Zach Pekar

The Dunes of Aderstan Zach Pekar

The year is 3251 and the world is divided. War on a global scale has ravaged most of the planet, leaving cities in ruins and ancient battlefields filled with the rusting hulks and weathered bones of shattered armies. Now, in one part of this dystopian world-the desert region of Aderstan-civilization is attempting to resurrect itself from the ashes, giving birth to strange and wondrous things. Beast Traders use residual radiation to craft bizarre creatures for their auction pits. A group of fiercely intelligent simian-human halfbreed Selevaars desperately struggle for freedom from religious servitude. And secretive Desert Trekkers are dedicated to the single-minded pursuit of their siritu quarseys or passion quests. Into this fantastical and dangerous society enter two friends, Jayko and Savi. Using high-tech sim-labs to learn local language and customs, these rugged adventurers attempt to blend in as natives and explore the darker, more secretive aspects of Aderstan. In doing so, they face the ultimate challenge-whether to remain dispassionate observers or join the Selevaars' fight for emancipation that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of Aderstanian society. This engaging and suspenseful novel explores the distinction between beast and human, the role of art in guiding culture, the importance of a spiritual path in shaping destiny, and the tension between friendship and duty.