Icarus

by Kevin Kauffmann

***Author's Note*** Even though this was the "definitive edition", there was enough criticism that I went back and fixed most of the glaring issues reviewer's noticed, so as of 8/21/2014, the entire trilogy should be a much better read now.
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You know what they say about freedom? It's choosing your way to die.

After being turned into futuristic gladiators, that freedom to die is really all the men and women of Eris have left. Based in a world only a few centuries beyond our own, The Icarus Trilogy tells the story of Ryan Jenkins and his friends from the Crows, one of the most successful teams on an asteroid devoted to constant corporate-sponsored warfare.

They fight, die and are resurrected to die again merely for the amusement of a callous and misguided society, which has been corrupted by the influence of the Trade Union, the all-encompassing economic group that has enslaved the world. It seems like there is no hope for humanity, stuck in an endless cycle of debt and indentured servitude.

All of that is about to change. Ryan and his friends will see to that.

A year after the publication of Murder of Crows, this anniversary edition has been released to better illustrate Kauffmann's vision for the Icarus Trilogy. This collection includes completely revised versions of all three books in the series, Murder of Crows, Phoenix Rising and Swan Song, and also has an appendix where the author discusses the writing process, the revisions and some of the major themes of the series.

Adding more description, characters and a new subplot for Swan Song, this anniversary compilation is the definitive version of Kauffmann's Icarus Trilogy, a series known for strong characters, social critique and mythological allusion.

If you want to try out the first book, Murder of Crows, you can get it for free

785 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2013

About the author

As a kid, Kevin Kauffmann would spend most days creating worlds and adventures for action figures and old Transformers. After grabbing a degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, he decided that creating worlds should be more than a hobby.

The Icarus Trilogy, a sci-fi tale about futuristic gladiatorial warfare, was Kauffmann's first series, but he has since gone on to tell stories in many different genres. His Forsaken Comedy is a dark fantasy trilogy about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and his latest, Ouroboros, has received high praise for its representation of hallucinogen use and self-destructive behaviors.

Starting in 2024, 25&Y Publishing will release two novels and a collection from Kauffmann, the Misadventures of Rumpelstiltskin the Third, Daytrippers and Evenin' Flow, and he is the Narrative Director for Exfinitum, an upcoming card game from Yoton Yo Studios.