My A-Z theme this year is a guide to my trilogy of novels called ‘The State Trilogy’. Set in an unnamed island country known only as ‘The State’, in the imagined near future, the books follow the intertwining stories of a number of characters, principally a State police detective named Danny Samson and an assassin, Gabriella Marino, over a period of six years. It begins with the assassination of an elected official and spirals into revolution and civil war. Part political thriller, action story, war story and dystopian science fiction, the trilogy took three years to complete and the books are available to read now – you can find links to purchase them HERE
In The State Trilogy, ‘I’ stands for:
The Independents: The name given to and taken on by the rebel faction who challenge the State in the civil war in Central City, the central plot of ‘State Of War’. The name comes from their support of independent political candidates running in elections against the Central Alliance Party members, who are normally assured of a win in any vote. As the State is a loose representation of a future Great Britain, and the northern half represents Scotland, which has a popular movement for independence at the moment, you could choose to see these rebels as fighting for that cause, if you wanted to…
Immigration and Isolationism: The State is an island and, like Great Britain and the issues around Brexit, immigration and isolationism are key factors in the political landscape. The Central Alliance Party won power, and has remained in power, on a policy of strict immigration and deportation that has helped the overpopulation crisis in the State, at the cost of separating families and enabling racial tension. By closing the borders, the State has isolated itself and apart from its role as an ally of the Civil American States in the global war, the State does little to aid or interfere in other parts of the world. The citizens of the State are cut off from any outside aid or from any escape, leading to people trafficking and desperate attempts to flee the State by those who upset the ruling party. The issue of escaping the State reaches a climax with those fleeing the civil war in Central City, looking for safe passage to the European Union.
Isla Samson: Danny and Rosalind Samson’s daughter, twin of Hanlen, who both died shortly after birth. The memory of Hanlen and Isla, and the helplessness and powerlessness that Danny feels about their death haunts him, in his dreams and nightmares. He often wonders if they made the right choice to choose a natural birth for the twins, instead of the modern science and medicine that could have saved them.
Ishmael Nelson: A respected and long-serving senator of the Central Alliance Party who is the State’s Defence Secretary, serving under State Chancellor Lucinda Románes. His friendship and closeness with Vice Chancellor Patrick Donovan and Central City Consul Donald Parkinson draw him into the investigation into the Consul’s assassination, and brings Nelson to the attention of Danny Samson and Gabriella Marino.
All the entries in the A-Z of ‘The State Trilogy’ can be found HERE
The books are available from a wide selection of online retailers, including AMAZON
FYI, I now have your trilogy through Kindle Unlimited. I’m reading a dystopian novel now called Kill School, but yours is next in my “sometimes I need a dystopian palate cleanse” queue. No matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. I would say “don’t break my heart” but I hope you break our hearts very well. As it should be. Have a great weekend!
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That’s great, glad you were able to pick up the Unlimited copy. Do let me know how you get on with them when you come to read them!
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Hari Om
As yes, Isolation(ism) and Immigration – subjects I brush past today also… The more populated our world becomes, it seems, the more society lends itself to ‘cutting off’… we become more insular and the concept of true community fades. Then we have bodies lying for years undiscovered… YAM xx
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Strange isn’t it. The less space we have, the more crammed in together we are – the less we want to know other people or mix with them. I hope I don’t lie there for 9 years undiscovered. Horrific.
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Your trilogy eerily reflects current times with its focus on immigration issues that appear not to be improving. Thanks for visiting my site today.
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Thanks Gail, I’m pleased my trilogy is managing to stay relevant, although I do wish some of the issues would no longer exist!
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Independence is a tough subject, Brexit too…
Enjoy the rest tomorrow 😉
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Complicated for sure – three novels and I don’t think I resolved either issue! 🙂
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The theme you revolve around is a good one, exploring relevant, real-life issues.
My “I” Jethro Tull song for the day:
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Thank you, I think that’s what all good sci-fi, dystopia and fantasy should do, it has to relate to something in the real world.
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You’re welcome.
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I should be sorry to see our quirky union (UK) dissolve though I am tempted to want to see the Tories punished under the law of unintended consequences for inflicting Brexit on us. Plus I think devolution should have gone further.
I think I can say that I must read The State once April’s madness is over…
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Thanks so much, happy that you are tempted to read more! Yep, this could be the fallout from Brexit, the Tories attempt to roll back on Devolution doesn’t help, alongside everything else. I would be sorry to see some parts of the history go, but it does feel a bit like enough is enough…
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The themes of isolation and independence you talk about in this post seem prophetic. 1984 comes to mind.
I like your idea of making up a fictional ‘state’ but keeping it rooted in reality.
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Thanks Arti. 1984 was definitely an influence, and has turned out to be such a prophetic novel.
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Brexit, immigration, isolation, plus progress in science and medicine that make alien to our natural bodies – it is all relevant and horrifying and SO interesting and intriguing too! Seems the kind of book I can better read at daylight, able to look outside and see the world as it still is now, but I have to say that my curiosity keeps growing!
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Glad the posts are working 🙂 It is horrifying, especially as the world seems to be heading down that route. We can only hope that there can be a course correction before too long. I remain optimistic, and I hope a bit of that filters into the novels by the end, alongside all the dystopia!
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I wonder how long it will be before the citizens join the hundreds who constantly wash up on the beaches near me. Although no longer in the Union, we do seem to be a magnet for escapees.
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Yes, I do wonder sometimes why. I want to tell them it’s really not worth the risk to get here! Better to stay in Europe at the moment.
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I like how you took contemporary topics into fantasy setting. It sometimes make it easier to evaluate both sides when you put in a little distance. And by the way, I have a half-finished novel where Isla is the name of the MC – maybe it could be a cross-over! 😉
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It’s such a beautiful name 🙂 Exactly, that distance, and a space away from specifics, allows an exploration of the issues without some of the emotion involved. Thank you.
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More gripping material!
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Thank you so much
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A great use of the current political frustrations Iain.
A-Zing from Fiction Can Be Fun
Normally found at Debs Despatches
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Thanks Debs
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Immigration and Isolationism are such contemporary topics around the world in today’s times. It’s actually really interesting how different nations react to immigration in such varied ways.
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I think it says a lot about the people, and the leaders, of those countries too – very revealing.
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Oh yes, it definitely does.
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