Jack’s Rogues Trilogy: Part I – Operation Agos; Part II – To Hell and Gone; Part III- Death’s Door. It’s intense and fast-moving. Unpredictable and unique. Genre’s include Metaphysical Fiction, Magical Realism, Military Fantasy and Military Romance. Jack’s Rogues is a continuation of the story begun in “The End.”
God (Adonai) and the Devil (Samael) have worked together for billions of years creating Nature; and for the last few hundred million with intent to create a species capable of carrying their work forward into the otherwise sterile solar system and galaxy. But for ten or fifteen thousand years they’ve been in disagreement on the prospects of one particular species, one both promising and threatening to the entire enterprise: Homo sapiens. Humankind.
Early in the novel, Samael convinces Adonai that the sapiens are too destructive to succeed. Adonai, broken-hearted over facts which she knows to be accurate, agrees to stop guiding and assisting them and reluctantly, to allow the sapiens to run themselves into extinction. Her last, best hope for the species, Anne Murphy, a young, new President of the United States with the vision and leadership to steer the world in the right direction, is not likely to get her chance because of multiple adversaries —ones both human and spiritual, internal to the USA and external to it— who intend to destroy her, beginning with a coup d’etat.
Meanwhile, Samael, acting through Iran’s Supreme Leader and the Republican Guards Quds Force, has invented bomb-like devices that convert breathable oxygen into unbreathable ozone and has planted them throughout the three hundred largest cities of the world (with the exception of Tehran). When detonated they will strangulate sixty percent of the world’s population precipitating chaos and inciting wholesale destruction of humankind.
Furthermore, major Oil concerns within the USA have a highly-developed plan to assassinate the President before she can enact her signature project: a Constitutional Amendment mandating stewardship of the environment. Francis O’Rourke and Deirdre Kavanagh are two, kindred spirits in the afterlife who intend to do whatever they can to change that. As members of Heaven’s elite Commando forces they league-up in an unusual strike team named “The Rogues.” They boldly venture into the depths of Hell to confront Samael and into the high reaches of Heaven to address Adonai, angling and bargaining for one last chance to save humanity. They race against time, against distance, and against human and spiritual obstacles to try to avert the catastrophe and to support President Murphy. The struggle will destroy them all or bring them together. The fate of humankind lies in the balance.
JACK’S ROGUES by Paul Bryan Roach
Copywrite August 11, 2020 TXu 2-214-248
Reviews:
Storytelling Trifecta!
erin hupp
Review of Jack’s Rogues
audiobook published by Blackstone
Paul Bryan Roach has hit the trifecta of successful storytelling: writing a rip snorter of a multi-genre action and fantasy tale; narrating a stirring plot with multiple voices in a coherent and beguiling manner; and offering an audio technical quality which makes all the components work seamlessly for the listener’s enjoyment.
The central action involves the hero’s and heroine’s attempt to prevent the end of mankind as our technologically advanced species is spurred on by malevolent forces to race headlong into oblivion. It is played out over Space, Time, and Beyond Space/Time. The characters and their situations are delightfully original, dynamic and surprising despite heady themes rooted in theology, philosophy and military history. There is nothing cliche nor rote in this thoroughly unique tale. The overall tone of the novel is playful, with much humor despite its apocalyptic setting.
The protagonist is Fran O’Rourke, yet equal attention is paid to his counterpart Deirdre Kavanaugh. Together and apart they encounter challenges in this life, the after life and the after after life. Both are US marines. However, when we first meet them both are Marines in Heaven. They face extraordinary challenges, dramatic tension as well as personal growth while pursing their mission to save the planet and humankind. They are accompanied by a troop of extraordinary (Heavenly) warriors. Together these recruits band together into a unit known as Jack’s Rogues, under the guidance of Jack O’Rourke, Fran’s father. Adventures ensue as the Rogues and their allies are confronted by a host of fascinating supernatural and earthly adversaries, while their leader Jack is held hostage by a mysterious former Soviet agent, now in league with the Devil – or is he?
The novel is adroitly structured into three main Parts, clearly identified for the listener. Within each part the story flows with good continuity from each clearly indicated and organized chapter. The chapter breaks as well as the author’s clear transitions between scenes assist mightily in clarifying the action while one listens and absorbs all the components of the unique world-building the author accomplishes.
The quality of the sound is excellent. The quality of the narration is exceptional. The author reads his own work with adroit pacing. The time shifts, the emotional registers, the settings are all effectively communicated. The vocal characterizations are simply amazing; as the author performs a diverse array of characters and situations and does so with great expression and clarity. And the funny parts are truly humorous, the suspense truly intense!
Having read the book and having listened to the audio version, I much prefer the audio version; it is rich and rollicking and wondrous. You won’t be disappointed and you will think about this extraordinary tale for some time after!
5.0
Performance
5.0
Story