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51

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Pub Date Feb 08 2022 | Archive Date Jan 26 2022


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Description

Did the infamous Roswell site contain something so weird that it bears little resemblance to UFOs, aliens, or the most intricate conspiracy theories? With 51, Patrick O’Leary (The Gift) delivers a witty, unpredictable novel that upends one of the best-kept secrets in American history: the strange events at Area 51. This implausibly plausible explanation intricately entangles estranged friends, their not-quite-imaginary friends, and a series of very confused American presidents.

“A hallucinogenic
Alice In Wonderland / Yellow Submarine / Slaughterhouse Five narrative that is even weirder than the reality that is America.”
—Mario Acevedo, author of the Felix Gomez series

“[O’Leary’s] voice is fresh and funny.”
New York Times

What really happened in Area 51?

Adam Pagnucco is just trying to help out a stranger who’s down and out. He has no idea that man is Winston Koop, his exceptionally talented, ex-best friend. Koop and Nuke had been inseparable in college, but then life happened. Nuke finally quit drinking, and Koop—Koop was at the center of a massive conspiracy that the government faked UFOs just to cover it up.

Even after confessing to removing the memories of hundreds of people, Koop is still hiding something crucial from Nuke. The truth is even stranger than fiction, and time is running out for the real inhabitants of the Roswell site. Can Nuke somehow find a way to forgive . . . but not to forget?

In his long-awaited new novel, Patrick O’Leary deftly navigates the invisible currents of secrets and forgiveness. Gripping, profound, and utterly unique, 51 is sure to please fans of fans of smart paranormal nostalgia, such as the X-Files, Old Man’s War, and Stranger Things.

Did the infamous Roswell site contain something so weird that it bears little resemblance to UFOs, aliens, or the most intricate conspiracy theories? With 51, Patrick O’Leary (The Gift) delivers a...


A Note From the Publisher
About the author: Patrick O’Leary’s first novel, Door Number Three, was lauded by Publishers Weekly as a best book of the year. His second book, The Gift, was a finalist for both the World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Award. O’Leary’s The Impossible Bird was selected as one of Locus’s top novels of the year. He has also published two acclaimed short story collections: Other Voices, Other Doors and The Black Heart.

About the author: Patrick O’Leary’s first novel, Door Number Three, was lauded by Publishers Weekly as a best book of the year. His second book, The Gift, was a finalist for both the World Fantasy...


Advance Praise

Advance Praise for 51

“O’Leary’s 51 is literary fiction on LSD, laced with surreal dreamscapes, humor, and dark insights into the human condition.”
—William C. Dietz, author of the Winds of War series

“O’Leary and his metaphysical snake slither across a hallucinogenic Alice In Wonderland/Yellow Submarine/Slaughterhouse Five narrative is even weirder than the reality that is America.”
—Mario Acevedo, author of The Felix Gomez series

“A deeply felt exploration of friendship, loyalty, memory, and growing old . . . there are also passages of truly lovely prose to remind us that this is much more than a conspiracy thriller.”
—Locus

Praise for Door Number Three

Door Number Three is Mr. O’Leary’s first novel. His voice is fresh and funny, and he is bold enough to offer this assessment of the human condition as seen from a therapist’s perspective ‘The only terror that heals: the terror of being ourselves. How we suffer to avoid it.’”
The New York Times

[STARRED REVIEW] “A highly appealing mix of skilled writing and zany imaginings, this novel bears positive comparison not only to the work of Philip K. Dick but also to the earlier SF of Kurt Vonnegut . . . One of the best books of the year.”
Publishers Weekly

“An idiosyncratic, witty, labyrinthine, preposterous, unrestrained, and often highly entertaining debut
Kirkus

“It might well be the best sf novel of the past year.”
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

“Read Door Number Three while you still have the mind it is guaranteed to blow.”
—James Morrow, author of Shambling Towards Hiroshima

Praise for The Gift

“Echoes of Tolkein reverberate throughout this wonderful fantasy, a satisfying story-with-in-a-story in which a king and his youthful companion try to best the forces of evil.”
Booklist, Editor’s Choice

“Witty, weird, often enchanting.”
Kirkus

“A magical tale . . . O’Leary cleverly embeds tales within tales within tales as he layers and intersects his story lines.”
Library Journal

Praise for The Impossible Bird

“I just loved it. I thought it was moving and scary and weird—Not only wonderful, wonderful fiction, but also wonderful science fiction.”
—Kelly Link, author of Magic for Beginners

“O’Leary’s imagination and writing have never been more vibrant.”
—Jeffrey Ford, author of Out of Body

Praise for Other Voices, Other Doors

“The most unorthodox, and unorthodoxly invigorating collection of the year. Potent, outspoken, unhinged.”—Interzone

“Essential O’Leary—zany, serious, unclassifiable, and delightful.”
—Kathleen Ann Goonan, author of Light Music

Advance Praise for 51

“O’Leary’s 51 is literary fiction on LSD, laced with surreal dreamscapes, humor, and dark insights into the human condition.”
—William C. Dietz, author of the Winds of War series

...


Marketing Plan

Planned Marketing and Publicity
•  Consumer, trade, and co-op advertising
•  Promotion at major trade and genre conventions, including the World Science Fiction, and World Fantasy conventions; ALA; Winter Institute, and Readercon
•  Promotion targeting reviews and interviews in national print and online media
•  Planned book giveaways on Goodreads, SF Signal, and other online outlets

Planned Marketing and Publicity
•  Consumer, trade, and co-op advertising
• Promotion at major trade and genre conventions, including the World Science Fiction, and World Fantasy conventions; ALA;...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781616963484
PRICE $15.95 (USD)

Average rating from 6 members


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