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“Die Gloke,” I say.

The man gives a tip of his hat.

“Did you take this from—”

“Is from
my
Earth. Is the second I have found. Was taking to a secure location when I noticed your...”

“Shit storm?” I suggest.

“Situation,” he says. “The monsters. The invaders.”

“Do you know when they’re coming?” I ask.

The lighthearted nature I sense from the man melts away. “They are already here, destroying an Earth parallel to this one. In that place, you are already dead. And without help, this world will be next. And then mine. And countless others, until humanity is wiped out, in
all
dimensions.”

“Who
are
you?” I ask.

He stands by the big metal bell-shaped object that we know as a Rift Engine. It’s covered in what I assume is Atlantean script. Its dirty bronze surface looks ancient, but still full of horrible potential. He pats his revolvers and smiles. “Am gunslinger,” he says. “I am Cowboy.”

He puts his hand on the Rift Engine and motions for us to do the same. “Bell is alien power source. But can be used for travel. In air, or between dimensions.”

It’s not much of a stretch from what we’ve already seen Hyperion do. But do I buy his story about there being multiple versions of Earth, including one that has already been destroyed? I’m not sure. My tolerance for weird shit is at an all time high.

“Physical contact with bell is required. I can direct us.” He gives a winning smile. “Is safe.”

When I step forward, Collins catches my arm. “What are you doing?”

“‘Is safe,’” I say, imitating the man’s accent. “And if the Cosmic Cowboy here is legit, I need to follow this through. Take the risk. It’s what we do, right?”

She kisses me gently on the lips, and that, more than her words, makes me second guess what I’m about to do. I look at the man.

“If he gets hurt,” Collins says to the man, “I’ll hunt you down, no matter what dimension you think you can hide in.”

The man just smiles like it’s all good fun. “Back in jiffy.”

I put my hand on the smooth surface of the Rift Engine. It’s cool and vibrating ever so slightly. And then we’re gone, lost between worlds, and somehow able to see them all. It’s like viewing reality—all of it, or all of them—through the eyes of an all-seeing creator. We’re floating through imagination itself, conjured worlds separated by thin membranes of reality. Like pages in a book, separate, but conjoined. Realities flash past, heroes and monsters, familiar and fantastical, and then I see them.

The Aeros.

And an Earth that’s already been destroyed.

“Is the first of many,” Cowboy says, his voice echoing strangely in this surreal place. Somehow he shows me dimensions in proximity to each other, and I see Collins, looking afraid, backing away from the spot where the bell had been resting just a moment ago. The Aeros are just a world away, wiping out a version of our planet woefully unprepared for their scourge. I see massive space vessels, Gestorumque, the Aeros themselves and a weapon of vast destructive power.

“Your Earth is next,” Cowboy says.

I watch the dimensions slipping in and out of view, watching people and events, some of which rival the threats faced by the FC-P. I see potential.

“Screw the Ferox,” I tell him. “We have work to do, and not a lot of time to do it in.”

I pick a world where a man stands boldly against a horde of monsters, point to it, and say, “In the immortal words of Jean Luc Picard: ‘Engage.’”

Look for PROJECT LEGION in 2016!

Keep turning the pages for concept art,

fan art, a preview of the
Project Nemesis

comic book Issue #1, and more!

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Four years ago, when I started working on Nemesis and the FC-P, my lofty goal was to create America’s first real iconic kaiju. Sure, we have
King Kong
, but he’s just a big ape and a snack for
Godzilla,
who Americans have adopted as their own. But the big green G will always be, at heart, Japan’s kaiju. And now we have the kaiju in
Pacific Rim
, but they’re hardly the main focus of the movie. There is
Cloverfield
, but can anyone even remember what that monster looks like?

Since her birth, Nemesis has steadily grown, both in the books and in the real world. She started as the bestselling original (not Godzilla) kaiju novel ever. After the second novel,
Project Maigo,
came along, she landed a video game deal—
Fall of Nemesis: Colossal Kaiju Combat
. The third novel,
Project 731
, expanded the audience again and shortly after that, the series was granted its own comic book series, adapting
Project Nemesis
, with issue one being released just weeks after the book in your hands. Now, with the fourth Nemesis novel,
Project Hyperion
, published, I’m looking forward to her next growth spurt. The fifth book in the series,
Project Legion
, will be released in 2016 and will make the Nemesis Saga the longest running kaiju novel series ever published, beating out the 1990s Godzilla run. I don’t know if Nemesis qualifies as a franchise yet, but she is on the cusp for sure. And for that, I have YOU to thank.

Your support over the years, spreading the word, creating fan art and being passionate about the books affects the Nemesis brand in the same way people do when Nemesis eats them! With each review, blog post, video, podcast mention, etc, Nemesis grows, and who doesn’t want the Goddess of Vengeance to grow?! So show your support for the Queen of the Monsters, and post reviews online, at online retailers and on Goodreads. Tell your friends about the book. Post fan art. Spread the word however you can, and maybe the next deal for Nemesis will be a TV series or movie!

Thanks again for all your amazing support, and for reading
Project Hyperion!

—
Jeremy Robinson

ART GALLERIES

The following art galleries include original creature concept designs by the amazing Matt Frank, along with step-by-step art revealing how the
Project Hyperion
cover was created by the artist known as “Shark.” As always, there are several pages of amazing fan art. And if all of that wasn’t enough, there are also several preview pages from issue #1 of the
Project Nemesis
comic book, also drawn by Matt Frank.

MATT FRANK CREATURE DESIGNS

This first gallery includes the original creature concept designs for Nemesis and the new Kaiju: Lovecraft and Giger, as well as the series’ first giant mech: Hyperion. The designs are by the always amazing Matt Frank, who has provided art for all four Nemesis books, and is now illustrating the
Project Nemesis
comic book. You might also recognize his work from many Godzilla comic books.

Check him out at:
www.mattfrankart.com
.

STEP BY STEP COVER CREATION BY “SHARK”

Six months ago I received a package, from Sci-Fi World, the largest Chinese publisher of Science Fiction. The package wasn’t the right size or shape for a book, so I wasn’t sure what they’d sent me. When I tore it open, I had no idea what to expect, but never in my wildest dreams could I have guessed that it was the Chinese edition of
Project Nemesis
, formatted like a magazine and featuring one of the most mind-blowing illustrations of Nemesis I have ever seen. I tracked down the artist, who goes by “Shark,” to thank him for his work. We struck up a conversation, and when I realized that he was a true fan of the series as well, I asked him about doing the cover for
Project Hyperion
. The result of that conversation now graces the cover of this book! To check out more of Shark’s amazing work, visit him at:
sharksden.deviantart.com
.