A History of the Defeated

by Zachary Jernigan

In this gripping science-fiction Amur grew up among the Nosi, a matriarchal society where decisions are enforced through violence, until he was chosen by Dorone and taken to live among the elderim, beings of immense power. Stripped of family, increasingly at odds with his own drug-altered body and mind, Amur now lives by the sea, where he hones his fighting skills and contemplates revenge against his former lover. He enlists the aid of a magical hound, hoping to pit her against his enemy. But loyalties will be tested before Amur can face Dorone once more.

154 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2022

About the author

Zachary (he/him) is a middle-aged aesthete who digs homoerotic science-fantasy, punk rock, and pretzels. He lives in Arizona, in the high desert, in a broad, beautiful valley with a river running through it. He’s had OCD most of his life, and in retrospect would have it no other way. He’s written three books but recommends only one of them.

Reviews

[Brent Hayward · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is more life inside this slim book than inside 10 (good) bigger books. Like a hipper Delany, Jernigan vividly covers the physicality and culture of the settings-- clothing, food, weather, landscape-- with sweet, concise strokes. As well as details of romance, heartbreak, and revenge. Essentially the story of a boy and his dog, chopped up in time-- except the boy is a broody and druggy loner, the dog is a hellhound, and the romance involves jacked gods covered in morphing armour. Little hints of the contemporary bring the novella a strangeness and off-kilter vibe. (This guy— the author and the protagonist-- listens to Institute!) Really great.

[Andrés Menéndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I read science fiction, and this was a really good story that made me want to read more of this genre. The story was amazing and beautiful with the settings; the characters were complicated and memorable; and I especially loved the interactions between characters, all of them full of emotions like rage, love, and sadness. I really recommend this book. It's a short read full of imagination and high stakes that will entertain you with a fantastic tale full of love, action, and revenge

[mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you for writing another book. I hope there will be more.

[Robert Adam Gilmour · Rating 3 out of 5]

I meant to finish the highly acclaimed Jeroun before I started this, but this was so thin, fresh and new. This is set in the same world with some of the same characters appearing.

It's about a man looking after a super powered dog in his own ascension to incredible power and his difficult relationships in the past. There's a lot of solitary training, reflection, everyday simple pleasures and explicit heavy muscled gay eroticism. It seemed to me an unusual mixture of fantasy setting that has much of our current day things in it, real songs and books are referenced. The fights are brief but exciting.