Chronicles of Spartak: Rising Son

by Steven A Coulter

Overview

A riveting tale with a powerful political undercurrent. One gifted young man, sold into slavery, ignites a revolution.

By the year 2115, twelve families control all wealth in America, the middle class is myth, democracy a con game and the Supreme Court has just legalized a new entertainment and status option for the bored elite—human bondage.

Spartak Jones, an Olympic bound gymnast, is kidnapped, sold and forced to become the first legal slave since the Civil War, a trophy birthday present for the eldest son of the richest family. Targeted for his physical beauty and athletic talents, the teenager is not shy about using them to survive and protect his family.

When a war erupts within the ruling class, he proves himself a lethal warrior, fearless, resourceful and photogenic. His swashbuckling exploits awaken a long dormant liberal underground hungry to restore democracy.

In a world both familiar and horribly twisted, Spartak becomes a symbol of hope, a flesh and blood icon for an American that used to be and might be again, if he can survive.

Dark, twisted, dystopian, uplifting, and romantic—The Chronicles of Spartak —Rising Son delivers a 22nd century action hero who will make you cheer.

Warning:No Apocalypse. No Zombies. No Vampires. No Magic Wands. No Dragons. Just a touch of science fiction and an extraordinary teenager battling to protect those he loves. Can he play classical piano? Of course. Can he save democracy? Maybe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996647304
Publisher:	Steve Coulter
Publication date:	05/02/2016
Series:	Chronicles of Spartak , #1
Pages:	342
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.76(d)
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Steven A. Coulter writes fast paced future-history about the world we are creating by our actions today. He mixes science fiction, young adult voices, action adventure and politics with a short-horizon focus, near enough to our own time that we can see the connections to the future with characters reflecting the range of human values and sexuality.
Steve's work is enriched by his varied careers-soldier, teacher, journalist, state legislator, corporate executive and library commissioner. He has a BA and MA in Journalism and is a member of the board of Lambda Literary, a national non-profit championing new and diverse LGBTQ voices in literature. He lives in San Francisco with his husband, Greg, and a very special canine.

Editorial Reviews

"A multitalented, bisexual, teenage slave becomes a symbol of freedom in this debut sci-fi saga... with energetic action scenes and sharply drawn characters, and the result is a vigorous tale." Kirkus Reviews "If you love The Hunger Games, and you want a bit more of a gritty and adult feel, you may love Rising Son." B.A. Brock, Queer SciFi.com "A riveting story with a powerful underlying political narrative-Chronicles of Spartak will have an appeal across generations." David Kirp, New York Times Contributing Writer "Steven has this new genre ('new' because it avoids all the usual trappings of sci-fi novels and focuses on striving to make the future a better place rather then simply a rubble pile filled with odd creatures) down pat. If he continues this direction of writing he will be not only entertaining us with creative stories brilliantly written but also creating superheroes of substance - and very fine attributes!" Grady Harp, Amazon (Top 100 Reviewer) "This is a riveting political saga. The rich/poor divide is similar to the themes in the Presidential Election. I encourage you to read it. You will do it long into the night." Dr. Barbara O'Connor, Institute of Politics & Media, California State University, Sacramento "Highly imaginative and creative, action packed, with a fascinating young protagonist who combines the physical and moral attributes of both Spiderman and Superman in his remarkable body and psyche. The pace never flags, the story holds suspense and tension in every scene. With its extrapolation of the politics and extremism of today, religious and political, The Chronicles of Spartak is a thoughtful and thoroughly entertaining achievement." Katherine V Forrest, Author of the Kate Delafield mystery series "The book is really intellectual, fast paced, has a lot of action, good characters, and I really appreciated the way a young queer athlete and a slave becomes a symbol for a revolution." Vigilantereads "The protagonist is a young and renowned athlete in a society that tolerates him for its entertainment. The writing is literate, direct, and a pleasure to read. There is a fascinating plot point-the return of slavery to the United States of America." Dennis Myers, Reno News & Review "The treacherous world of 22nd century San Francisco as imagined by Steve Coulter would be a challenge to anyone but to 16-year-old Spartak Jones it becomes the stone on which he hones his athletic skills and his bravery. Coulter's writing can make us feel both at home and uneasy at the same time as he skillfully reveals a future we must fight against at all costs." Jewelle Gomez, author of The Gilda Stories "We are so lucky to have writers that are producing books for the young and especially with this superhero, we have someone that everyone can be proud of and with whom sexuality is a non-issue... I found this to be totally absorbing and entertaining-so much so that I stopped everything else and read the book to completion in one sitting." Amos Lassen, Blogger

From the Publisher