I write exciting speculative fiction series that explores our common future through the lens of climate science fiction and dystopian narratives. I also reimagine classic tales of King Arthur and his knights for our changing world.
Tales From a Warming Planet
My dystopian climate science fiction series, Tales From a Warming Planet, consists of four standalone, but interconnected stories: a novelette and three full-length novels. All the stories take place on a near-future earth in the throes of the worst effects of climate change. Governments have taken drastic steps to fight the climate crisis, such as banning fossil fuels. A law enforcement agency, the Bureau of Environmental Security, enforces new, draconian laws. They case pirates, who smuggle oil across the ice-free Arctic Ocean in salvaged nuclear submarines.
The Mother Earth Insurgency
In The Mother Earth Insurgency, the first story in the series, Nick Sorrows, an agent of the BES, infiltrates a terrorist group determined to stop the hijacking of clean energy technology by greedy corporations. After gaining the group’s trust, Nick learns of an audacious plan to destroy a symbol of a new method for launching rockets into space.
Carbon Run
The second novel, Carbon Run, is a speculative fiction thriller featuring young Anne Penn, who sets out to clear her father of environmental crimes. He is on the run from Janine Kilel, a fanatical agent of the Bureau of Environmental Security. Anne’s journey takes her across the melted Arctic Ocean to Russia, where a criminal organization refines diesel from illegal crude oil smuggled by murderous pirates.
City of Ice and Dreams
In the third dystopian novel, City of Ice and Dreams, climate change has driven people across the Southern Ocean to Antarctica, where rising global temperatures are rapidly melting the ice sheets. In this post-apocalyptic thriller, Sento, an intelligent but tormented young woman, leads a group of immigrants to the fabled city of Isorropia. The mission is at once suicidal and hopeful, because a new life waits for the immigrants. Sento discovers her true identity, even as forces in the city conspire to stop the immigrants before they realize their dreams.
Restoration
In Restoration, the final novel, seventeen-year-old Junie Wye is forced to move to a small town on the Columbia River near a giant hydroelectric dam. Her father is tasked with removing the dam and letting the river run free. Resentful of the move away from her school, friends, and boyfriend, Junie nonetheless tries to adapt. She soon meets Don Rast, the son of a prosperous farmer opposed to the dam removal. In this dystopian world, Junie and Don grow close, even as they uncover a conspiracy that could kill thousands downstream.
The Future History of the Grail
With my speculative fiction series, The Future History of the Grail, I’ve reimagined the famous characters of the King Arthur books, such as Percival, Lancelot, Guinevere, Merlin, and Arthur himself, as living in a distant future on an Earth threatened by climate change. Like millions of others, I’ve loved the stories of King Arthur and his knights from reading T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, as well as dozens of movies broadcast on Saturday afternoons. But I wanted to find a new way to combine elements of science fiction and fantasy fiction, and by placing the King Arthur books’ characters in a time of climate crisis, as well as trying new twists, such as making Lancelot a fiery young woman, I’ve given them a fresh resonance for today’s readers.
Fall of the Green Land
Fall of the Green Land (Book 1): Sir Percival, a red-headed young knight of Viridiae, also known as the Green Land, is tasked by his king to find the Grail, a device that would revive a planet-wide system of mountain-sized machines that keeps Earth livable. Percival leads a band of his fellow knights to an island where the Grail is believed hidden, but he discovers forces attempting to keep him from finding the Grail and saving the planet.
War for the Green Land
War for the Green Land (Book 2): After Viridiae is invaded and nearly destroyed by the Lucian Empire, Percival and King Arturus are taken as slaves to the empire’s capital. The Lucian leader, General Dardarius, offers to free Viridiae and its capital, Camelot, if the king reveals the secret location of the Grail. Merlin turns up with something better, a second Grail. Percival and Arturus escape, but a new battle with the Lucians is in the offing.
Return to the Green Land
Return to the Green Land (Book 3): Accused of cowardice after the battle with the Lucians, Percival departs Camelot with a new quest from Arturus: Travel to the barely known Hot Lands to find the Last Grail, the final chance to save Viridiae and Camelot from a runaway climate. Percival travels with his twin sister Dee, and finds the ruined city of Cassanti, where they discover the Grail guarded by a priestess, who demands a terrible price for the device.
Short stories, audio stories
In addition to full-length novel series, I’ve written numerous speculative fiction short stories, many with climate fiction themes. Most of these stories are published in science fiction anthologies and other books, and I’d encourage you to support this form with a purchase. I’ve also written a young adult novel based on research into American maritime history. In addition, I’ve produced audio versions of these stories for download. If you haven’t filled out the convenient form that popped up during your visit, you can contact me directly and I’ll send you a link to these audio stories.
Frequently asked questions
What makes your dystopian novels different? My stories combine climate change themes with interesting and compelling characters. I’m interested in how ordinary people will cope with the new environment.
Do I need to read the books in order? The Tales From a Warming Planet series can be read out of order, though the stories are set in the same world. The Future History of the Grail series should be read in order.
Are your books okay for young readers? My books feature protagonists of various ages and they tackle mature themes. I believe they’re appropriate for adults and mature young readers.
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