The Lazarus Protocol

by James Michael

556 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 12, 2026

About the author

James Williams lives in Moore, Oklahoma. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master's degree in English Education in 2024. In May 2024, James published his first novel, It Was Always You. He currently teaches high school English in Oklahoma City. James is the father to Brady, Nevaeh, and Hayden, and stepfather to Sage. He and his partner, Rachael, have a cat, Shadow, and 3 dogs, Harley, Alfred, and Drake. In his free time, James enjoys learning about free time and imagining what that would be like.

Reviews

[Katie]

This book was everything I want in a sci-fi read and more. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster filled with suspense, heart-pounding action, and sweaty-palm moments that kept me glued to the pages. At the same time, it delivered such heartfelt emotion that it genuinely tugged at my heartstrings.

What makes this story so special is how easy the sci-fi elements are to follow while still feeling immersive and exciting. The characters are incredibly lovable and easy to connect with, and the found-family dynamic made the story even more powerful and unforgettable.

I truly can’t say enough about this author’s talent. Somehow, every book he writes manages to touch my soul in a different way. His storytelling is emotional, gripping, and deeply human, even in the midst of a thrilling sci-fi adventure. I already can’t wait to see what he brings us in the next book.

[Renee Benavente]

Here’s a polished version that keeps your enthusiasm while improving the flow and clarity:

This was my first dive into sci-fi, and I absolutely loved it! The story was easy to follow and understand, making it a great introduction to the genre.

The book follows Abe, who experiences a devastating tragedy early in his life. He eventually travels to the Moon to work independently on technology that could benefit humanity. Along the way, he is accompanied by Jane, an AI companion whose relationship with Abe is both heartfelt and surprisingly funny. As his only constant companion, she helps keep him grounded through unimaginable circumstances.

When Earth is struck by an asteroid and completely destroyed, nearly all of humanity is wiped out. Abe is left to carry the grief of everything that was lost, but he refuses to give up. Determined to preserve humanity’s future, he sets out on an extraordinary mission to find a way forward and restore the human race.

This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. It made me feel every emotion—from heartbreak and grief to hope and determination. I was completely hooked and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Abe’s strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication to humanity made him a fascinating character to follow. His journey was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

I was captivated from beginning to end and absolutely loved this book! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[A.B. Basson]

A truely beautiful story. The Lazarus Protocol does something special and that's to remember who the characters are and what defines them. Taking this journey with them is a emotional ride from start to finish. It's filled with funny moments but hard emotional layers but doesn't forget to let the reader breath. No words can do this book justice

[Shay loves books]

There aren’t enough stars available to rate this book!

Good golly Miss Molly! This book took me on such an emotional roller coaster from the prologue and even through the authors note! I am talking, streaming tears and some laughter of course. Man this book had me in all my feels! Such amazing characters and storyline. James, I absolutely love the way your brain works and the stories you give us to read and love. Thank you thank you thank you!

There are many lessons we can all take away from reading this book if you let it. I’m not gonna tell you what this book is about, because you need to read it and find out for yourself, just believe when I tell you, you have to read it! Don’t let Sci-fi scare you off, this book is so much more than that.
Trust
Found Family
Loss
Love
Lessons learned
Courage
These are just some of the tropes you will encounter when you read this.

[Riva Bickler]

I went into The Lazarus Protocol expecting sci-fi. I did NOT expect to be emotionally wrecked before I was even 100 pages in.

This story hooked me emotionally almost immediately, and that ended up being one of my favorite things about it. There’s so much heart underneath the sci-fi premise, with moments that made me cry, moments that made me laugh, and character dynamics I genuinely loved.

I did have some questions about the logistics and worldbuilding along the way. There were places where I wanted a little more explanation or background, especially when it came to some of the practical details of the story. But ultimately, those questions didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book as a whole.

I loved the premise, I loved the story, and most of all I loved that a sci-fi book managed to hit me emotionally WAY harder than I was prepared for.

[Gina]

James Michael does an amazing job bringing the unimaginable to life in The Lazarus Protocol. This story makes you question what you would do if faced with the same circumstances as Abe.

Filled with heartbreak, difficult truths, and unexpected revelations, Abe learns that some of the biggest choices in his life were never really his to make.

Along the way, he is joined by the most unusual companions, an AI named Jane and one he would never thought of helps him to learn, heal, accept, forgive, and ultimately triumph.

This book is packed with emotion and thought provoking moments that will stay with you long after the final page.

Emotional, unique, and impossible to forget.