The Equations Novels

HUMANITY IS COMING HOME, BUT THE EARTH HAS NEW PROTECTORS

Humanity destroyed itself in the mid-twenty-first century. As the international community scrambled to maintain order, wars between fanatical religious groups led to the unleashing of an experimental, intelligent bio-weapon: Omega. The plague was impossible to stop, and it feasted upon the human race with impunity.

Foreseeing the danger, the United Nations managed to launch a colony ship before all was lost. A single new religion was created for the occupants of that ship –– the Church of Genesis would guide all of Earth’s survivors to a habitable new world, where they would do whatever was necessary to create the means to reclaim their home.

After 700 years, and having taken sides in an interstellar war, the Church of Genesis finally has the means to lead its flock home… and to discover that Earth has new protectors.

Desperate after exhausting its primate food supply, Omega genetically engineered other creatures on Earth into human-like beings. This effort to cultivate new food came too late: a new race of Earthers was mutated from wolves, cats, and bears, but the plague vanished before it could consume them.

Left unmolested amidst of the wreckage of human civilization, and possessing uncommon (perhaps even inexplicable) intelligence, the Earthers learned quickly about the Church of Genesis, and its Quest to reclaim their planet. Surrounded by evidence of what could happen if fanatical followers of false religions were allowed to take charge, they decided to prepare to defend their home.

First Lord of the Admiralty Setter Caine and his fleet will meet the Church of Genesis when it returns, and what happens after that will depend largely on whether humanity has grown wiser in 700 years… or if their UN-invented religion will overcome reason.

Can the Earthers find a way to solve The Human Equation?

MEET THE EARTHERS

They’re too good to be true. And they’re humanity’s only hope in a galaxy at war.

The most frustrating thing about the Earthers is that, by human standards, they’re impossible.

They favor peace, but also know when to stand their ground. Despite not wanting to fight, they’re better at war than just about anyone else –– without even seeming to try. Their technology appears to border on magical. Their moral certainty is unshakeable, even when they’re forced into conflict. They’re profoundly logical, but still have senses of humor. They have senses of adventure, but they never seem to lose their cool. They live in a society that exemplifies the innocence of a child, and the wisdom of a guru. They’re old-fashioned heroes, who do what they say they will do in a way that reflects them.

Unsurprisingly, many humans are suspicious of these human-shaped wolves, cats, and bears –– assuming that they harbor a dark, dangerous secret.

Other humans are deeply angered by their impossible ‘goodness’ –– insecurities can become unbearable when contrasted with creatures who possess none at all.

Some humans take them at face value: as examples of how good things could be, if only humans weren’t quite so human.

But no matter how they feel, the humans of Genesis need the Earthers, because in their rush to return to Earth they have inserted themselves into an interstellar war. The alien factions tearing across the cosmos have much more in common with humanity than the Earthers, and even darker dangers lie just out of sight.

The galaxy is at war, and even with the too-good-to-be-true help of the Earthers, the human race might finally meet its end.

KENNETH TAM

This series is where he got his start. It’s helped shape everything he’s written since.

He’s responsible for more than fifty of Iceberg Publishing’s titles, across four series, and he’s also a partner in the company. The Equations were his first novels, begun when he was sixteen years old and finished while he completed school.

Kenneth studied for six years at Wilfrid Laurier University, securing both a BA and an MA in military history. During that time, he also spent a year as a Balsillie Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, there working for Canada’s former ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, Paul Heinbecker.

After graduating, he spent two years as a Communications Consultant on staff for Member of Parliament Peter Braid, before joining his father as an advisor in wealth management with Sun Life Financial. He has since moved to Edmonton, Alberta, and taken up the duties of Communications Manager with the $75-million Future Energy Systems research program, at the University of Alberta.

Kenneth is a Newfoundlander. Even though he’s now lived away from the island longer than he lived there, he will never consider another place home. Coincidentally, Setter Caine –– the Earther wolf in charge of meeting humanity’s return –– also hails from that island, as do characters from all of Kenneth’s other series.

You can find Kenneth on Twitter, but please understand that he’s terrible at it. If you have questions for him, feel free to get in touch.