The Gaia Chime
Published on 11. March 2025
336 pages
978-1-78758-895-0 (ISBN)
Description
A public murder televised live and across the world prompts filmmakers Seth and Charlotte to trace the threads of blood to the rich and powerful, and the horror of global destruction. Can they stop the Gaia Chime?
Charlotte, seeking to make a documentary for her graduate thesis enlists the older Seth, a burned-out film teacher with a history of scandal, to film the daily life of a rising tennis star, Bobby Weller. It's a glimpse into the world of the rich and dedicated that turns horrifying when Bobby murders both his parents on live TV. It's patricide, an echo of Zeus rising up against Cronos, the young gods replacing the titans. Now, the very public slaughter prompts the filmmakers to trace the threads of blood to the rich and powerful and the horror of global destruction. Can they stop the Gaia Chime? First, they need to find out what it is...
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to excellent original writing in horror, science fiction and fantasy. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress. Awarded independent publisher of 2024 by the British Fantasy Society.
Charlotte, seeking to make a documentary for her graduate thesis enlists the older Seth, a burned-out film teacher with a history of scandal, to film the daily life of a rising tennis star, Bobby Weller. It's a glimpse into the world of the rich and dedicated that turns horrifying when Bobby murders both his parents on live TV. It's patricide, an echo of Zeus rising up against Cronos, the young gods replacing the titans. Now, the very public slaughter prompts the filmmakers to trace the threads of blood to the rich and powerful and the horror of global destruction. Can they stop the Gaia Chime? First, they need to find out what it is...
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to excellent original writing in horror, science fiction and fantasy. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress. Awarded independent publisher of 2024 by the British Fantasy Society.
Reviews / Votes
"The Gaia Chime? is a mind-bender of a cultural and global horror-thriller that will take you down twists and turns you will never see coming! Highly recommended!!" -- Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of the Joe Ledger thrillers and NecroTek "A chilling discourse on class, culture, and capitalism, underpinned with ancient myth, Johnny Worthen's The Gaia Chime is a provocative and visionary near-future narrative, and an unsettling call to action. If you haven't already put Worthen on your must-read list, you should rectify that now." -- Lee Murray, five-time Bram Stoker Awards (R)-winning author of Grotesque: Monster Stories "The Gaia Chime is a fascinating story with shocking twists. The vivid characters and dialogue that just sings makes reading the latest tale from Johnny Worthen an absolute pleasure. You're going to be delighted or terrified - possibly both." -- Kate Jonez, Chief Editor Omnium Gatherum "The Gaia Chime fascinated and terrified me. [...] A story that delivers an impact on the reader." -- Daniel Yocom - Guild Master Gaming "A riveting story of personal obsession and epic-scale horror. Pray you never hear the Gaia Chime!" -- Tim Waggoner, author of Lord of the Feast On the Coronam series:"A clever and exciting collision of space opera, high adventure, and devious politics. Insightful and highly entertaining!" -- Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of RELENTLESS and V-WARS "Worthen shows himself a master of style and substance..." -- Michael R. Collings, 2016 World Horror Convention Grand Master "The worlds of Coronam, with their mixture of old and new technologies, create a unique setting for an ageless story about humanity." -- Daniel Yocom, Guild Master Gaming 'Johnny Worthen is a bold and imaginative writer; his Coronam work is a fascinating look at our troubling history through the lens of tomorrow.' -- Bryan Young, author, BattleTech: Honor's Gauntlet "With Of Kings Queens and Colonies, Johnny Worthen creates an immersive and compelling world populated by vivid characters. As always, his excellent writing is saturated with humor and humanity. Highly recommended." -- Kate Jonez, Chief Editor Omnium Gatherum "...this is the beginning of an outstanding epic that will have broad appeal, especially to the readers of the Dune saga. Highly recommended for all sf collections." -- Booklist Starred Review "[The Gaia Chime] is a fast-paced, relevant and sometimes brutal thriller. Charlotte and Seth are characters I wanted to be friends with for the glimmer of hope we need in frightening times." -- Phantasmagoria Magazine "A book that grabs you by the lapels, shakes you rigorously and screams at you, if you like your horror bleak, prophetic and packed with sci-fi elements, Johnny Worthen's "The Gaia Chime," is a book you need in your short, insignificant existence. At the rate at which the world is circling the drain, you've probably not got long left to read it, so time is of the essence. Miss it at your peril." -- Fan Fi Addict "If you enjoy horror thrillers with a slow-burn plot that gradually ramps up the tension, this book is definitely one to add to your reading list." -- Mani's Book Corner
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United Kingdom
File size
5,38 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-78758-895-0 (9781787588950)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Johnny Worthen grew up in the high desert snows and warm summer winds of the Wasatch Mountains. He graduated with a B.A. in English, minor in Classics and a Master's in American Studies from the University of Utah. After a series of businesses and adventures, including years abroad and running his own bakery, Johnny found himself drawn to the only thing he ever wanted to do -- write. And write he does. Well versed in modern literary criticism and cultural studies, Johnny writes upmarket multi-genre fiction, both traditionally and independently published. "I write what I like to read," he says. "That guarantees me at least one fan."
Johnny's best-selling series, The Books of Coronam, is an epic science fiction series in the vein of Frank Herbert's DUNE. It is available from Flame Tree Press, with international distribution through Simon and Schuster. Like Johnny's many other titles it is available wherever better books are sold.
When not writing his own stuff, Johnny edits professionally for a small dark fiction press in Los Angeles and teaches Creative Writing at the University of Utah. He lives in Sandy Utah with his wife, sons and cats. There's also a lawn.
Johnny's best-selling series, The Books of Coronam, is an epic science fiction series in the vein of Frank Herbert's DUNE. It is available from Flame Tree Press, with international distribution through Simon and Schuster. Like Johnny's many other titles it is available wherever better books are sold.
When not writing his own stuff, Johnny edits professionally for a small dark fiction press in Los Angeles and teaches Creative Writing at the University of Utah. He lives in Sandy Utah with his wife, sons and cats. There's also a lawn.
