The Assassination of Billy Jeeling

From the New York Times Bestselling author of the DUNE series comes a spectacular science fiction novel: Billy Jeeling is the greatest hero in the history of mankind, the scientific genius who designed and built Skyship, an immense flying city that has been cleansing and repairing the atmosphere for decades--using his secret technologies. But he's an old man now, and has overstayed his welcome. The one-world government of the AmEarth Empire wants him to step down and turn over his secrets and technologies to them to control. Billy knows this would be most unwise. When Billy refuses to resign, the government institutes a campaign against him, spreading lies, distortions, and half-truths that seriously damage his reputation. His popularity plummets, and millions of people crowd the streets of major cities, demonstrating against him. Despite all the adversity, Billy remains on board Skyship, devoted to saving humanity from itself. The government can't remove him forcibly--without risking the loss of the critically important vessel and its priceless secrets. The ship bristles with defensive weaponry and high-tech security, and has a force of human and robotic security officers, all under the control of Billy's son Devv, the Security Commander. But the vessel's most important defense has to do with an announcement that Billy made to the AmEarth government: If Skyship were ever destroyed or seriously damaged, it would set in motion a series of huge atmospheric explosions that would wipe out virtually all life on the planet. General Rivington Moore VIII, a crazed AmEarth officer, seems hell-bent on dislodging Billy at any--ANY--cost. Billy has even deeper secrets (and personal demons) than they can possibly imagine, some so dangerous to civilization he hardly dares think about them around others lest they get revealed before he can solve them. Recognizing his own age, Billy has greater plans even than Skyship to save humanity, but he needs time to put them in place. Billy Jeeling, and every living creature, are on the edge of doom, and only Billy can save them....

BRIAN HERBERT

Brian is the author and co-author of more than 40 books, many of them prequels, sequels and spinoffs of the bestselling sci-fi classic Dune, written by his father, Frank. In 2003, Brian published Dreamer of Dune, the definitive, Hugo-nominated biography of his late father.

Regarding the many bestselling Dune-series novels Brian has written with co-author Kevin J. Anderson, Brian said, in Unbound Worlds: "We are pleased to have been able to continue Frank Herbert’s vision after his death, writing new novels and short stories in his brilliantly-conceived, remarkable series. We have worked hard to maintain the integrity of the series, and the fan reaction has been tremendous."

Brian has also written many non-Dune novels, and has two solo-written science fiction novels that will soon be published. He and his wife, Jan, live in the Seattle area, and have been married for more than 50 years. He also manages the family business involving Dune, sharing those responsibilities with his daughter, Kim, and with his nephew, Byron Merritt. An exciting new "Dune" movie is in the works from Legendary Pictures. For more about Brian and his work, as well as the latest Dune news, go to his Twitter site @DuneAuthor, his Facebook site brianherbertnovels, and his website http://brianherbertnovels.com/