/ ABOUT THE BOOK / THE AUTHOR / PRE-ORDER /
DRAVEN'S RUN
A Sci-Fi Novel by Glenn Somodi
In the heated aftermath of the contentious 2048 election, a new president took office with a singular, unwavering goal: to halt the flood of "Hoppers"–the media's new, acceptable term for illegal border crossers. In the wake of growing tensions, the Border Patrol was replaced by a ruthless private company led by Red Draven, a man whose name would soon become synonymous with "Draven's Run"–the journey across the horror-filled, newly-expanded border called the Red Zone.
Draven's brainchild, Civil Watch, a virtual reality game that doubles as a surveillance tool, became a nationwide obsession. For a fee, American citizens "patrol" the newly expanded Red Zone, taking control of Draven Labs' terrifying arsenal of drones and mechanical creatures. These machines, engineered to mimic the very animals and insects of the natural world, stalk the border in search of intruders. As players work to secure their sectors, they gain access to cutting-edge technology, earn money, and gain a warped sense of civic pride.
But when two young hackers, Aiden and Gabriella, uncover a chilling truth–that Draven Labs has begun testing lethal weaponry in the Red Zone–they realize that what the public thought was a game has morphed into something far more sinister. Desperate to stop the horrors unfolding on the border, they join forces with the Wallflowers, a rogue group of hacktivists determined to expose the truth and dismantle Red Draven's empire of control before humanity is lost forever.
From chapter 1:
Two metal tentacles shot up through the water, whipping around Caesar's upper body and neck. An odd gurgling sound stirred in his throat, his body shook violently, and the splashing, murky water began pulsing with the glowing red light. A grating, squeaking metal sound grew louder as tentacles tightened around his body.