A dazzling look at Mayan mythology incarnate from New York Times bestselling author Steve Alten

For two thousand years, the Mayan Calendar has prophesied the end of mankind on a date equating to December 21st, 2012. As that day approaches, greed, corruption, economic collapse, and violence seem to be pushing our species to the predicted brink of disaster. But there is another Doomsday threat looming in our near future, a very real threat that can wipe-out not only humanity but our entire planet.

Phobos: Mayan Fear, Steve Alten’s third book in the Mayan Prophecy series, is a doomsday rollercoaster ride of adventure that follows Immanuel Gabriel to the end of the world and back again for one last shot at salvation.   During Immanuel’s journey with his deceased grandfather, archaeologist Julius Gabriel, Julius reveals everything the Mayans knew and feared—from the secrets of creation that predate the Big Bang to the existence of extraterrestrials that have come to Earth to save our species.

The universe is not what it seems, nor is human existence.  The ticking clock of physicality that begins at conception and terminates with our final breath is neither the end nor the beginning, but an elaborate ruse constructed as a test.

We are failing miserably.

Patrick “Shep” Shepherd was a promising major league rookie pitcher on September 11th, 2001.  Shaken by the attacks, Shep was driven to enlist in the armed forces even if that meant leaving behind his soul mate and their newborn daughter.  Eleven years and four deployments later, Shep finds himself in Manhattan’s VA hospital.  His left arm is gone, his wife and daughter are gone, and he is haunted by the nightmares of war.

With world leaders meeting at the U.N., Mary Klipot, a biohazard level-4 scientist, sees an opportunity to carry out God’s work.  She injects herself with Scythe, a swift-acting version of the Black Death, and diligently spreads the infection throughout Manhattan.  The threat of a worldwide pandemic forces officials to seal off the island…leaving the president of the U.S.—and Shep’s family—trapped.

Determined to rescue his wife and child, Shep searches  through the plague-infested neighborhoods of Manhattan.  And the Grim Reaper follows…

 Archaeologist Julius Gabriel has devoted his life to studying the Mayan calendar, a 2,500-year-old enigma that ends abruptly on December 21, 2012. Many believe this foretells the end of the world. Julius is convinced it’s one of many pieces to a puzzle that could lead to the salvation of our species. He has passed on his knowledge to the only person who ever believed his theories—his son Mick.

It is now the fall of 2012 and Mick is still haunted by his father’s predictions. He’s been committed to a Miami asylum for paranoid schizophrenia, and the dawn of his most feared prophecies is upon him.   When inquisitive psychologist Dominique Vazquez joins the team at the South Florida Treatment Center, Mick finds a new listener for his warnings of the coming Apocalypse. What Dominique doesn’t realize is that she is his last hope of saving humanity.

For the fall equinox is looming, and with it will come a rare galactic alignment with the potential to change life as we know it.

It is the beginning of the end...