The first science fiction novel – The Man in the Moone – came out in 1638. The author, Francis Godwin, told of a man using birds to help him fly to the moon. [The word Moone in the title is the way it was spelled back then.]
Some fans of the sci-fi genre argue that Frankenstein was the first science fiction novel; others maintain that the undisputed father of the genre is Isaac Asimov who wrote hundreds of novels. “Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of changes that face us,” he said.
Here is Pablo’s new book release and one and only science fiction novel, at least so far: BacterioStatic.
In this science fiction drama, Dr. Maxwell Silverman, a university-based microbiologist, makes a dreadful discovery in a small Florida lake. During a field trip to research bio-luminescent life forms, he notices an eerie green glow coming off the water and decides to take a small specimen of the organism back to his lab. Max has no idea what he’s found and what is about to be unleashed on the world.
Max and his graduate student assistant, Sandra Sanders, test the slime sample and quickly realize it is like nothing they had ever seen before. Their first tests clearly indicate the organism feeds off any available source of energy – including other lifeforms. As it feeds, it grows and develops small tentacles and filaments. It evolves into a hydra-like creature, the first of many shapes it will assume.
After weeks of testing with limited lab resources and budget restrictions, Max approaches William Fordyce, the department chairman, orders the transfer of the organism to a secret military installation.
Now morphed into a starfish-like creature, the organism escapes its holding tank enroute to the military site. On the loose and with an unlimited source of available energy, it grows into an uncontrollable bat-like monster, wreaking havoc in search of more energy. It transforms into a giant rat the size of a Great Dane, a crab-like creature as big as a car, and an enormous bat – each with long tentacles for feeding on all sources of energy. Terror mounts when the monster approaches a nuclear power plant, and it becomes a race against time for the team to find a means to destroy the creature and stop its frightening reign of destruction.
FROM SCI-FI TO HORROR
Bridging genres from sci-fi to horror, we were honored to receive a Literary Titan 5-star review for Armageddon: An Apache Story
Armageddon: An Apache Story, an enthralling novel written by the dynamic duo Pablo Omar Zaragoza and Susan Giffin, delves into the cataclysmic and bone-chilling clash between an infernal prince and God’s earthbound warriors. The narrative is centered around Prince Bal’am, a sinister associate of Satan, who embarks on a mission to redeem his fallen angels and seize control of heaven. His audacious plan entails finding a mortal vessel for his own essence and begetting a child who would serve as the medium for his redemptive journey back to the celestial realms.
Luis, innocently involved with the Apache Medicine Society through his lover Cecilia, falls prey to Bal’am’s possession. Bal’am proceeds to craft a formidable army of demons, enlisting members of the Mexican Mafia and masquerading as a televangelist; he subtly enables demonic possession of his unsuspecting followers. The narrative leaves us on edge: will the demonic forces overpower the alliance of Christians and Apache spiritualists?
Armageddon: An Apache Story is a decidedly adult novel, graphically exploring themes of death, sexuality, and torment. Despite its dark contents, I found myself captivated, propelled to the end by an absorbing tale of good versus evil. The atmosphere reminded me of other spellbinding horror narratives such as Bird Box and Ash vs Evil Dead.
The novel’s storyline is a labyrinth of shocking twists and revelations that keep you on edge, eager to decipher the fates of its characters. The book intricately weaves in elements of culture and religion, enhancing its plot’s thematic richness. The narrative subtly promotes the ideology that “all religions lead to Him,” extending its spiritual scope beyond a single religious perspective. Consequently, one can find excerpts from the Christian Bible, as well as profound insights from Apache’s spiritual principles. The experience has left me with profound curiosity, questioning if the animals I encounter might be spirit guides in physical form.
I invite you to plunge into the unnerving yet exhilarating world of Armageddon: An Apache Story. Reading it at night, I was completely engrossed, left feeling jumpy at the slightest noise. Such is the power of its hauntingly evocative prose. If your literary tastes lean toward horror novels with electrifying twists, this book is a must-read. I extend my gratitude to Pablo and Susan for crafting a pulse-pounding, captivating, and culturally rich reading experience.
SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS . . .
With the school year underway already, we would like to recognize a special honor that the St. Louis County Library recently bestowed on 4-year-old Jared for having read 1,000 books. He serves as an inspiration to us all.
As if little Jared isn’t enough inspiration, here are words about reading from famous authors:
“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keillor
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R. R. Martin
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass
