Oasis of the Damned & Heretics: A Novella Double-Shot

OASIS OF THE DAMNED When her helicopter crashes in the middle of the Sahara, Heather Richter, a former Army Captain and veteran of the Iraq War, finds herself at an abandoned WWII military outpost in one of the harshest and deadliest deserts on Earth. But she soon realizes there is another victim of the desert in this empty expanse of endless sand. Owens, a victim of an earlier plane crash, is there as well. An enigmatic and brooding man, he knows the secrets of the outpost, that it was actually built on top of an oasis and a natural well, the only thing that’s kept him alive. But he also knows the darker secrets of this strange and forgotten patch of desert hell. He and Richter are not alone. And the cruel terrain and relentless sun are the least of their worries, because inhuman things haunt the outpost, hideous and violent things that only come at night. Ancient, evil creatures hungry for human flesh, and no matter how many Richter and Owens kill, they just keep coming. With little hope of rescue, and tortured by her horrific experiences in Iraq years before, as well as the untimely and tragic death of her younger brother, Richter struggles to maintain her sanity amidst the brutal attacks that occur each time night falls, all the while trying to figure out if Owens is truly what he claims, or something more. Is anything as it seems, or is there something more profound happening, a shocking wound bleeding deeper than the ancient sands, the dark desert nights and the blistering sun? Two lost souls…a forgotten outpost in a haunted desert…vicious creatures bent on destruction… The brutal fight for survival has begun. HERETICS Years ago, an unspeakably violent ritual murder took place in the quiet, seaside town of Virtue. Three teenage outcasts are suspected of the crime. But did they do it, and if so, why? A terrifying descent into unimaginable evil and the horrific price that must be paid to escape it, HERETICS is a coming home story of redemption, resolution, and facing the demons that tear you from the people and places you once loved. Originally published in 2001 (by Delirium Books) as the anchor in a short story collection of the same name, HERETICS is the novella that essentially launched Greg F. Gifune’s career as a professional novelist. Prior to its publication, Gifune had been an accomplished short story writer, published extensively and internationally, but HERETICS was his first published longer work. Although released to rave reviews, for years it has been very difficult to find, as only a limited hardcover and paperback run were produced. Now, the novella has returned to print in new paperback and eBook editions so a wider readership can experience what many critics and readers alike describe as vintage, classic Gifune.