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Dissonance, Volume Zero: Revelation follows a man and his family on Earth who move underground when alien creatures arrive in massive numbers sparking global anxiety and uncertainty. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Well, as you know, I’ve penned a trilogy of novels called “Dissonance” that take place in 2042, 16 years after the alien invasion of 2026. The trilogy was initially intended to be just one novel, but it just kept ballooning with undercurrents of subplots, and so much more. I thought I was done when I finished the final chapter of the trilogy, but like a tractor beam, it just sucked me right back in. There was a glaring 16-year gap there ripe for the mining, and I felt an origin story was in order. I also was so pleased at the notion that, though some characters die in the trilogy (and I hate playing God, for that matter), they’re alive again in the prequel. It’s like a keen splash of water on the face when you meet an old beloved friend that you cared about. I LOVE that aspect of it. There are also characters whose backstory I really wanted to explore, such as Pastor Rosie’s. There’s a LOT to that woman. I could pen a whole trilogy based on her alone. 😊 But I did want to go back and visit the actual invasion as well as the actual day of the attacks (which happen three months apart from each other, thus brewing the anxiety you mention) and explore what that might have been like. There proved to be a treasure trove of narrative that I was able to flesh out, and consequently it’s become my favorite of the entire pentalogy-in-the-works (working on the 5th installment as we speak!) as it is loaded with a lot of heart and thematic depth.
The supporting characters in this novel, I felt, were intriguing and well developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
Thank you! Honestly, as mentioned, it’s Pastor Rosie, but frankly I really liked writing young Cameron. He is six, bordering on seven, when the aliens invade, and it rocks his little life. His entire worldview is impacted and colored by these things, and he’s forced to sacrifice his childhood in the name of service, keeping the gorgons at bay and helping to ensure the survival of their little Blockade as he grows. I loved traveling down through the years with he and Rutty, with their dad, their mom, Sissy, the captain, all of them. It was an amazing experience to journey down through the years with them.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
That is such a great question, because it truly was a balancing act. You need peaks and valleys, rises and falls, crescendos and decrescendos. It’s a tough assignment because your blood has to get pumping on occasion, and really get immersed in the action; you have to be reminded of what a tangible, visceral threat the gorgons truly are. They border on the periphery of your entire life in a Blockade, that threat up there on the surface. So when the two worlds collide, humans are the weaker species, and as such, survival mode kicks in. My heart was pounding as I fleshed out several narratives like the moment the gorgons activate, the infiltration of the Blockade by the berserker, Andrew’s mission where he loses one of his crew, the final mission, etc. There were lots of ups and downs to balance, but I was so much more focused on telling the heart of the story, which is parenting through trauma.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Well, it depends on how you look at the word ‘first.” Chronologically, yes, it comes first, as its set before the invasion of 2026, whereas the trilogy is set 16 years after the invasion in the winter of 2042. It’s a prequel, meaning “sequel that happens before.” So it depends if you like to watch Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi and THEN watch the prequels, or if you like to watch the prequels and THEN the original trilogy. Ultimately, Dissonance Volume Zero: Revelation and Dissonance Volume I: Reality are both beginnings, so you can’t go wrong starting with either. Both will tantalize you to want to read further and explore the world-building I’ve conducted across the post-apocalyptic landscape of 2042. But you may have noted that Dissonance Volume Zero: Revelation ends in 2037, and Dissonance Volume I: Reality introduces you to Earth in 2042. So, once again, I was sucked back in to mine the remaining years for content, and thus, you can expect Dissonance Volume Up: Rising before October of this year. This second prequel bridges the gap from Dissonance Volume Zero: Revelation to Dissonance Volume I: Reality. It’s coming along really well, and I’m very excited about it! But what I’m mostly excited about is for Dissonance Volume I: Reality: I’ve had it adapted to a screenplay and it’s now being pitched to major streaming networks. All of my hopes are pinned to that, and I’m very, very excited to see what comes of it. Thanks for journeying with me!
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They arrived by the hundreds of thousands on June 6th, 2026. The aliens silently drifted down from the sky, hovering fifty feet above us for three long, tense months at a geostationary orbit, taking up positions around the world. No one knew why they came…what they wanted…or why they wouldn’t just go away.
Then, the unthinkable happened. They suddenly came to life…and hunted us down. We ended up calling them gorgons – after the mythical creature Medusa – because if we locked eyes with them, it was all over, and they could telepathically paralyze us with just one look. Once immobilized, they could consume us at their leisure, leaving us to feel every excruciating bite. There was no escape, no hiding from their relentless pursuit. Our only defense was to run.
By the end of 2026, eighty-five percent of mankind had been killed off. The alien invasion turned Planet Earth into a ghost town, with the few survivors eking out an existence in the shadows. Andrew Shipley is one such survivor thrust into an extraordinary nightmare of post-apocalyptic proportions. As chaos erupts, hope dwindles for Andrew and his wife and three small children. Will they make it? Or will the gorgons get them too?
Join author Aaron Ryan as he takes readers on a heart-pounding journey into the darkest corners of fear in the prequel to his bestselling “Dissonance” saga. “Volume Zero” is a harrowing tale of humanity’s struggle to survive a devastating alien invasion. Fans of the “Dissonance” saga and readers who enjoy tense, thrilling, and gritty survival stories will not want to miss this gripping origin story. Order your copy now before the price changes!
Dissonance Volume Zero: Revelation
In Dissonance, Volume Zero: Revelation, author Aaron Ryan introduces us to the seemingly idyllic life of Andrew Dylan Shipley, a man whose world is on the brink of drastic change. When alien creatures arrive on Earth in massive numbers, they initially lie dormant, sparking global anxiety and uncertainty. Andrew, along with his wife Melissa and their children Cameron “Jet,” Wyatt “Rutty,” and Adelynn “Sissy,” anxiously await the moment the aliens will reveal their true intentions. Surprisingly, the aliens remain inactive, leaving humanity in suspense. In response, governments worldwide take precautionary measures, building bunkers for a worst-case scenario—a decision that proves pivotal for the Shipley family. But as they soon discover, life underground presents its own set of challenges, testing their health, faith, and family bonds in ways they never anticipated.
As a prequel to Ryan’s Dissonance trilogy, Revelation stands on its own, requiring no prior knowledge of the series. However, for those familiar with the trilogy, there are moments that will enhance the emotional impact of the story. The novel is rich with tense, emotional scenes as the Shipley family confronts the reality of their situation. Andrew’s primary concern is the safety of his family, but he finds it impossible to shield his young children from the harsh truths of their new reality. One of the novel’s strengths is its portrayal of how these experiences profoundly affect the children. Their development is depicted organically through Andrew’s perspective, a father keenly aware of the subtle changes in his children’s behavior. This adds a deep emotional resonance to the story, making the characters’ growth both believable and impactful. The plot starts at a measured pace, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the Shipley family’s serene life before it takes a dark turn. This deliberate pacing serves to heighten the contrast between their past and the intense, fast-paced events of the latter half of the novel. As the story accelerates, it aligns seamlessly with the tone and direction of the main Dissonance trilogy, leaving readers with tantalizing hints and unanswered questions about the mysterious aliens.
Dissonance, Volume Zero: Revelation is a compelling and emotionally charged prequel that sets the stage for the rest of the trilogy. Ryan expertly balances the tension and development of his characters, making this a must-read for both newcomers and fans of the series alike. If you enjoy science fiction with strong character development and a gripping plot, this book will not disappoint.
Pages: 308 | ASIN : B0CTHT94R7
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