I Don't Know Who Wrote This on Amazon, But Thank You - Part 2: Alter Road
11/14/2024
"In Alter Road, geopolitical thriller author Mark James delivers a haunting vision of American collapse that begins not with a bang, but with an electric bill. Set in a Detroit ravaged by decades of economic decay, this gripping novel shows how quickly society's threads can unravel when poverty, inequality, and institutional failure reach their breaking point.
When a ruthless power company continues shutting off electricity during a brutal winter, desperate residents turn to dangerous heating alternatives. After a beloved retired teacher and her family perish in one of countless preventable fires, the city erupts. What begins as protests against corporate callousness escalates into something far more dangerous as an overwhelmed police force gives way to military intervention.Drawing from his expertise in urban geography and military experience, James crafts a disturbingly plausible scenario where infrastructure failure, economic desperation, and social unrest create a perfect storm. The story follows multiple perspectives as the U.S. Army finds itself trapped between angry citizens, international complications, and crumbling city systems.
Alter Road isn't just another dystopian thriller – it's a meticulously researched warning about the fragility of urban America. James weaves together real-world socioeconomic trends, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and political tensions to create a scenario that feels less like fiction and more like tomorrow's headlines. This thought-provoking novel asks crucial questions about inequality, corporate responsibility, and what happens when America's social contract finally breaks.About the Author
Mark James brings an extraordinary depth of academic expertise and real-world experience to his fiction writing. As a U.S. Navy veteran who served across the Pacific during the Cold War's final years, James developed a firsthand understanding of geopolitical tensions and military operations that infuses his work with rare authenticity.
His academic credentials are equally impressive: a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Cincinnati, complemented by degrees from the University of Alabama and Towson University. For over two decades, James has taught political, economic, and urban geography, publishing research in prestigious journals including Antipode and the Journal of Urban Affairs. This combination of scholarly expertise and military experience gives him unique insight into the complex interactions between social systems, urban infrastructure, and political power. When not writing or teaching, James can often be found catching waves off the Delmarva coast, maintaining the balance between professional accomplishment and personal passion that characterizes his approach to life. His debut novel Alter Road (2020) established him as a fresh voice in geopolitical thrillers, followed-up by the award winning Friendship Games (2023)."
Must be the publisher. Whoever wrote it, I'll take it!