Symbiote: Book 1: Caliphate Rising: By R. G. Taark
A Gripping Military Action-Thriller That Blurs the Lines Between Reality and Science Fiction
Symbiote plunges us into a world teetering on the brink, where global tensions simmer and shadowy forces plot in secret, and one spark could ignite a firestorm. “Symbiote: Caliphate Rising” thrusts readers into a pulse-pounding journey of modern warfare, clandestine operations, and cutting-edge science fiction.
Follow Captain Chris Moore, a battle-hardened soldier whose career and personal life have been shattered by relentless deployments and betrayal from within his ranks. Across the globe, Anwar, a boy forged by war and loss, discovers an extraordinary power within himself, setting him on a path of vengeance and destiny. Meanwhile, Omar Massri, an intellectual caught in the chaos of an Egyptian uprising, finds himself wielding abilities beyond human comprehension.
Their fates intertwine as ancient energies awaken, alliances shift, and a new caliphate rises from the ashes of global instability. Bound by mysterious forces beyond their understanding, these unlikely heroes must confront their pasts to shape humanity’s future.
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Genre:
SciFi & Fantasy:
In Symbiote: Book 1: Caliphate Rising, R. G. Taark blends the gritty realism of geopolitical intrigue with a chilling science fiction twist. The story unfolds across a world on the brink of chaos, where a mysterious energy phenomenon disrupts the natural order, allowing entities from another dimension to cross into our reality.
This supernatural event intertwines with the lives of characters like Anwar, a young Chechen boy seeking vengeance, and Omar Saad Massri, an Egyptian professor inadvertently drawn into a revolutionary plot. Meanwhile, global leaders grapple with economic anomalies and covert operations, setting the stage for a thrilling narrative where the boundaries between science and the unknown blur, creating a world where the stakes are not just political but existential.
The science and military fiction-based action firmly places this into the SciFi genre. If you are interested, there is more here.
Thriller Books:
In Symbiote: Book 1: Caliphate Rising, R. G. Taark crafts a gripping thriller that spans continents, weaving together themes of war, espionage, and the supernatural. The story follows young Anwar in war-torn Grozny, seeking vengeance against Russian forces, while global political machinations unfold. From the President of the United States grappling with economic anomalies and covert operations to Omar Saad Massri in Cairo, inadvertently involved in a revolutionary plot, the narrative explores the personal and geopolitical impacts of a mysterious energy phenomenon that disrupts the natural order, allowing entities from another dimension to influence human affairs.
This blend of real-world conflict with otherworldly elements creates a thrilling, unpredictable journey through a world on the brink of transformation.
For more Thrillers, they are listed HERE.
Highlights from “Symbiote: Caliphate Rising”
⚡ Unforgettable Characters
Meet Captain Chris Moore, a soldier betrayed by those he trusted most:
“Captain Moore knew himself well enough to know that he just didn’t want to play anymore.”
Witness Anwar’s transformation from innocent child to fierce warrior:
“It was time for Anwar to leave this place. He had heard quiet talk about fighters gathering up in the hills. Now that he had a weapon, he could become one of them.”
Experience Omar Massri’s awakening during the chaos of the revolution:
“He felt almost like his fingers suddenly tingled with his brain’s knowledge of healing… He envisioned the boy mended to his original healthy condition and felt the front wound under his right hand pull suddenly closed.”
🌍 Real-World Tensions Meet Sci-Fi Thrills
R.G. Taark masterfully blends real-world geopolitical tensions with speculative technology and mysterious powers:
- The rise of a new caliphate amid global instability.
- Secret military operations are shadowed by betrayal.
- Supernatural abilities are emerging amidst violent uprisings.
🔥 Pulse-Pounding Action
From intense urban combat in war-torn Chechnya to clandestine operations at Fort Bragg, every scene crackles with authenticity:
- Experience gritty street battles through Anwar’s eyes.
- Feel Captain Moore’s frustration as bureaucracy hampers real soldiers.
- Witness Omar’s desperate struggle for survival amidst Cairo riots.
Sneak Peek: Key Moments from the Book
🏙️ Chechnya: A Childhood Shattered
Anwar’s life changes forever when Russian soldiers brutally murder his cousins before his eyes. In that moment of trauma, something awakens within him:
“Anwar silently drifted to a careful standing position… His blade slammed into the other man’s neck just as he tried to gasp in surprise… He rode the soldier’s flailing body down into his own piss and now pooling blood.”
🇪🇬 Cairo: The Awakening
Caught in violent protests against Egypt’s military junta, Omar discovers extraordinary healing powers:
“His mind traveled all over the boy and suddenly knew everything he needed to know about his medical condition… He envisioned the boy mended… The boy gasped under Omar’s hands.”
🇺🇸 Fort Bragg: Betrayal from Within
Captain Moore faces insurmountable odds, not only from enemy forces abroad but also from corrupt superiors at home:
“Today’s snub had landed in the form of the Battalion Commander reopening an old spat… ‘Why don’t you just shut up about that tired horseshit you ignorant…'”
Why Readers Love “Symbiote: Caliphate Rising”
- ✅ Authenticity – Written with deep military insight and geopolitical awareness.
- ✅ Engaging Characters – Complex heroes you’ll root for until the very end.
- ✅ Fast-Paced Plot – Short chapters designed to keep you turning pages late into the night.
- ✅ Thought-Provoking Themes – Explores power dynamics, loyalty, betrayal, and humanity’s resilience.
- ✅ Series Starter – The first book in an exciting series that promises more twists and turns ahead.
About R.G. Taark
R.G. Taark is an avid reader turned author who draws inspiration from history, military experience, classic literature, and current events. His unique storytelling style combines meticulous research with compelling characters and thrilling action sequences. With multiple series underway, including “Guardsman” and “Innkeeper’s Niece”, Taark continues to captivate readers worldwide.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
📖 Is this book part of a series?
Yes! “Symbiote: Caliphate Rising” is Book 1 in R.G. Taark’s thrilling Symbiote series. Expect more gripping adventures ahead!
🚀 What genres does this book cover?
This novel expertly blends military action-thriller elements with science fiction intrigue, perfect for fans of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, or Michael Crichton.
🌐 Who would enjoy reading this book?
Readers who love realistic military thrillers infused with speculative sci-fi elements will find themselves hooked from page one.
Don’t Wait, Join the Adventure Today!
Symbiote was the first book concept I developed. The origin was a conversation with one of my overly intelligent soldiers from the Army. He was a sergeant tank gunner in Korea with two doctoral degrees who wanted to see the world. It was a wild rambling conversation, and the next day I started outlining Symbiote’s basics.
When I wrote this book in 2010, under the R.G Taark pen name. It was during the start of a very traumatic and life-altering divorce. If you want to know what has happened, break open your legal dictionary. Read the descriptions for ‘Severe Parental Alienation’. Then drag that shit far forward through a miserable decade+.
Symbiote was difficult to write to start with, given all the shit going on in the ‘real life’. By the time I got into the fighting and action, I realized that, given personal experiences with trigger pulling, writing fiction in the modern military genre was going to be difficult.
Please consider this series on pause. There is more to tell here, but it is emotionally difficult. So we will tell other stories first.
For Fans of…
🎯 Tom Clancy-esque Realism
If you love Tom Clancy’s attention to detail in military operations and political intrigue, “Symbiote” will resonate with you. Like Clancy, R.G. Taark grounds his story in realistic geopolitical scenarios, then adds a speculative twist that elevates the stakes.
💥 Brad Thor’s Action-Packed Thrillers
Brad Thor fans will appreciate the relentless pace and high-octane action sequences in “Symbiote.” Taark shares Thor’s knack for crafting intense, suspenseful scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat.
🧬 Michael Crichton’s Sci-Fi Blends
Michael Crichton readers will be drawn to the seamless integration of scientific concepts with thrilling storytelling. “Symbiote” explores the boundaries of human potential with a blend of cutting-edge tech and thought-provoking themes.
⚔️ Similar Stories
Here are a few stories and authors that you will also love if you enjoyed Symbiote: Caliphate Rising:
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“Black Company” by Glen Cook: You’ll love the gritty realism of mercenaries doing their job in a dark fantasy world. The author pulls no punches, just like R. G. Taark.
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“A Hymn Before Battle” by John Ringo: Another book that shares a core of solid military action with an over-the-top sci-fi idea. The author is a talented military storyteller.
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“Old Man’s War” by John Scalzi: A solid military thriller with a dash of science fiction. R. G. Taark offers similar themes in the book, Symbiote.
“Symbiote: Caliphate Rising” – Genre Highlights
🕵️ Espionage Meets Evolution
“Symbiote” takes the cloak-and-dagger world of espionage and infuses it with the unpredictable force of human evolution. As characters grapple with new abilities and hidden agendas, the line between spy thriller and sci-fi adventure blurs.
💥 Military Realism with a Twist
Experience military operations with an insider’s perspective, then brace yourself for a speculative twist. R.G. Taark combines his expertise with imaginative storytelling to create a world where the rules of engagement are constantly evolving.
💥 Betrayal and Supernatural
Captain Moore learns, in real-time, that the real monsters aren’t always halfway around the world. Like Captain Moore, the reader also begins to question everything about the world they thought they knew.
🚀 High-Stakes Action in a Global Battleground
From the streets of Chechnya to the halls of Fort Bragg, “Symbiote” spans continents and power structures, all while delivering heart-pounding action. Prepare for a globe-trotting adventure where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
Summary:
The War on Terror has ended, with both sides claiming victory. Nations of Islam claim victory because they have repelled the Crusaders. The United States and its allies claim victory because they have destroyed or captured all the figureheads involved in the September 11th attacks. America’s army is tired after a generation of war, and neither side is willing to reopen hostilities over semantics.
American scientists and politicians have finally created a massive infrastructure project that breaks North America free of foreign energy sources. They have mated fusion power plants that split water molecules for their hydrogen. Creating heat that is used for energy, breathable oxygen, and Helium as harmless byproducts. The fusion power grid uses a massive orbital solar collection grid to jump-start the reactors with a slurry of powerful light particles. Like all new science, it is not fully understood before it is unleashed upon the world. . .
The tertiary effects of the cliff-like drop-off of demand shatter the existing nation-states that depend on oil revenues to maintain their vice-grips on power. The particularly fragile Islamic nation states, after decades of war with the West, even the ones that had once stood as allies and enemy alike, are plunged into political and economic chaos as their oppressive regimes are tossed off one by one in free elections.
What emerges are the Eastern and Western Islamic Caliphates; enigmatic political entities based on fierce adherence to religious doctrine and something else. The Caliphate is led by a new warrior and leadership caste, who they believe are literally touched by the hand of God. With the hand of God on their side, nothing can stop them from fulfilling the orders of their blessed Prophet Mohammed, to bring the world under the guidance of their faith . . .
Perplexity’s Take:
If you would like an impartial impression from a digital overlord, we asked for Perplexity’s thoughts on the Symbiote, and the ARTICLE was pretty interesting!
LinkedIn:
Because I am so cool, we made an article on LinkedIn too: Discover “The Symbiote: Caliphate Rising”.
X.com:
For more fun, I published this article on X.com about the Symbiote. If you would like to read that version over there: When Science Fiction Meets Military Reality: The Symbiote Chronicles!
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