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By Sol Park
Brooklyn Daily
They gave the six million dollar man a desk job.
A robotic arm is the inspiration for a new spy novel, where a wounded Army Ranger is fitted with the technological marvel, but is stuck pushing papers — until one day he’s called back into action.
“These new robotic arms are almost as good as the real thing,” said author David Wellington, who will introduce his new novel “Chimera” at the Bay Ridge Bookmark Shoppe. “It’s amazing, they even have hair on them, and you’d never know seeing someone that they had a fake arm.”
But despite his high-tech arm, the main character captain Jim Chapel is resigned to a life in a cubicle. When tasked with a secret mission to hunt down a group of fugitives who endanger the lives of innocents, he’s not sure he’s the man for the job.
Fortunately for readers, Chapel is thrown into the fray quickly, and the plot engine kicks into top gear.
Wellington has a stacked resume of gripping novels. He got his start with the zombie apocalypse trilogy “Monster Island,” and went on to write a vampire series and a werewolf series. And even though “Chimera” has its share of science fiction human-monster hybrids, it is change of setting for the horror author. He said he drew his inspiration from sources more rooted in reality, not only the amazing advances in prosthetics, but also the people who stand to gain the most from such technologies — veterans.
“Many of them are never going to be the same ... but they have this amazing dignity,” said Wellington. “That’s why I wanted to write this book.”
Though it’s unlike his previous offerings, the novel is going to please Wellington’s horror fans — as well as fans of spy thrillers. It’s a fun and stylish novel that is crafted carefully, yet reads at breakneck speeds. “Chimera” is really for anyone who wants to rip through something with complex plot, striking characters, and thrilling action.
David Wellington at Bookmark Shoppe [8415 Third Ave. between 84th and 85th streets in Bay Ridge, (718) 833–5115, www.bookmarkshoppe.com]. July 26, 7:30 pm.