An impressive federation, the Alliance of Worlds consists of approximately 250 assorted civilizations, many with an extraordinary array of resources. They represent more than a quarter of the space-faring races in the galaxy. Because of its position in the universe, Alliance of Worlds faces many adversaries.

Inflicting technological sabotage and arranging the murder of top officers, the crocodile-like Accadians plan to eliminate the Alliance of Worlds and other civilizations. The xenophobic Varlon also pose a threat to Alliance of Worlds as they again seek to expand. These two threats must be stopped. Recently promoted Commodore Robert Allen Sheppard is just one of the men called upon to repel this invasion in space and defend the worlds. A seasoned leader, he is ready to take on this deadly threat with his task forces at the helm of his new starship Phoenix.

The first in a series of science fiction novels set in the distant future, The Phoenix Rising tells the story of a time of change for the Alliance of Worlds and its war battles with the Varlon and Accadian forces. But this is just the beginning.

Advent of Darkness won 2014 Indie Excellence Finalist Award in Fantasy and International Book Awards Finalist 2014 in Fiction-Fantasy. Advent of Darkness has been chosen one of the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winners for Summer 2013. http: //www.bookmarketingprofits.com/PinnacleAwardsSummer2013.html When veteran and archaeologist John Gideon is transported from Earth by a tall, strange man clothed in ornate red robes, he soon finds himself a stranger in a different world. Unbeknownst to him, the world of Illumaril is the birthplace of his ancestors and where he truly belongs. Meeting the archmaster wizard Ragan, John is taken under the wizard's wing as a ward and student and begins his journey of exploring this strange new world. From gnomes, elves, and menfolk to surprising new creatures, John is soon befriended by all, as he reestablishes his connection to his ancestor's home world and begins to learn the truth. Hidden on Earth as a child, John's true importance is only beginning to reveal itself as this foreign world becomes home. With his world turned upside down, John continues to learn about his past and more importantly, of the vital destiny that he has to fulfill. Advent of Darkness is the first book in the epic new fantasy series, The Chronicles of Illumaril. Styled after the timeless Lord of the Rings series, this sweeping novel is packed with action and adventure that will instantly hook science-fiction and fantasy fans everywhere. Sword and sorcery at its finest, this excellent story will take readers on an amazing journey through intense conflict and an awe-inspiring new world. With its huge scope and thrilling adventure, this is one novel that deserves a place in every reader's collection. Following John Gideon and his adventures while trying to find his place in society, as well as his destiny, Advent of Darkness takes readers to the wonderful new world of Illumaril. Embracing all sides of the conflict, the novel uniquely uses epic voices to describe what's happening across the landscape while still using John Gideon as the main character and tool for describing his and his companions' points of view. Utilizing dramatic fantasy and exhilarating action and adventure, this thrilling sword and sorcery novel sets a new standard for epic fantasy."

Talcon Star City has been honored as a "Finalist" of the 2012 International Book Awards in the "Fiction: Science Fiction" category. Incredibly detailed and fully imagined, Caplan gives readers a very realistic picture of what life and war is like on an intergalactic starship. Fans of Star Trek and Battlestar Gallatica will feel right at home on Sheppard's command bridge. (c)2013 All Rights Reserved The US Review of Books Somewhere in the future, the universe is filled with hundreds of wild, weird and completely diverse civilizations existing on a myriad of strange and wonderful planets. But amidst all these brave new worlds, are otherworldly enemies intent on control, no matter what it costs them or the universe, and all courageous people must step forward and band together to stop them. That's the premise of Gary Caplan's brilliantly realized Talcon Star City, a story of bravery, revenge, aliens, and interstellar swashbuckling. Caplan first burst onto the literary scene when he became a finalist in the highly prestigious 2010 Indie Excellence Award for his novel Phoenix Rising, which is also the prequel to Talcon Star City. Honing his craft, Caplan continued to write and went on to win the 2011 Indie Excellence Award in fantasy for his novel Return of the Ancient Ones. With Talcon Star City, he's become even more exhilarating a writer, fashioning a science fiction epic that's also thoughtful and realistic. Talcon Star City centers on the character of Commodore Robert Sheppard, who, as acting admiral, commands the flagship Phoenix and the 6th fleet. As an esteemed member of the Order of Star Knights, Sheppard is gifted with unusually powerful metaphysical abilities, which he uses to help preserve the hundreds of civilizations in the universe. But there is now unrest in the universe and Sheppard and his other military officials must band together to fight a desperate alien challenge to the peaceful Alliance of Worlds. Lucky for Sheppard, he has his old mentor Garfield, and other allied Star Knights and admirals to help back him up in his fight. But as the plot thickens, the battle escalates. Now Sheppard is facing his old nemesis, the Varlon, who are sworn enemies of the Alliance of Worlds and are intent on expanding their power. But as Sheppard grapples with the evil he already knows, he must also face a group of aliens who are new to him, the fearsome Accads, who have joined with the Varlon and who pose challenging new threats he may be ill-equipped to vanquish. The best hope for the universe is to find the Talcon Star City and gain even more allies against these forces of evil. But time is running out. Can the stalwart heroes win the battle and stop this alien onslaught or is it already too late? Caplan's sparkling prose and larger-than-life characters make Talcon Star City an incomparable reading experience. "Sometimes unusual alliances are needed to combat deadly enemies," says Caplan, an idea he boldly and entertainingly illustrates. His vision of the future is filled with startling new powers and technologies, all rendered with dazzling skill and humor, from comet-like projective weapons to particle cannonballs and invisible cloaks. Drawing from his own experiences in the military, Caplan gives his futuristic tale a stunning feeling of authenticity, making the interactions between military forces and aliens as plausible and true-to-life as they are exciting and original. Meant to appeal to fans of both Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek, Talcon Star City seems destined for classic statu

The Return of the Ancient Ones was awarded WINNER status for the Fantasy Category in the 2011 National Indie Excellence Awards. http: //indieexcellence.com/indie-results-2011.htm The 2011 International Book Awards have been announced and The Return of The Ancient Ones has been honored as a "Finalist" in the "Fiction: Fantasy/Sci-Fi" category. Winner 2012 NABE Pinnacle Book Award Fantasy Extended Description: Second in The Chronicles of Illumaril series, author Gary Caplan's The Return of the Ancient Ones is a distinct tale that illustrates how one's fiercest enemy can become one's most aggressive ally. As dramatic as it is playful and sublime, Caplan has a knack at weaving the enchanted world of fantasy into the tension of a good old-fashioned cloak and dagger thriller. His incredible instinct for action rests on a spellbinding prose, yet what distinguishes his work in this genre is his ability to consider an otherworld culture as it reaches its pinnacle, rather than upon its downfall. In thirty-one chapters with titles like "Tyl University and the Academy of Spellweaving Arts," "Back to the Order of the Platinum Griffon and Duty," and "End Game," readers are reintroduced to Illumaril, a land that patiently awaits its heir apparent. Once hidden on Earth, Gideon Finelen, as a birthright, holds the legacy that he and his ancestors are the only ones who can use the Sword of Order. Gideon's advisors, Tauri Ragan and Lord Talmor, hold great hope in Gideon and his Companions of the Sword of Order, but it is their enemy's enemy that first instigates a bold move. And while the Darkspawn have no intention of giving up their power, the return of Thatos and his twelve evil sorceror generals from their ancient, watery graves disperses Darkspawn's allegiance to temporarily help the armies of the Free Peoples against Thatos, his mercenaries, and other chaos warriors. For Gideon, the quixotic irony in all of this is that Darkspawn leadership is just as fixed on revenge as it is with maintaining its stronghold over Illumaril. As he pits foe against foe to claim Illumaril, the Sword of Order has a chance to triumph over Chaos.

An impressive federation, the Alliance of Worlds consists of approximately 250 assorted civilizations, many with an extraordinary array of resources. They represent more than a quarter of the space-faring races in the galaxy. Because of its position in the universe, Alliance of Worlds faces many adversaries.

Inflicting technological sabotage and arranging the murder of top officers, the crocodile-like Accadians plan to eliminate the Alliance of Worlds and other civilizations. The xenophobic Varlon also pose a threat to Alliance of Worlds as they again seek to expand. These two threats must be stopped. Recently promoted Commodore Robert Allen Sheppard is just one of the men called upon to repel this invasion in space and defend the worlds. A seasoned leader, he is ready to take on this deadly threat with his task forces at the helm of his new starship Phoenix.

The first in a series of science fiction novels set in the distant future, The Phoenix Rising tells the story of a time of change for the Alliance of Worlds and its war battles with the Varlon and Accadian forces. But this is just the beginning.