Eclipse
By John ShirleyPublisher Description
A former rock star fights a fascist private army in a war-torn future Europe in this “chillingly plausible” and prescient science fiction classic (Kirkus Reviews).
It is 2039, and parts of Europe have been annihilated by tactical nukes and Russian aggression. As the chaos of a third world war rages, the Second Alliance smells an opportunity. They present themselves as a large multinational capable of creating some much-needed order. In reality, they are an organization of racists and theocrats with a very specific idea of “order” in mind—led by an ambitious televangelist, staffed with mercenaries, and harboring a dangerous cult within its ranks.
Using media manipulation and propaganda, they gain power in the United States, in a pioneering space colony, and on an artificial island known as Freezone. But the New Resistance recognizes the SA for what it really is. And Rick Rickenharp—a once-famous guitarist hanging around the underground clubs—is about to play an unexpected role in their cause . . .
Originally published in 1985 and updated by the author in 2012, Eclipse is the first book in an extraordinary trilogy by a visionary science fiction talent.
“Spiky prose [hooks] the reader’s attention . . . a Goya-esque vision of war-torn western Europe, bombed out and unstable . . . from a resurgence of Russian militarism and the collapse of NATO.” —Publishers Weekly
“[John Shirley is] cyberpunk’s Patient Zero.” —William Gibson
It is 2039, and parts of Europe have been annihilated by tactical nukes and Russian aggression. As the chaos of a third world war rages, the Second Alliance smells an opportunity. They present themselves as a large multinational capable of creating some much-needed order. In reality, they are an organization of racists and theocrats with a very specific idea of “order” in mind—led by an ambitious televangelist, staffed with mercenaries, and harboring a dangerous cult within its ranks.
Using media manipulation and propaganda, they gain power in the United States, in a pioneering space colony, and on an artificial island known as Freezone. But the New Resistance recognizes the SA for what it really is. And Rick Rickenharp—a once-famous guitarist hanging around the underground clubs—is about to play an unexpected role in their cause . . .
Originally published in 1985 and updated by the author in 2012, Eclipse is the first book in an extraordinary trilogy by a visionary science fiction talent.
“Spiky prose [hooks] the reader’s attention . . . a Goya-esque vision of war-torn western Europe, bombed out and unstable . . . from a resurgence of Russian militarism and the collapse of NATO.” —Publishers Weekly
“[John Shirley is] cyberpunk’s Patient Zero.” —William Gibson
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About John Shirley
John Shirley is one of the original cyberpunk authors, and appears in Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology. His novel City Come A-Walkin’, and his Eclipse trilogy, are regarded as seminal cyberpunk works. He is the winner of the 1998 Bram Stoker Award for his story collection, Black Butterflies: A Flock on the Dark Side. His novels include A Splendid Chaos, Demons, Wetbones, Black Glass, Crawlers, The Other End, High, and Stormland. Shirley has also written scripts for films such as The Crow and television shows such as Stark Trek: Deep Space Nine, as well as lyrics for American rock band Blue Öyster Cult.
Other books by John Shirley
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