Since the first animals walked the Earth, there have been many extinctions. The most well known extinction is the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Now, with about seven billion humans living on the Earth, what could happen next? Another mass extinction? The only question is, what will cause the next extinction?

   The Extinction Cycle is a science fiction series that is sure to put readers on the edge of their seats watching as a mass extinction rips through human kind. It is an action story with a modern day science twist that will leave them interested and wanting to find out more. They will feel like they are in a fight for survival while reading. The series was thrilling with all of the action that was going on, and there was never a dull moment with all of the action on and off of the battlefield.

   The books were also adventurous, because of the characters traveling all over the U.S. and the world. They were brought to life with all of the descriptive language, especially when the characters were battling or in famous cities. This is a series for people who love action and science, along with stories about people coming together in brother and sisterhood to survive. This is truly a book about the survival of the fittest.

   The Comets’ Tale got an exclusive interview with the author of the Extinction Cycle, Nicholas Sansbury Smith.

   “The Extinction Cycle was a lot of work to write due to the research, but it was also thrilling to write,” Smith said. “I had a lot of fun creating the world and the characters.”

   The first book of the series is Extinction Horizon, and was released in 2014. This is where the series is kicked off on a huge note. A new virus is created by U.S. scientists in a secret lab. The virus is a mixture of VX-99 from the Vietnam War and a hemorrhaging Ebola virus. The two combine into a virus that turns people into bloodthirsty monsters. A highly classified Delta Force team, Team Ghost, is called in to investigate why the facility went offline. Ensuingly, all hell breaks loose and the team is forced to retreat from the facility as an air strike is called in to stop the virus in its tracks. Unknowingly a scientist carrying the virus arrives at an airport in Chicago. It is spread from person to person from major airports, to eventually the whole country, along with the world. The military must go on the defensive to buy time for scientists to find a cure.

   In the second book, Extinction Edge, third-Age, fourth-Evolution, and fifth-End, Team Ghost and the scientists try to find a cure while waging a war for survival. Multiple times they thought they were on track to get rid of the virus. The cure was still out of reach, so the military decided to use brute force.

   Finally, in the last two books Extinction Aftermath and Extinction War, new threats exist. There are new mutated monsters over in foreign lands and evil human beings at home. This is also where very important and major battles take place.

   There are a lot of characters to meet along the way throughout the series. The characters are the ones who make the story, meaning that they add fictional, yet real personalities. The most important ones to know are Beckham, Lovato, Horn, Fitz, Ellis, Ringgold, and many others. Master Sergeant Reed Beckham is the leader of Team Ghost. He has never lost a man on his team and will do what it takes to complete the mission and bring his team home. Dr. Kate Lovato and Dr. Pat Ellis are both very skilled scientists who are trying to find a cure or create a weapon to rid the world of monsters. Staff Sergeant Parker Horn is a big, muscular machine gunner on Team Ghost, and Beckham’s right hand man. Joe Fitzpatrick is a former marine that is rescued by Beckham and Horn. Fitz was critically wounded in Iraq and he will join Team Ghost in the future. Secretary of State, Jan Ringgold is another character rescued by Beckham and his team. She is also a tough and brave leader. Smith was asked who his favorite character was, and if the Extinction Cycle could be turned into a film or tv show.

   “Fitzpatrick is probably my favorite because of his positive attitude despite the odds against him,” Smith said. “I’m planning a new series featuring him as a character. I’m not sure if a TV or movie series will ever happen due to the age of the books but my Hell Divers series has been optioned for film/tv.”

   This is a great series to read. It is non-stop action series of books that will force the reader to read to the end of the series to find out how the world ends or succeeds. Go get a copy of every Extinction Cycle book and get to reading. One can purchase a copy at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon. As Fitz would say, “Stay frosty,” because the Extinction is just beginning.