In “Once Humans“, mankind is undergoing rebirth, the new arrivals closely watched by the Selected: the transgenic beings created by the Moîrai. The new communities thrive with the aliens’ support and peace and security reign on Eridu, as the planet Earth is known by the Moîrai and in the galaxy.

But peace and security of the cradle are suddenly shattered by acts of sabotage set to disrupt the fragile balance of the fledgling communities.

From the coldest climes to the deepest ocean floors, a cosmic conspiracy full of betrayal and fear is being hatched with the hope of pushing the world perilously close to the brink of self-destruction. It is up to Dan Amenta to journey through dark and deadly alleys–even into the depths of the planet–to unlock the shadowy logic of alien minds.

“Once Humans” starts seven years after the events narrated in “Daimones“, Vol.1 of the homonymous “Daimones Trilogy”.

What genre is it?
The story is a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi trilogy. The story is a ‘loss of innocence’ for Dan and for the Selected. Death, betrayal, conspiracy at a galactic level, a cold-war between alien races are among the complications that Dan and the new human race have to deal with.

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
Sci-fi readers, thinkers who like actions and changes in the world surrounding the main characters, as well as re-actions and changes that happen within the character, the doubts and frustrations, the fears and elations.

Readers who like to read about complex characters and want stories that will make them ask “What would I’ve done?”

Tell us about Dan Amenta.
Dan is each and everyone of us. A family man, with good qualities and weaknesses. He tries—as much as he is able to—to ride the flow of life’s events following his beliefs and adhering to his principles, believing they will preserve him and his family.

Since this is the middle of a trilogy, we’re guessing we need to read book one, Daimones, first.
I believe in books and stories that are self-contained, so that each one is a book that can stand on its own.

Complete this sentence for us: if you like _________, then you’ll love the Daimones trilogy.
If you like “The Stand”, “Childhood’s End”, or “The Road”, a mystery and lingering danger, lurking but never revealing until the end, you’ll love my book.

Have you written any other books that we should read next?
I wrote a collection of crime drama short stories, “Tender Moments…”

Tell us about yourself.
I wrote since I was able to hold a pencil in my toddler’s hand. I daydreamed and always had a fervid imagination. Writing was a way to make everything real. Those written words, though, were only for me. I never shared this with anyone, not even in the family.

My father and my older brother read sci-fi a lot, so I grew up reading that, so all the big names mostly, from Isaac Asimov to Ray Bradbury, Ursula Le Guin, Frank Herbert, Larry Niven, Robert Heinlein, to name just a few and then other genres too, Tolkien, Stephen King, Tom Clancy and others. Italian authors, too, like Svevo, Calvino, Sciascia, and Greek mythology authors, the ones I used to hate at school and that are instead fantastic writers and authors. We live with myths daily, even if we do not realize it.

I was born in Italy but lived most of my life abroad, in France, Switzerland, and the US, and because of work traveled to many places. I’ve learned of different cultures and languages and appreciate all their differences. I see everything as multi-faceted and featuring several layers of understanding.

Do you have a website?
Probably the best, at the moment, is to follow me at Goodreads, where I also have a blog and run a group of writers focusing on “The Writing Process”.

What about social media?
My handle on twitter is @Massim0Marin0 – notice though, those are not two ‘o’ but two ‘zeros’.

My FB fan page is https://www.facebook.com/MassimoMarinoAuthor

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

What’s next?
The WIP, the work in progress, in the Vol.3 in the trilogy. The events and the emotional traumas in Vol.1 and Vol.2 have prepared the race of man to reclaim its place in the galaxy.