About the series
Caught up in a conspiracy to conceal the existence of extraterrestrials and an ancient alien dome covering the planet, two Russian cosmonauts called Yuri and Dmitry find themselves on board the International Space Station and at the start of a very long series of unfortunate events. Unfolding over 10 books, this comedy sci-fi adventure series is set in the past, the present and the future and traverses the universe to show us what life is like on planet EgÁs and how hostile our own planet can be. This series transports you to an alternate reality where things are comparatively different - we never went to the moon, aliens are real, and the Earth is flat.
With a string of amusing anecdotes that segue seamlessly within the main story, you never quite know what's true or false and what might be important or irrelevant but that's up to you to unravel and figure out!
If you like a good conspiracy, well, the series is full of them, some are completely fictional, whilst others share strong resemblances with the 20th Century's most publicised.
Throughout the books, there are also several Easter Eggs to find, some are easy, some are hard. Good luck, and happy reading!
- Oscar Piscine (M.U.N.)
Extract from Downfall Part I
"...It all costs money y'know, if it wasn't for the funding supplied to us by the women's crochet club, we couldn't even afford to have this expedition. Women like them work tirelessly joining bits of yarn together to make blankets for the cold and impoverished, not to mention the colourful baby bobble hats they produce for the starving children of OnÁgero Defnu. If it wasn't for the support of these types of groups, we couldn't even afford a shovel..."
- TAC, Expedition Scout and native tribesman from the planet EgÁs.
INDICATORS TO DISASTER
Extract from Beneath the Dome
...That Vladimir. He and his father used to steal turnips from my uncle's farm when I was a boy. They would creep out on to field when moon was high in sky and they would steal turnips and sell at local market...
- Dmitry Usakov
BENEATH THE DOME
WHERE OUR STORY BEGINS
Our story begins on the International Space Station sometime in the near future, 250 miles above the surface of the planet Earth. Our main protagonists are two Russian cosmonauts called Dmitry Usakov and Yuri Chekov who have been sent to maintain the cameras on board the I.S.S. They are under orders from their commanding officers to speak English at all times to satisfy the terms of the alliance between the various countries that serve on the Space Station. This is also to aid any investigations that may occur should an accident happen.
The Earth below is not the one we know, but one that has suffered various hardships over the years: food shortages, plagues, wars and a world wide economic collapse. It is not a dystopian place to live, just different. There are no mobile phones or internet based devices and the technology that is available is more of a status symbol than a necessity with only the wealthiest having access to the latest electronics. Everyone still drives a car, but most are old or aging. Fuel is in short supply and is very expensive.
In the last two decades, America has forged an alliance with China to become a new super power in the world and Britain has made a considerable shift away from America to join forces with Russia to maintain a balance of power. Every nation is very distrustful of one another and everyone's true agenda is a well kept secret. Trust and loyalty are a thing of the past and true friendships are hard to find. If you look close enough, there is an enterprising faction at work and a conspiracy under every stone.