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Atargatis
A GODDESS STIRS IN THE DEEP...
The underwater city of Atargatis is the only bastion of the last humans, a genderless population of nearly identical clones. They share their ocean world with a sea-faring species, the Scorps, who have prophesied human extinction. As the day of that prophecy nears, Atargatis fearfully blocks the Scorp pilgrimage to their goddess in the deep ocean.
The Scorps' only advocate among the humans, Senator Edessa, is convinced that the Scorps' true intention is to save humanity from the prophecy. But when Edessa's last ally is assassinated in a coup by his nemesis, all political pretense falls away and Edessa is no longer safe in Atargatis.
"K.J. Russell excels in creating the kind of fantastic worlds you just love to lose yourself in. Wonderful stuff."
-D.L. Young, author of 'Juarez Square and Other Stories'
"The story is so enthralling, and the characters are so magnetic, that you can't put it down until you're done."
-Mel Algood, author of the upcoming novel 'Clear'
"K.J. Russell's work is often dark, sometimes brooding, always lush with mayhem and magic."
-C. Stuart Hardwick, editor of 'Tides of Impossibility'
"Mr. Russell has a way of world building with lyrical descriptions. Be prepared to be lost!"
-Heather Norcross, from the 'A Little Bit of R&R' book review blog, alittlebitofrnr.com
"Atargatis" is K.J. Russell's second novella, following his successful debut with "Absolute Tenacity" in 2014. Having spent the past year editing anthologies of fantasy and science fiction for the Houston Writers Guild, K.J. Russell returns with a new display of his careful prose, dense with challenging themes and stunning imagery.
The underwater city of Atargatis is the only bastion of the last humans, a genderless population of nearly identical clones. They share their ocean world with a sea-faring species, the Scorps, who have prophesied human extinction. As the day of that prophecy nears, Atargatis fearfully blocks the Scorp pilgrimage to their goddess in the deep ocean.
The Scorps' only advocate among the humans, Senator Edessa, is convinced that the Scorps' true intention is to save humanity from the prophecy. But when Edessa's last ally is assassinated in a coup by his nemesis, all political pretense falls away and Edessa is no longer safe in Atargatis.
"K.J. Russell excels in creating the kind of fantastic worlds you just love to lose yourself in. Wonderful stuff."
-D.L. Young, author of 'Juarez Square and Other Stories'
"The story is so enthralling, and the characters are so magnetic, that you can't put it down until you're done."
-Mel Algood, author of the upcoming novel 'Clear'
"K.J. Russell's work is often dark, sometimes brooding, always lush with mayhem and magic."
-C. Stuart Hardwick, editor of 'Tides of Impossibility'
"Mr. Russell has a way of world building with lyrical descriptions. Be prepared to be lost!"
-Heather Norcross, from the 'A Little Bit of R&R' book review blog, alittlebitofrnr.com
"Atargatis" is K.J. Russell's second novella, following his successful debut with "Absolute Tenacity" in 2014. Having spent the past year editing anthologies of fantasy and science fiction for the Houston Writers Guild, K.J. Russell returns with a new display of his careful prose, dense with challenging themes and stunning imagery.
- GenresScience Fiction
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2015
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496 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 15, 2015
4/5 Stars
Review pending release :)
Review pending release :)
May 30, 2015
Fantastically thoughtful and very reminiscent of classic, hard sci-fi. Be prepared to have your ideas challenged in some very smartly written prose.
July 25, 2021
This novella I found very difficult to get into. I read it on & off over two days and I just found the first part of the story hard to capture my attention. I enjoyed the second part of the story better. This is a unique story to me, one in which I have never read something similar to previously. The idea of a human population only living in an underwater city, with God's, robots and genderless beings all interwoven in one story is unique in itself.
September 5, 2015
I really loved this book. The gender and species bending characters were beautifully done. The story really drew me in, almost could not breathe when the water started to... well, I won't say too much here. Since it is a novella, I finished it in one sitting... so I read it again! Enjoying this new to me author.
April 11, 2016
Pick up this story, and enter a world so alien it's almost impossible to comprehend. It has the feel of ancient Rome, but is very futuristic and submerged deep within the ocean. The beings presented are no less common. However, this tale is engaging and quite easy to read over a very short span of time. It only takes 56 pages to immerse you in a culture so foreign you will be mesmerized.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews