"The Fate of Mankind: The Keeper of the Key" - a new science fiction book

The cover illustrator of the book is veteran comic book artist Roger Bonnet, who has worked with Marvel and DC Comics on a variety of well-known titles such as "Iron Man", "The Avengers", "Spider-Man", "Nightwing" and "Batman" * Excerpt from the book

"The Fate of Mankind: The Keeper of the Key" is a science fiction and fantasy book for adults by Nir Rubin (and the first of a planned trilogy) that will be published in the coming months. It should be noted that the plot of the book crosses worlds and galaxies, but delves into quite mundane topics, including humanity, human nature, life and death, dealing with trauma and the quality of the environment.

The book's cover illustrator is veteran comic book artist Roger Bonet, who has worked with Marvel and DC Comics on a variety of well-known titles such as "Iron Man," "The Avengers," "Spider-Man," "Nightwing" and "Batman." The illustration is based on a detailed idea that I conveyed to Roger and has hidden elements from the plot (he even added some interesting things of his own to the illustration).

Plot summary:

Steve and Gina, two outstanding researchers on behalf of the American space agency, are sent to a distant galaxy in order to learn about its inhabitants. Everything gets complicated when they find out that these are not "normal" aliens, but members of the evolutionary family of Homo sapiens, which supposedly disappeared from the face of the earth tens of thousands of years ago. Now, when the natural and delicate balance of the universe is disturbed, Gina and Steve find themselves on the run and realize that the fate of all mankind rests on their shoulders.

A look at the book:

"Shut!" shouted an extremely tall human.

Steve was still a blur and was mumbling random words. The tall man, wearing only a red tunic, gave up and left the room.

An hour later Steve began to think clearly. Woe, he realized that he had been captured. Through the darkness that peered at him from the bars, he knew he was lost.

The tall man returned to the dim room. The bars closed behind him with a slight rustle. Steve guessed the warden was six feet tall. A deep fear began to form within him, as the warden strode towards him. His hair stood on end, his pulse increased and his breathing rate increased.

He knew his sympathetic division was in full swing. He tried to control the fear and pressure he felt, by stabilizing his upper body as much as he could. His heart threatened to leap out of his body and he felt his testicles shrink. A lot of adrenaline was secreted from his adrenal gland.

"Who are you?" Steve stammered weakly.

"I'm the one asking the questions here." The tall man grabbed Steve's shirt, and he immediately felt a ringing slap placed on his cheek. Tears stood in his eyes.

The man laughed and said: "Terror is holding you!"

Steve wanted to kill him with all his might, but he was imprisoned and chained to the floor and his jailer was strong. As he laughed wildly, his chest muscles rose and fell. He appears to be taking an excess of steroids.

"Now," said the high warden, "tell me who you are and what you are doing here."

"I don't... I don't remember."

"Unsuccessful answer. Try to remember."

"I can not!"

"Maybe this will help you," said the warden and kicked Steve in the stomach with tremendous force.

Steve groaned in pain.

"Well"?

"Go fuck yourself!" Steve shouted.

Another kick and another.

"enough!" shouted a tall woman, who suddenly appeared outside the cell. She wore a yellow tunic, a crown made of green leaves rested on her head and her gray hair was gathered into a long braid that wrapped around her neck.

"Excuse me, Queen Zendia," the warden bowed reverently.

Steve raised his head towards the queen who was looking at him through the bars.

"I strongly oppose violence, as do all my people. You must tell us in exactly three hours everything you know, stranger. If you do not do so, unfortunately, we will have to take unpleasant steps. Am I clear"?

Steve nodded.

The queen has gone. The warden turned and kicked Steve once more while muttering, "I'm not against violence."

After the big bully left the cell, Steve understood. They are not just tall people. They belong to the species Homo erectus.