Iain Kelly

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.

Next up – J is for: Journalism, Jai Li, Jarrod and Jonas, Julius, Jenny, John Curran, Johnathan Sadiq and Janette Michaels

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

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