The Cult Candidate

“Captivating…” – Associated Press

The Star Organization has recently entered the scene, and gains new followers by the minute. The society claims to want to bring people to a higher level by having them acknowledge their spiritual power, working to help each other see energy on a higher plane.

Tom Clenaire, a journalist for a major network, smells something fishy. He enlists the help of his old flame’s new partner, Frank Conan, who is independently studying how to reach new planes of free consciousness.

Leader of the Star Organization, William Starman, is a seemingly unassuming man. But his fervor in the science of ESP, and his nerve-wracking control of the power, doesn’t sit right with Tom.

Those in power see only the potential influence it gives them.

But as Frank and Tom dig deeper in the organization, increasingly disturbing patterns become clear.

Starman is waiting for his time to come — the time when he will replace the weakness, confusion and doubt of democracy with absolute tyranny. Because he has unlocked the ultimate weapon: the power of the human will to reduce the whole world to total, slavish submission …

In the past they called it magic. Now it is called science, or even enlightenment. It is the force that moves people against reason, masses against the laws of nature … an unstoppable, breeding evil…

The Cult Candidate is a dystopian work of classic science fiction. Elements of Huxley and Orwell inhabit Monaco’s work, as he explores the potential for humankind to subjugate itself to the will of a higher power – be it godly or even one of its own.

Praise for Richard Monaco’s works:

“Captivating…” – Associated Press

“Epic scope…” – Los Angeles Sunday Times

“Monaco’s dialogue and meditations are often salty and fresh … a restless, strenuous rumination on civilization’s death and resurrection…” – Kirkus Reviews

“Worth waiting for. Often bawdy and raw…” – Publishers Weekly

“Monaco recreates the taste, touch, smell and sound of the knightly world in reality, not romance … he succeeds brilliantly…” – Library Journal

“Monaco presents dark, tormented tales … not for the weak-hearted.” – Fantasy Newsletter

“an instant classic.” – Salisbury Times

“… unbelievably talented … a literary miracle…” – Drogin Book Column

“… offers a worthy inclusion in the enduring and ever-expanding Arthurian literature.” – King Features Syndicate

Richard Monaco wrote the best-selling Parsival novels, 1977-2012, two of which were Pulitzer finalists. In addition he wrote over a dozen other books, plays, and screenplays. Monaco studied musical composition at Columbia, edited a national student newspaper and a poetry magazine, and had a radio talk show based on his textbook The Logic of Poetry. In 1979 he co-founded a NYC literary agency and the online journal, Grand Central Review, in 2015.