51
What really happened in Area 51?
Adam Pagnucco is just trying to help out a stranger who’s down and out. He has no idea that man is Winston Koop, his exceptionally talented, ex-best friend. Koop and Nuke had been inseparable in college, but then life happened. Nuke finally quit drinking, and Koop―Koop was at the center of a massive conspiracy that the government faked UFOs just to cover it up.
Even after confessing to removing the memories of hundreds of people, Koop is still hiding something crucial from Nuke. The truth is even stranger than fiction, and time is running out for the real inhabitants of the Roswell site. Can Nuke somehow find a way to forgive . . . but not to forget?
In his long-awaited new novel, Patrick O’Leary (Door Number Three) deftly navigates the invisible currents of secrets and forgiveness. Gripping, profound, and utterly unique, 51 is sure to please fans of fans of smart paranormal nostalgia, such as the X-Files, Old Man’s War, and Stranger Things.
Reviews
"Recommended for readers of philosophically and psychologically bent [science fiction.]"
"Spanning over fifty years, the timeline jumps around enough to make one’s head spin, with endings as clear as a kaleidoscopic daydream. It is a quirky, offbeat take on a popular plot. O’Leary takes the Roswell conspiracy and sets it on its ear. This outlandish paranormal chronical pushes science fiction in a new direction. O’Leary’s bizarre, hallucinogenic narrative is the Naked Lunch for a new generation. In fact, 51 has all the elements of a cult classic in the making.”
“A deeply felt exploration of friendship, loyalty, memory, and growing old . . . there are also passages of truly lovely prose to remind us that this is much more than a conspiracy thriller.”
“If you like the works of Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut, then this will indubitably give pleasure.”
“In addition to its creative exploration of intriguing themes, 51 is notable for its unpredictable moments. Some are funny (the Pope’s interactions with American presidents are priceless). Others are poignant. . . . The appearance of 51 gives me hope that O’Leary will retire from his day job.”
“O'Leary has his own voice that has long been missing from science fiction. 51 offers a taste of that voice that many readers will either not know they have been missing, or have forgotten in the nearly two decades since his last novel. Nevertheless, 51 is a unique and welcome addition and a chance for readers to either discover O'Leary or become reacquainted with him.”Steven Silver Reviews
“O’Leary and his metaphysical snake slither across a hallucinogenic Alice In Wonderland / Yellow Submarine / Slaughterhouse Five narrative that is even weirder than the reality that is America.”Mario Acevedo, author of the Felix Gomez series
“O’Leary’s 51 is literary fiction on LSD, laced with surreal dreamscapes, humor, and dark insights into the human condition.”William C. Dietz, author of the Winds of War series