The Book of Glads spans the 23rd and 24th century. Nation states, or countries, have fallen by the wayside. They have been replaced by the Mega-City System. A new government model which rose from the ashes of the United States of America after More War I and More War II, the Mega-City System has since spread across the planet into a voluntary confederation of sovereign political units. It is a time in which the people of the world have resigned themselves to the fact that democratic capitalism is the best humanity can do, where a sustainable form of government is concerned.
The Mega-City System works in conjunction with the Alpha Upgrade Program, which offers everyone, regardless of station or economic background, the ability to undergo a genetic upgrade. Through the Alpha Upgrade Program, Citizens, beginning at age 18, have the option of attaining superhuman Strength, Dexterity or Constitution.
The process of becoming an Alpha Upgrade ‘Recipient’ is grueling and takes about a year. Upon completion, Citizens emerge from the program as an AUC (Alpha Upgrade Constitution), an AUS (Alpha Upgrade Strength) or a AUD (Alpha Upgrade Dexterity), but everybody calls them Glads, which is short for Gladiator.
Glads have nicknames, based on their upgrades. Those with Strength upgrades are called Brawns. Those with upgrades to their Constitution are called Enders. Those with superhuman dexterity are referred to as Agiles.
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They reason they are regarded as gladiators is that they participate in gladiatorial combat with other Alpha Upgrade recipients, sometimes to the death. SABs (Scheduled Arena Battles) and FABs (Floating Arena Battles) are the greatest form of entertainment the world has ever known. More than anything else, they instill in the populace a sense of unity because everybody is a fan of this sport. And in a world that continues to be catered and curated to and for individual preference, it is the only truly shared experience left.
The Mega-City System works in conjunction with the Alpha Upgrade Program, which offers everyone, regardless of station or economic background, the ability to undergo a genetic upgrade. Through the Alpha Upgrade Program, Citizens, beginning at age 18, have the option of attaining superhuman Strength, Dexterity or Constitution.
The process of becoming an Alpha Upgrade ‘Recipient’ is grueling and takes about a year. Upon completion, Citizens emerge from the program as an AUC (Alpha Upgrade Constitution), an AUS (Alpha Upgrade Strength) or a AUD (Alpha Upgrade Dexterity), but everybody calls them Glads, which is short for Gladiator.
Glads have nicknames, based on their upgrades. Those with Strength upgrades are called Brawns. Those with upgrades to their Constitution are called Enders. Those with superhuman dexterity are referred to as Agiles.
They reason they are regarded as gladiators is that they participate in gladiatorial combat with other Alpha Upgrade recipients, sometimes to the death. SABs (Scheduled Arena Battles) and FABs (Floating Arena Battles) are the greatest form of entertainment the world has ever known. More than anything else, they instill in the populace a sense of unity because everybody is a fan of this sport. And in a world that continues to be catered and curated to and for individual preference, it is the only truly shared experience left.
Volume 1: The Alpha Upgrade of HD Heathers!
Great Lord Zeitgeist! 32-year-old HD Heathers seemingly has it all. Since the Alpha Upgrade in 2355 that gave her superhero strength, she’s gained wealth, prestige and celebrity. On top of that, by all accounts, she’s drop-dead gorgeous. So why is the #4 Glad in Mega-City Philadelphia so lonely?
The Alpha Upgrade of HD Heathers is Book 1 in the Science Fiction saga Book of Glads. Nation states, or countries, have fallen by the wayside. They have been replaced by the Mega-City system. A new government model which rose from the ashes of the United States of America after More War I and More War II, the Mega-City System has since spread across the planet into a voluntary confederation of sovereign political units. It is a time in which the people of the world have resigned themselves to the fact that democratic capitalism is the best humanity can do, where a sustainable form of government is concerned.
Heathers moved to Philadelphia from her hometown of Germansville and received her Alpha Upgrade at 18. She is now one of the highest ranked and most popular Glads in all of Philadelphia Mega-City. Like every Alpha Upgrade Recipient in the Mega-City System, she is an entertainer, and she entertains by engaging in gladiatorial combat with other Glads.
The Alpha Upgrade of HD Heathers opens with the main character taken completely by surprise by another Glad. There is nothing surprising about that. Unplanned fights, called FABs, for Floating Arena Battle, happen all the time. However, there is something both familiar and odd about her adversary, and it’s clear that their engagement is more than mere sport for him—it is very personal.
The mysterious attacker is just one of HD’s concerns in The Alpha Upgrade of HD Heathers. Her longtime sponsor, Arthur, who she only knows from his avatar, a cartoon bird, is insisting that she schedule more Arena Battles. Her best friend Lydia F16 has been giving interviews to her media nemesis Sheena Bean Stuart. Meanwhile, there’s an innovator who lives off planet who seems to be courting her while she continues to be haunted by the loss of her ex, Reed Fundamental. And if all that wasn’t enough, after spending a relaxing evening in the Hat & Hood, a dance and sex emporium she frequently visits, it appears that somebody is framing her for murder—or worse, she is the unwitting pawn in a plot to take down the government.
The Alpha Upgrade of HD Heathers is Book 1 in the Science Fiction saga The Book of Glads. It’s a world in which nation states have given rise to the Mega-City System and the Alpha Upgrade Program. The System acknowledges the shortcomings in every human being. The Program gives every Citizen the opportunity to have the strength, dexterity or virility of a superhero, and the fame to go along with it—so long as they are willing to engage in gladiatorial combat, sometimes to the death.
HD Heathers opted for a strength upgrade just out of high school. Now, 15 years later, she’s the hero of millions, having gained wealth, prestige, and celebrity.
Yet, the #4 Glad in Mega-City Philadelphia is suddenly shunning attention, and dreaming of giving it all up!
Explore the Mega-City System as HD Heathers…
Squares off against a former classmate who won’t rest until she’s dead.
Navigates political forces seeking to weaponize her power and influence.
Grapples with a media nemesis hell-bent on destroying her reputation.
Wrestles with her guilt over an ex-boyfriend’s death.
Struggles to shake the sense of loneliness and isolation that prompted her to become a Glad all those years ago.