by Michael Alan Peck
BOOK DESCRIPTION
“Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen. The day of his death, he told a lie—and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.”
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America—stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.
Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.
Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever.
But first they have to save themselves.
And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons. It’s been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of its souls to maintain his brutal control. The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America—stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.
Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son. After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself. Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.
Three Journeys: separate but joined. One mission: to save forever.
But first they have to save themselves.
AUTHOR BIO
I’m a storyteller. To me, it’s not real until I’ve put it into story form, which means I repeat myself a lot. In fact, the phrase that passes my lips most often is, “I may have told you this before, but …”
I’ve made my living writing about TV, its celebrities, and its past. (I used to pen a column called “Ask the Televisionary” for TV Guide.com.) I’ve also put food on the table reviewing restaurants, writing about travel, and doing SEO and content strategy.
Only the writing counts in the end.
I have a godawful memory, so I focus on the written word. I like to think that over time, I’ve gotten better at it—the writing, not the remembering. I forget important dates. I’m pretty good with movie lines. But after several years, I tend to tweak them. I prefer my versions over the real ones.
Funny goes a long way with me. Probably further than it should.
I grew up outside Philadelphia and have lived in New York, L.A., and San Francisco. My current home base is Chicago.
At holiday time, the missus and I terrorize the world via The Little Drummer Boy Challenge. Please join us.
REVIEWS
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! 22 Jun 2014
By I. Printz - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
This novel combines the best of magical realism and quest genres. The characters are richly drawn and the plot is tight and suspenseful - I forgot to breath for long stretches of time and some of the imagery will haunt me for quite some time. I inhaled this book in two sittings, and can't wait for future instalments!
5.0 out of 5 stars Kurt V move over 25 Jun 2014
By Starry Night - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
As Paul finds his way through the Commons I kept hearing music. The music is always sweeping, sometimes dark, often heroic. This book is a masterpiece to be compared with Kurt Vonnegut and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The anguish,the beauty of the more than real characters will haunt me for a long time. I keep wondering if Paul was a journey Peck had taken himself? Or maybe Paul's journey is a journey we all take in this life. Although this is Book 1, this is a complete novel. I am on pins and needles for Book 2. Thanks for the music Mr. Peck
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