A dystopian thriller set in the very near future.
Which side are YOU on?
Protopia
by John Calia
Genre: Dystopian Thriller
In a world ravaged by ideological war, can two lifelong friends, torn apart, find their way back to each other, or will conflicting visions of a perfect society destroy their relationship or, worse yet, prove fatal?
Olivia and Alexandra, inseparable since childhood, stumble into the brutal conflict between Cygnus, a bastion of ultra-libertarian ideals, and Elyria, a socialist commune that promises equality and justice. As tensions escalate, the women are forced to make a choice: which community to join.
Olivia, haunted by anxiety and self-doubt, is drawn to the promise of security and equality in Elyria. Alexandra, ever the adventurer, chooses the independence and freedom of Cygnus. As they settle into their respective communities, Olivia and Alexandra encounter rigid ideologies and corruption at the highest levels of government. They challenge the leaders of their respective communities and realize their lives are under threat.
Olivia must confront her own demons and the limitations they’ve imposed on her life. Growing in confidence and self-awareness, she starts to envision a different future—one that balances individual freedom with collective well-being. As the conflict between Cygnus and Elyria reaches a boiling point, Olivia and Alexandra must navigate the treacherous landscape of their own divided loyalties. Can they turn the obstacles into opportunities, or will the divide between them prove insurmountable—even deadly?
Protopia is a heart-pumping, thought-provoking tale of politics, adventure, and loyalty set in a dystopian world that eerily echoes our own.
Fans of Emily St. John Mandel and Matt Haig will love this new adventure from the author of Parallel Lies and the best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.
The pounding on Olivia’s front door awoke her at—what time was it? The digital clock on her
nightstand said 3:17 a.m. What the hell is going on?
She pulled on a robe and stumbled toward the foyer, stubbing her toe on a chair leg en route. She
swore under her breath. There were flashing lights in her driveway. The side of the SUV was
emblazoned CYGNUS POLICE. Was it Alexandra?
The pounding continued, echoing in her vaulted ceiling.
“Okay, okay,” she said, her voice hoarse from sleep.
“Sergeant Cynthia Martinez, ma’am,” said the stocky police officer when she swung the door open.
“Sorry to be pounding on your door. We tried calling.”
“Turned my phone off,” she replied, still trying to overcome the sleep fog. “What? I mean, why…
why are you here?”
“They’re coming for you,” Martinez said.
“They?… Who?… I mean, who are ‘they?’ And why are they coming for me?” Olivia stuttered.
Martinez held an AR-18 in her left hand. She pulled her standard-issue sidearm from its holster and
handed it to Olivia.
Olivia stared at the gun in her hand as if it might tell her what to do next. She had handled guns
before. She’d been in battle. She knew what to do, didn’t she? She felt the supercomputer part of her
brain switch off and the primitive part take its place. Her heart began beating a little faster.
“I’m not sure how many there are,” Martinez said as she scanned the living room and walked toward
the back of the house. Then she turned toward Olivia and added, “Too many windows. We need to
hide.”
“Basement,” Olivia replied. Her breathing quickened, and she could feel beads of sweat forming on
her forehead. “The best place to hide is the basement.”
“Let’s go,” Martinez replied. As they headed for the basement door, she answered Olivia’s question.
“A small group of guys… commandos… three or four… maybe five. We assume they’ve been
ordered by the same person who ordered Eric de la Rocha’s death.”
“And, who’s that?” Olivia asked over her shoulder as she descended the stairs two steps at a time.
“We think it’s Oliver Grimes,” Martinez answered. “At least, that’s what Alexandra thinks. But we
have no evidence connecting him to it.”
“Speaking of Alexandra…” Olivia began.
“She’s on her way. I got a call from one of my officers saying he had spotted some suspicious
activity… guys dressed in black, loading weapons into the back of a truck. So, I headed here right
away. I called Alexandra… woke her up. She’ll be right behind me.”
A crash above told them someone had entered the house. Martinez turned toward Olivia and said,
“I’m going up. Keep your back to the wall.” She took one last look at Olivia and added, “Don’t be
afraid to use that weapon. The safety’s off.”
She waited a moment, not disengaging, until Olivia nodded her agreement. Then she handed Olivia
her phone and said, “Call the emergency number. It will connect you with reinforcements from
Elyria.”
Olivia nodded again and felt her head wobble from the effort. Her hand trembled slightly as she
dialed the number Martinez had given her. She rehearsed the words she would say when someone
answered and hoped the cavalry would show up before it was too late.
John Calia is a multifaceted author, born in Brooklyn and formerly a naval officer, banker, entrepreneur, and consultant. His debut business fable, The Reluctant CEO: Succeeding Without Losing Your Soul, earned a five-star rating and sparked a passion for writing. Calia’s fascination with artificial intelligence and its societal implications led him to craft The Awakening of Artemis, a near-future speculative fiction novel that soared to #6 on the Amazon Science Fiction Adventure bestseller list. His latest release, Parallel Lies (2023), is the highly anticipated sequel to his bestseller.
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Sounds like a really interesting story.
Looks like a good read
Great cover!
A intense story line, well done :)
I like everything about this read – genre title and cover!
Thank you for sharing this excerpt.
In a dystopian society, neither woman would have the freedom the prologue indicates; they’d be regarded as baby-makers, and assigned mates as soon as they reached puberty.
I love reading a thriller.
This so sounds like a great read and one that will keep me interested for sure!
this sounds pretty good
Sounds intriguing.
The synopsis, in itself, shows that extremes of any ideology can, and most likely will, be dangerous in many ways.
The book sounds very interesting. Great cover!
sounds like a good book.
Love the cover!
I really like the excerpt and the cover.
Question for Author–What inspired you to become a writer?
Great cover
This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
This looks like a good one
The cover looks pretty chilling!
Looks very exciting Do you write in a daily journal?
The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
interesting book
It looks like a good read.
I enjoyed the excerpt for Protopia. Thanks for the giveaway!
I like the book details.
This sounds like a really interesting and complex plot with well-developed characters
You had me at heart-thumping! Congratulations on your book!
Do you have any advice for new writers?
I look forward to reading
This sounds like a great Dystopian Thriller. I like the cover.
looks like a fun one.
I love the red of the title!
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the excerpt! :)
I am excited to check this book out.
Good
looks like a great book
I’m drawn with Olivia’s backstory! Definitely seems like a cozy read.
Sounds like a great book!