Through a gaping hole in one of the lowest tunnels of the New York City subway system emerges a horde of bloodthirsty reptilian creatures from another realm who begin terrorizing and slaughtering everyone from the city’s homeless “Mole People” to subway passengers and finally, the transit police and even the city’s Emergency Services Unit. In addition to the attacks, strange glyphs are carved into the stone and metal walls of the subway system seemingly by incredibly sharp blades… or possibly claws.
When a teenage graffiti artist manages to survive an attack in the tunnels and emerge bloodied and battered at one of the subway stations, his presence is sensed by young Polynesian empath, Malana Tai. Aided by her abilities, she is able to point two transit cops, Cole and Sand, in the right direction to intercept the ravaged teen and save his life. For Malana, however, the adventure doesn’t end there.
It isn’t long before news of these incidents reaches RC Hayes, head of the Orphic Crisis Logistical Task Force (O.C.L.T.). Unfamiliar with New York City’s labyrinthine subway system, Hayes reaches out to fastidious Columbia anthropology professor Hideyoshi Tidijin for assistance. After a briefing on the situation, Tidijin enters the subway tunnels with the police to analyze the symbols carved into the walls and the aftermath of the creatures in an attempt to gain measure on them.
Later, armed with photographs of the glyphs, Tidijin visits linguist Elizabeth Lapsey of the Natural Museum of History to consult with her—with Malana Tai furtively tracking his every move. No sooner does Tidijin arrive at the museum then Malana’s senses are overwhelmed by unfettered rage and anger from somewhere below the museum. Disrupting the meeting between Tidijin and Lapsey, Malana warns that another attack is imminent.
Moments later, the trio emerge in the subway station below the museum directly into a scene of carnage as the giant reptilian creatures impale and slash civilians and police alike until the unflappable Professor Tidijin pulls the fire alarm to evacuate the station—both of humans and creatures. The latter retreat in fear and pain from the flashing lights and strident screech of the alarm.
Lapsey and Malana decide to join Tidijin in a crusade to send these creatures back through the pit from whence they came. They are joined by O.C.L.T. member and Vatican soldier Isabella Ferrara, a tall, stunning blonde whose prowess in combat—as well as her experience with inhuman and otherworldly opponents—makes her eminently suitable to the task of eliminating the creatures.
Together, this eclectic crew of four disparate personalities bring their unique skills to bear as they fight to save New York City, despite the staggering odds against them.
Digging Deep is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure with distinct and endearing characters. Rosenberg’s detailed explanations of Malana Tai’s empathic impressions of those around her—human or otherwise—is especially remarkable, as are Tidijin’s perspicacious analysis of the behavior and culture of the unnamed creatures and Lapsey’s rapid ability to reconstruct their written language. I can only imagine the amount of research that went into crafting this story and Rosenberg masterfully weaves just enough of that information into the plot without stunting the story’s pace.
For as long as he could remember, young Thorby had been a slave—until he lands on Jubbal, one of the Nine Worlds of the Sargon Empire, and is purchased by a beggar named Baslim. It is not long before Thorby realizes that Baslim is no simple mendicant, but a spy and one who despises the slave trade. Once Baslim educates Thorby in reading, writing, mathematics, and even a bit of espionage, he frees Thorby from slavery and adopts him as his son.
