Sep 12, 2026
Humans, Atlantians and Muians are heading for disaster.
This is the 29th volume I have read by Paolinelli in under a year. I have also read two of his offerings in anthologies. Once I read the first novel I was hooked and knew I would try and track down and read everything he has written. To date they have all been excellent. We are informed that: “Based upon the 1985 comic book series Seadragon and The Epsilon Wave by Elite Comics, award-winning, best-selling author Richard Paolinelli returns to the Seadragon franchise for the first time in over 35 years. The writer of the first two issues of Seadragon offers a fuller look into the origins of Walter Koch/Seadragon, Brad Jefferies, Nightmare, Twilight, and the rest of the world created by Tom Floyd four decades ago.” This book was very hard to put down. Unfortunately I picked it up while travelling and spending time with extended family. Otherwise I might have devoured it in a sitting or two. The plot is masterfully written. The characters are amazing, well fleshed out and very believable. The Epsilon Project, they skills, talents, abilities and purpose are admirable. This story begins with Walter Koch attempting the deepest dive by a human ever with an experimental suit that does not require air tanks. But after an explosion Koch is sealed in the suit, his team is dead, and he learns that what he has been told is likely not the truth. He does not have a lot of options but as he soon finds out life with Epsilon might be more than he ever expected it could be. Humans, Atlantians and Muians are heading for disaster. But if Koch can learn to control his new powers he might be able to stave off war or even genocide. He must learn to trust again after a great betrayal, and he must learn to become a bridge between three different peoples. Can he put the pieces together in time? Will he be believed? Or will an ancient calamity repeat itself? To find out, read this excellent story. Richard is now one of my favourite contemporary authors. Over the last few months I read at least a novel or published short story a week. And every time I finished one it took great effort not to just start another. But I try to alternate fiction with non-fiction or at least authors. This novel is a little different having been based on a comic book character. It is an excellent read and one I can easily recommend. It is way better than either of the recent Aquaman movies. It would be an excellent read for those who like superhero stories, action adventure and even spy mysteries. It is sort of a mashup of Tom Clancy, Lee Child’s Reacher, and Barry Lyga’s Flash stories. And the best news is that a second volume has been announced at the end of this story. A fantastic read that I can easily recommend!
