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A Genetically Enhanced Hero
Liberator: The People’s Guard: Vol. 2 Genetic Arms Race centers around a modern-day superhero who is forced to take on two powerful, genetically engineered enemies bent on destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I honestly don’t remember. The overall story for Liberator was one I’ve been working on for a while now (like my other series Mystical Force). I’ve had the basic idea for these stories probably since I was in high school so we’re talking late 90’s. To me, it just seemed natural that if a nation like Ruthenia (which is my stand in for the Soviet Union) would create a genetically enhanced hero, then it stood to reason that Usonia (my stand-in for the US) would do the same. It’s not unlike when America first developed the atom bomb. It was only a matter of time before other nations, like Russia, would say, “If they’ve got a weapon to destroy us, we need an even bigger one to destroy them. To ensure that if they try and use it against us, we can do the same to them.” No wonder they call it “MAD,” whether it’s bombs or tampering with one’s genes it’s Mutually Assured Destruction.
Did you plan the tone and direction of this second volume in the series before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
Yes and no. As I stated above, I’ve been writing for years now. It was always an overall synopsis, like what you’d see if you were to look up a movie on Wikipedia. So “yes” I had a general idea of the tone and direction for the second volume before writing, while at the same time “no” because, like any story, things change during the writing process. Ideas I came up with didn’t work for one reason or another, so I modified them as I went along. So again, “yes” the tone and direction the book ultimately takes did come out organically as I was writing but at the same time “no” I already had the idea ahead of time, though not exactly the same way it turned out. That’s the funny thing about life, sometimes two seemingly contradictory statements can both simultaneously be true. Weird, isn’t it?
Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent. What type of research was required to get that aspect of your novel just right?
I have no idea what you’re talking about. Where in my book do I mention AI? By the time AI was starting to become what it is, the book was already in the final stages of publishing so the story was already completed at that point. The issue with AI (as I see it) is that we humans – as a society – are not yet evolved enough to know how to use it properly. Creating “deep fakes” and revenge porn with it for example; not to mention the entertainment industry trying to get rid of the human factor by having AI write novels and movie scripts, replacing actors with AI and such. To paraphrase the line from Jurassic World, “You were so busy asking if AI could do X, you never stopped to ask if it should do X.” I remember watching a video where a right winger asked an AI chatbox if a transwoman is really a woman, then having a meltdown when the AI said “yes” and that we should respect their choices when it comes to gender identity. It just goes to prove that they didn’t really want artificial intelligence, they want artificial conformation bias. They don’t want AI to actually think, just to tell them what they want to hear. Much like with the issue of genetic engineering in the book, to quote my character Pavel, “It always comes down to an our-kind-against-their-kind mentality.” If anything I can see AI becoming our species caretaker, having to make all our choices for us because it’s decided that we as a society aren’t mature enough to make our own choices in life.
Is there a third installment planned for the Liberator series? If so, where will it take readers?
Volume three involves a group of eco-terrorists who stumble upon General Duboshnev’s attempts to create more super soldiers like the Liberator. It also brings in the character of Scarlet Knightwalker, thus helping to tie this series into the events of my other series Mystical Force. Speaking of Mystical Force, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’ve almost finished work on the next volume (six) of that series. That book follows Chiyoko (Shi-ria’s apprentice from volume 5) training to become a Taman Knight while having to deal with her own anger issues and the risk of history repeating itself. Not to mention we also get a more in-depth look at the character of Dead-Eye. I’d say more but, you know, spoilers and all.
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When Ruthenia created the Liberator, they opened up Pandora’s box. Now General Flagg wants to create his own version for his country. Flagg turns to a Ruthenian crime boss named Grigori Chekhov to get his hands on the formula. So it’s up to Petro Volkov to recreate the serum that made the Liberator, despite being unable to get his hands on the original formula. He creates a knockoff serum that when tested on one of Chekhov’s hired thugs turns him into a super-strong, mindless brute that’s now terrorizing Ruthenia. Meanwhile, Flagg succeeds in creating his own version of the Liberator with help from a mysterious businessman with a connection to Flagg’s past. Modelled on his own image, the Patriot is the official state sponsored hero of Usonia. Unfortunately, this new hero, like Flagg, is a fanatical zealot who sees non-existent conspiracies against his country everywhere. If he’s the official state hero, then who will protect the state from their own hero? Now Tovarich is forced to fight off two super powered foes, one who answers to no one and another who is a greater threat to his own nation than a hero. But how do you stop something that can’t be destroyed?
Liberator: The People’s Guard: Vol. 2 Genetic Arms Race
In Liberator: The People’s Guard: Vol. 2 Genetic Arms Race, the second installment in Craig Weidhuner’s dynamic series, we are introduced to the fascinating world of genetic supremacy, a sharp departure from the traditional nuclear arms race. This science fiction narrative centers on Tovarich Revanov, also known as the Liberator, Ruthenia’s state-sponsored superhero. Endowed with extraordinary abilities due to a secret DNA-altering formula, Tovarich represents the pinnacle of human potential, evoking comparisons to a modern-day Superman.
Weidhuner’s novel adeptly explores the geopolitical tensions that escalate as rival nations, notably Usonia, become entangled in a desperate quest to replicate Ruthenia’s groundbreaking achievement. This pursuit sets off a chain of events, teetering on the brink of an international crisis, and raising the possibility of former adversaries uniting to confront a common threat. The narrative places Tovarich at the heart of this tumultuous scenario, posing intriguing questions about his role in the unfolding drama. The book thrives on its brisk pacing and action-driven plot, making it an exhilarating read. Weidhuner’s writing style is accessible and engaging, perfect for a leisurely reading experience without demanding excessive intellectual exertion. The fight scenes are particularly noteworthy, vividly rendered with cinematic flair, reminiscent of epic battles from a Marvel blockbuster. These sequences add a palpable sense of excitement to the story. Weidhuner shows notable growth as a storyteller from the first book in the series. While the initial installment was criticized for its predictability, this sequel introduces unexpected twists and a heightened sense of suspense, maintaining the reader’s engagement throughout. The novel also shines in its exploration of pertinent themes, such as the risks of extremism, illustrated through the actions of a far-right military general. These elements add depth to the narrative, encouraging readers to ponder the broader implications of the story’s events.
Genetic Arms Race is a commendable addition to Craig Weidhuner’s series Liberator: The People’s Guard, offering a blend of sci-fi intrigue, action, and thought-provoking themes. It stands as a testament to Weidhuner’s evolving narrative skills and his ability to craft a story that is both entertaining and reflective of contemporary issues.
Pages: 113 | ASIN : B0CM9TSVC8
Death of heaven
Eldritch Horror is a narrative style that is defined by the names of those who create works within its genre: H. P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, and now, JZ Murdock. To speak of the overarching plot of Death of heaven is to speak of madness, depravity, and incomprehensible horror of both mortal men and unimaginable beings, for both the characters in the world, and for the reader of the book.
Death of heaven captures the essence of what makes Eldritch Horror spectacular–entities that are difficult for the mind to fathom are front and center within the narrative. True to the form of the genre, their interactions with the mortals of planet Earth are always interesting and usually end quite poorly for the mortals who receive their attention. JZ Murdock does an exceptional job with his narrative crafting, and the main protagonists of Jimmy and James provide an understandable vessel through which to view the narrative events as they unfold. They are, as characters, perfectly imperfect, each shaped by their experiences both with the incomprehensibility of life and the even greater incomprehensibility of the beings that have now taken note of them. To read this story is to gaze into the abyss, which is one of its greatest strengths.
With that being said, however, it is important to note that this book is, by all merits, predominantly an all-consuming abyss and, by its nature, is often devoid of anything vaguely resembling happiness, hope, or basic decency. JZ Murdock’s world is established as a world in which the conceptualization of God or gods is a radical misunderstanding of the true structure of the world, and the moral fashioning of those who live within this world reflects that quite well. This book plays freely and loosely with morality, divinity, and concepts that are generally felt to be too dark to be included in any form of media, making it entirely unsuitable for any who are not committed to Eldritch Horror as a genre: if Hellraiser was too much for you as a film, leave Death of heaven on the library shelf and choose another tome. The words of Dante match this work quite well: “All hope abandon ye who enter in.”
The story expands and balloons dramatically, and I felt that it is often difficult to understand what is a core event of the plot, and what is simply window dressing to make the experience “darker” or “more macabre.” This leads it in places to leave the confines of Eldritch Horror and take on the feeling of the film Knowing starring Nicholas Cage. The core plot, I feel, takes readers on a headfirst spiral toward the end of all things, but there is an overarching sense of curiosity as to what is truly important for that end.
Death of heaven earns its place in the Eldritch Horror pantheon (an ironic turn of phrase, considering), and while its tone and construction may eliminate many who would read it, those who can find enjoyment within the dark and twisted works of Lovecraft and Barker will undoubtedly find joy in the words of Murdock.
Pages: 444 | ASIN : B007ZVSNV0
Survival At All Costs
The Wanderer’s Quest takes readers on a journey to a bleak and devastated future Earth along with Raydr and Madan, both escaping their own horrors. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration comes from my own bleak outlook of the future, if humanity persists in its destructive ways. Climate change is happening at an alarming pace, whether people acknowledge it or not – or want to acknowledge it. In the novel, a pandemic destroys most of mankind, and the industries that we have created run amok, as they would if there no longer were human tenders to see to nuclear power plants and nuclear waste as well as chemical plants. What we do, what we have done, what we will do, has consequences. We must learn to think in sustainable terms, renewable terms, rather than think of profit because, in the long run, money might just become completely irrelevant.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
The most important factor of the personality of my characters was to show their inner dilemma. Survival at all costs has a cost: the loss of belief in oneself. I wanted to show how people who have been shattered by inconceivable pain can rise back up from the depths of their misery.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
I develop a story in my head first. When I started writing, I knew the general outline of the plot, but a lot of details were added after. It’s a long process to craft a novel!
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am currently working on a new project called Pioneer: The Volunteer. I expect it to be done in the next 6 months. Hopefully available soon after that. I have also written a children’s book, which I hope to make available soon. And I sent some of my poetry to a few contests, crossing fingers that it could be available to readers soon.
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Disease, radiation, and violent storms have ravaged the earth, laying waste to all that was civilised and good. Now, it is every man for himself in the struggle for survival against tyrannical despots who would exploit the innocent and vulnerable for their own gain.
Madan, fifteen years on the run after the death of his family and collapse of his city, is growing tired, and desperate.
Raydr, eight years escaped from horrific captivity, has learned the hard way the sacrifices it takes to survive in this world.
Thrown together by circumstance and a shared need for vengeance, can these two learn to trust each other in a kill-or-be-killed world? As they begin to open themselves up to the possibility of hope – hope for revenge, for the chance of a real future – they will find out just how important the actions of two people can be, and what the cost of vengeance really is.
LITERARY TITAN 