for my imagination to conjure up this world. The possibility of technology being used for evil, suppression of minorities, colonialism, and other parallels can easily be drawn between our world and this one. History always repeats itself and it is quite likely that we will find ourselves in a future which echoes our past. This novel provides a perfect and terrifying depiction of such a world.
Pages: 342 | ASIN: B074YH9GJD
LITERARY TITAN 