In a dystopian future where environmental damage has ravaged the Earth, a giant corporation called Nattech, Inc. controls society, deepening the divide between the haves and the have-nots. The discovery of a rock with strange markings on Mars sets off a chain of events that leads to civil unrest, natural disasters, and mysterious disappearances. Jim Pleasant Wolfshadow, a Cheyenne former Navy SEAL and retired Nattech operative, emerges from retirement to find his vanished friend Max. During a meeting with The Seven, a group of the world's foremost physicists, Wolfshadow himself disappears, thrusting him into Earth's dismal future alongside a shapeshifter.
Wolfshadow's quest is not only to return Max to Earth but also to stop Mahu, a godlike entity from another dimension that feeds on chaos. Mahu has unleashed a monster named Briareus to destroy humanity, but his actions threaten to unravel time and space throughout the universe. Wolfshadow battles Mahu on his home world, and just when all hope seems lost, a surprising ally emerges. This narrative, as presented in the press release, underscores the stakes of a cosmic conflict that could annihilate existence itself.
The significance of this announcement extends beyond the fictional realm, as the story behind the novel is equally compelling. Writing a novel was Robert Edward Graham's lifelong ambition, repeatedly thwarted by fate. In the 1990s, he was paired with instructor C. S. Fuqua by the Writer's Digest school, and after the course, Graham enlisted Fuqua as co-author. Their collaboration faced prolonged interruptions due to Graham's battles with cancer and addiction. Yet Graham remained committed, returning to the manuscript on his deathbed to dictate the ending to his brother David. The first draft of Shadow of the Storm was completed just days before Graham succumbed to cancer, making its publication a testament to perseverance and creative partnership.
Robert Edward Graham led a multifaceted life as a stage and film actor, model, and founding member, lead vocalist, and songwriter of the 1960s band The Penthouse Five. His dedication to completing the novel despite terminal illness highlights the profound personal investment in the project. C. S. Fuqua, an extensively published author in non-fiction, science fiction, dark fantasy, mainstream and literary fiction, poetry, and mystery/suspense, brought his expertise to the collaboration. Fuqua's bibliography includes works such as The Crosses (with Bonnie Lynne Del Aguila), Walking after Midnight: Collected Stories, Big Daddy's Fast-Past Gadget, White Trash & Southern: Collected Poems, and Native American Flute: A Comprehensive Guide. His short fiction has appeared in diverse publications like Cemetery Dance, The Christian Science Monitor, Naval History, Main Street Rag, and Year's Best Horror Stories. Fuqua resides in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Foolscap & Quill, an independent publishing company based in Jefferson County, Colorado, is releasing the novel. The book's arrival signals a narrative that melds dystopian fiction with cosmic stakes, offering readers an adventure that questions the boundaries of reality. More importantly, it represents the realization of a dying man's dream, a collaboration that transcended illness and time. In an era of increasing environmental and social anxieties, Shadow of the Storm resonates with contemporary fears while delivering a timeless struggle against overwhelming odds. Its publication not only adds to the canon of speculative fiction but also stands as a monument to human resilience and the enduring power of storytelling.
