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Sun Gods

Sun Gods - Paperback

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Availability:In StockContributor:Matthew di PaoliPublish date:6/30/2026Pages:268
Languages:EnglishPublisher:Milford House PressISBN-13:9798888192719UPC:9798888192719Book Category:FictionBook Subcategory:Humorous, Science Fiction, Action & AdventureBook Topic:Dark Humor, Apocalyptic & Post-ApocalypticSize:9.00 x 6.00 x 0.67 inchesWeight:0.327Product ID:SC8Z14TF8V

In a world scorched by the sun and stripped of humanity, Dwayne transforms from a playful toy soldier into a hardened "hunter," leading a band of survivors within the fortified walls of FAO Schwarz as they navigate a brutal landscape of desperate refugees, religious zealots, and the enigmatic Sungunners:

  • A Haunting Post-Apocalyptic Reimagining of New York: The story transforms iconic Manhattan landmarks like the Plaza Hotel and Central Park into a brutal landscape of "Watering Can" slums and high-stakes casinos, where survival hinges on the unpredictable whims of the sun and the "Sungunners."
  • The "Lord of a Broken Neverland" At the center is Dwayne, a complex protagonist who evolved from a literal toy soldier at FAO Schwarz into a hardened, survivalist "strategic partner" for a group of orphans he names after video game characters.
  • A "High-Stakes Solar Mythos" The narrative weaves ancient solar mythologies from Norse and Chinese traditions into the characters' daily survival, creating a world where celestial events are both a source of religious fervor and the ultimate life-or-death gamble.
  • Deep Psychological Scaffolding: Beyond the survivalist action, the book explores the "invisible" needs of its characters, contrasting Dwayne's meticulous "prepper" logic with the profound emotional trauma of his past and his desperate desire to protect a makeshift family.
  • The Evolution of Order: The book examines how humanity "devolves" and "alters" in the face of cataclysm, shifting from digital reliance to a primal existence where every item-from a gold necklace to a bag of seeds-becomes a critical asset

In the aftermath of "The Ninth," a cataclysmic solar event that permanently crippled the global power grid and flooded the subways of Manhattan, New York has devolved into a primal landscape of "natural disorder". Central Park has been transformed into "The Watering Can," a squalid shantytown of shacks built on stilts over sewage-filled water, while Fifth Avenue has become a formidable river. Above this desperation looms The Plaza Hotel, retrofitted by the enigmatic "Sungunners" into a high-stakes casino where the elite gamble with gold, batteries, and gasoline.

Languages:EnglishPublisher:Milford House PressISBN-13:9798888192719UPC:9798888192719Book Category:FictionBook Subcategory:Humorous, Science Fiction, Action & AdventureBook Topic:Dark Humor, Apocalyptic & Post-ApocalypticSize:9.00 x 6.00 x 0.67 inchesWeight:0.327Product ID:SC8Z14TF8V
Di Paoli, Matthew: - Matthew Di Paoli has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize three times including 2020. He has won the Wilbur & Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize for Holliday, the Prism Review, 2 Elizabeth's, and Momaya Review Short Story Contests. Matthew earned his BA at Boston College where he won the Cardinal Cushing award and the Dever Fellowship. He received his MFA in Fiction at Columbia University. He has been published in Boulevard, Fjords, Post Road, and Cleaver, among others. He is the author of Killstanbul with El Balazo Press and teaches writing in New York City. You can find more at matthewdipaoli.com.
Publisher: Milford House Press

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