The Assassin's Dream — J.D. Townsend

2174 A.D. Acquired Genetic Neurological Syndrome has killed nearly two-thirds of Earth's male population, and women have risen to dominate all aspects of life. The Whole Body governs with chilling efficiency; the Ministry of Termination dispatches those who might threaten the world order or whose usefulness has come to an end. To that end, a select few have been engineered to carry out the clandestine orders of the North American Council - K-Class assassins. At 19, Kay Black is probably the most talented assassin the Ministry of Births has ever produced. When routine assignment to terminate Angela Potemkin, a renowned scientist with the Central Office for Genetic Research, does not go as planned, Kay learns information about herself that turns her world upside down, and her search for the truth about her origins reveals that she has received an inheritance, something that makes her even more dangerous than an assassin. The trouble is she is not alone in receiving this unexpected gift, a gift that by its very nature will challenge the foundations of power in the world . . . if Kay can survive long enough to use it.

James Townsend is a veteran of journalism, a musician and a student of the mysteries of consciousness. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he writes, plays music and enjoys the humbling presence of the Rocky Mountains. (20021201)