Walther Stonet, born in Berlin, lives with his family in Metzingen, near Stuttgart. He studied economics in Mannheim. He has been self-employed in the IT sector for over 35 years. He has been writing song lyrics and poems since the age of 14, and later short stories, essays and reviews.
Whilst at university, he worked as a freelancer for the “Mannheimer Morgen” and “Rheinpfalz” newspapers. From 2003 to 2015, he was poetry editor at the magazine “Asphaltspuren”; since August 2015, he has been the publisher and editor-in-chief of the magazine blog “zugetextet.com – a feature section for poetry, language, debate and culture”, www.zugetextet.com, where he remains active.
The ‘Batgenes’ novel trilogy did not come about entirely by chance. It is the result of an active engagement with the pandemic, the man-made climate catastrophe and the looming clash of systems between democracies and authoritarian-dictatorial regimes of varying persuasions. Walther is a sceptical optimist who has learnt that nothing happens unless you take matters into your own hands.
I am involved with Climate Fiction Writers Europe because the climate crisis must be tackled head-on. Literature is a means of conveying complex issues in a way that evokes empathy.
A thrilling love story: a power couple who find each other in the outback and set out to save the world.
Science fiction: In just eight generations from now, the world is dystopian, sweltering, ravaged by a pandemic, and threatened by an evil, racist force striving for world domination.
Fantasy: Mutants with bat genes have inherited their abilities and resistance to viruses.
Speculative fiction: The mutants can do even more. They’ll need it to prevent an asteroid from wiping out humanity. And to stop eternal evil from subjugating them.
Volume 1, ‘Selection’, recounts the beginnings of the Batgenes trilogy from the perspective of Lou, the male half of the power couple.
The fight continues – this time from Beth’s perspective.
Rescue: The kidnapped Marshal is rescued from the clutches of the AN, the Realm of Evil. She barely survives the abduction.
Takeover: As part of the democratic reorganisation, Beth becomes the new Marshal of Energy – the World Organisation for Clean Electricity Generation from Sunlight. Three women are leading energy into the future.
Conquest of Space: Lou, the innovator and engineer, prevents the solar satellites from failing. Together with his fellow generals, he rescues his wife and the Marshal from the Hyperloop tunnel beneath Bogotá.
Threat: To make matters worse, a large asteroid is discovered that is set to crash into Earth in two years’ time and could wipe out humanity.
The AN, the realm of evil, is out for it. The asteroid must be deflected.
Challenges: The next pandemic must be contained. People must be saved from starvation. The world must be built on a foundation of freedom, peace and respect for diversity.
Interplay: Sometimes Beth speaks, sometimes Lou. Sometimes matter-of-factly. At other times, (self-)ironically and hilariously funny.
Realms of Pain: The sacrifices are enormous, the battles bloody. Lou, in particular, suffers and endures.
The Price: Will Lou ultimately pay for saving the world three times over with his life, make the ultimate sacrifice, and leave the grieving Beth behind?