Parallel - The Awakening. A book by Paul A Rice

Synopsis - Parallel - The Awakening

So, you think you know how things work do you?

Kenneth Robinson is an ex-soldier who, after leaving the Army, finds work in the Middle East and Central Asia. He smokes too much and he swears too much, but he has a pure heart. That particular attribute is going to get him into trouble. With the help of his friend and partner, Mike, he has started his own company located on Kandahar airfield. They are doing quite nicely and things look set to become even rosier in the very near future. Yes, it’s looking pretty damn good for them, they’ve worked hard, taken risks, and now it looks like payback time?

Yeah, it was all going just fine until the Storm arrived. The howling beast transforms not only Ken’s day but his entire perception of how the world works. He is thrust into a reality that is beyond the edge of reason and shown the truth about what really lies behind the scenes. Ken sees those little things that wait in the darkness beyond the dim glow of our own perception. Whilst looking for Mike, who along with everybody else has disappeared, Ken finds himself taken to a place that would fracture most people’s minds. He becomes plagued by horrific dreams and is tipped toward insanity. Fortunately, Ken is made of stronger stuff. His stoicism and dry humour, when coupled with his experience, enable him to cope with the madness of the crazy things he is shown by George. The old man takes Ken and shows him a view of the universe he never even dreamed of. Events almost beyond comprehension have happened and are still happening, events that require their immediate intervention. Ken and Mike are told that the future for them, and all that remains of mankind, lies in their hands.

From the madness of a storm, to being trapped and escaping, through his search for Mike and to the shattering arrival of reality, we follow Ken on his discovery of the truth. He finds himself being shown ancient history and then a devastating possible future - both are inextricably linked and both need his help. George tells the tale of how the world was, of how it is now and of how it’s going to be in the future.

It’s not a happy ending, either, or at least it won’t be unless they get to ‘Red’ first? The red-haired giant is going to have his say all right, he’s on a separate agenda and doesn’t care who gets in the way. Killing is a second-nature for this guy. Fortunately, Ken has done his own share of killing, and if it’s a fight you want, well, you've picked on the right man. From dreams to ‘slideshow’s, history to ‘Rip-Fixers’, the past and the present, this tale has them all. It also has the reality of a normal guy who just happens to be pretty handy when it comes to ‘sorting things out’. All Ken needs is Mike, some big guns and the Spears. Ken has the skills and Mike has the magic, together they ride into battle to stop the Demon and his plans. Ordinary men dealing with very extraordinary circumstances

Books by Paul A.Rice

Books published by Paul A. Rice

Parallel - The Awakening
Paul A. Rice

Awakening book

Everyone knows how things work, the natural order of the world, right and wrong, good and evil, work hard play hard - everybody knows how that stuff works, don’t they? Kenneth Robinson thought he knew all about those things, too. He’d been around the block a couple of times, learned a few things and picked up the odd scrape here, the odd knock there. Using all of those experiences, and with a lot of hard work, he has managed to start himself a nice little business down in the hell-hole that is Kandahar airfield. Life is looking rosy and the money is starting to roll in. It’s all going to plan. Yes, and all of that lovely stuff was just fine, fine and dandy, until the storm arrived...

Before long, Ken is going to change his mind, he’s going to have to as the only other choice is insanity and Ken has never really been into wearing white jackets, especially if they don’t have any arms. He is shown a version of reality, an awful mind-tearing truth. Everything he thought he knew about the world, about people, about everything, is going to be shattered. He’s going to have to put all his previous beliefs on the back-burner whilst he takes a journey into the unknown and receives an education, his masters degree in the way things really are.

He is about to discover that there are more than just lies and damned lies in this world. Actually, he’s about to learn that there is more than just one world. And, if he doesn’t get his act together, they are all doomed, destined to destruction at the hands of a red-haired giant of a man, a man so intent on his own self-enhancement that he doesn’t give a damn who gets in the way – anyone who does is going to end up dead. Luckily, Ken has had a fair bit of experience when it comes to blood-letting, yes, when it comes to that particular art he is already more than qualified. In fact, he’s an expert.

The journey of discovery takes him into the past, into the future, and into places he could never have imagined. From the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan, to far away places and unimaginable realities, Ken only has to do three things: never give up, never stop believing, and above all – try not to go crazy.

Parallel II – The Gift
Paul A. Rice

Awakening the Gift

Mr Peters is a child-murdering sicko - the dirt from the grave of his latest victim is still wet under his fingernails and already he’s thinking about the next child. He’s not the only one out there who causes pain and misery, either. It happens every day and alters the future for all of us. Some people are just not meant to die young; they’re supposed to be doing other things with their lives.

The time has come for all that to stop, other people are getting involved and they have a little gift for the likes of Mr Peters and his type. It’s going to take someone very special to deliver this particular gift. George has the just people in mind, people who don’t mind seeing a bit of blood flowing...

Two men find themselves drawn into a situation where they are going to need every ounce of their Special Forces' experience, it’s carried them through tough times before. But this time it isn’t going to be quite the same - it’s going to be bad. The last time they worked with George it was pretty hard on them. This time it’s not only the two men who are going to face a terrible test, some of those nearest and dearest to them are going to have to make a few sacrifices of their own. Some people are going to be forced to lay everything on the line. There are times when it seems as though they are never going to stop giving.

Through blood and tears, love and hatred, crazy events and mind-melting reality, we follow the story to a place where only the good can go - the good and the dead.

Parallel III - Demon Hunters

Paul A. Rice

Sometimes the thinking stops - sometimes it's all about the shooting...

Kenneth Robinson thinks the worst is behind them, that all the blood and tears are nothing but memories, he thinks that all he has to do is live in peace with the others on the farm. He’s wrong. And, if he thinks he’s seen the Demon at its worst, he’ll be wrong again.

This time the journey is going to test him to the limits, all of those experiences from his past are going to be needed now. Ken’s days of killing people are coming back to stare him in the face.

The Demon is on his knees, if Ken can get the others to a place where the Dark One is planning a final showdown, get them there and tear it apart, then the nightmare will be over. He just has to prepare them for the battle, a simple task and one he relishes.

But, as is always the case when dealing with these strange parallels, things are never quite as they seem, sometimes they are the exact opposite. He’s about to learn that some people will give everything in the pursuance of their own goals.

From the tranquillity of the farm to the insanity of jumping across time, from the love of his friends to the fearful hatred of his enemies, Ken’s journey will take him to the edge of reason. The only thing he needs to do is keep smiling – smiling, and shooting.