Saturday, September 23rd - End times?

I'm borrowing this #Doomsday 'news' story  for one reason only - to shamelessly plug my Post-apocalyptic trilogy; The Judas Syndrome. 

      

I know you can appreciate that, because this blog will offer you an opportunity to read the books before this supposed end befalls us all.  All three books of the trilogy are available in kindle or paperback format and offer multiple thoughts on how to survive a devastating end with your friends, trapped in a house relatively far removed from the nuclear devastation which plunges the world into a new dark age.

Happy reading!

Writing with metaphor - Writing Style

Writing metaphorically is a style of story-telling which resonates with people. From the ancient world turtle story right through to modern day narratives, the metaphor has contributed deeper meaning and depth to our stories.

Many metaphorical tales have been borrowed from one generation to the next – updating the content - but maintaining the metaphor, in order to tell a similar story. The world turtle, for example, can be seen today in the new picture book, *An Angry Earth. The world turtle; based in the ancient Hindu belief that the world rode upon the back of a giant turtle could easily be seen as a metaphor that the Earth was alive. An Angry Earth then goes on to tell the story of a planet which had been abused by its people, poisoned and polluted until it had had enough, and sent earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and drought to its people. The metaphor remains the same – the earth is alive - yet the story changes to reflect a modern day problem.

 

Writing in metaphor is a powerful way to embed an idea or emotion in the reader. It offers real-world drama to its audience, while forcing their minds to work on that metaphorical level of understanding which has been with us since the beginning; since we began telling stories to each other.

If nothing else, metaphors add an interesting element to the act of story-telling and should not be overlooked in any genre for their powerful ability to build depth and interest into any tale.

*An Angry Earth is a cautionary tale of ignorance and theapocalypse.

The Divide - Apocalyptic Movie Trailer

This movie shares several similar characteristics as The Judas Syndrome series' book one. There is a nuclear 'war' and a select group of people are followed as they survive the initial blasts in a bunker -like basement of their city apartment. Though The Judas Syndrome follows 14 teenagers as they survive the Nuc's at a country retreat, the psychological experiment of placing people in this extreme scenario ought to cover several of the same themes.

It will be interesting to see which version people find more honest, and I  invite you to leave your thoughts on this here.

Watch the trailer for The Divide

Then Visit the website for The Judas Syndrome

Book two of The Judas Syndrome - A PA fiction series - is now featured on Indy Book List

Shaina Richmond has a wealth of experience marketing on-line and owns and operates Indy Book List offering support for her fellow self-published authors.
Today, Rebirth, the second of the dark fiction series entitled - The Judas Syndrome - is featured sharing over 3,000 words of the book with potential readers.

Indy Book List is a place readers can spend some time surfing through seemingly limitless offerings from multiple indy authors.

For more on Indy Book List click here


For more on The Judas Syndrome series of dystopian fiction, visit this link

New review of The Judas Syndrome, on Amazon, by Jaidis Shaw

There must be a balance between books and their endings. Some must end happily and others are destined to go the darker route, such as The Judas Syndrome by Michael Poeltl. We are introduced to your average teenagers that are carefree and optimistic about their futures. In an attempt to put off summer jobs and escape the gloom brought on by threats of the apocalypse, the group of teens gather for a camping weekend. Upon returning home, the teens are forced to discover that the threats came true and the world has fallen victim to nuclear attack. It is clear to see who the main teenagers are as they are forced to grow up and plan for their survival. Joel is deemed the leader of the group although he never saw himself as the leading type. Other main characters are Connor, Sara, Eric and Jake. Most of the other teens in the group stay as secondary characters. I am certain that the secondary group will have their time to shine in the second book to this series. There is a lot of drug use throughout the book and at first I figured it was just kids being kids. I expected drug use to be the furthest thing from the kids minds while they are trying to survive so I was surprised that not only was it an important part, but the leading cause of Joel's insanity spree. The reader should expect that beginning with the title, this book will have to end on a sad note in order for a more positive message to shine through. Friendships and inner turmoils are put to the test...the Judas test. I am curious to see where the survivors lead in the second installment. There was mild adult language, heavy drug use, and somewhat bloody descriptions, so this book is better suited for an adult audience. - Jaidis Shaw

Click here to see this and other reviews on Amazon

Zvi Zaks reviews, Rebirth, book two of The Judas Syndrome

A Phoenix arises.

REBIRTH is Michel Poeltl's second book in THE JUDAS SYNDROME trilogy. The author has been careful to give enough back-story to make it understandable by itself, but is best read after the first in the series. That way, one gets a vivid picture of the transformation undergone by the characters—from carefree teens on a pre-college camping trip to survivalist adults in a post nuclear-holocaust world, with extremes ranging from, Sara, now a fiercely protective mother, to Earl, degenerating into a Hitlerian rage. The growth of Leif, the son of Sara and Joel, is another major theme. Leif is destined for greatness, but how and in what direction is not yet clear.

The supernatural themes lightly touched on in the first book have become prominent and are well woven into the story.

This is not a sunny and cheerful tale. The basic premise of a world devastated by atomic weapons triggered by terrorists, is all too possible. Like most apocalyptic literature, the story is in many places dreary and depressing. However, a clear thread of hope runs through REBIRTH, and the ending, like that in Star Wars, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, would suggest there is more to come even if you didn't know it was a trilogy. - Zvi Zaks

For more reviews and to purchase the book see the amazon page.

Knowing, apocalyptic film

Having seen Knowing on my satellite yesterday, I'd like to quickly review it - an apocalyptic movie in absolute terms.
The way he comes to "know" is very well done. In fact the first half was definately my favorite part of the movie.
I liked the idea that they used the aliens that met biblical characters thousands of years ago. That was a theory I had read up on a while ago myself.
The movie could have gone without that aspect, but in the end, they were the only ones offering any hope at all.


All in all I enjoyed it. 8 out of 10 from me.

Apocalypse, 2012

Another novel has just been released called Apocalypse, 2012 by Lawrence E. Joseph. In new age circles, the idea that a world wide cataclysm is going to take place in December of the year 2012 has been gaining in popularity for a long time, thanks mostly to the Mayan Calender coming to an abrupt and absolute end.
Of course 'apocalypse' can mean more than merely the end, it is the end of things as we know them, perhaps 2012 will usher in a new era of understanding,. It's all speculative, but then, what end of the world scenario hasn't been?!
The author adds science based threats to the earth to make the book believable and if you're at all interested in the science behind the end then this might just be the book for you.

For all things apocalyptic visit this link

Super Comet, apocalypse

Discovery Channel showed what a Super Comet might do to the planet, and humans should we be hit by something that might resemble what ended the reign of the Dinosaurs. It's a brutal telling of an apocalyptic story.
Despite the comets terrifying consequences humanity does survive in remote areas.
The show is peppered with experts and good commentary on the what ifs.

For more on apocalyptic scenarios look up The Judas Syndrome