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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Monopol City
a novel
by John T. Cullen
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5.
As the fires flared up on the distant launch pad, and pale assistants dashed to the window to point and yell in anguish, Moss pushed Tonsonby into a small side office and closed the door behind him. They were alone in the small room, which was too brightly lit with too many fluoros, and contained blonde furniture (a table, chairs, bookcase) littered with white paper printouts.
"This is a chess game," Moss said. "You were blind-sided, and I am going to insist you shake up your internal staff."
"Of course, Leader." Tonsonby felt his knees trembling.
People were pounding on the door, demanding Moss' attention, but he called out "Leave us alone!" He sat Tonsonby down in a chair and loomed over him, face to face so that Tonsonby could smell the other's rancid cigar and brandy breath. "You, Tonsonby, will now have the need to know, and will be further enlightened, so that you can fulfill your next duties in continuing to deceive the East into thinking we are as stupid as their Captain Hedrock evidently thought we are. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Leader."
Moss was shaking with rage, and red in the face. He jammed a thick, dirty index finger into Tonsonby's mouth so that Tonsonby felt his choke reflex mauled and attacked. Tonsonby started retching helplessly, failing the courage to attack back. He closed his eyes and thought of his family. Oh God, anything but that, anything but lose them.
"So you understand what's at stake then!" Moss shouted. His eyes were small and vicious, and spittle flew from his small meat-red lips. He made the finger into a fish-hook and tore a knife-like fingernail through the soft tissue in Tonsonby's mouth as he extracted the finger. Tonsonby leaned forward retching up brandy and blood. His mouth felt on fire.
Moss shouted: "I'm going to put it in your record that you failed to supervise your people on several of the most sensitive projects the state has entrusted to you. If you succeed in the next phase, I will consider removing the damaging information from your record. Family or no, cousin or not, this nation cannot succeed with dimwits like you entrusted with important matters. That is why I had my people infiltrate your department when I got word of the traitors working for you."
Tonsonby sobbed, kneeling before Moss and holding the man's knees in his hands. "I am sorry, Leader. I am so sorry. Please forgive me." The words choked in blood and chyme that kept making him spasm and splatter the carpet, so that Moss slapped him across the face and jumped back. "I am so sorry, Leader, so sorry…" he repeated amid sobs and choking.
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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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