Gunpowder & Embers

Thirty years ago, the world ended. Giant electrovoric ants and pterodons came through a rift in space-time, millions of humans died, and that was that. Thirty years later, humanity has rebuilt . . . to an extent. Without electricity, human ingenuity has provided some creative solutions, but most folks survive at the subsistence level, farming to keep themselves and their families fed. Chuck Gibson never thought he'd have to leave his family'sfarm. The simple life of arancher was enough for him. A dying stranger proved him wrong. Now, he's on the road of destiny, accompanied by a mystic warrior monk, a beautiful dragon tamer, a runaway cultist, and a mysterious drunken lecher, all of them searching for the key to reclaiming humanity's future and past. Each of them carrying a single spark of hope. But will that hope be enough to light the beacons of freedom once again? Or will they face the next century in bondage to the last century's technology? AboutTheValley of Shadowsby John Ringo: ". . . fast-paced . . . building to an exciting climax . . . Ringo and Massa have written an end-of-the-world novel that is unconventional and entertaining."-Daily News of Galveston County AboutBlack Tide Rising, coedited by John Ringo(featuring stories by Kacey Ezell and Christopher L. Smith): ". . . an entertaining batch of . . . action-packed tales. Certainly, fans of Ringo's particular brand of action-adventure will be pleased."-Booklist "This anthology broadens Ringo'sBlack Tide world, serving up doses of humanity amid the ravenous afflicted. Comedy has a place in this harsh reality, and these stories stir adventure and emotion at a frantic clip throughout. Zombie fiction fans will be thrilled."-Library Journal About the Black Tide Rising Series: "Not only has Ringo found a mostly unexplored corner of the zombie landscape, he's using the zombie frame to tackle a broader theme: the collapse and rebirth of civilization. The zombie scenes are exciting, sure, but its the human story that keeps us involved. A fine series."-Bookliston the Black Tide Rising Series About John Ringo: "[Ringo's work is] peopled with three-dimensional characters and spiced with personal drama as well as tactical finesse."-Library Journal ". . . Explosive. . . . Fans . . . will appreciate Ringo's lively narrative and flavorful characters."-Publishers Weekly ". . . practically impossible not to read in one sitting . . . exceedingly impressive . . . executed with skill, verve, and wit."-Booklist "Crackerjack storytelling."-Starlog About the work of Kacey Ezell: "Gritty, dark and damp. Much like the war itself."-Michael Z. Williamson, best-selling author ofA Long Time Until Now "I lovedMinds of Men."-D.J. Butler,best-selling author ofWitchy Eye