Delights of Eden - The Europa Station Chronicles, #0.5 - E-book - ePub

How far would you go to end a war? David Harlow, one of the Space Corps' youngest and least experienced generals, has always been the black sheep of senior command. That's why, when the office of Chief Commander has an unexpected vacancy, he's more surprised than anyone to find out he's been nominated. However, he knows this promotion wasn't offered in good faith. Beneath the glittery façade of this leadership position is a churning underbelly of political strife that could turn deadly at any moment, set against the backdrop of a brutal war that's been tearing the Corps apart for nearly a decade. Harlow finds himself mired in a powder keg of a command environment - one that could be set alight by the tiniest of sparks - and his fears are further validated when he uncovers evidence of pervasive, egregious corruption within the Space Corps' governing Council, with wealthy donors deliberately prolonging the war in the name of profit.
He wants to put an end to it, but as a gay man in a society that refuses to acknowledge same-sex attraction, he knows his history will be used against him if he dares speak out. Harlow knows he's been selected for the role of Chief Commander in order to do the bidding of the warmongers who put him there, and to take the fall when the consequences of their greed and incompetence inevitably come due.
But he only sees one way to secure peace - by accepting their offer.  Delights of Eden is the standalone prequel to the Europa Station Chronicles, a near-future sci-fi epic featuring all the suspense and intrigue of Tom Clancy's cold war-era political thrillers, but with a contemporary, space-based reimagining. This dual-timeline narrative follows the story of General Harlow during the war and includes flashbacks to his time as a cadet, with the past providing further context to the action taking place in the present.
The early years tell a queer coming-of-age story set in a world held at the mercy of mega-corporations and billionaires, which contrasts sharply against the tale of a young officer navigating a hostile command environment rife with nepotism and corruption.