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The Preservation of Species II - Struggle for Existence is coming June 24! I've just finished listening to the raw audiobook files. Narrator Stacy Carolan has outdone himself. It's so good! (The audiobooks are my preferred format.) The paperback is now available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble and they're running a 25% off sale (for members) until April 25th. Hurry! ARC reviews at Goodreads have been fantastic:
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Rule of Extinction was released in ebook and paperback formats on February 25. Early reviews from ARC readers were terrific. Customer reviews are coming in steadily, and readers are loving it. Don't take it from me, though, have a look: The paperback should be available to order at bookstores March 25. The audiobook should be out before the end of March. I've listened to it and it's fantastic. Finally, the ebook has been on sale from March 9 through March 15: £0.99 at Amazon UK $0.99 at Amazon US In the UK, thanks to a little help from a BookBub promotion, the book flew off the (digital) shelves and rocketed to the #1 spot in several catagories as well as the #100th best-selling ebook in the entire Amazon UK store.  I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. I've been discussing books and movies that inspired Rule of Extinction. This post will focus on four sci-fi television shows that made their mark on my writing. First up is the Battlestar Galactica 2004 reboot. The show's gritty realism made it feel relevant. My new trilogy features echoes of Battlestar Galactica, where the remnants of humanity are seeking a new home while a human traitor is working directly with the enemy. The magnificent score by Bear McCreary deserves a special call-out. Give it a listen!
Firefly was often in the back of my mind as I wrote these books. At the time, I hadn’t heard the term “Found Family,” but that was what I was attempting to build - a disparate team of unlikely companions slowly coming together to form a tight-knit team. 
In both Lost and Rule of Extinction: After a disaster, random strangers are stranded on a mysterious island populated with deadly creatures, and flashbacks show how they got there.  At the age of twelve, V and V: The Final Battle blew me away. Alien visitors come to Earth on a supposedly benevolent mission, only to be revealed as invading monsters... You will definitely see echoes of this in my new trilogy. Each of these shows is worth a watch or a re-watch. Find them on streaming, or better yet, grab them on physical media. (If you're new to Battlestar Galactica, be sure to watch the mini-series before Season 1.) And if you’re itching for a post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure inspired by shows like these, please check out Rule of Extinction. Preorder - - - - - Read Reviews - - - - - Request an ARC
I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. The Book of Koli (and its sequels) by M.R. Carey was another inspiration for Rule of Extinction. One of my goals was to create a rich world with intricate layers of sci-fi elements while keeping a tight focus on a handful of compelling characters. Few books do that as well as the RAMPART Trilogy.  The Book of Koli is a post-apocalyptic adventure about a man named Koli who lives in a small, isolated village on the British Isles in the *very* distant future. Genetic engineering has caused Earth's flora and fauna to evolve into new deadly forms. "Everything that lives hates us."  Humanity has reverted to pre-industrial levels of technology. A few pieces of technology remain, some of which are advanced far beyond our current technology. Those that are able to use this tech are called "Ramparts" and they hold an elevated place in their social hierarchy.
I listened to all three books on audiobook. The narration by Theo Solomon (plus Saffron Coomber and Hanako Footman in books 2 and 3) is absolutely wonderful.  My new trilogy is quite different from the Rampart trilogy... But it's similar in that I tried to create a world with rich and intricate sci-fi elements that grow increasingly epic with each book, while keeping the focus on the personal stories of the characters.
If I was able to deliver an experience half as compelling as Mike Carey, then I've done something mighty... because the Koli books are *that* good. And they aren't nearly as well known as they should be. Please check them out! And if you like the Rampart trilogy and want to read another post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure, please check out Rule of Extinction. Preorder - - - - - Read Reviews - - - - - Request an ARC
I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect.
Run succeeds (imo) because at its core, the focus is on a father trying to protect his family. In Rule of Extinction, a comet is about to end civilzation.Mysterious pods arrive that carry people away. The opening chapters follow a father desperate to get his family into one of those pods.  Run moves at breakneck speed. Its tone is dark and gritty. It’s a hell of a thrill ride. Though Rule of Extinction features a wholly different scenario, its tone and pace owe a debt to Run. Run (and Pines) were such an influence that I hired Crouch's editor, Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry, to help me polish Rule of Extinction.
If you're interested in a dark break-neck apocalyptic thriller, then hurry up and grab a copy of Run. (The audiobook of the 2024 reissue is narrated by Scott Brick.)  And if you’re interested in another fast-paced apocalyptic adventure about a father trying to save his family, check out RULE OF EXTINCTION. Preorder - - - - - Read Reviews - - - - - Request an ARC
I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. Another inspiration for my new book Rule of Extinction is the movie Jaws, which turns 50 in 2025. Last summer, I visited the filming locations for Jaws during the 50th anniversary of the production. I visited the Jaws bridge, which the shark swam under to reach "the pond." I might have even jumped off it, despite the signs telling me not to...
I swam at the beach where Alex Kintner rafted, and replicated his final moments in the exact same spot where they occured in the film.  I visited the benches where the billboard was vandalized.
I stopped off at the location of Quint's shack, which was torn down immediately after the production.  I visited Amity National Bank, the ferry, the police department, and Vaughn Realty At the Amity Town Hall, I walked down the Amity Town Hall hall to sit at the curved desk and ponder closing the beaches. I have watched Jaws on the big screen every few years and the experience is so wonderful that I no longer bother watching at home. It’s absolutely thrilling in a crowded auditorium with the Atlantic Ocean filling your field of view and John Williams’ score enveloping you.
Although they are quite different in terms of scope, tone, and plot, Rule of Extinction and Jaws share three common elements: 1. A rousing sense of adventure.  2. A cast of memorable characters from a variety of backgrounds.  3. And most of all, they both tap into the primal fear of being eaten alive.  Happy 50th Anniversary to JAWS! Watch your cinema listings for revival screenings this summer. You’ll have a blast.  Finally, if you’re looking for a mix of adventure and monster horror to read in the meantime, check out Rule of Extinction. Preorder - - - - - Read Reviews - - - - - Request an ARC
I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. Jurassic Park and The Lost World are two more inspirations for my new book, Rule of Extinction. Monster stories resonate because we have a primal fear deep in the back of our minds about being eaten (or stomped, slashed, and gored).
Dinosaurs are some of the best monsters. They're unlike anything we've ever seen, yet they’re real. They existed. One thing that makes the JP franchise so effective is that the theme park scenario puts regular everyday people face-to-face with these monsters.
My first book, The Dinosaur Four, included many of the same dinos as the JP franchise, though I depict them as vicious, feral animals, while the films tend to depict them majestically. In The Dinosaur Four, the "veggie-sauruses" are every bit as dangerous as the carnivores. It's the best R-rated B-movie time-travel dinosaur thriller you'll read all week.  Rule of Extinction is bigger and better than The Dinosaur Four. Rest assured: even though Rule of Extinction is a post-apocalyptic first-contact story, it's also monster horror. There are plenty of dangerous creatures that want to eat, stomp, slash, or gore anyone who gets in their way. And they do. If you haven't read (or watched) Jurassic Park and The Lost World in a while, maybe it's time to revisit them. (Click the book covers above for links.) I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. Bird Box by Josh Malerman was another inspiration for my new book, Rule of Extinction. I love post-apocalyptic fiction. And although zombies and plagues make for great set-ups, I'm particularly fond of stories with a unique spin on the apocalypse. Bird Box delivers. In Bird Box (and its great follow-up Malorie), most of humanity has been wiped out by something that turns people homicidal if they see it. Horrific violence can occur at any moment.
As a result, the characters spend much of their time blindfolded. The tension is palpable. The survivors are thrust into a group where they aren't sure who they can trust, which only adds to the pervasive sense of dread. The story centers around parent will stop at nothing to protect her children. Bird Box and Malorie are available at Amazon:
Susanne Bier adapted Bird Box into a terrific film. However, I really recommend the audiobooks. Cassandra Campbell's narration is fantastic.  Although Rule of Extinction is quite different, with a completely different post-apocalyptic scenario, I attempted to replicate the page-turning tension & the horrific sense that anything could happen.
One protagonist is also a devoted parent, fighting to keep his children safe in a world filled with monsters, both human and otherwise. I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect.
The Mist was a huge inspiration for my first book, The Dinosaur Four, and aspects of The Mist influenced Rule of Extinction. Much of The Mist takes place in a supermarket, a location that's immediately relatable. I set The Dinosaur Four in a cafe for just that reason. In The Mist, as with so many great horror stories, the other people are just as dangerous as the monsters. A religious fanatic convinces the crowd that end times have come and demands a blood sacrifice. Rule of Extinction features a similar subplot, and it pushes the book's antagonist over the edge.
Frank Darabont’s film adaptation makes an unforgettable change that kicks you in the guts. My favorite version is a dramatized audio adaptation. I listened to that sucker endlessly as a kid.
I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect. The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a bleak survival story about a father and son scavenging their way through a world left barren by an unspecified apocalypse. McCarthy shines a light on the worst elements of humanity... but also highlights the love of a parent and the need for perserverance in the face of oppressive challenges John Hillcoat directed a film adaptation in 2009 staring Viggo Mortensen. I loved The Road's fiercely grim tone. It made the father’s dogged perseverance all the more heroic.
Rule of Extinction also features a father trying to keep his family safe in desperate times. It isn't as bleak (or eloquent) as The Road, but it goes to some dark places. The Road is both bleak and beautifully haunting. Highly recommended! |
AuthorGeoff Jones is the author of the sci-fi thriller Archives
March 2025
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