Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Rationality Zero by J.M. Guillen. This blog tour was organized by Lola's Blog Tours. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a fun guest post from the author. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
--
Series: The Archon Conundrum #1
Author: J.M. Guillen
Author: J.M. Guillen
Publisher: Imperishable Press
Publication Date: April 28th 2022
Print Length: 559 pages
Genre: Science Fiction Techno-Thriller
Genre: Science Fiction Techno-Thriller
~
A living weapon. An attack on the laws of reality. One chance to save the world.
Michael Bishop is a man who never dreams, who never gets ill. He lives his entire life oblivious to the truths hidden from him.
He is a tool in the hand of the most powerful organization on Earth.
Michael’s world transforms when They bring him online- when They activate the mysterious technology buried within his skull.
Then, the lies fall away. He becomes Asset 108. Using intricate technology, he defends humanity from the gibbering, tentacled horrors that haunt our world.
When mysterious renegades fracture the very laws of nature, Asset 108 is put into position. As the world begins to unravel, a cabal of madmen with physics shattering powers hunt 108 and his cadre, driving them into an alternate reality— a realm filled with inhuman horror.
Between otherworldly arachnids, muscled brutes infected with psionic parasites, and depraved cultists, grisly deaths lurk behind Michael’s every choice.
Yet all too soon, things become far, far, worse.
---
EXCERPT:
Just get them away from the car, Hoss.
Copy that, Alabama Slim.
I slunk to the side of one of the creatures, determined to be slow and cautious. The emitter might not mask sound in this bizarre place.
I count six remaining, Michael, Anya informed me.
Five. I slipped up behind one, the kinetic disruptor centimeters from its skull. I fired, sending a sharp siiiiuu sound keening through the cavern.
Less than a second later, bits of brain and skull sprayed over one of its fellows, who roared in uncomprehending terror.
As the corpse fell, I saw the tendrils writhe within the body, madly squirming beneath the flesh.
That aside, there’s something else here… something inside them. The link conveyed my revulsion.
Copy that, Bishop. Awe and disgust filled Wyatt’s link. I can see it in one over here. It’s like thick cables running through them, just below their skin. It’s— He broke off, and I felt him retch. It’s… it’s moving! Wriggling.
Assets. Anya’s crisp link came across almost curt. These aberrations may be host bodies for some type of phage. I felt her deliberately maintain calm as she linked. Many Irrational species seek host bodies and—
And they can go straight to hell. Wyatt recoiled at the thought. You mean like a parasite?
Exactly like that. My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched coils of tendril writhe within one of the corpses. Of all the fates that could befall an Asset, forced to be a host body for such unearthly horrors seemed like one of the more horrifying.
I felt quite vulnerable.
As quietly as possible, I stepped behind one of the other behemoths and aimed both pistols at the back of its head. I didn’t know if it would stop the parasite…
I shrugged. Couldn’t hurt.
The weapons sang, siiiiuu siiiiuu.
The monstrosity’s skull cracked. It jerked twice from the force, then collapsed against the dark stone ground.
Bishop… I felt the warning in Wyatt’s link. We got four left, but they’re all over there with you.
Copy that. Now might be the time to grab your gear.
Yup. He flung the door open and ducked behind the far side of the Legacy. The movement caught the attention of one of the behemoths, which started to turn in his direction.
Nope. I took two quick steps to my right, aiming for that particular brute. Several more stood between us, and I couldn’t get a square shot.
The beast cocked his head to see if something lurked on the far side of the car.
“Hey!” I cried, knowing none of them could see where I stood. “Let’s look over here instead!”
I shot another of the creatures with my left-hand Stiletto and hit it squarely in the chest.
The blow hurled the troll-thing back over six meters where it crashed into one of the stone columns.
The remaining four roared their outrage. One of them, the smallest of the lot, stared around wildly before running off into the shadows.
They’ll hear me the moment I shoot ol’ Rosie. Wyatt opened the trunk and pulled out his gear. I can crouch over here and get suited up. But the moment I fire ’er, I’m caught.
I get it. I started to jog away from the remaining three creatures. This should be easy. Our friends here aren’t very bright. I can handle them all here in just a moment anyway.
Seems like it, Wyatt linked. As easily as you put these guys down, I might as well wait before drawing attention to myself. I’ll set the spikes when you’re finished.
I’ll get them all over here, for a start. I powered the Wraith down where I stood, a good six meters from the nearest aberration.
Um, that’s stupid, Wyatt opined.
The moment I faded into sight, the closest one snarled at me.
“Hey there, tubby.” I fired once at the ground between us, leaving a hole nearly a meter across. “Look, I’m right here. All soft and pink and small.” I grinned at it.
It roared and charged me.
I hadn’t taken into account how fast the muscled creatures might be, due to their lumbering stride and immense size. But a charging gorilla can move scarily fast, as can a stampeding bison.
This thing put those two to shame.
It cleared the six meters in what felt like a step. Like the hammer of an angry god, it swung its maul-like fist down on me.
Copy that, Alabama Slim.
I slunk to the side of one of the creatures, determined to be slow and cautious. The emitter might not mask sound in this bizarre place.
I count six remaining, Michael, Anya informed me.
Five. I slipped up behind one, the kinetic disruptor centimeters from its skull. I fired, sending a sharp siiiiuu sound keening through the cavern.
Less than a second later, bits of brain and skull sprayed over one of its fellows, who roared in uncomprehending terror.
As the corpse fell, I saw the tendrils writhe within the body, madly squirming beneath the flesh.
That aside, there’s something else here… something inside them. The link conveyed my revulsion.
Copy that, Bishop. Awe and disgust filled Wyatt’s link. I can see it in one over here. It’s like thick cables running through them, just below their skin. It’s— He broke off, and I felt him retch. It’s… it’s moving! Wriggling.
Assets. Anya’s crisp link came across almost curt. These aberrations may be host bodies for some type of phage. I felt her deliberately maintain calm as she linked. Many Irrational species seek host bodies and—
And they can go straight to hell. Wyatt recoiled at the thought. You mean like a parasite?
Exactly like that. My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched coils of tendril writhe within one of the corpses. Of all the fates that could befall an Asset, forced to be a host body for such unearthly horrors seemed like one of the more horrifying.
I felt quite vulnerable.
As quietly as possible, I stepped behind one of the other behemoths and aimed both pistols at the back of its head. I didn’t know if it would stop the parasite…
I shrugged. Couldn’t hurt.
The weapons sang, siiiiuu siiiiuu.
The monstrosity’s skull cracked. It jerked twice from the force, then collapsed against the dark stone ground.
Bishop… I felt the warning in Wyatt’s link. We got four left, but they’re all over there with you.
Copy that. Now might be the time to grab your gear.
Yup. He flung the door open and ducked behind the far side of the Legacy. The movement caught the attention of one of the behemoths, which started to turn in his direction.
Nope. I took two quick steps to my right, aiming for that particular brute. Several more stood between us, and I couldn’t get a square shot.
The beast cocked his head to see if something lurked on the far side of the car.
“Hey!” I cried, knowing none of them could see where I stood. “Let’s look over here instead!”
I shot another of the creatures with my left-hand Stiletto and hit it squarely in the chest.
The blow hurled the troll-thing back over six meters where it crashed into one of the stone columns.
The remaining four roared their outrage. One of them, the smallest of the lot, stared around wildly before running off into the shadows.
They’ll hear me the moment I shoot ol’ Rosie. Wyatt opened the trunk and pulled out his gear. I can crouch over here and get suited up. But the moment I fire ’er, I’m caught.
I get it. I started to jog away from the remaining three creatures. This should be easy. Our friends here aren’t very bright. I can handle them all here in just a moment anyway.
Seems like it, Wyatt linked. As easily as you put these guys down, I might as well wait before drawing attention to myself. I’ll set the spikes when you’re finished.
I’ll get them all over here, for a start. I powered the Wraith down where I stood, a good six meters from the nearest aberration.
Um, that’s stupid, Wyatt opined.
The moment I faded into sight, the closest one snarled at me.
“Hey there, tubby.” I fired once at the ground between us, leaving a hole nearly a meter across. “Look, I’m right here. All soft and pink and small.” I grinned at it.
It roared and charged me.
I hadn’t taken into account how fast the muscled creatures might be, due to their lumbering stride and immense size. But a charging gorilla can move scarily fast, as can a stampeding bison.
This thing put those two to shame.
It cleared the six meters in what felt like a step. Like the hammer of an angry god, it swung its maul-like fist down on me.
---
THE WHOLE SERIES:
---
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
JM Guillen was just an average Joe who worked at the ol' Necromancy factory in 2018. He worked there on the bone line, just like his father and his grandfather before him.
After his job was outsourced to Mexico, he went irrevocably mad, gifted with strange, terrible power. Today he spends his time creating sentient fiction in his secret lair and summoning fell powers best left alone. Soon, the goal of absolute domination of his tri-state area will be almost within his grasp.
Once Missouri falls, nothing will stop him.
Occasionally, he writes bangin' fiction.
Newsletter * Patreon * TikTok
---
GUEST POST:
- Besides your own, which science fiction universe would you like to visit?
I would absolutely choose Star Trek.
I've been an author my entire life and that's incredibly difficult in the society we live in. I know I would choose to write regardless of money or circumstance, but the idea of living in a society where we are able to exist post-scarcity means I could write without the concerns of family and monetary problems.
Perhaps it's an interesting statement that I would prefer to choose not based upon having Force powers or cool spaceships, but, instead, just so I could freely live the life I choose without significant struggle. That's more attractive to me than wormholes or aliens or psychic powers.
I would absolutely choose Star Trek.
I've been an author my entire life and that's incredibly difficult in the society we live in. I know I would choose to write regardless of money or circumstance, but the idea of living in a society where we are able to exist post-scarcity means I could write without the concerns of family and monetary problems.
Perhaps it's an interesting statement that I would prefer to choose not based upon having Force powers or cool spaceships, but, instead, just so I could freely live the life I choose without significant struggle. That's more attractive to me than wormholes or aliens or psychic powers.
---
GIVEAWAY:
Win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive a free eBook of Rationality Zero by J.M. Guillen.
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Lola's Blog Tours and the author assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)
Hosted by
Sounds like a great series and it's on Kindle Unlimited!
ReplyDeleteGreat guest post and excerpt, the entire series sounds like thrilling reads and I am looking forward to reading Rationality Zero! Good luck with your series and the tour! Thanks for brining it to my attention and thanks for the free book! Have a sunshiny day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique and interesting book. Thank you
ReplyDeleteSounds really good.
ReplyDeleteHow long was the writing process?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
thanks for the free book!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really interesting book, can't wait to sit down with it this weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteRationality Zero by author J.M. Guillen has a highly detailed and colorful cover.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
nice cover
ReplyDeleteSounds fascinating. Looking forward to reading the book.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover art, synopsis and excerpt, Rationality Zero sounds like an awesome read and I am looking forward to it. Thank you for sharing your guest post and book details and for offering a giveaway
ReplyDeleteLove the covers for this series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great blurb and excerpt. The book sounds very intriguing. Great cover!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good series
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading, sounds like a series I would enjoy! Love this genre!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the synopsis and excerpt. I would love to read the series
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this author to my attention.
ReplyDelete