An alien race of religious extremists plan to honor their deitythrough the ritualistic annihilation of our planet. The only man whoknows this is Milan Marlowe, an unstoppable media baron who seesopportunity everywhere.Earth’s only move is to engage the invaders according to theirholy law and issue The Challenge of the Heretic—a winner-take-allgladiator battle for our right to exist. Marlowe launches Beast Wars,a televised interspecies tournament designed to select Earth’smightiest champion. On a decadent private island, sharks, lions,gorillas, and polar bears square off to the delight of screamingfans oblivious to the sky-high stakes.Enter Bruno Bolo—single father, blues belter, and alligator wrestlerfrom the swamps of Florida. Beset by personal demons, corporatizedkiller sharks, Yeats-quoting pit fighters, and looming alien eradicators,Bruno will emerge as our desperate planet’s final hope.