Supervillainy Saga

The Rules of Vampires in my books

/ C.T. Phipps / 1 Comment

So how do vampires work in The United States of Monsters and Supervillainy Saga verse? Probably not a question you have spent much interest in but something that I have spent a lot of time thinking about. There’s hundreds of different kinds of vampires in fiction and getting the rules down for how they work is just the kind of thing I like to do. So, I figured you would like the notes I keep to when writing about them.

If not, well, don’t read the article.

The Origins of Vampires

Vampires are descendants of the demon queen Lamia, who was a human girl from a tribe of early humans from something like 100,000 years ago when neanderthals still roamed the Earth. Sacrificed to demonic forces by her tribe, she was instead possessed by the spirit of Tiamat-Abaddon, Queen of Hell, and transformed into the first vampire. 

Lamia constructed the ancient demon-ridden civilization of Acheron and Stygia before ultimately having it destroyed by a volcanic eruption followed by the revolt of transformed human slaves. The vampires, rather than side with Lamia, revolted against her and her demonic masters in order to become masters themselves. Their leader was Lamia’s grandchilde, Marduk, who became known as the savior of the vampire race. Most of their kind died in the subsequent civil wars or at the hands of shifters, mages, and human warriors. Either way, the survivors have forever remained with humanity.

How to create a vampire, draugr, dhampyr, or Blood Servant

The most common way to make a vampire is to suck the blood of a human being and share blood. However, this is actually not enough by itself. The blood is merely a vessel for a sharing of life force. Vampire blood alone cannot turn a dying person into a true member of their race but will instead turn a human being into mindless cannibal draugr. 

Instead, the vampire must sacrifice some of their power and it leaves them weakened until age restores it. As such, vampires do not create regularly and it is suicidal to try to change someone under at least fifty or sixty years of age. Most don’t turn until they at least a hundred. Much more common for younger vampires is to make Blood Servants who drain only a little of their master’s power in exchange for halted aging as well as health. It also creates a psychic link between master and slave.

Vampires are capable of procreation, though only a handful of sexual couplings will produce offspring out of thousands. Dhampyr are effectively Blood Servants without masters and age to adulthood before dramatically slowing their aging to a tenth of its normal progression. Most, ironically, end up becoming Blood Servants to gain full immortality. Dhampyr blood is rich and intoxicating that those unprotected by a master often end up as food or pleasure slaves to Old Ones. Dhampyr are notably frighteningly intelligent as well as freakishly strong even as children.

In addition to direct transformation, it is possible to become a vampire by using the Book of Midnight, Bloodsword, or Chalice of Blood that directly transforms one into a Old One. These objects of power created by Lamia are sacred objects to the vampire race and icons representing them are among their few religious objects. Known Progenitor vampires who did this are Dracula and Mandy Karkofsky.

The Vampire Life Cycle

Newly created vampires are called Youngbloods and are extremely weak compared to later incarnations of their race, sometimes causing those changed to be furious with their condition. They are vulnerable to many traditional vampire weaknesses including verbena, holy items, holy places, holy words, wooden stake, fire, decapitation, sesame seed counting [yes, really], or sunlight. Entering a home uninvited weakens them and they are physically dead during the day even in sunless rooms. They are subject to the mental domination of their creators and usually only display enhanced physical attributes plus one or two powers. 

The Need is at its worse during this time and few are able to avoid killing if they feed directly, at least not without their master’s control keeping them in line. One small benefit is that animal blood will sustain most of their needs but they must feed at least once a month on human blood or they will degenerate into draugr. They also sometimes develop one or two abilities like the power to summon animals or read minds.

Roughly two hundred years into their life cycle with rare exception, vampires become Old Ones and undergo a metamorphosis. They lose their vulnerability to sunlight, though it leaves them lethargic and also lose most of their vampiric weaknesses. Indeed, they will regenerate any injury even to the point of death barring it was inflicted by another powerful vampire or astral being [demon, angel, or god]. Old Ones have stronger control over the Need and can go weeks without feeding, though doing so can result in them entering hibernation (possibly for all eternity). Only human blood can sustain them, though.

Old Ones develop multiple powers like shapechanging, psychic abilities like the domination of others [animal or man], shadow manipulation, and preternatural movement through time. Most use their shapechanging and mental domination to become unnaturally beautiful and appealing to victims. Magic remains the province of those who could learn it in life and only a handful of vampires possess the ability. 

Finally, those vampires who reach a thousand years of age go through a third metamorphosis that turns them into Ancient Ones. Ancient Ones are the inspirations for beings like the Gorgons, Grendel, Baba Yaga, and a variety of other monsters throughout history. They are hideous to behold but capable of assuming pleasing forms when they desire. Ancient Ones have strength and speed that vastly exceed that of their forebearers. They have also usually mastered dozens of abilities that allow them to perform miracles even to other vampires.

Ancient Ones are almost impossible to kill without a holy or unholy weapon of great power. Gods have been known to take human form to prevent their domination of the Earth. Thankfully, a great lethargy usually takes over the Ancient Ones as their Need weakens to the point that even blood provides little joy. Those that do regularly feed on emotional energy as well as life or the Earth itself, leaving their surroundings dead as well as depressed.

Ancient Ones can and do live in caves or ruins with no contact for centuries as they ponder memories or eldritch mysteries. Many live vicariously through their descendants, often possessing them or experiencing life through them. Only a handful have the iron will to maintain active ambitious lifestyles. 

Progenitor vampires possess the power of the Ancients potentially but none of the disfigurements or knowledge of how to use their powers.

The Bite

Despite vampires being capable of sexual reproduction, blood is their primary desire as well as release. For the vampire, the drinking of human blood directly is intoxicating as heroin mixed with sex. So much so that many vampires kill even when full and live for the pleasure of the hunt even when more ethical opportunities for sustenance. A vampire that cannot control their Hunger as a youth is called a Bleeder and considered a danger to all their kind, though, so few are allowed to live if they do not develop control within a couple of weeks.

The Bite noticeably causes an incredible euphoric rush with humans akin to sex or drugs and is every bit as pleasurable for humans as it is for vampires. The magic of it results in the wounds allowing the release of blood at a slower level so that they are not fatal even if they reach arteries as well as seal up quickly. Feeding from the same human more than once every two months is dangerous, like giving blood but many vampires create Harems using their Blood Servant bond. This allows humans to be fed on every few of days and makes them ravenously hungry. They also tend to be addicts and toys for their masters. More like pets than people.

Word-Building 1#: The Supervillainy-verse

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

Hey folks,

I’ve decided to do something cool and that’s do articles on my various universes. World-building is the key to making my novels work and sharing background information about what goes into the settins is something I thought my fans would enjoy. Each article will go into discussion about one of the worlds and its history as well as how they are currently set up. My long history of being a tabletop roleplaying gamer was a big infuence on my writing style and a lot of that depended on the awesome supplements people did.

I’m going to start with, unsurprisingly, The Supervillainy-verse that is my most popular work.

The Setting

The Supervillainy-verse is my homage to comic books everywhere and meant to be the kind of place that combines dozens of different genres together. It is a place where there is fantasy, science fiction, crime, horror, and more going on at any given time. Much like the comic book universes of Marvel and DC comics, it is a place where literally anything can happen and frequently does.

The funny thing is that, despite being a comedy series, I try to keep the world consistent and serious. It’s a parody of superhero settings but the best kind of parodies are also good examples of the work in question. I may poke fun at some of the weirdness that goes onto your typical comic book universe but I also try to keep it at least vaguely plausible. A world can have any rules you like but once you establish those rules, you have to follow them.

The Supervillainy-verse is set in what I term to be “The Twilight of the Superheroes.” Superheroes have existed for almost a century in the setting and have fought off countless evils threatening the people of Earth-A (Gary’s planet in the multiverse). However, Gary has the misfortune of becoming Merciless as the system is sort of breaking down.

Weirdly, it’s a bit similar to Red Dead Redemption with the idea of John Marsden coming back to the Old West right as the age of cowboys and gunslingers is ending. In Gary’s case, he’s a supervillain when the public has become sick of both heroes as well as villains. The never-ending conflict between good and evil has worn thin. There is a reckoning coming and how its going to settle down is anyone’s guess. Gary as the Wild Card between supervillains, humans, and superheroes makes him uniquely able to slip things one way or the other.

Or so he thinks.

The ‘Double Anarchy’ seal of Merciless.

History

The Supervillainy-verse was created by beings called the Primals in the early distant epoches of the Multiverse. Fragments of a greater creator being, the eight beings of Creation, Destruction, Chaos, Order, Death, Life, Conflict, and Balance. They are beyond omnipotent and have created the multiverse as it’s known to both amuse themselves as well as explore their concepts. Opposing them are the Great Beasts, seven (or more) beings made of concepts banned from reality in order to give physical laws substance. Zul-Barbas is the most famous of these things, inspiring many culture’s concept of the Devil and H.P. Lovecraft’s idea of the Great Old Ones.

The first race to evolve would be the god-like Ultranians (or “Firstborn”) who would exist for billions of years, bestowing superpowers on various races and creating the celestial networks of magic. The Ultranians themselves strongly resembled human beings despite being made of energy and would influence many cultures’ ideas of gods and goddesses. They also revered the Ultra-Force, that was the physical manifestation of the greater universe.

Much of Earth’s history remains the same with sorcerers, monsters, gods, and heroes being background noise for the greater conflicts of the world. New nations were born, hidden cultures, and things were slightly different in places (like the occasional cowboy vs. ninjas plot) but things didn’t really change forever until the arrival of Ultragod.

Moses Anders, an African American astronomer, was chosen by the Primals to merge with the Ultra-Force and became Ultragod. It bestowed upon him immense reality-bending powers that he chose to present to the world as similar to recently published comics of the time. Meanwhile, ex-cop Lancel Warren studied magic after the death of his wife and child and became the Nightwalker. Other heroes during this time were Aquarius, the Americommando (later the Prismatic Commando), Gold Medalist, Tank Man (later Android John), and Guinevere.

WW2 would go dramatically differently as Ultragod would attempt to stop it in its tracks by capturing Stalin and Hitler both. The Third Reich was instead taken over by the Supreme Phantom and a cabal of supervillains who were even more dangerous. The Soviet Union would be ruled by a council that proved more effective than Stalin, eventually headed by the Red Star for decades to come.

Before the defeat of the Nazis, Tom Terror and other high-ranking Axis superhumans would create P.H.A.N.T.O.M as a way to preserve their power as well as research into both the occult as well as super-science. The organization had also attempted to sell the Earth to the Thran Empire, explaining how they held out against the Allies for so long.

After the defeat of the Nazis, the United Governments (or U.G.) would rise to power and create the Foundation for World Harmony to hunt down superhuman terrorists and P.H.A.N.T.O.M. Countless brushfire conflicts would be fought between superhuman dictators, superpowered terrorist organizations, and even the occasional unexpected alien invasion.

The Society of Superheroes (S.O.S) would be fully formed in the 1960s in response to the first incursion by the Thran reptile men and Tsavong shapeshifters. The Vietnam War would be fought in three parts with the third one resulting in an international treaty banning the use of superhumans in wartime. It was during this time that Aquarius became King of Atlantis and ended that underwater kingdom’s belligerence against the surface.

The 1980s saw a massive spike in the number of the world’s superhumans with magical and superhuman abilities appearing naturally among the populace. This resulted in the creation of the Texas Guardians who masterminded the first “boot camp” and “prestige academy” for superhumans. It also resulted in the appearance of Ultragoddess, the daughter of Ultragod, who was the icon for the next generation of heroes even as a child. It also resulted in the label Supers as a distinct ethnic group that many regular humans (“Mundanes”) saw as threatening.

The 1990s proved a disaster for superheroes as sinister luchadore Diabloman killed multiple members of the Texas Guardians, forced the universe to be rebooted, and exposed heroes as vulnerable. Insane SWAT officer Theodore Whitman a.k.a. Shoot-Em-Up went on a multiple state killing spree against retired or paroled supervillains, inspiring numerous copycats until he was killed by an unknown assailent (actually 14-year-old Gary Karkofsky in order to avenge his brother).

Ruthless murder-happy antiheroes emerged like the Extreme! and Bloodscream the Retributive that the public initially embraced then rejected when it turned out some were white supremecists or outright supervillains themselves. The end of the Dark Age of Superheroes was official with the election of Android John as President, the country’s first superhuman president. Android John was the world’s first artificial being and his election sparked their acceptance as people as a matter of course.

The 21st century has proven a decline for superheroes as the War on Terror proved the governments of the world no longer wanted superhumans involved in global conflicts. The exception would be the Ultragoddess founded the Shadow Seven. The Shadow Seven incorporated semi-reformed supervillains and minor superheroes in covert ops against the worst of humanity against international law. Its illegality and the potential for blowback helped convince Ultragoddess to end her engagement to her fiance Gary Karkofsky.

The only supervillain to ever destroy reality. It got better.

The construction of powered armor, cybernetic enhancements, and artificial Supers became a major concern. Omega Corporation rose to power in this time, reverse engineering superhuman power and technology for the public. Running on a campaign of anti-Super vitriol and promises of a new America, Charles Omega became President of the United States. Rumors of mind-control, voter fraud, and threats dogged his campaign. The Society of Superheroes worked delicately around him even as he privately prepared to build a country without superheroes.

But it all came to a head when the Nightwalker, over a hundred years old, finally died.

Cities

Like DC comics, there are many fictional cities in the setting that have the unique advantage of being places you can blow up and turn to zombie-filled hellholes without affecting the real deals.

Atlas City: Atlas City is a metropolis located in central Florida that is considered to be the City of Tomorrow Today. It was originally a relatively minor city in the 1930s, being little more than a small town, when Ultragod’s influence attracted millions of citizens to come live there. It is now an epicenter of technological development, interstellar trade, and space exploration. The city has a dark side despite being the source of the United States’ pan-stellar wealth. It is home to massive slums of refugees, aliens unwanted in the rest of the country, and Supers. Crime has been on the rise due to its protectors being unable to regulate it and there is a conflict with P.H.A.N.T.O.M based hate groups. The most recognizable landmark of the city is the Observatory, which is Ultragod’s alien-built fortress where he and his daughter take time to rest their minds.

Falconcrest City: A city along the Canadian border and Lake Falconcrest, Falconcrest City is literally cursed. It is a city founded in the 17th century by French fur trappers who slaughtered a cult of Satan-worshiping Englishmen with the help of Native American tribesmen. Unfortunately, the trappers built a city over their twisted labyrinth base that would affect the metropolis for centuries to come. The city has art deco skyscrapers, gargoyles on every building, huge towering cathedrals, and slums where insanity seems infectious. The city’s colorful criminals are empowerd by eldrtich energies and terrible ceremonies are performed by the Brotherhood of Infamy every month. The Nightwalker kept the worst of these villains in check but his death due to old age threatens to change everything.

The second Nightwalker.

New Angeles: Gary’s old stomping grounds, New Angeles was constructed on the ruins of Los Angeles after Atlanteans attacked the city during World War 2. New Angeles is every bit as rich, glamorous, and gritty as its predecessor city would have been. Much of the city has been rebuilt with Atlantean reparations, though, and there is a decided marine feel to many parts of it. It is also one of the few cities with a good chunk of it underwater (and thriving). The city has a unique relationship with its supervillains as they tend to be considered local folk heroes as often as enemies of the public.

As such, there’s the “Villains Code” where they attempt to minimize collateral damage and keep out the worst of their kind. The city is protected by the Silver Medalist and Bronze Medalist, a pair of superheroes that were among the first queer superheroes to come out. While some criticized their former mentor-sidekick relationship, they are generally beloved by the public.

New Avalon: One of humanity’s greatest achievements, New Avalon is a city built on the surface of the moon and serves as a city of twenty thousand people living in artificial gravity as well as an artificial environment under the Society of Superheroes’ protection. It is also, unfortunately, home to the world’s most terrible prisoners that the Earth has effectively exiled to the prison here. Lunarians are disproportionately Supers and it is expected that many immigrate there in hopes of escaping the persecution on Earth.

Random Factoids

* Superhero comics are mostly historical in the setting. DC and Marvel comics have long since taken to publishing romance, pirate, fantasy, and Western comics instead. Yes, I stole this from Watchmen.

* Pop culture is largely unchanged despite the fact superheroes are almost completely absent. This doesn’t make any sense due to the influence of sequential art on other mediums but happened anyway.

* Soda still uses real sugar. Artificial sweeteners are a product of other realities.

* Earth is considered the equivalent of Afghanistan in the rest of the galaxy. Empires invade this small blue dot and get their asses kicked.

* Magic is known to exist but only a handful of people can learn more than to light matches with their mind. Frauds are every bit as common.

* Despite having a space port or two on the planet, very few aliens other than refugees and criminals come to Earth. It is too remote and disliked.

* The Tsavong have a colony on Venus despite its horrific atmosphere. They are on semi-good terms with Earth.

* Supervillain rap is a popular style of music.

* The Supervillainy-verse is part of a multiverse than includes my other universes.

* Technology is slightly more advanced in this world with the general public but getting its biggest advances approved is an ongoing legal slog.

* Dinosaurs are no longer extinct due to the discovery of the Hollow Earth and many zoos now feature them.

* Time travel has made reality somewhat flexible and sometimes the ages of people change as well as events. It hasn’t broken the universe yet. Yet.

CT PHIPPS’ books for 2018

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

Hey folks,

I thought I’d share the books which you should expect to see in 2018 from me. These are all things which I think you’ll enjoy if you’re a fan of my existing work.

THE TOURNAMENT OF SUPERVILLAINY (Supervillainy Saga 5#)

Being a supervillain was all Gary ever wanted to be but the constant beatings, moral ambiguity, and the fact he now has a young daughter to look after have caused him to reconsider his career path. As he debates making a jump to the “other side”, Gary finds himself recruited by Death to serve as her champion in a multiversal tournament for the ultimate prize: anything you could desire!

Gary and a oddball collection of champions from a variety of universes must prevent the prize from falling into the hands of the genocidal space wizard Entropicus! He also must discover just where his heart really lies when his two closest loves reveal shocking secrets.

Guest starring Jane Doe from I Was a Teenage Weredeer, Agent G from Agent G: Infiltrator, and Cassius Mass from Lucifer’s Star.

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: Late April 2018

ELDRITCH OPS (Red Room 2#)

Derek Hawthorne managed to gain a seat on the Committee of the House–the secret cabal which rules the world–and all it cost him was his soul. Unfortunately, success comes with responsibility and he’s found himself as the only member of the group who wants to avoid a brutal war with the Vampire Nation. It’s a desire which becomes stronger when he finds out his ex-partner has become one of their primary lieutenants.

Unfortunately, Derek soon discovers not only is war inevitable but his side is preparing for a genocidal campaign to rid the world of the supernatural. Now he’s going to have to decide whether or not it’s better to ally with an army of bloodsucking marauders to stop it. Guest starring the original vampire, Dracula himself.

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: Late April 2018

AGENT G: ASSASSIN (Agent G 3#)

Agent G, now going by the name Case Gordon, has successfully freed himself from the control of the US government. Unfortunately, it’s come after a super volcano eruption and the release of all the Society’s Black Technology. The combination has created a new cyberpunk future. The world has mostly recovered but it is glittering, cold, and corporate-driven. 

Still alive, Case has devoted himself to trying to gain enough power and influence to protect the little guy from the worst of the corruption. Unfortunately, it also results in him becoming implicated in the death of a former ally. Confronted with the ghosts of his past, Case has to decide whether he wants to be a hero or make a difference. 

He can’t do both.

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: Late April 2018

WRAITH LORD (Wraith Knight 2#)

Jacob Riverson has ascended to become ruler of the Northern Wasteland and God-King of the Shadowkind. Unfortunately, becoming a deity has not been a transformation that has freed him from his guilt for the atrocities he committed as a Wraith Knight for the King Below. Married to both Serah Brightwaters and Regina Whitetremor, he has shared his power with them in hopes of redeeming the legacy of his dark past.

The legacy of the King Below is not so easily cleansed, however, as he receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Regina’s only surviving relative. The city of Kerifas, Jewel of Winterholme, is on the verge of revolt against the surviving members of the Nine Heroes and their tyrannical regime. If Jacob and his brides do not intervene then the city will be slaughtered with their inhabitants but if they do, then they may be playing right into the hands of a group that wants to start another Great War of Light and Darkness.

What is the point of being a hero if one must spill the blood of thousands to be one?

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: March 2018

100 MILES AND VAMPIN’ (The United States of Monsters 4#)

Peter Stone is the new sheriff in town, or at least vampire magistrate.  It’s a job that eats at him despite the perks since he has to cover up the worst crimes of his fellow vampires in order to keep the peace with humanity. Peter reaches the limit of even his jaded morality, though, when he’s asked to play bodyguard to a murderous psychopath who just so happens to also be the country’s most famous paranormal romance author.

When that vampire is murdered, Peter finds himself the primary suspect as her death sends ripples throughout the vampire community. Peter has to solve her murder before the Federal government has an excuse to break up the Vampire Nation and begin a general purge of supernaturals. 

Sometimes it doesn’t pay to get out of the coffin. 

EXPECTED RELEASE DATE: August 2018

THE FUTURE OF SUPERVILLAINY (Supervillainy Saga 6#)

TO BE ANNOUNCED

Expected Release Date: August 2018

The Tournament of Supervillainy is done!

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

I’m pleased to say I have completed work on THE TOURNAMENT OF SUPERVILLAINY, the fifth book in the SUPERVILLAINY SAGA, following the adventures of Gary Karkofksy a.k.a. Merciless: The Supervillain without MercyTM.

Being a supervillain was all Gary ever wanted to be but the constant beatings, moral ambiguity, and the fact he now has a young daughter to look after have caused him to reconsider his career path. As he debates making a jump to the “other side”, Gary finds himself recruited by Death to serve as her champion in a multiversal tournament for the ultimate prize: anything you could desire!

Gary and a oddball collection of champions from a variety of universes must prevent the prize from falling into the hands of the genocidal space wizard Entropicus! He also must discover just where his heart really lies when his two closest loves reveal shocking secrets.

Guest starring Jane Doe from I Was a Teenage Weredeer, Agent G from Agent G: Infiltrator, and Cassius Mass from Lucifer’s Star.

Audiobook Reviewer award nominations!

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

 Hey, I’ve been nominated for multiple audiobook awards this year. I’m very pleased to get the acknowledgement for my work and am so proud of the material done by my narrators. Thank you so very much.

https://audiobookreviewer.com/abr-listeners-award/abr-listeners-choice-awards-2018-finalists-announced/

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME IN THESE CATEGORIES:

HORROR – THE TOWER OF ZHAAL

 https://audiobookreviewer.com/abr-listeners-award/horror-2018-voting/

 It has been a year since John Henry Booth’s exile from New America and the fall of the Black Cathedral. Cursed with a slow transformation into a monster, he has begun a doomed relationship with fellow escapee Mercury Halsey as they seek some way to arrest his transformation.

Dubious hope arrives in the form of the University, the deranged scientists and cultists descended from the staff of Miskatonic University. Except, their offer of help comes at a price. Having sold themselves to ancient aliens called the Yith, they wish John and Mercury to join a group of rogues in hunting down a wayward member of their faculty: a man who intends to release the last of the sleeping Great Old Ones on an already ravaged planet. If they’re telling the truth, John and Mercury will be heroes. If.

The Tower of Zhaal is the second novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft’s popular Cthulhu Mythos.

 HUMOR – THE SCIENCE OF SUPERVILLAINY

Gary Karkofsky a.k.a Merciless: The Supervillain without Mercy™ returns in the fourth volume of the popular Supervillainy Saga. Having discovered the world’s greatest superhero slain by his doppelganger from another reality, Merciful: The Supervillain with Mercy™, and the arrogant President Omega, Gary dedicates himself to overthrowing both. 

Unfortunately, this is harder than it looks since Merciful has all of Gary’s genre savviness while President Omega has the entire brainwashed United States military behind him. In the end, though, there can be only one ruler of the world and two of these three feuding villains will have to go.

PARANORMAL – STRAIGHT OUTTA FANGTON

Peter Stone is a poor black vampire who is wondering where his nightclub, mansion, and sports car is. Instead, he is working a minimum wage job during the night shift as being a vampire isn’t all that impressive in a world where they’ve come out to mortals.

Exiled from the rich and powerful undead in New Detroit, he is forced to go back when someone dumps a newly-transformed vampire in the bathroom of his gas station’s store. This gets him fangs-deep in a plot of vampire hunters, supernatural revolutionaries, and a millennium-old French knight determined to wipe out the supernatural. Sometimes, it just doesn’t pay to get out of the coffin.

.THRILLER – AGENT G: INFILTRATOR

“Black Technology has made murder a billion dollar industry.”

The International Refugee Society has twenty-six cybernetically enhanced “Letters,” and for the right price, they’ll eliminate anyone. They’ve given up their families and their memories for ten years of service with the promise of a life of luxury awaiting them.

Agent G is one of these “Letters,” but clues to his past are starting to emerge while he’s on a dangerous mission to infiltrate the Society’s most dangerous competitor. In the midst of all the violence, subterfuge, and deceit, he’ll need to keep his wits about him and trust sparingly. After all if an organization will kill for money, what would they do to keep the truth hidden?

 SCI-FI – LUCIFER’S STAR 

https://audiobookreviewer.com/abr-listeners-award/science-fiction-2018-voting/ 

Cassius Mass was the greatest star pilot of the Crius Archduchy. He fought fiercely for his cause, only to watch his nation fall to the Interstellar Commonwealth. It was only after that he realized the side he’d been fighting for was the wrong one. Now a semi-functional navigator on an interstellar freight hauler, he tries to hide who he was and escape his past. Unfortunately, some things refuse to stay buried and he ends up conscripted by the very people who destroyed his homeland.

LUCIFER’S STAR is the first novel of the Lucifer’s Star series, a dark science fiction space opera set in a world of aliens, war, politics, and slavery.

The Tower of Zhaal and Science of Supervillainy are now available in all formats!

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

Hey folks,

I have great news that THE TOWER OF ZHAAL, sequel to CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON, is now available on audiobook, paperback, and Kindle format for readers. Like the original novel, it’s a post-apocalypse story set in the world of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos.

It has been a year since John Henry Booth’s exile from New America and the fall of the Black Cathedral. Cursed with a slow transformation into a monster, he has begun a doomed relationship with fellow escapee Mercury Halsey as they seek some way to arrest his transformation.

Dubious hope arrives in the form of the University, the deranged scientists and cultists descended from the staff of Miskatonic University. Except, their offer of help comes at a price. Having sold themselves to ancient aliens called the Yith, they wish John and Mercury to join a group of rogues in hunting down a wayward member of their faculty: a man who intends to release the last of the sleeping Great Old Ones on an already ravaged planet. If they’re telling the truth, John and Mercury will be heroes. If.

The Tower of Zhaal is the second novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft’s popular Cthulhu Mythos.

But the bigger news is the SCIENCE OF SUPERVILLAINY, fourth novel in the Supervillainy Saga, is also available in audibook, Kindle, and paperback format. I genuinely believe this may be the best Gary book yet.

Gary Karkofsky a.k.a Merciless: The Supervillain without Mercy™ returns in the fourth volume of the popular Supervillainy Saga. Having discovered the world’s greatest superhero slain by his doppelganger from another reality, Merciful: The Supervillain with Mercy™, and the arrogant President Omega, Gary dedicates himself to overthrowing both. Unfortunately, this is harder than it looks since Merciful has all of Gary’s genre savviness while President Omega has the entire brainwashed United States military behind him. In the end, though, there can be only one ruler of the world and two of these three feuding villains will have to go.

I think fans of my books will love both of these.

Purchase your copy of THE TOWER OF ZHAAL today!

Purchase your copy of THE SCIENCE OF SUPERVILLAINY today!

Agent G: Infiltrator paperback and Science of Supervillainy pre-order available

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

Hey folks,

I’m pleased to say AGENT G: INFILTRATOR is now available in paperback format and the ebook as well as audiobook version (narrated by Jeffrey Kafer) will be released on April 1st, 2017. I really love the cover to this book and everyone who has purchased a copy is enjoying the book so far. It’s my hope Agent G will be one of my two on-going series along with the Supervillainy Saga.

“Black Technology has made murder a billion dollar industry.”

The International Refugee Society has twenty-six cybernetically enhanced “Letters,” and for the right price, they’ll eliminate anyone. They’ve given up their families and their memories for ten years of service with the promise of a life of luxury awaiting them.

Agent G is one of these “Letters,” but clues to his past are starting to emerge while he’s on a dangerous mission to infiltrate the Society’s most dangerous competitor. In the midst of all the violence, subterfuge, and deceit, he’ll need to keep his wits about him and trust sparingly.

After all if an organization will kill for money, what would they do to keep the truth hidden?

Speaking of the Supervillainy Saga, I’m pleased to say the SCIENCE OF SUPERVILLAINY is going to be available on April 15th! Best of all, it’ll be the paperback, ebook, and auidobook copies as well.  You can now pre-order the Kindle version now!

Gary Karkofsky a.k.a Merciless: The Supervillain without MercyTM returns in the fourth volume of the popular Supervillainy Saga. Having discovered the world’s greatest superhero slain by his doppelganger from another reality, Merciful: The Supervillain with MercyTM, and the arrogant President Omega, Gary dedicates himself to overthrowing both. 

Unfortunately, this is harder than it looks since Merciful has all of Gary’s genre savviness while President Omega has the entire brainwashed United States military behind him. In the end, though, there can be only one ruler of the world and two of these three feuding villains will have to go. 

Pre-Order your copy of Agent G: Infiltrator today!

Purchase your copy of Agent G: Infiltrator’s paperback today!

Pre-Order your copy of The Science of Supervillainy today!

THE RULES OF SUPERVILLAINY and TO BEAT THE DEVIL for free this Thanksgiving weekend

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

I feel a little bad about not announcing this early Friday but from November 25th to the 27th, two of the best books from Amber Cove Publishing are going to be available for free. They’ve always been available for free on Kindle Unlimited but I’m pleased to say they’re free-free for download.

THE RULES OF SUPERVILLAINY by C.T. Phipps: https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Supervillainy-Saga/dp/1514269392/

Follow Gary Karkofsky as he discovers a magic cloak which allows him to live out his dream of being a supervillain. But is he evil enough? He may end up being the villain his city needs more than the hero it deserves.

TO BEAT THE DEVIL by Michael Gibson: https://www.amazon.com/Beat-Devil-Technomancer-Novels/dp/153073455X/

The world has been overrun by demons and a new age of supernatural cyberpunk decadence has occurred. Small time criminal and cyborg Salem finds himself well above his head when an ancient human wizard recruits him for the mission of his life: taking down an archdemon.

I think people should check out both. After all, the price is right for anyone with a Kindle.

Update for 11/15/2016

/ C.T. Phipps / Leave a comment

Hey folks,

It’s been a good month for books and a bad month personally. My poor father had to be checked into the hospital and is likely to suffer the loss of a leg. He’s suffering from infections which have reached his bone and the treatments just haven’t done very much for making sure it gets it out of his system. Vibes, well-wishes, prayers, and so on are appreciated.

On the cheerier side of things, my wife and I just had our 6th wedding anniversary! I’m very blessed to have had her presence in my life and hope to make that six years ten times as long.

Now onto book news.

WRAITH KNIGHT’s paperback version is technically out now, I say technically because I’ve been told there’s been a delay but only until the 18th. The ebook version is also completed but hasn’t been posted despite having my copy so hopefully that will be resolved. Also, we haven’t gotten the audiobook finished yet either.

They’re all coming, though, and it’s been a big transition from Ragnarok Publications being an indie publisher to one which is available in book stores, Growing pains and all that. Please have patience as my wife has reminded for me to as well. This is a book I can honestly say is worth it.

People who have been worried my other projects will be taking away from the SUPERVILLAINY SAGA do not have to worry as I’m about 1/3rd of the way through THE SCIENCE OF SUPERVILLAINY and am doing it for NanoWriMon. You can follow my rather faint progress on my website here. I’m shooting for a March 2017 release for the book with a simultaneous audiobook release.

I’ve already got THE TOWER OF ZHAAL (Cthulhu Armageddon 2#) submitted to Crossroad Press and they’re editing it by hand. While most of my books are set for being trilogies, I’m really of the mind the Cthulhu Armageddon series and Supervillainy Saga will be my two ongoing works.

Also, I’d like to apologize for a fact which numerous readers have pointed out that I accidentally had “clips” instead of “Magazines” for pistols. This is apparently one of the single most commonly misused things in fiction and RL for causal gun users and is akin to Dan Brown calling the immortal painter “Davinchi” instead of “Leonardo.”

Also, using squad and squadron interchangeably. Now I could do some B.S. about how Derek in Esoterrorism is just being a jackass or the Red Room has its own terminology but that’d be silly. Sorry guys. I’ll be better next time.

Have a great Thanksgiving folks.