Darrell Lee's Blog
October 8, 2019
Shortlister!
I am a shortlister! My novel, The Apotheosis, has moved on to the next round of judging for the CYGNUS book award.
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring space, time travel, life on other planets, parallel universes, alternate reality, and all the science, technology, major social or environmental changes of the future that author imaginations can dream up for the CYGNUS Book Awards division.
See the list moving to the next round here:
https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/09...
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring space, time travel, life on other planets, parallel universes, alternate reality, and all the science, technology, major social or environmental changes of the future that author imaginations can dream up for the CYGNUS Book Awards division.
See the list moving to the next round here:
https://www.chantireviews.com/2019/09...
September 3, 2019
Silver Medal Winner!
The Apotheosis is a Silver Medal Winner of the Reader's Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fiction - Action genre. I am so pleased because the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest has thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities. Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America). I am very happy to be one of the 2019 winners!
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
Also, these outstanding reviews have come in...
"The Apotheosis takes the big ideas and moral complexity of hard sci-fi and mixes it with modern thriller trappings to create a science fiction chiller that will keep you engaged until the very last page." ★★★★ San Francisco Book Review
"The Apotheosis is a twisted tale of incredible magnitude. The commonalities of life —love, loss, passion, and fear—are ingeniously woven into this dark and, at times, insane story that explores currently untrodden territory in which a longing for immortality is at the heart." ★★★★★ Seattle Book Review
"There is a lot that goes on in this book, and honestly, it all kept me going despite its length. With the story not being too far into the future, it is scary to think whether cloning will be in our actual future or not. It is refreshing to read a story where everything falls into place and the people and places contain secrets in its pages that are revealed throughout the story to its audience." ★★★★★ Tulsa Book Review
"To call The Apotheosis a modern Frankenstein is only partially accurate. While there are many parallels between the two books, The Apotheosis is a wholly modern creation, revealing new hopes and new fears for our rapidly changing world. Many fans of science fiction will find it a fascinating and thought-provoking tale, just as I did." ★★★★★ Manhattan Book Review
Happy reading!
Darrell
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
Also, these outstanding reviews have come in...
"The Apotheosis takes the big ideas and moral complexity of hard sci-fi and mixes it with modern thriller trappings to create a science fiction chiller that will keep you engaged until the very last page." ★★★★ San Francisco Book Review
"The Apotheosis is a twisted tale of incredible magnitude. The commonalities of life —love, loss, passion, and fear—are ingeniously woven into this dark and, at times, insane story that explores currently untrodden territory in which a longing for immortality is at the heart." ★★★★★ Seattle Book Review
"There is a lot that goes on in this book, and honestly, it all kept me going despite its length. With the story not being too far into the future, it is scary to think whether cloning will be in our actual future or not. It is refreshing to read a story where everything falls into place and the people and places contain secrets in its pages that are revealed throughout the story to its audience." ★★★★★ Tulsa Book Review
"To call The Apotheosis a modern Frankenstein is only partially accurate. While there are many parallels between the two books, The Apotheosis is a wholly modern creation, revealing new hopes and new fears for our rapidly changing world. Many fans of science fiction will find it a fascinating and thought-provoking tale, just as I did." ★★★★★ Manhattan Book Review
Happy reading!
Darrell
August 29, 2019
San Francisco Review
The Apotheosis
By Darrell Lee
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press LLC, $17.95, 380 pages, Format: Trade
Star Rating: 4 / 5
Welcome to the life of John Numen. A life of scientific wonders, limitless financial success, bold choices, and tragic losses. John's scientific acumen is matched only by his gift for making money. And, as he pushes the boundaries of modern chemistry and molecular biology to places once thought impossible, he will take the first step on a path that pits his decades-long master plan against the vagaries of fate, circumstance, and the catastrophic choices of others. But that doesn't matter. No. When your endgame is immortality, the rules are quite different.
The Apotheosis is a science fiction story about ambition, pride, and loss — one that charts the arc of one remarkable man's life and the endless spiraling consequences that emerge from a single choice.
If you're going to spend 300 pages with one character, that character better be damned intriguing, and thankfully, Numen does fit the bill. Granted, until a hundred pages in, John was basically a Mary Sue (handsome, rich, brilliant, charming, successful, a great cook), but a sinister twist suddenly imbues him with depth and tangibility. He goes from being a vaguely interesting blank slate to a protagonist worth investing in, whether you like him or not.
John inhabits a slowly-changing but well-constructed world throughout the years. We see both his efforts to keep up and the ways in which he falls behind, which feels more realistic than characters who simply adapt effortlessly to new events and conditions no matter the circumstances. Similarly, the world itself cleverly manages to feel both familiar and futuristic as time passes, hinting at technological advancements without seeming too ambitious, unlikely, or silly. John's world is dynamic, but never leaves the reader feeling adrift. For the most part. Yes, the last third of the book is strange, because most of it feels air-lifted in from a completely different novel — given the sudden change in setting, characters, and tone — and I suspect that's because the reader doesn't get the same interstitial moments with the main character that we did in previous segments where we strayed from John's narrative. So even though the last third ends up dovetailing with the rest of the novel nicely, the transition and lack of interplay between the two plotlines is really jarring. It particularly stood out because the rest of the novel, despite the numerous facets of the story in play and the different threads (about aging, hubris, missed opportunities, etc.), flows effortlessly. Whether we're dealing with heavily scientific detours or key emotional beats, John as wounded man or John as ruthless tactician, the throughline of the story is always apparent.
The storytelling is so patient, in fact, that the ending feels a bit abrupt, even though it arrives precisely as it should. (It's possible the ending was intentionally abrupt, if a sequel is in the works, but I'm reviewing under the assumption that this novel is a one-and-done). It still satisfies the reader and ties up enough threads to feel like a suitable conclusion, even with the door left open for further follow-up. John's multilayered schemes are even echoed through the book's cover art, which combines visual elements of DNA, computer code, and molecular structure — three key components of John's work throughout the book — into a busy, but fitting, tableau.
The Apotheosis takes the big ideas and moral complexity of hard sci-fi and mixes it with modern thriller trappings to create a science fiction chiller that will keep you engaged until the very last page.
Reviewed by Glenn Dallas
By Darrell Lee
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press LLC, $17.95, 380 pages, Format: Trade
Star Rating: 4 / 5
Welcome to the life of John Numen. A life of scientific wonders, limitless financial success, bold choices, and tragic losses. John's scientific acumen is matched only by his gift for making money. And, as he pushes the boundaries of modern chemistry and molecular biology to places once thought impossible, he will take the first step on a path that pits his decades-long master plan against the vagaries of fate, circumstance, and the catastrophic choices of others. But that doesn't matter. No. When your endgame is immortality, the rules are quite different.
The Apotheosis is a science fiction story about ambition, pride, and loss — one that charts the arc of one remarkable man's life and the endless spiraling consequences that emerge from a single choice.
If you're going to spend 300 pages with one character, that character better be damned intriguing, and thankfully, Numen does fit the bill. Granted, until a hundred pages in, John was basically a Mary Sue (handsome, rich, brilliant, charming, successful, a great cook), but a sinister twist suddenly imbues him with depth and tangibility. He goes from being a vaguely interesting blank slate to a protagonist worth investing in, whether you like him or not.
John inhabits a slowly-changing but well-constructed world throughout the years. We see both his efforts to keep up and the ways in which he falls behind, which feels more realistic than characters who simply adapt effortlessly to new events and conditions no matter the circumstances. Similarly, the world itself cleverly manages to feel both familiar and futuristic as time passes, hinting at technological advancements without seeming too ambitious, unlikely, or silly. John's world is dynamic, but never leaves the reader feeling adrift. For the most part. Yes, the last third of the book is strange, because most of it feels air-lifted in from a completely different novel — given the sudden change in setting, characters, and tone — and I suspect that's because the reader doesn't get the same interstitial moments with the main character that we did in previous segments where we strayed from John's narrative. So even though the last third ends up dovetailing with the rest of the novel nicely, the transition and lack of interplay between the two plotlines is really jarring. It particularly stood out because the rest of the novel, despite the numerous facets of the story in play and the different threads (about aging, hubris, missed opportunities, etc.), flows effortlessly. Whether we're dealing with heavily scientific detours or key emotional beats, John as wounded man or John as ruthless tactician, the throughline of the story is always apparent.
The storytelling is so patient, in fact, that the ending feels a bit abrupt, even though it arrives precisely as it should. (It's possible the ending was intentionally abrupt, if a sequel is in the works, but I'm reviewing under the assumption that this novel is a one-and-done). It still satisfies the reader and ties up enough threads to feel like a suitable conclusion, even with the door left open for further follow-up. John's multilayered schemes are even echoed through the book's cover art, which combines visual elements of DNA, computer code, and molecular structure — three key components of John's work throughout the book — into a busy, but fitting, tableau.
The Apotheosis takes the big ideas and moral complexity of hard sci-fi and mixes it with modern thriller trappings to create a science fiction chiller that will keep you engaged until the very last page.
Reviewed by Glenn Dallas
August 23, 2019
Latest Review
The latest review for the Seattle Book Review...
The Apotheosis
By Darrell Lee
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press LLC, $17.95, 380 pages, Format: Trade
Star Rating: 5 / 5
He’s a man of control, wit, and unfathomable intellect who uses his gifts to better his own cause while irreversibly destroying the lives of those who cross his path. His name is John Numen, though he has an array of other aliases by which he goes. When he was a young and impressionable child, he lost his father while participating with him in an innocent game of flag football during the celebration of his 10th birthday. It happened suddenly and unexpectedly and was the event that served as a catalyst for changing his life forever. After a trip to visit his late father’s laboratory, a fascination with science and the manipulation of variables in order to create new and previously unthought-of theories, methods, and outcomes to alter current realities and to eventually reconstruct the course of an animal or human’s life begins growing inside him. As a young adult, he will inherit 40% ownership of his father’s pharmaceutical business, which will enable him to have the means to begin his life's work.
When that time arrives, his first victims, so-to-speak, are monkeys and bonobos. They serve as the primary subjects of his novel cloning ventures. His dog, Frick, as well as his younger counterpart, Frack, unwittingly are irrevocably altered by his scientific procedures as well. And, as his cloning success rates and outcomes increase, experimentation with humans becomes a part of his game. Though it takes time and determination on his part, sprinkled with a bit of collateral damage here and there, Numen proceeds onward toward reaching his final goal—elongating his own life eternally via scientific means. He vows to stop at nothing, regardless of the destruction, deception, greed, and sheer evil it may take to get there. However, a chain of seemingly unrelated events set off an alarm bell that alerts authorities, and a manhunt begins. The feds trace his every move, and, as they narrow in on him, it seems all but certain his finals plans will not make it to fruition. It isn’t clear, though, after their attempt to apprehend him, as well as his latest victim, whether or not his life has truly become untouchable.
The Apotheosis is a twisted tale of incredible magnitude. The commonalities of life —love, loss, passion, and fear—are ingeniously woven into this dark and, at times, insane story that explores currently untrodden territory in which a longing for immortality is at the heart. The characters are well developed and complex, crossing through each other’s lives, sometimes through happenstance alone; other times through premeditated means involving corruption, greed, and criminality. The text is action-packed from beginning to end, and just when the plot seems to be following a predictable path, it makes a divergence leaving the reader curiously eager to continue onward until the pages are no more. Author, Darrell Lee, masterfully leaves the reader hanging from a cliff’s edge, wondering if, indeed, John Numen’s ultimate goal will ever be fully actualized through the artificial and haunting means it is sought and, further, whether there might someday be a sequel. Additionally, this science fiction thriller leaves an impression and feeling of eeriness inside that lingers long after the last page. It’s mentioned in the notes about the author that his ultimate goal is to “leave a mark on the reader.” He unquestionably succeeds!
Reviewed by Jennifer Padgett
The Apotheosis
By Darrell Lee
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press LLC, $17.95, 380 pages, Format: Trade
Star Rating: 5 / 5
He’s a man of control, wit, and unfathomable intellect who uses his gifts to better his own cause while irreversibly destroying the lives of those who cross his path. His name is John Numen, though he has an array of other aliases by which he goes. When he was a young and impressionable child, he lost his father while participating with him in an innocent game of flag football during the celebration of his 10th birthday. It happened suddenly and unexpectedly and was the event that served as a catalyst for changing his life forever. After a trip to visit his late father’s laboratory, a fascination with science and the manipulation of variables in order to create new and previously unthought-of theories, methods, and outcomes to alter current realities and to eventually reconstruct the course of an animal or human’s life begins growing inside him. As a young adult, he will inherit 40% ownership of his father’s pharmaceutical business, which will enable him to have the means to begin his life's work.
When that time arrives, his first victims, so-to-speak, are monkeys and bonobos. They serve as the primary subjects of his novel cloning ventures. His dog, Frick, as well as his younger counterpart, Frack, unwittingly are irrevocably altered by his scientific procedures as well. And, as his cloning success rates and outcomes increase, experimentation with humans becomes a part of his game. Though it takes time and determination on his part, sprinkled with a bit of collateral damage here and there, Numen proceeds onward toward reaching his final goal—elongating his own life eternally via scientific means. He vows to stop at nothing, regardless of the destruction, deception, greed, and sheer evil it may take to get there. However, a chain of seemingly unrelated events set off an alarm bell that alerts authorities, and a manhunt begins. The feds trace his every move, and, as they narrow in on him, it seems all but certain his finals plans will not make it to fruition. It isn’t clear, though, after their attempt to apprehend him, as well as his latest victim, whether or not his life has truly become untouchable.
The Apotheosis is a twisted tale of incredible magnitude. The commonalities of life —love, loss, passion, and fear—are ingeniously woven into this dark and, at times, insane story that explores currently untrodden territory in which a longing for immortality is at the heart. The characters are well developed and complex, crossing through each other’s lives, sometimes through happenstance alone; other times through premeditated means involving corruption, greed, and criminality. The text is action-packed from beginning to end, and just when the plot seems to be following a predictable path, it makes a divergence leaving the reader curiously eager to continue onward until the pages are no more. Author, Darrell Lee, masterfully leaves the reader hanging from a cliff’s edge, wondering if, indeed, John Numen’s ultimate goal will ever be fully actualized through the artificial and haunting means it is sought and, further, whether there might someday be a sequel. Additionally, this science fiction thriller leaves an impression and feeling of eeriness inside that lingers long after the last page. It’s mentioned in the notes about the author that his ultimate goal is to “leave a mark on the reader.” He unquestionably succeeds!
Reviewed by Jennifer Padgett
July 23, 2019
NPR Interview 7/23/2019
Recently I had an interview with the local NPR station. It aired today at 12:00. The link below will take you to the podcast. Before my interview there is also a piece on Chris Kraft, the JSC director...
On Tuesday’s Houston Matters: NASA pioneer, architect of mission control, and longtime Johnson Space Center Director Chris Kraft died Monday in Houston, just two days after the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. We remember Craft’s career and legacy in NASA.
Also this hour: The Battleship Texas is being moved. The historic ship and museum needs to be repaired and then will head to its new home somewhere along the upper Texas coast. But where, exactly, is a point of contention. We learn more about the situation from Bruce Bramlett of the Battleship Texas Foundation.
Then, NASA software engineer Darrell Lee draws on his scientific background to write thrillers about science and technology. We learn about his latest work, The Apotheosis, which portrays an all-too-plausible bio-engineering disaster.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/ar...
On Tuesday’s Houston Matters: NASA pioneer, architect of mission control, and longtime Johnson Space Center Director Chris Kraft died Monday in Houston, just two days after the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. We remember Craft’s career and legacy in NASA.
Also this hour: The Battleship Texas is being moved. The historic ship and museum needs to be repaired and then will head to its new home somewhere along the upper Texas coast. But where, exactly, is a point of contention. We learn more about the situation from Bruce Bramlett of the Battleship Texas Foundation.
Then, NASA software engineer Darrell Lee draws on his scientific background to write thrillers about science and technology. We learn about his latest work, The Apotheosis, which portrays an all-too-plausible bio-engineering disaster.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/ar...
June 18, 2019
Absolute power corrupts...
Absolute power corrupts, and the scientist at the center of Darrell Lee’s new science-fiction thriller THE APOTHEOSIS , is the perfect storm of ill-intentioned genius, wealth, and cruel obsession.
Channeling the propulsive action and scientific-authenticity of a Michael Crichton novel, Darrell Lee delivers an all to plausible bio-engineering disaster in the waiting. John Numen is the man with too much—money, status, and brilliance—for his own good. With a tale spanning nearly a century, Numen’s technological advancements remake the world in his own image to devastating results.
About the Book:
Published by Progressive Rising Phoenix Press | 380 Pages
Hardcover | $29.95 | ISBN: 9781946329820
Trade Paperback Original | $17.95 | ISBN: 9781946329806
Channeling the propulsive action and scientific-authenticity of a Michael Crichton novel, Darrell Lee delivers an all to plausible bio-engineering disaster in the waiting. John Numen is the man with too much—money, status, and brilliance—for his own good. With a tale spanning nearly a century, Numen’s technological advancements remake the world in his own image to devastating results.
About the Book:
Published by Progressive Rising Phoenix Press | 380 Pages
Hardcover | $29.95 | ISBN: 9781946329820
Trade Paperback Original | $17.95 | ISBN: 9781946329806
May 31, 2019
Amazon Gift Card For You!
Take a picture of yourself holding my novel, The Apotheosis, and post it on Facebook or Twitter and tag me @AuthorDarrellLee for Facebook, @AuthrDarrellLee for Twitter AND use #TheApotheosis in the caption or send it to me in email (authordarrelllee@gmail.com) from now until June 30th, I will send to you a $10 Amazon gift card (through email)!
Happy Summer Reading!
Darrell
Happy Summer Reading!
Darrell
May 28, 2019
Amazon Giveaway!
Want a free copy of my latest novel? Here's a chance. Good luck!
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/489fc48...
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/489fc48...
May 18, 2019
On Sale NOW!
Finally the day is here and my latest novel is unleashed. Just in time for the summer reading season.
You can find it in all the usual places such as Amazon, Barns & Noble, iTunes, Books-a-Million, etc.
You can find links to those places and can enter for the chance to win a hardcover signed copy on my website: www.authordarrelllee.com
You can find it in all the usual places such as Amazon, Barns & Noble, iTunes, Books-a-Million, etc.
You can find links to those places and can enter for the chance to win a hardcover signed copy on my website: www.authordarrelllee.com
May 15, 2019
One More Way to Win
My novel, The Apotheosis, is released this Saturday. YAY! There is one more way you can win a hardcover signed copy.
Visit my website:
www.authordarrelllee.com/apotheosis-b...
to enter for a chance to win. Giveaway ends June 30, 2019.
Good luck!
Visit my website:
www.authordarrelllee.com/apotheosis-b...
to enter for a chance to win. Giveaway ends June 30, 2019.
Good luck!
