“Don’t judge a book by its cover”—wise words, universally ignored. The cover of The Elysian Hegemony features a gun-wielding Chris Pratt-looking figure standing before an ominous pyramid, with a character like Samus from the Halo franchise hovering beside him. The Amazon blurb promises everything from a Navy SEAL–turned–“celestial being incarnate” racing to stop an extraterrestrial plague in the Devil’s Triangle, to a cultlike tech tycoon known as the Man Upstairs. Going by these factors, I was slightly nervous the book might turn out completely random and mad, and I’m glad to say The Elysian Hegemony is slightly mad—but luckily in a way I thoroughly enjoyed.
The book is prefaced by two quotes from Einstein and Stephen Hawking about the relationship between science and religion, which I appreciated, although in hindsight I’m not sure how relevant they were to the plot. The opening paragraph wastes no time, placing protagonist Michael Sheppard in an intense foreboding nightmare. It’s widely said it’s too much of a trope to open a novel with a character waking up, but author Michael Byrne does it pretty effectively here. Then Sheppard receives a holographic distress call from his ex-lover Ariel mentioning “fat man” and “little boy” (code names for the atomic bombs), and he’s immediately off to action.
Sheppard abandons his current girlfriend Madison (who it seems is watching conspiracy videos from “The Man Upstairs”), speeds toward Washington, gets pulled over at gunpoint, disarms a trooper, and is recruited by federal agents who take him directly to Marine One. It isn’t long before Sheppard is swept into a covert operation involving a colossal undersea structure in the Bermuda Triangle and a secret city on the moon. Even if it risks being too “out there” for mainstream audiences, it’s certainly a plot that is not afraid to be ambitious.
Probably the book’s strongest element is its well-paced chapters. Even though the writing style risks including too many tropes, for instance, with phrases like “Fear crashed over Sheppard like a tidal wave” or “Time seemed to stand still”, the action set pieces deliver. This book isn’t afraid to tackle deep, conspiracy-adjacent ideas that traditional publishers would probably find too weird to ever consider giving a chance. The villain, Hans Müller (The Man Upstairs), is behind Echelon Industries, an evil corporation that runs a social media platform (described as “like 4chan, which, to our amazement, is popular with older generations”), and preaches that humans are descendants of the Arkons, an ancient alien race that were “the true Aryans that the Reich believed they were.”
Whether Byrne actually believes these theories or it’s completely fictional (I assume the latter—I’m not judging), I appreciate that indie authors are writing books exploring these fringe concepts. In many ways, it reminded me of classic Tom Clancy-style thrillers where the country needs the hero one last time, but far less predictable.
Another aspect the writer does well is dialogue, which is sharp and witty throughout. My favorite character is probably Ralphie, the tech specialist who serves as the emotional glue of the team. When other characters despair, he is usually there to help out with perfect timing. The banter between team members feels natural, though dialogue verbs are sometimes sparse, occasionally making it hard to follow who’s speaking. In addition, at points I slightly found myself wishing the characters didn’t feel so much like Hollywood clichés.
The Elysian virus concept is genuinely fairly interesting, turning people not into flesh-eating zombies but people completely devoid of personality and free will, “basically automatons” who “barely eat, drink, or sleep, thinking only of the work.” The name “Elysian” (one of my favorite words, meaning paradise) underscores the sinister irony. This reminded me a bit of the recent series Pluribus, with its exploration of mind control. As Ariel explains, Müller is trying to convert most of Earth’s people into “mindless eternal damned vampires.”
I liked the mix of futuristic elements with ancient mythology and religion, but I couldn’t actually tell when the book is set. There are references to advanced technology, but no year (maybe I’m missing it). Also, the book starts as an underwater infiltration thriller at Leviathan—a massive pyramid structure (at roughly 500 feet high, it resembles the Great Pyramid of Giza) beneath the Bermuda Triangle—then moves to forgotten cities on the literal moon. It’s clearly not taking itself too seriously, which I respect, but the tonal shifts can be jarring. In addition, there are sections in bold throughout the book that appear to be Sheppard looking back on his experience, but they feel randomly placed and not really necessary.
The conspiracy of the book goes deep, connecting Nazis, Operation Paperclip, ancient Egypt, and the idea that Washington D.C. is “the modern Athens.” As you find out more of the book’s mythology, its scope gradually becomes clear. What really impressed me is how the book manages to keep the stakes personal while maintaining that larger-than-life atmosphere. The relationship dynamics such as Sheppard’s complicated feelings about his ex Ariel, his current girlfriend Madison being seduced by the villain’s propaganda, add relatable stakes to the cosmic, slightly over-the-top adventure.
All things considered, The Elysian Hegemony is a supremely ambitious sci-fi thriller that swings for the fences. It’s well-edited and fast-moving, with fun-to-read dialogue and intriguing conspiracy theory worldbuilding. The writing occasionally leans into clichés, some narrative choices are confusing, and the ending seems like book one of something bigger rather than a complete story. In fact, the ending feels much like a set-up for a Martian-themed sequel. It’s intriguing but not entirely satisfying as a standalone conclusion, though I didn’t altogether dislike it either, especially if a sequel is truly coming. In the end, the book was so much fun that despite my minor quibbles, I’m giving it four and a half stars.
Final verdict: If you’re looking for a propulsive, action-packed thriller with techno-cult conspiracies as a cherry on top, this delivers solidly. For fans of Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons, the X-Files, or Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels, and anyone who’s fallen down a late-night aliens YouTube rabbit hole, this book is a must-read that will make you think. Overall, a highly unique, ambitious book that is anything but boring.
You can get your copy of “The Elysian Hegemony” here!
