A Paradox in Retrograde

by John F. Faherty

A Paradox in Retrograde
A novel by John F. Faherty
Genre: Science Fiction/Horror

In a far distant future, the remnants of the human race, caught in a temporal paradox must face once again a terrible fate. Therein this nightmare, the feral descendants of man move once again to descend to Earth in a bloodthirsty frenzy. There then upon one last desperate struggle, their very survival may well hinge,

Baldur, a once great island city state, dependent upon the latent technology of a previous lost civilization, now languishes on the edge of a decimated world. There an unfolding chain of events soon leads to a discovery of a coming catastrophe. Amidst the discovery of strange objects, found among the remains of a crashed alien vessel, a mysterious stranger appears suddenly out of the sea. Suffering from some deficit of memory he knows little more than his name. Before long, he must recall his sacred purpose. For from a nemesis planet, a great fleet of savage warriors freed from the icy embrace of deep space crosses the gulf between worlds to again descend upon the fragile Earth. Residing deep in his memory the key to unlocking this mystery lies hidden. The secret however, as the humans soon discover, is far darker than they can imagine.

Unraveling a pattern set in motion so long ago, a group of humans in fear of the stranger's motives, attempt to disrupt his plans which threaten to destroy them. In a daring first strike against the alien menace on its home world they set to even the odds. In an attempt to cripple any chance of a full out invasion they attempt to sabotage the vast fleet of ships arrayed against them. What they could not know is that by completing this mission they may have unwittingly disrupted the timeline and so too their fates. There then on the field before the citadel of Baldur battle lines are drawn. Will the ancient cycle of conflict come closer to its decisive end?

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2014

About the author

I am a writer and artist. A 1991 graduate of Temple University, I have lived in, or near Philadelphia for most of my adult life. I read every day, and I am inspired by it. I've been writing Science fiction for many years. I love everything involved in the writing process from imagining the story, and characters, to editing and reediting.

I once wrote that; “My work in the written word in some ways is an extension of my narrative tendencies in painting. I attempt to portray a naturalistic narrative within the context of fantastic or surreal landscapes. Against such backdrops the characters therein are forced by circumstance to react in accordance with the logic dictated by their environments and with what resources are made available. In such spaces, the characters exist in his on the fringes as dark and desperate creatures.” Though to an extent I still feel that way today, I have grown to have a greater affinity to the form, structure and sound of language.
These works are important to me. However, in this highly competitive publishing market, it has become increasingly challenging to find agents and publishers willing to take chances. I hope one day, to have all my works published through a traditional publisher.

To this end, I have provided links to examples of my recent work as well as my blog. If you're interested in learning more please reach out to me via the contact form.
Some of my earlier works, Children of A Dark Age 2008, The Strange Case of Cannibals under Kensington 2010, and A Paradox in Retrograde 2014, are available to order in various formats on my Amazon page.

I am currently seeking representation for a set of recently completed titles. The Swan and the Whirlwind is a series of two novels. The first at 115000 words is The Swan and the Whirlwind, Gateway in the Sky. The second title at 105,000 words is The Swan and the Whirlwind, Project Whirlwind.