The End of the World

In a not-too-distant future, the US has fallen into near social and economic ruin. As the fringe elements of society and ordinary citizens alike struggle to deal with the terrifying new reality, a maelstrom of governmental deceit and malevolence churns just beneath the surface.Against this chaotic backdrop, strange new beings have risen out of the rubble. A former government worker, who in a fit of obsession and delusion steals and inhabits alien technology during a violent raid… A teenager whose reality contorts, making him privy to the cries of the dead as he stumbles in and out of worlds in a surreal game of musical chairs… Soon things take a dark turn for the newly emerged pariahs.A long-running conspiracy involving a highly proficient military-industrial complex is attempting to resurrect an ancient horror, and the very outsiders laboring to cope with the dangerously altered state of the world might be the only ones who can do anything about it.

From the Inside Flap

The truck ground to a halt and the creature rose. Dismounting with perfect fluidity, it left the door open and headed toward the blockage in steps too synchronized for anything human. Aaron watched until that thing stood at the foot of the rocky barricade, and then he finally dared to breathe deeply, feeling like a giant weight had been momentarily lifted. The very presence of that thing scared him.The creature was making quick work of the rock slide, shoveling aside the boulders as if they were Styrofoam. Its arms were a blur as they tossed aside rocks in a cascade of rubble, resembling darkened streaks that were shooting tan-colored torrents of debris. Rubble pounded the roadsides, the resonating thunderclap booming like dueling jackhammers. The mechanical preciseness made Aaron think about how that thing must have handled the soldiers at the blockade. And probably the cabin, too. He felt his internal temperature rising, his body hair stood on end, and he decided he had to get away from that monster as soon as possible. He uncoiled his legs and stretched the mover the edge of the seat. Inching forward until they were just shy of reaching the floor, he dropped, trying to make as little noise as possible. The pounding of rocks drowned out everything, but it would be just his luck that the monster would pause at the wrong instant.

From the Back Cover

In a not-too-distant future, the US has fallen into near social and economic ruin. As the fringe elements of society and ordinary citizens alike struggle to deal with the terrifying new reality, a maelstrom of governmental deceit and malevolence churns just beneath the surface.Against this chaotic backdrop, strange new beings have risen out of the rubble. A former government worker, who in a fit of obsession and delusion steals and inhabits alien technology during a violent raid... A teenager whose reality contorts, making him privy to the cries of the dead as he stumbles in and out of worlds in a surreal game of musical chairs... Soon things take a dark turn for the newly emerged pariahs.A long-running conspiracy involving a highly proficient military-industrial complex is attempting to resurrect an ancient horror, and the very outsiders laboring to cope with the dangerously altered state of the world might be the only ones who can do anything about it.

About the Author

Dan's early career included a year and a half-stint drawing political cartoons for Madcap Magazine and illustrating underground projects such as Maximum Rock and Roll. In 1997, after struggling through a violent car crash and a knife fight with a crackhead that severed the tendon on his left thumb, he attended art school. Receiving some commercial and local gallery acclaim for his artwork, he moved to New York City in an attempt to kick-start an art career. Heavily immersing himself in the local hardcore scene, he produced artwork for the bands Shai Hulud, Indecision, Koshari, Unsound, Coalesce, Most Precious Blood, Locked in a Vacancy, Beyond Reason, and Zombie Apocalypse, not to mention various local record labels and venues.His first novel, The Black Seas of Infinity, was published by Anarchy Books in 2011, and he started an illustrated calendar featuring a variety of artists. Deadite Press released the first book with a cover by Dan, a novel entitled "The Sopaths" by Piers Anthony.A limited edition chapbook "Christmas Is Cancelled" came out courtesy of Splatterpunk in 2013, and in 2014 he started columns for TAM, Tattoo Revue, and Skin Art magazines.A reissue of his debut novel was released by Permuted Press in April 2015, as well as a collection of his short stories entitled "Down Highways In The Dark...By Demons Driven".He continued his work for independent magazines, doing art for Red Door Magazine, a slew of books by the imprint Out Of Step, and every issue so far of the British horror zine Splatterpunk. The books "Not Dead", "Fighting Back", "Past Indiscretions", "Insatiable", "Bloodstains", "Tales For Dark Hours", "The Red Death" and "The Flood" all featured his work. His third book, "The End of the World" debuted in March of 2018. His heavily illustrated anthology entitled "The Never Dead" featuring 14 authors and 16 stories just debuted across all platforms in 2023.

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