Oxygen Wars is an idea that first took form as a screenplay with the collaboration of my friend and frequent writing partner Daniel Merritt.
A damaged clone soldier gets left out of the war he’s fighting and is forced to rediscover his own humanity. Buy OXYGEN WARS, available from all online book retailers, paperback and ebook, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Alibris, and more. Findable on Goodreads where you can recommend it to friends and write a review!
Jonathan Hennessey also deserves thanks for thoroughly getting the intention behind this story as well as championing it whenever he has had a chance. As time goes by, this concept gathers more and more pertinence, particularly as the world becomes more aware of the privatization of security and military forces.
If you’ve read Oxygen Wars, please write a review, on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever and let me know.
A New Review
“This is a daringly inventive dystopian vision of a future era of complete planetary colonizations, organized by (surprise!) corporations rather than states. Amid wars that are systemic and endless, one soldier finds himself partly disconnected from the program, and the novel follows his gradual realization of what has happened, as well as his discoveries, here and there, of fragments of pre-corporatized humanity within himself. Allegorically, it’s a powerful warning of the forces released by the convergence of capitalism, militarism, and data-driven systems of control. It also reminds us, in nicely nuanced ways, that the hunger for freedom is not extinguishable. — David Robbins
Marketing Text
War has finally become corporate —
There is a significant difference between waging a war and winning a war. Technology will make the former an automated function while the latter will remain the responsibility of humans. Automation will make it easier for corporations to direct their will throughout the universe while the price, as usual, will be paid by the pitiful foot soldier.
Angus…
Faraway in a distant future, a desolate dirt planet is home to thousands of human clone soldiers fighting an endless war in fully-mechanized, armored atmosphere suits. Damage sustained to one soldier’s communication system during battle renders him invisible to his comrades. Unrecognizable without his communication chip, Angus is on his own.
Monica…
Injured during battle, Monica is found by Angus buried under debris. Alienated from their fellow soldiers, they are free for the first time in their lives to question the relentless automation that has driven them. As they learn the truth behind the war and their forsaken world, their dormant humanity finally awakens.
Shorter
War has finally become corporate – Faraway in a distant future, a desolate dirt planet is home to thousands of human clone soldiers fighting an endless war in fully-mechanized, armored atmosphere suits. Damage sustained to one soldier’s communication system during battle renders him invisible to his comrades. Unrecognizable without his communication chip, Angus is on his own until he finds Monica, injured in another battle and buried under debris. Alienated from their fellow soldiers, they are free for the first time in their lives to question the relentless automation that has driven them. As they learn the truth behind the war and their forsaken world, their dormant humanity finally awakens.
Shorter still
In this novel a dirt planet is home to thousands of armored human clone soldiers fighting an endless war. Damage sustained by one soldier’s communication system renders Angus invisible and alienated from his fellow soldiers, but free for the first time in his life to question the war as his dormant humanity finally awakens.
Even Shorter
A damaged clone soldier gets left out of the war he’s fighting and is forced to rediscover his own humanity.
About the Author
Melton Eduardo Cartes is an art director/designer in advertising and animator/illustrator. He has written over twenty-five feature-length screenplays, three of which reached the semifinals in two different contests, twice in the Austin Film Festival and once in the Nicholl Fellowships. In 1997 he wrote, produced and directed a short subject entitled ROY’S HEART that can be seen on YouTube. He recently formed an animation studio called AlbinoPigGorilla Studio with two fellow animators. He currently lives in Oakland, California.
Reviews
“This is a daringly inventive dystopian vision of a future era of complete planetary colonizations, organized by (surprise!) corporations rather than states. Amid wars that are systemic and endless, one soldier finds himself partly disconnected from the program, and the novel follows his gradual realization of what has happened, as well as his discoveries, here and there, of fragments of pre-corporatized humanity within himself. Allegorically, it’s a powerful warning of the forces released by the convergence of capitalism, militarism, and data-driven systems of control. It also reminds us, in nicely nuanced ways, that the hunger for freedom is not extinguishable. — David Robbins
“Melton Cartes’ Oxygen Wars has all the earmarks of a classic. Mr. Cartes has been able to combine the human emotions of wonder and the search for peace with the all too prevalent human lust for war in a way that can be understood by every generation. Though Oxygen Wars is set in a time that is centuries in our future, then as now, war rages on. And although Cartes’ warriors are genetically created, the soul of man is with them. This is a sleeper that will wake your heart and imagination. It is a must read for science fiction buffs and also those of us who enjoy reading of the triumph of the human spirit.” — Jeanne M. Evans
“Angus 7873 begins simply as another soldier in another war in another place. The author does a masterful job in transforming this human clone soldier into a quite believable character. I read few science fiction books because I often get lost in the details of the numerous gadgets, plot twists and similar matters that are possible with that genre. Oxygen Wars, however, has a crisp plot, few characters and was a good three sitting read for me.” — D. R. Smith
“…the strength of this book is in the themes the author has selected. Specifically, rather than going with the typical good v. evil plotline so common in science fiction, the author chose to explore something much deeper: are we objective thinkers or merely doing as we’re told; do we live to work or work to live; the power of questioning society to assert our personal freedom. Although there’s plenty of combat and action in the book, it’s these solid themes that the average person will relate to.” — M. Rozmarin
More information!
To get more information about the Oxygen Wars project, please use this form. We’ll respond by the next business day.