About THE CLOUD: Upload information – download annihilation:
Young Adult sci-fi: Upload information….Download ANNIHILATION: The reader is embroiled in a World that shifts from one of normality, to a place where ‘the cloud’ can think for itself. A place where decisions are made without a hint of ethics. Equipped with every piece of information ever uploaded it begins to control populations who now wear implants connecting them to the internet: plunging humanity into a fatal game of algorithms. Cayden and Stella must save mankind, but they may have to leave Earth to do it.
Buy the book:
Author Bio:
James McKenzie is from Aberdeen, Scotland and is the author of two Young Adult sci fi / fantasy books. ‘The Cloud’ and ‘The Mystery of Yamashita’s Map’.
About me:
I was sitting in a nice bar in The Philippines when a guy came in and asked if I wanted to be in a local movie starring local Filipno star Eddie Garcia..first, I had to make a punch that he threw look realistic,.. and so started my movie career.
Since then I worked with many stars including, Chuck Norris, Jacky Chan, Edward Fox, Linda Blair Chris Penn, Richard Hatch, Lou Ferrigno, Doald Pleasance, Denholm Elliot, Miles O’ Keefe, Shannon Tweed, Sam Jones and many others.
‘THE CLOUD’.
I came up with the idea for ‘The Cloud’ when my wife and I were at home in our living room chatting about taking our two sons on holiday: it had been a long time since we had been on a family holiday together. My computer was on, but was on ‘standby’ mode as we chatted. We were being specific about what kind of holiday we were planning, we were thinking about going on a cruise, so it was a bit of a shock when I opened my computer and started to receive ‘pop-ups’ advertising various cruises. I guess the computer was listening to our conversation, maybe picking up keywords from our chat. To be sure, we switched it back off and deliberately started talking about buying a new car. Then I turned the computer back on and guess what, I started getting ‘pop-up’ adverts for car sales.
I started to think that ‘big brother’ was real and we are being monitored, so this was the basic premiss for the story which is about the information we save and back-up to our computers and to ‘the cloud’. I wondered, “What if the cloud began to think for itself as it had all the technical knowledge to make it happen?”. This idea developed into a sci fi /romance novella which was released in September 2019. I tried to make a story with a similar ‘feel’ to the old ‘Twilight Zone’ or ‘Outer Limits’ tv shows that I watched on tv years ago. The book is a four hour read, so short enough for someone with time on their hands to get through, yet long enough for character development and for readers to invest in the story. As in most sci-fi yarns, the ending is done in such a way that a sequal could be highly likely.
‘THE MYSTERY OF YAMASHITA’S MAP”.
Was originally written as a screen play. Several years later I rewrote the story as a novel. This was published in hardcover by Book Guild Ltd in April 2007 and was a hot seller at the London Book Fair and across the World.
During filming of a movie starring George Takai (Star Trek, Heroes) titled “The Return To The River Kwai” I was approached by some locals and asked if I could get George to translate some Japanese writing on a map.
Of course I was to shy to ask him, but I found out that the map was supposed to show the location of treasure that was buried by General Yamashita at the end of WW2.
Years later my film work took me to Hong Kong where I did a bit of scriptwriting and worked in a number of local movies. I also worked with Jacky Chan and Jean Claude Van Damme. Funnily both films were about twin brothers.
It was here that I decided to write a story about Yamashita’s treasure.
During World War 2, General Yamashita (Tiger of Malaya), is said to have hidden the wealth, the Japanese Imperial Army had taken from the Asian nations, in booby trapped tunnels in the Philippines. Some of the treasure, including gold ingots are said to have been found. Even today treasure hunters are still searching for gold. It is still a mystery where all the gold went and some say that some of the treasure found its way to America to fund shadow government covert operations.
The book is loosly based on this legend and the story, is integrated with sci-fi and conspiracy theory elements, which makes it a fascinating read.
George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes) has featured “The Mystery of Yamashita’s Map” on his Japanese fan website.
In 2014 I was contacted by the producers of History Channel’s smash-hit series ‘Myth Hunters’ and asked to appear on the show as a contributor and narrator of the Yamashita Gold episode. To coincide with the tv appearance I revised the book with an additional 30.000 words and published it in Kindle ebook format as well as making the revised paperback available for print by amazon.
James McKenzie movie list. (Courtesy of imdb)
Actor (29 credits)
1995 Rumble in the Bronx – Police Officer (uncredited)
1995 Zha dan qing ren – Detective
1994 The Return of the God of Gamblers – Gambler
1992 The Twin Dragons – Piano Judge (uncredited)
1989 Battle Rats – Special Force Men (as Jim McKenzie)
1989 Harimao – British Army Captain
1989 Narco Dollar – DEA Agent (as Jim Mokensie)
1989 Trigon Fire – Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
1989 Bloodfist – Fight Punter (uncredited)
1989 Leathernecks – Rebel card player (uncredited)
1989 Ang pumatay nang dahil sa’yo! – Donovan
1989 Alien from the Deep – Scientist (uncredited)
1989 Return from the River Kwai – POW (uncredited)
1988 Desert Warrior – Kitano – Drone (as Jim McKenzie)
1988 Sando and the Diplomat’s Daughter – Black Star Guard
1988 The Firing Line – Male Rebel (uncredited)
1988 Whiteforce – Board member (uncredited)
1988 Last Platoon – Phil (uncredited)
1988 Phantom Raiders – Escaped Prisoner (as Jim McKenzie)
1988 Tough Cops – Policeman
1988 Braddock: Missing in Action III – Reporter (uncredited)
1987 Behind Enemy Lines – Townshead’s Aide
1987 SFX Retaliator – Jim
1987 Olongapo… The Great American Dream – American sailor (as The Dawn)
1987 Double Target – Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
1987 Strike Commando – Radek’s soldier
1987/I Sweet Revenge – Diner (uncredited)
1986 Double Edge – Kidnapping Victim (uncredited)
1985 Ninja Warriors – Goon
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (1 credit)