Publication date: May 15th, 2025
Synopsis:
America's cultural divide turns deadly.
When lifelong friends Olivia and Alexandra find themselves in opposing camps, the bonds of their friendship are tested like never before.
Olivia seeks solace in a socialist utopia that promises protection and belonging, but at what cost?
Meanwhile, Alexandra chases freedom. But can she survive in a community with few, if any, rules?
As their worlds collide and tensions escalate, secrets and lies threaten to destroy the foundation of their relationship.
Can they bridge the gap between them, or will their differences tear them apart forever?
In this gripping tale of loyalty, adventure, and human connection, the stakes are higher than ever. Protopia is a thought-provoking thrill ride that explores the power of friendship in a world on the brink.
If you devour the complex characters of Emily St. John Mandel or the visionary, world-building of Octavia Butler, you'll be captivated by this latest masterpiece by the author of the Amazon best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.
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Excerpt from Chapter 18
Obsession is the key to victory. And Alexandra was obsessed. She would hunt down the guys who had hurt Irene, and they would pay a price for what they'd done. And, as for the message--the message intended for a small group of "uppity women"--she would reply. Her reply would make it clear to the men and women of Cygnus that life here would be different from now on. The belief that some men harbored--that they could do as they pleased to the women of Cygnus--would be a thing of the past.
That the guy who had begun this descent into hell was the same who had made the mistake of sidling up to Alexandra the day they arrived in Cygnus didn't surprise her. Roberta had told her where he lived with his two brothers--a ramshackle log cabin on the outskirts of town. It might have made sense for her to cool off a bit, to think it through, to plan her attack. But her rage had taken over. She knew what she had to do, and there was no time like the present.
Jesse Michaels was outside the cabin when Alexandra arrived. He was splitting logs and wielding an axe like he had been one in his hands since birth. When he saw Alexandra approaching, he smirked like he was expecting her. He tossed the axe from one hand to the other and back again. Then he twirled it over his head like a baton.
He grasped the handle as she approached like he was about to chop down a mighty oak. Undeterred Alexandra ran at him and then ducked under the swing of the axe, performing a leg sweep as she went down. The tactic worked. Jesse fell backward, landing flat on his back and striking his head on the ground. Miraculously, he held onto his axe as he rolled away from Alexandra. He rose quickly, but Alexandra was quicker. By the time he raised the axe again, she was too close for the long handle to do any damage. He attempted to butt her with the end of the handle, but she punched him in his solar plexus before he could finish his move. He doubled over, and Alexandra kicked his face as he was going down.
Her next blow could be fatal. She hesitated, wondering if she wanted to kill him--wondering what might happen to her if she did. Her wondering was abruptly interrupted by the skyward blast of a shotgun. She turned to see Jesse's brothers, one of whom held a 12-gauge pointed directly at her.
"Don't move," he said. "Strike another blow, and it will be your last."
Angus Kane's arrival, with two of his deputies, could not have been better timed. His pickup skidded to a halt about twenty feet from the two brothers.
"Drop your weapon, Sebastian," he said as he withdrew his sidearm from its holster. Without looking away from Sebastian, he said to Alexandra, "I'll take it from here."
"And how will justice be served, Angus?" she asked him. "Men like this shouldn't be walking free... breathing the same air as the rest of us."
"Yeah," he replied, "I get that. But, believe it or not, we have laws here. And he'll be punished."
"That's what you said the last time," she replied, recalling his words the day she arrived in Cygnus.
"Yeah, but that was a minor transgression compared to this," he said. "He'll be locked up for a long time... and if you take this vigilantism any further, you'll be in a cell next to him."
Her rage hadn't entirely dissipated. She could feel it swelling in her chest, pounding in her ears, coursing through her veins. But she knew he was right. However much she wanted Jesse Michaels dead, she knew she couldn't be his judge, jury, and executioner. The law would prevail, even in Cygnus.
A Brooklyn-born, recovering businessman, JOHN CALIA has been a naval officer, banker, entrepreneur and consultant. He began writing his blog "Who Will Lead?" in 2010 attracting more than 115,000 readers. The five-star rating of his first book -- a business fable titled "The Reluctant CEO: Succeeding Without Losing Your Soul" -- inspired him to keep writing. His fascination with artificial intelligence and its impact on society inspired him to write "The Awakening of Artemis."
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