Troy Suesse Publishes Sci-Fi Novel “Maximum Capacity”

In a dystopian world, for every baby born, another human must die. The good hunt the bad. A monumental struggle to survive on a dying planet Earth intensifies.

This is the conflict created by Pasadena author Troy Suesse in his novel “Maximum Capacity,” which was inspired by “The Hunger Games,” “The Purge,” “Waterworld” and “The Running Man.”

“While those tales were captivating in their time, I sensed that sci-fi fans everywhere were hungry for a new wave of dystopian intrigue,” Suesse said of  his book, which was published February 15. “I created a society, set 1,000 years into the future, where Earth becomes dreadfully overcrowded and its resources abysmally depleted. This adventure takes place in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay!”

To control the population growth, society’s worst offenders — those with the highest “violation counts” — are forced into giant cages for fight-to-the-death competitions, which take place before live, interactive audiences.

Suesse also incorporated his fascination of deep-space travel and discovery into the storyline.

“I was born July 20, 1969, the very day that man first walked on the moon,” he said. “I was given the middle name Armstrong — after the first moonwalker, Neil Armstrong — to commemorate the event. Thus, I became an avid space enthusiast. Given the incredible size and complexity of the universe, it’s quite possible that another habitable planet (an exact duplicate of Earth, in fact) exists out there somewhere. This was all the inspiration I needed to devise a parallel plot line, which takes the reader on a journey of deep space travel and discovery.”

Although “Maximum Capacity” is a plot-driven novel, it includes a “deliberately impactful cast of characters,” Seusse said.

“Original concepts and unexpected twists combine to create a captivating plot that is as fascinating as it is frightening,” he said. “Even the most magnificent story, however, is much more spellbinding with a cast of varied and likable characters. In this novel, carefully generated prose conjures up vivid images of the lead protagonists and antagonists. From their physical attributes and garments they adorn, to how they act, think and feel. It will be immediately apparent to the reader that my long-term goal for ‘Maximum Capacity’ is to partner with a movie studio in the production of a feature film. Get your candy and popcorn ready!”

Seusse’s main goal is to entertain readers and, one day, movie audiences. However, there is an underlying message.

“When Earth’s finite supply of resources becomes inevitably depleted, it’s quite reasonable to conceive our population reaching a critical point, causing panic and distress,” Seusse said. “Until scientists discover that distant land which can save us from extinction, may we all strengthen our efforts to preserve the bounty of our incredible planet. May we redouble our commitment to treat each other with kindness and respect. And lastly, may we all work very diligently to … eh-um … keep our ‘violation counts’ low (wink).”

The 284-page paperback was published by Morgan James Publishing and is available through Barnes & Noble and other retailers.