Custodians of the Future
by X. Ho Yen
Rights Sold
Description
Awards & Endorsements
Author(s)
X. Ho Yen
Related Titles
| Publisher | Richard Hogen Publishing |
| Publication | Oct 07, 2023 |
| Format | Paperback/Softback |
| ISBN | 978-0976615866 |
| Pages | 260 |
| Age | 18 - 99 |
| Price | $14.49 |
Custodians of the Future
Winner, Silver-level, in the UK's The Wishing Shelf Awards 2024, books for adults category.
See XHoYenAuthor.com/lauds for the full list of CotF's lauds.
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Stockholm. New Year’s Eve. One janitor squad. One mystery compound. One hell of a day.
A fast, sardonic, sci-fi mystery you won’t forget. Join a ragtag crew of sanitation techs as they unravel a conspiracy buried deep in Sweden’s waste stream — all before midnight.
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Waste-processing might sound boring — until the pee starts acting weird.
When a waste processing/energy plant near Stockholm starts misbehaving, a crew of lowly techs is dispatched to figure it out. The team is under-trained, under-equipped, and hilariously ill-prepared. Except one — the new recruit. She’s a little too smart for her own good.
What follows is a cross-city chase packed with dead ends, ethical dilemmas, real danger, and high-stakes absurdity. (and pop culture nods for the observant afficionado)
Will they stop the scheme in time? Or just flood the city with chaos and mayhem?
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“You are a vital component of Global Waste”
went the company motivational email…
Irena wants to fit in, and she needs the job, so she goes with the flow and doesn't rock the boat.
But discovering strange, potentially deadly contents in Stockholm's wastewater sends her fellow janitor squad members off the rails. Their whacky assumptions and accusations lead to mayhem, threatening the lives and livelihoods of the innocent targets of their suspicions. Irena is caught between her integrity and her need for security.
It’s New Year’s Eve, 2099. Can Irena get to the bottom of the wastewater mystery while keeping her teammates from doing harm, staying out of prison, and avoiding the retributions of Luxembourger street vendors, Buddhist monks, and the dreaded Canadian Space Agency?
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This mystery-romp-chase will ring bells among fans of Star Trek, The Blues Brothers, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Red Dwarf, Alien/Aliens, and other iconic works of pop culture and beyond.
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ISBNs:
Paperback 978-0-9766158-6-6
eBook 978-0-9766158-5-9 Reviews, Awards & Endorsements
Review
"I found it a fast read and kept thinking I had the ending figured out. Of course I was never close to figuring it out but found it a fascinating, humorous read!" - Cathy B., CotF Alpha Reader
"A rollicking romp through the lingering stench of the wretched refuse of human civilization. I really enjoyed it. I read it straight through. You should consider this an extreme complement - rarely happens... bloody brilliant." - Chris B., CotF Alpha Reader
"Enjoyed the book! Much sillier tone than MSD, it was a fun read" - Bobby R., CotF Alpha Reader
See my 'Lauds' page for the full list
Author
X. Ho Yen
X. Ho Yen is an autistic, mixed genetics aerospace engineer (~30 yrs) who now writes inclusive, irreverent, hopepunk, literary sci fi. He does not write tropey sci fi.
His pen name is essentially his Cantonese grandfather's name. Genetically, he is half East Prussian, quarter Cuban, quarter Chinese.
Full list of Lauds with links: XHoYenAuthor.com/lauds
X. in the Colorado Sun, Sunlit, 29 Dec 2024 (following MSD’s getting a Finalist laud in CAL’s 2024 Book Awards)
X.’s interview on KUNC public radio’s “In the NoCo”
X.’s interview on ALLi/Howard Lovy’s Inspirational Indie Authors Podcast
Both of his released novels ("Minimum Safe Distance" and "Custodians of the Future") are carried in Arapahoe Library System, Biblioboard, and CO State Library Book Club Resource.
CotF is the stylistic opposite of MSD. X. Ho Yen is not a one trick pony. He's always working to improve and have creative fun with novel structure.
Third book (10-12+)