Ashes of Civilization
About this ebook
Following the journey of Thaddeus Stormbreaker, a hardened Finnish-Canadian immigrant forged by his survivalist father and Indigenous mentor to thrive beyond the reaches of civilization, the Mortuous 28 series takes you on a blood-soaked, action-packed journey across a North American hellscape.
A decade of pandemics, economic collapse, and global conflict has left the world order in ruin. Lines in the dirt have been redrawn, militaries are exhausted, and the once-dominant superpowers no longer have the might to protect and police the world.
Just as civilization is regaining its footing and the ashes of World War III have only just settled, a viral outbreak, its origins shrouded in mystery, tears through the demilitarized zone in Russia’s Chukchi Peninsula. Is it a biological weapon of a rejuvenated war effort, or nature’s retaliation against the scourge of humankind?
Dubbed Mortuous 28, the viral contagion sweeps across the globe like wildfire, transforming everything with a heartbeat into ravenous, flesh-eating beasts. As North America devolves faster than the infection can spread, chaos reigns, and humans lose their humanity to self-preservation. Violence becomes the new currency of survival, and the living are often more dangerous than the undead.
With his machete, rifle, and souped-up camper van, Thaddeus is forced to decide his fate and survive the impossible: crossing a continental wasteland to escape the flesh-eating monsters, save a long-lost love, and reach an unsullied Mexico. In this blood-slicked and brain-splattered new world, Thaddeus Stormbreaker will soon learn that men with power are as insatiable as the zombified beasts.
The sixth great extinction is upon us. Time is running out. Can a cure be found? Or has humankind’s time on earth come to an end?
Proudly written and designed by humans. No AI has infected this work of fiction.
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About the author
Born in the 80s in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, I quickly ventured from the comforts of my hometown to travel the world. With a camera, a pen, and paper, I spent over fifteen years chasing stunning landscapes and drawing inspiration from the world’s most vibrant cultures. As a seasoned backpacker and nature enthusiast, my writing ignited from the journals I filled while exploring hidden trails and bustling cities. With a passion for storytelling, I tried my hand at the written word and found profound success with my debut self-published novel, Dude, Where’s My Walking Stick, an adventure memoir about my 1,300km hiking journey across New Zealand. The book was an instant success, winning a Global Book Award for Best Amateur Writer, hitting #1 on Adventure Memoir and Walking lists, and breaking the top 1000 books on all of Kindle. I was featured in CBC News and Windsor Life Magazine, and I was interviewed on CKLW Radio to discuss the success of the novel.
The years are catching up, but I am still an avid outdoorsman who loves to get lost in some of the world’s most unforgiving landscapes. I recently completed a ten-day solo hike through Kluane National Park in Northern Canada. I am also an amateur nature photographer nominated for the Yukon Visual Arts award in 2024. My prints adorn walls all across the globe. However, my true passion is storytelling, whether it’s over a pint in a bar or through the written word.
At 40, I’m not slowing down. I currently live in Manzanillo, Mexico, with my girlfriend and our cat. After living in the far north of Canada for a year, there’s some much-needed warmth down here, and soon enough, I’ll be able to tell stories in another language.
