John T. Cullen has authored over 20 books, including The Generals of October (Simon & Schuster, 2004)—pulse-pounding political-military suspense fiction set in a near-future U.S. Constitutional crisis.
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John T. Cullen also writes screenplays, including one for Nebula Express (adapted from his SF novel) and the violent, darkly glistening, utterly strange tale of a serial killer in Scorpion.
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If you like what you read here, please send at least two other avid readers here so a growing readership can enjoy these books. That would be a great, painless, easy way to provide a huge assist. If you'd like to do more...click.
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Doom Spore
a novel
by John T. Cullen
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78.
Three choppers full of SEALs and Navy technicians, all in yellow protective suits, roared toward the Lima Voyager. One by one, each touched down on he ship's small helipad and disgorged passengers and equipment before flying back to NAS North Island.
A large Seaknight flew from USMC Air Station Miramar to evacuate people. SEALs stood guard, while Navy techs spotted the hatch over the main stairwell that had been welded shut. Dragging a bottle of gas and their blow torch and other equipment and started blazing away at the hatch. The welder wore a face mask and peered through a smoky glass window at his incandescently bright light. Minutes later, they used crowbars to finish prying the hatch open. SEALs shone powerful lights down the gangway. "Hello? Anyone home?" they called out. "Drop your weapons. Come out with your hands on your heads."
The men who climbed up had long since tossed aside their weapons. They were red-streaked ghosts, glad to be alive, overjoyed at their rescue from the jaws of a slow and agonizing death. They had stripped down to their shorts because of the heat below, and their bodies were smeared brick-red with rust or brick dust—the SEALs had no idea. Two unconscious men had to be carried. All desperately guzzled water offered to them.
With excellent timing, the Seaknight roared in and made the air dance with red dust. As the SEALs stood watch with their weapons ready, the Navy techs abandoned their welding equipment and climbed on board the hovering helicopter. At the same time, evacuation specialists in white medical garb rushed out to help the weakened mercenaries onto stretchers and get them on board. There was an element of haste for fear that the gill men might attack, for they seemed to be multiplying and becoming bolder.
As soon as the mercenaries were secured, the SEALs were the last to board, and the Seaknight roared off in the direction of NAS North Island.
It was getting late in the afternoon, and the water had a sleepy golden sheen below.
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If you like what you're reading, please send at least two other avid readers to this website.
—Thank you! …Your grateful author, John T. Cullen.
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Other gripping books by the author:
Copyright © 2005 by John T. Cullen. All Rights Reserved.
John T. Cullen has been a pioneer in digital publishing since 1996. He is listed by digital publishing historian Karen Wiesner as the sixth digital publisher in history, and the second person to publish serialized chapters on line (starting 1996). His web magazine Deep Outside SFFH was the first to be listed along with the professional pulps in Writer's Market (1999) and was at one time the oldest professional SFFH magazine in the world. John T. Cullen continues to explore new ways to adapt the primordial power of storytelling to emerging new digital opportunities as the Third Millennium springs to light.
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A Walk in Ancient Rome John T. Cullen (Simon&Schuster May 2005) innovative, acclaimed walking & teaching tour—explore every corner of the Imperial capital at its zenith almost 2000 years ago; learn its history—smell and taste the very air of Classical Rome.
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= Summer 2008 =
A Walk in Ancient Rome, Second Edition John T. Cullen (Clocktower Books 2008)—New! Many new maps; images from the unique scale model of AndréCaron of Quebec. Read this innovative book, with its acclaimed walking & teaching tour. Explore every corner of the Imperial capital at its zenith almost 2000 years ago; learn its history. Smell and taste the very air of Classical Rome. The new edition is bigger, like an atlas. Some people have carried the 1st edition with them to Rome, and found it greatly enhanced their experience.
Dead Move: Kate Morgan and the Haunting Mystery of Coronado, 2nd Ed. John T. Cullen (Clocktower Books, San Diego, Summer 2008). John T. Cullen has tackled the mystery of the ghost at the Hotel del Coronado. He has assembled a dramatic new theory about how and why she violently died on the back steps of the hotel in 1892. A first-class ghost story and whodunit wrapped in one.
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