David Berger

DAVID BERGER was the kid under the blanket reading books by flashlight when he should have been sleeping, and he hasn’t stopped reading since. His creative fires started by reading Greek mythology, the stories of Olympian gods and heroes sparking a conflagration of learning that took him through novels—sci-fi, fantasy, or whatever he could find—and that, coupled with his love of comic books, brought him to writing. The act of putting pen to paper gave him an outlet he had never had, and the inspiration of the Muses pushed him forward.

A Star-Trek-meets-Greek-Myth story entitled “The Olympus Corps.” written in a high school English class senior year began the journey that would culminate in a novel series later on. His love of mythic fantasy grew over the years, and that story sat on the back burner while life moved forward, but his creative mind was growing. In the meantime, he wrote short fiction and poetry, taking his cue from myth and legend as well as comic books, especially Wonder Woman, a childhood hero who would come to shape much of his mindset. Twenty-seven years later, the original story that was only a few pages became his first novel in the Task Force: Gaea series: Finding Balance. Bringing his story down to Earth rather than up in the stars, David pressed on, writing three more novels in the series—Memory’s Curse, The Liar’s Prophecy, and The Archer’s Paradox, and is currently working on the fifth and final novel, Oracle’s End. In the midst of that work, a different trilogy began, one with Celtic myth as its base, and the DragonHawk Cycle series began with its first novel, The Quest of Wyndracer and Fyrehunter. He has also published an anthology of his own poetry and short fiction, Hippocrene’s Promise.

Driven by his love of literature, he became a high school English teacher, and he has spent the past 30 years honing his craft. With experiences teaching everyone from 5th graders through college students, he has brought his love of literature: reading it, discussing it, and writing about it. His passion for the written word permeates all he does.

Aside from reading and writing, David plays Dungeons & Dragons which challenges his introverted self to role play and get out of his comfort zone. Whether he’s a Dragonborn Ranger or a Half-Elf Druid, he’s bringing everything he has to make creativity a life force that moves within him.

His partner in crime, his ride-or-die, is his Lab rescue, Argos. Named after Odysseus’ loyal canine, this dog brings his own energy and keeps David on his toes.​

TASK FORCE: GAEA — Finding Balance

Fantasy

Four modern day strangers—Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah—learn they are bound by prophecy to fix what the Olympeian gods have broken. Gifted with ancient magic from long lost civilizations, they must master their powers while contending with forces escaping from the Underworld and also find a way to repair the Sacred Scales, destroyed by an angry goddess long ago.

Their success lies with Apollo, a god whose earthbound journey provided the means to fulfill the prophecy. These four mortals—a teacher, a scientist, a zoologist, and a potter—join the United Nations Task Force Division sworn to protect an endangered world, becoming the sole team—codename: GAEA—who can fight the monstrous threats and bring Order to a world plunged into Chaos.

Bringing together the powers of the ancient gods and the strength of the human spirit, the members of TASK FORCE: GAEA may have to sacrifice that which they hold dear to be their only key to success.

Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?

TASK FORCE: GAEA — Memory's Curse

Fantasy

For Aegis, Zodiak, Aether, and Talon, operatives in the United Nations Task Force: Gaea, life should have returned to normal after they restored the cosmic balance that a reckless elder goddess shattered, but because of the intervention of the Fates, they would never remember what life was like before. With history now unfolding the way it was supposed to, paranoia plagues this new time line, and tight-fisted governments mandate control through a pervasive military presence, DNA scans, and surveillance cameras.

Inexplicable occurrences all over the world give way to a new mission for Task Force: Gaea when an ancient cloudlike evil referred to in prophecy only as The Nebulous One emerges from Tartaros, with the intention of devouring the Olympeian gods. But, before she can find them, all of the gods but Apollo have disappeared. 

Leaving chaos and human corpses in her wake, she oozes her way across the globe to satisfy her hunger. Apollo will not face this threat alone, and it then becomes a race: will he and Task Force: Gaea find and vanquish this primordial goddess without falling prey to her power before she finds the gods? 

Aegis and his teammates, perhaps as a side effect of their encounters with The Nebulous One, have to battle personal demons in the form of potent memories that could jeopardize their mission’s success, seemingly insurmountable obstacles that could indeed mean the end of their team. 

Starting in antiquity and moving to the modern day, this epic battle between good and evil leaves both immortal and mortal alike wondering whether memory can be a blessing…or a curse.

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​TASK FORCE: GAEA — The Liar's Prophecy

Fantasy, Mythic Fantasy

Zodiak’s identity quest to ancient Arkadeia may leave his teammates, Aegis, Talon, and Aether vulnerable in the modern day when a long-forgotten and powerful criminal—a son of Gaea—escapes Tartaros to continue the undertaking he began millennia ago. In the wake of Lismonia’s godhunt, this new mission begins with misunderstood prophecies and a series of gruesome murders ultimately leading to a betrayal that could tear apart the team. And, Gaea’s son has just begun. The investigation brings to light The Liar’s Prophecy, and an unsuspecting Task Force: Gaea has no choice but to see it to completion, an enterprise that could bring them to the threshold of madness. Lies and secrets surface that reveal mysteries surrounding not only the gods of Olympos, but also Aegis, Talon, Aether, and Zodiak—these secrets will forever change the nature of Task Force: GAEA. One among them is fated to fall because even death cannot protect you from your past.

​​TASK FORCE: GAEA — The Archer's Paradox

Fantasy, Mythic Fantasy

Python, the serpent god, struck down Apollo, the god of reason and prophecy, and not even the god of healing can stop the venom from taking hold. With his mind fractured, Apollo finds himself chained within Gaea’s inner sanctum for his own protection and that of the world. As a grief-stricken Zeus moves toward annihilating the world, humanity stands on the brink of pandemonium. As some struggle to save Apollo, someone from his own family who has lived in secret and manipulated humanity for millennia seeks revenge.

Mysteries unfold tied to this ancient menace, revealing how he has created a place where paranoia and distrust have become the norm. Task Force: Gaea, with unexpected allies, now faces the delicate task of healing an Olympeian god’s mind before madness takes hold while keeping Earth safe from Zeus before this threat against Apollo can find him.

While carrying out their mission, an unexpected setback arises that will change the lives of Dan, Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah, making the fate of Task Force: Gaea uncertain.​