Rage

by Jon Messenger, Cynthia Shepp (Editor)

Terra Secundus was a paradise. Only the second inhabitable planet found within space travel distance from Earth, it was a lush world of exotic jungles and long, gently rolling prairies. It represented a second chance for humanity, who had expanded beyond the means of their solar system. Unfortunately, Terra Secundus also held another rare minerals, the type corporations would fight and kill to possess. Sergeant Jonas Vega, conscript and soldier, wanted nothing more than to serve his time on the front lines of Terra Secundus, then return home to his family. When exposed to the Rage Virus, he instead becomes an outcast, no longer fit for reintegration into civilized society. As he tries to become just another citizen, he's constantly reminded of just how far he's drifted from "civilized".

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2012

About the author

Jon Messenger (Born 1979 in London, England) serves as an United States Army Major in the Medical Service Corps. Since graduating from the University of Southern California in 2002, writing Science Fiction has remained his passion, a passion that has continued through multiple combat and humanitarian deployments. Jon wrote the "Brink of Distinction" trilogy, of which "Burden of Sisyphus" is the first book, while serving a 16-month deployment in Baghdad, Iraq.

Reviews

[Michael Loring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rage is a science fiction novel written by Author Jon Messenger, and is about the struggles of Sergeant Jonas Vega after his release from active duty. Trying to integrate back into the populace is hard enough for anyone who had seen what Jonas had seen, but it’s made all the worse when you’re infected with something called the Rage Virus – something that takes control of you and forces you to do horrendous things.

Haunted by what he had done in the trenches of war, Jonas fights to become civilized. Despite his efforts, he learns that being ‘normal’ is impossible for someone like him, and with this realization comes his downfall.

Having read works from Jon Messenger before I can honestly say this is his most gritty novel to date. There’s an aspect of horror to this book that takes you off guard when you start to read it. The horrors of war are amplified by the people infected with the Rage Virus; people who can’t even be counted as human anymore. And when the main character becomes one of those monsters things become even more complicated and terrifying.

Jon Messenger brings to us a wonderful novel with insight into the mind of a man who survived war and wished he didn’t. The horrors of war are far worse than we can imagine, and we will never know as we aren’t the soldiers on the front lines.

An exciting read with eye-popping action and a brilliant narrative, Rage is worth a shot!

[Kaila · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmm... ok what to say. so much of this book was confusing to me. The storyline I enjoyed but felt like I was missing pieces. The characters were good. . And the plot was very interesting. I am left with questions though so overall it's worth a shot to try it and see what you think. The writing was very good

[Harrington Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a quality SciFi tale, and, to be honest, I knew a bit of what I was getting into with Jon Messenger's Rage. I knew the writing would be strong and the story well produced, but the grit and attention to emotion in this book are second to none. It caught me a bit off-guard. The concept of the Rage Virus, as it pertains to the central character, is a fantastic play on the damages and torments of war and what it leaves in its wake.

I loved this book. If you're looking for a biting take on the brutality of the possible, blended from a perspective of someone who knows well the horrors of modern war, I recommend giving Rage a read. It's well worth it.