The end of technology and maybe of humanity itself. Demons (and magic) unleashed upon the Earth.
The Mist meets a gritty prequel to The Elfstones of Shannara, The Infernal Age is a nail-biting take on the death of the modern world and the birth of something darker.
Gabriel, an ex-soldier-turned-project-manager with anger issues, is sent to a small town in New Mexico and charged with keeping a failed government experiment secret and stable. There he meets Tam, an oddly philosophical scientist, but as they settle into a bantering friendship, things go catastrophically wrong.
As the containment fails, the truth is revealed - the experiment has punched a hole through to another reality allowing demon-like aliens to pass through, bringing their realm's laws of physics with them. The creatures rampage as all technology fails and many people begin to sicken and die. The duo meets the traumatized but resilient Ripley and together they embark on a quest to get vital data to the experiment's authors. As they travel together, battle demons, give aid to some survivors and fight others, each of them realizes that they are manifesting unsettling powers which, while helping them, also threaten to estrange them from their humanity.
An apocalyptic blend of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, The Infernal Age - Demon Gate is book one of a debut series by author Anson Joaqun. Join Gabriel, Tam, and Ripley as they are confronted by the end of the world they knew and start their quest to set things right, or failing that, at least to stay alive... and stay human.
"An engaging and inventive horror-combat adventure." - Kirkus Reviews, a "Get It" selection
"...thrusts readers into an apocalyptic nightmare.... Joaquin paints a world both desolate and hauntingly beautiful...." - BookLife Reviews, Editor's Pick
Cover art by Jeff Brown
Industry Reviews
"It has a compelling premise that combines multiple genres, delivering SF apocalypse-horror by way of HBO's dramatic TV series Chernobyl.... Gabriel and Tam are likable and endearing, and their banter makes for an enjoyable read. Ripley is an extremely strong character... her emotional complexity makes her all the more realistic and human.... All in all, readers who like post-disaster fiction with plenty of action and engaging characters are likely to enjoy this end-times tale. An engaging and inventive horror-combat adventure." - Kirkus Reviews (a "Get It" selection)
"...thrusts readers into an apocalyptic nightmare.... Joaquin paints a world both desolate and hauntingly beautiful.... The descriptions of the demonic entities, particularly Hakk'rix, whose predatory instincts and intelligence set it apart from the others, evoke a sense of cosmic horror.... Joaquin balances the feast of action with introspective moments that allow the characters to breathe. The cliffhanger ending wraps up this hypnotic descent into chaos, promising an exciting sequel." - BookLife Reviews, Editor's Pick
"...crosses between The Walking Dead, H*E*R*O*E*S and Predator. Well written and with original ideas as well as some classic Sci-Fi and Fantasy themes. It will keep you absorbed to the end and wanting more." - Kathrin Lake, author of Writing with Cold Feet
