Vermont Science Fiction Author Mike Luoma Releases the Shocking Conclusion to His "Vatican Assassin" Trilogy: "Vatican Abdicator" Out August 8th, 2008.

Mike Luoma's tale of interplanetary war, religious and political intrigue and alien affairs reaches its climax in his new science fiction novel "Vatican Abdicator". The story begun in 2005's "Vatican Assassin" and continued in 2007's "Vatican Ambassador" comes to its conclusion in "Vatican Abdicator". The deeply divided human race may have to come together to face two different alien threats. Can humankind set aside its differences in time to prevent its own genocide? Available online, locally in Vermont, and as a free, downloadable audiobook through Podiobooks.com.

Burlington, VT (PRWEB) August 5, 2008 -- Mike Luoma’s new science fiction novel "Vatican Abdicator" is out this Friday, August 8th. Luoma began telling the story of BC, Bernard Campion, in 2005’s "Vatican Assassin". In "Vatican Abdicator", he finishes the tale of the one-time hitman turned diplomat who is now Pope of the new Catholic Church.

Luoma is taking advantage of new technology to market his books. The veteran Vermont radio announcer narrates audiobook versions of his novels, which are then available chapter by chapter as free downloadable mp3s, or podcasts, through Podiobooks.com and iTunes. The chapters of "Vatican Assassin" have been downloaded over twenty-six thousand times (26,045 as of 8-03-08 according to libsynpro.com). "Vatican Ambassador’s" chapters have been downloaded well over twenty-five thousand times (25,883 as of 8-03-08). The two books currently enjoy a combined eight hundred and sixty seven active subscribers (867 as of 8-03-08 according to Podiobooks.com).

"Vatican Abdicator" will be available for free download through Podiobooks.com beginning Friday, August 8th. The chapters will be released on a weekly basis with Luoma narrating.

Set in the near future, in 2109, "Vatican Assassin" introduced us to BC, who killed people for the Pope of the New catholic Church; the NcC. "Vatican Assassin" also introduced us to a world at war. The NcC is allied with the Universal Trade Zone, the UTZ, in their ongoing war again the United Islamic Nation, the UIN. BC finds himself at the center of things as the war escalates. In "Vatican Ambassador", BC becomes the Vatican’s official representative to Lunar Prime and tries to undo some of the damage. But forces well beyond his control intervene to scuttle his attempts at forging peace. Alien races interfere in human affairs, and a horrific plague assaults humanity.

BC’s efforts do not go unrewarded -– he is named Pope of the NcC by the dwindling College of Cardinals. As Vatican Abdicator begins, that mantle does not sit easily upon BC’s shoulders. The alien threats grow more menacing. And humankind does not seem to be inclined to act at all human and certainly not kind towards each other.

In addition to the "Vatican Assassin" Science Fiction Trilogy, Mike Luoma is the writer and creator of the "Panthea Obscura" comic book mini series, with art by JC Quattordio. Issue Three is now available, with new pages debuting every Wednesday and Saturday at http://drunkduck.com/panthea_obscura. A self publishing author, Luoma’s books are published through Lulu.com, the revolutionary print-on-demand (POD) site. His Science Fiction books are available through Podiobooks.com as free downloadable audiobook podcasts. "Vatican Assassin" and "Vatican Ambassador" are currently available through Amazon.com and other online booksellers. "Vatican Abdicator" will be available from these outlets in early September, and is available online now at Lulu: http://stores.lulu.com/mikeluoma. Information on Luoma’s other books and projects is available at his website: http://glowinthedarkradio.com.

For more information or interviews and follow-up contact Mike Luoma at mike.luoma @ gmail.com or at 802-865-2597.

###