Under the Shadow of the Plateau: Frontier Forever

In the wake of machine enslavement, Earth has become a reservation for the way life had once been. The Naturalist priesthood implements an embargo to protect humanity’s homeworld from the ravages of technology, but corruption has set in, and the world’s first Athena-class Marshal is sent to investigate.

“Brutal, oppressive and delightfully intriguing”

“Somehow futuristic and nostalgic at the same time”

“Couldn’t put it down”

It’s like Mad Max and Dune, with a touch of The Matrix.

Born fully-grown and endowed with extensive pre-educational training, the Marshal thought she was ready for anything. After reluctantly accepting an AI sidekick housed inside robotic armor for her arm, however, problems with the device’s installation lead to intense internal conflict, and they quickly find themselves at the heart of a massive conspiracy.

Dirty migrant labor, roaming herds of intelligent animal hybrids, and a growing army of poachers illustrate how gruesome the universal Mecca has become. Those living amongst the stars consider Earth as a grand experiment to restore Natural Order, but life inside of the hermetically sealed bubble has grown unstable and stale. Survival of the fittest doesn’t mean what it used to, as a mysterious monster is roaming the southlands.

The great Tribal Nations seem to be at peace, but young Rhodes is the first to suspect foul play. Less than a year early, his twin brother Pathos went missing, and he cannot accept it was due to natural causes. Tormented by grief and guilt, he goes to live with his surrogate animal family, unaware that he is tangled in the same sinister web as the Marshal.

Full of thermalpunk action and adventure, this frightening look at the future forces a closer look at the problems of today. Diverse characters explore the differences between humans, animals, and machines, all while struggling against technological dependence, economic violence, and systemic racism.

Under the Plateau is the first book in the Frontier Forever series, and the sequel, Blood Beneath Water, is due for release later this year. A unique illustration precedes each of the thirty-three chapters in both the paperback and Kindle versions.