Hyper[Book One]: Emergence

by Arthur Samuels

A new recreational drug appears in Los Angeles, and the authorities crack down on it immediately. The War on Some Drugs takes a twist when some of the users develop superhuman powers.Guided by an Indian shaman, a group of unlikely misfits is drawn A bad-ass biker, a heavy metal drummer, a brilliant paraplegic professor, three teenage nerds, and a guy whose greatest achievement in life is the character he made for his role-playing game. Despite being an assortment of strong-willed, nonconformist loners, these superhumans must learn to work together.How I present the superhero genre is unique. Things like costumes are almost completely absent; there are no black and white categories (‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’). Characters’ powers are strictly quantified and stay consistent. When a new threat comes along, there is no lazy, ‘just make the hero stronger’ resolution. We all know what that leads to.I have decades of RPG gaming experience, which is of great value when I am defining exactly what my characters can do, and in keeping things consistent. I also have a degree in physics, which helps me intertwine my science fiction with science fact.I want to suspend my disbelief, not hang it by the neck until dead.

372 pages, Paperback

Published December 14, 2020