Eclipse Trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Eclipse Trilogy is a series of three science fiction
English language cyberpunk
novels by John Shirley
, (Eclipse, Eclipse Penumbra, and Eclipse Corona).
Like most cyberpunk novels, the books depict a dystopian future, set in a hypothetical early 21st century where the Soviet Union
did not fall, and by the time of the action in the novel, has invaded Western Europe
, causing massive disruption and destruction. Their armies are only repelled by the (unseen) use of tactical nuclear weapons, resulting in a stalemate, somewhat like the middle years of World War I
.
To keep order behind the lines of battle and free up troops for actual fighting, NATO has contracted with the Second Alliance Security Corporation (SA), a right-wing, private security company of mercenaries
who have a hidden (fascist
) agenda unbeknownst to most of those who hired them. The heroes (or anti-hero
es) of the series are the New Resistance, who are fighting to expose and defeat the SA's attempt to grab power and racist policies.
The scope of the story is worldwide, but the main action mostly takes place in Europe, on a small Caribbean island and on humanity's first space colony.
The SA is led/inspired by a charismatic American preacher/televangelist named "Smiling" Rick Crandall. The New Resistance (NR) has several main figures, including Steinfeld (a former Mossad
agent who organizes and leads the NR), Hard-Eyes (the NR's best fighter), and Jack Brendon Smoke (a former professor and the public face of the NR).
The novels are very graphic in their depictions of sex, violence and gore, adding to the bleak view of the future common in cyber-punk fiction.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
English language cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
novels by John Shirley
John Shirley
John Shirley is an American fantasist, author of noir fiction, and science-fiction writer. Shirley is a prolific writer of novels and short stories, TV scripts and screenplays who has published over 30 books and 10 collections...
, (Eclipse, Eclipse Penumbra, and Eclipse Corona).
Like most cyberpunk novels, the books depict a dystopian future, set in a hypothetical early 21st century where the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
did not fall, and by the time of the action in the novel, has invaded Western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, causing massive disruption and destruction. Their armies are only repelled by the (unseen) use of tactical nuclear weapons, resulting in a stalemate, somewhat like the middle years of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
To keep order behind the lines of battle and free up troops for actual fighting, NATO has contracted with the Second Alliance Security Corporation (SA), a right-wing, private security company of mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
who have a hidden (fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
) agenda unbeknownst to most of those who hired them. The heroes (or anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
es) of the series are the New Resistance, who are fighting to expose and defeat the SA's attempt to grab power and racist policies.
The scope of the story is worldwide, but the main action mostly takes place in Europe, on a small Caribbean island and on humanity's first space colony.
The SA is led/inspired by a charismatic American preacher/televangelist named "Smiling" Rick Crandall. The New Resistance (NR) has several main figures, including Steinfeld (a former Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
agent who organizes and leads the NR), Hard-Eyes (the NR's best fighter), and Jack Brendon Smoke (a former professor and the public face of the NR).
The novels are very graphic in their depictions of sex, violence and gore, adding to the bleak view of the future common in cyber-punk fiction.