Pulse: Book One is the first installment of B.A. Bellec's dystopian horror sci-fi novel. It's the year 2040, and Pulse is the largest corporation in the world. CEO Mark Sharpe organizes an ambitious music festival to showcase his company's overwhelming success in front of the world. However, a group called Anti-P is hell-bent on sabotaging the event and plans an audacious attack on the venue. Every single one of its members or their close ones has been hurt by the corrupt business practices of Pulse, driving them to seek revenge. But the shocking arrival of a bunch of seemingly alien parasitic creatures takes everyone aback, forcing them to fight for their lives. As the creatures latch on to human hosts, things become increasingly chaotic. Meanwhile, shocking secrets about Pulse are revealed.

Borrowing elements from disaster, horror, and sci-fi genres, author B.A. Bellec crafts a fast-paced dystopian novel that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and refuses to let go until the end. Pulse explores the greed and corruption prevalent amongst the uber-rich who prioritize profits over the severe environmental impact of their practices, seamlessly woven into an action-packed narrative that leaves you craving more. The author uses a multiple POV narrative to showcase the varying factions involved within the story. The cast is quite large, but every character is unique, with distinct traits and personalities that come together to create a sprawling web of plot threads. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which only makes you more eager to read the sequel. Highly recommended.

Pulse: Book One by B.A. Bellec may be highly speculative, but considering how we are managing the state of our political and environmental affairs, it’s not far from happening. Pulse is a company based on some of the biggest corporations in the world today, and this tale shows you what type of menace such a company could do. They practically own and manufacture everything that makes your life comfortable, ranging from basic necessities to technological and communication systems. As a promotional scheme to enhance their public image, Pulse comes up with PulseFest, a weekend music festival powered by hydroelectricity and a slew of batteries that have been storing energy. And then it happens: the ground beneath the festival’s venue is pulsing with life, something sinister that could only exist within the phantasmagoria of the mental faculties, and this is where Pulse’s corporate morals will be placed under scrutiny.

Capitalism at its most evil is one of the core driving ideas in this page-turner. Pulse is one of those rare dystopian novels rich in conflict, with convincing characters, detailed situations, and a unique storyline. What more can you ask for? Taking Pulse seriously is a moot point, but as a cautionary tale, it raises the bar when it comes to giving you a glimpse of where human folly can lead. The story reads like a screenplay rather than a related narrative that is typical in fiction. Having said that, this story may well translate to the big screen if any major studios would be interested. While B.A. Bellec gives you plenty of edge-of-the-seat moments, the author also gives you an opportunity to relax as well as direct your thoughts to think about the critical issues the book covers. Pulse is a fresh and engaging experience that I confidently recommend for anyone to read.

Author here! This book stewed in my mind for years. My first novel exists because I couldn't write Pulse as my first book, the scale is just too big. So proud I got here and I think this one is going to be massive! In addition to writing, I make music. Please find me on YouTube and check out some of the amazing Pulse music videos I made in 2021!