Vanishing Phoenix

Lord Darrell Duppa, along with his friend Jack Swilling, suggested the name "Phoenix" for the city he had cofounded because it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. Settled on the ancestral lands of the Hohokam Indians, Phoenix was thriving by the early 1920s when craftsmanship and attention to detail were the orders of the day. Buildings were designed to welcome residents and travelers alike. Today the Fox Theater, the Clark Churchill House, the Kon Tiki Hotel, and the Fleming Building exist only in photographs and in the memories of Phoenix residents. The National Register of Historic Places and the Phoenix Historic Property Register have heightened public awareness and appreciation for the community's historic landmarks, but much has been lost already. Remembering these buildings and landmarks is essential to understanding this remarkable city.

Part of the self-image of Phoenix is that the city has no history and that anything of importance happened yesterday. Also that Phoenix, the Arizona state capital, is a "clean" city (despite a past of police corruption and social oppression). The "real" Phoenix, easygoing, sun-drenched, a place of ever-expanding development and economic growth, guarantees, it is said, an enviable lifestyle, low taxes, and unfettered personal freedom and opportunity. Little of this is true. Phoenix has been described as one of the least sustainable cities in the country. This sixth largest urban area of the United States has an alarmingly superficial and tourism-oriented discourse among its leaders. This book examines a series of narrative works (novels, theater, chronicles, investigative reporting, personal accounts, editorial cartooning, even a children's television program) that question this discourse in a frequently stinging fashion. The works examined are anchored in a critical understanding of the dominant urban myths of Greater Phoenix, and an awareness of how all the newness, modernity and fun-in-the-sun mentality mask a uniquely dystopian human experience.

One kidnapping. One cold case. Two amateur investigators. Only 48 hours to solve the crime... Jazz’s best friend Anika has been kidnapped! She can’t call the cops, so Jazz forges a shaky truce with her brilliant nemesis, Phoenix, to help her investigate. Together, they uncover clues and crime scene evidence. Sneaking into a forensic lab, they test DNA, fingerprints and more, to piece the clues together. The results are shocking. Could it really lead to a twenty-year-old murder case?< In a race against time, Jazz and Phoenix only have 48 HOURS to collect the evidence, profile the kidnapper and find their schoolmate’s location, or Anika will die. The clock is ticking...

On a bed of a primordial ocean floor and in a valley surrounded by jagged mountains, a city was founded atop the ruins of a vanished civilization. In 1867, former Confederate soldier Jack Swilling saw the remains of an ancient canal system and the potential for the area to blossom into a thriving agricultural center. Pioneers moved into the settlement searching for new opportunities, and on October 20, 1870, residents living in adobe structures that lined dirt streets adopted the name Phoenix, expressing the optimism of the frontier. For decades, downtown Phoenix was a dense urban core, the hub of agricultural fields, mining settlements, and military posts. Unfortunately, suburban sprawl and other social factors of the post–World War II era led to the center’s decline. With time, things changed, and now downtown Phoenix is uniquely positioned to rise again as a prominent 21st-century American city.

In the aftermath of their hard-fought victory, the realm of Vacari thought darkness had been banished forever. Yet, the sinister warlock Phoenix Shadowwalker, believed to be defeated, secretly resurfaces, his power grown to unimaginable heights during his exile. Whispers of his newfound strength circulate, leaving the realm trembling in fear. Fueled by a burning desire for revenge, Phoenix's malevolent intentions focus on two figures: Ong, the valiant warrior, and Lady Keisha, whose resilience once thwarted his dark ambitions. Blinded by rage and consumed by vengeance, he orchestrates a masterful plan to ensnare them in his clutches. In a race against time, Ong, Keisha, and their allies must unravel the mysteries surrounding Phoenix's newfound power while confronting their pasts and insecurities. As the clock ticks down, alliances are forged, and battles are fought both on the battlefield and within themselves. Vacari's fate teeters on the edge, and its defenders must rise once more to protect the realm they hold dear. "Shadows Unveiled" is a gripping fantasy tale of vengeance, redemption, and the enduring strength of unity in the face of darkness. Will Vacari survive this relentless onslaught, or will its light be extinguished forever?

Solid State Sigma Series — Solid State Shadow Volumes One to Three Volume One — “Night Harbour” Ariel Blake is a Siren agent out for revenge against her mother’s killers and one of the government’s most merciless operatives. She is charged with investigating a high profile, armed robbery of a Shiro Express courier. The trail leads to the ruthless genius Gilead Hightower and the Black Phoenix, the terrorists responsible for her mom’s death. Both are after a black ops government project so secret no one, not even the government itself, even realized it existed… until now. She has to stop the Black Phoenix from getting powerful new technology but she has to find it first. Only Gilead Hightower has the answers and he isn’t talking. Rake Ashcor, one of the deadliest assassins in the star system with over a thousand kills to his name, has been hired by the Phoenix to get the technology and silence Gilead for good. When Ariel’s friends get trapped in a virtual world that can kill, she has a tough choice to make: is finding the location of the black ops project worth her life and the lives of her friends or will she let the Black Phoenix get what they want? If Rake and the Phoenix succeed, the System Alliance could be torn apart. How far will she go for vengeance? Volume Two — “Gilead’s Gambit” Ariel Blake is one of the top Siren agents of the System Alliance who is driven by one thing: revenge. She discovers the Black Phoenix terrorists are after her childhood friend, Eve Lang when they attack the mall in their home town. Worse still, Eve is not all she appears to be and Ariel must wrestle with her transformation into something that is no longer… human. That doesn’t stop her from putting Eve’s safety as priority number one and keeping her out of Phoenix hands. Rake Ashcor, the assassin who nearly killed her at Night Harbour is also gunning for Eve. If Rake gets her, the Black Phoenix may obtain the key to using the Solid State Shadow technology. Something Ariel fears more than anything. Volume Three — “Trinity Tower” Ariel Blake must rescue childhood friend Eve Lang from Gilead Hightower. The team tracks the genius down and find themselves caught up in a chaotic firefight while trying to rescue her. The situation gets worse when Aminon, a mysterious shadow organization tries to silence Eve at the same time… for things she can’t even remember. Finding Eve and Gilead isn’t Ariel’s only challenge. The ruthless Phoenix have planned something big. It will be the opening act of a new chapter in history. Assassin Rake Ashcor strikes a deal with Gilead for Eve and if he gets her, nothing will stop the Black Phoenix from killing millions in a few short hours. Guaranteed.

Ariel Blake must rescue childhood friend Eve Lang from Gilead Hightower. The team tracks the genius down and find themselves caught up in a chaotic firefight while trying to rescue her. The situation gets worse when Aminon, a mysterious shadow organization tries to silence Eve at the same time… for things she can’t even remember. Finding Eve and Gilead isn’t Ariel’s only challenge. The ruthless Phoenix have planned something big. It will be the opening act of a new chapter in history. Assassin Rake Ashcor strikes a deal with Gilead for Eve and if he gets her, nothing will stop the Black Phoenix from killing millions in a few short hours. Guaranteed. Solid State Shadow: Trinity Tower is part of an action packed sci-fi space opera that is inspired by Mass Effect, Star Wars, Judge Dredd, Die Hard, Continuum and Blade Runner. Adventure, romance, revenge, mecha, paranormal powers and intrigue fill the pages of this continuing saga. If you’re looking for nearly non-stop, blood pumping excitement you should get this book! Trinity Tower is Book Three of the Solid State Sigma Series.