The Aurykon Chronicles, Books 1 to 5, is a contemporary American tale about a northern Californian teenager, Mack Thomas. He undertakes a fantastic five-year journey that transforms, imperils, and matures him. Through conversations with Pappy, his wise old grandfather and mentor, Mack discovers the truth about the causes of danger in the world-government corruption, banking fraud, excessive military intervention, insurmountable debt, eroding freedom and democracy, corruption of our monetary systems, failing social programs, and a frightening rise of tyranny. He learns why it will all inevitably collapse in the worst geopolitical and macroeconomic conflagration in human history. Mack struggles with his grandfather's dystopian predictions about the fate of America. Despite Pappy's logic, he thinks the old guy is crazy. Financial collapse and severe depression? The end of democracy and personal liberty? The rise of totalitarianism? The fall of the Empire? Nuclear war? Surely not. This is a speculative fiction story in which Mack secretly raises an orphaned infant alien, Aurykon, in Mendocino County wilderness. This inter-dimensional being proves to be a challenging handful for a naive, young, single parent. You see, after five years in Mack's care, Aurykon matures to a super-intelligent, super-powerful, and super-large individual. He stands twenty feet tall, is bulletproof, breathes fire, and has a forty-foot wingspan. Yes, Aurykon is a magnificent, golden-tinged dragon ... and he's not yet fully grown. Mack and Aurykon are inseparable best friends. That's fortunate, for when they cross to an alternate dimension to return the dragon to his original home, the planet Shukra, the humans there have driven geopolitical and macroeconomic affairs to the brink of catastrophe-a most dangerous place. Mack witnesses and nearly succumbs to the inevitable consequences of the same human greed and profligacy that plague Earth. Pappy's predictions prove plausible. Fear not, during his travels Mack encounters Princess Bibianna. Although this royal beauty is supposedly unobtainable, she ultimately makes all his troubles worthwhile. The Aurykon Chronicles weaves elements of factual circumstances with a genre mix of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and coming-of-age. The tale's underlying premise (political and economic irresponsibility of governments, corporations, and elite individuals) enlightens new adult readers while entertaining them with a rollercoaster hero's journey. The story is a series of five novella-sized "Books," each being a phase of Mack and Aurykon's awesome tale of discovery: Book 1: California Dragon Book 2: Mendocino Mayhem Book 3: Minaurian Exploits Book 4: Desperate Measures Book 5: The Gauld War Through this exciting compilation, you discover the dark truth about the real world, while joining Mack and his dragon pal on a fantastic intergalactic voyage.