Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Adam Kovac

@boondock60mm.bsky.social

590 followers 490 following 500 posts

Author of THE SURGE (‪Tortoise Books), science fiction role-playing game writer/developer, creator of the HARD VACUUM series, soccer dad, Army veteran and former journalist.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · May 20

"There is no happy few band of brothers in The Surge. Only a person trying to find his way towards something more human than the war itself can offer."

Appreciated this non-AI review of THE SURGE from @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social!

Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · May 20

"A hyperfocus on detail defines Kovac’s brutally realist prose style."

Joe Stanek's review of “The Surge” by Adam Kovac (Tortoise Books) is out now.
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/05/20/t...

Wartime Realism Prevails in Adam Kovac’s The Surge - Chicago Review of Books

Our review of Adam Kovac's new book, "The Surge."

chireviewofbooks.com

4 15

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 1d

That crack Texas National Guard outfit deployed to Chicago really hit the ground running.

"Broadview police officers observed the vans parked in the rear of 2000 25th Ave. and all of the guards were sleeping," the statement said. "We let them sleep undisturbed."

www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/c...

Troops carrying shields arrive at suburban ICE facility as judge set to rule on National Guard deployment

The new images come after the U.S Northern Command confirmed that approximately 500 soldiers from various units of National Guards were activated in the Chicago area.

www.nbcchicago.com

1 5 20

Reposted by Adam Kovac

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 3d

Last call for Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier. Kickstarter for issue four in the series ends tomorrow. Appreciate all the support so far.
#CepheusEngine #TravellerRPG
www.kickstarter.com/projects/158...

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier

A sci-fi setting of crime and conflict. Compatible with Traveller, the Cepheus Engine, and other popular game systems.

www.kickstarter.com

3 4

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 3d

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier

A sci-fi setting of crime and conflict. Compatible with Traveller, the Cepheus Engine, and other popular game systems.

www.kickstarter.com

3 4

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 4d

👀

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 4d

The fabulous @travisklempan.bsky.social let me shoot my mouth off about THE SURGE, share a little about the process of writing this novel, and the future of war literature. Check out the Q&A in the latest issue of @wrath-bearing-tree.bsky.social:

Travis Klempan @travisklempan.bsky.social · 4d

Interview I did with @boondock60mm.bsky.social author of THE SURGE is out now in Wrath-Bearing Tree:

www.wrath-bearingtree.com/2025/10/05/n...

New Nonfiction: Interview with Adam Kovac - Wrath-Bearing Tree

So that's what I did. I sat down and attempted to write The Great American War Novel. I wouldn't have sent the manuscript out on submission if I didn't think I'd come as close as I was able to actuall...

www.wrath-bearingtree.com

3 4

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 4d

👀

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 4d

Really enjoyed our Q&A, Travis. Appreciate the opportunity to shoot my mouth off. You're fabulous.

Reposted by Adam Kovac

Travis Klempan @travisklempan.bsky.social · 4d

Interview I did with @boondock60mm.bsky.social author of THE SURGE is out now in Wrath-Bearing Tree:

www.wrath-bearingtree.com/2025/10/05/n...

New Nonfiction: Interview with Adam Kovac - Wrath-Bearing Tree

www.wrath-bearingtree.com

1 1 3

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 6d

Re-upping this post ... for no particular reason.

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · Aug 24

I served in the Illinois National Guard from 2006-2009 and the Chicago-area units were comprised mainly of:
1. Dirty cops
2. Gangbangers
3. Immigrants
4. 2A nut jobs
5. Suburban teenagers addicted to video games
If that's still the case, this is gonna be one wacky deployment.

1 7

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 6d

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier. Dangerous locations, new starships, devious NPCs and challenging missions. Make your #CepheusEngine or #TravellerRPG adventures criminal. Three days left to back the project on Kickstarter.
#SelfPromotionSaturday
www.kickstarter.com/projects/158...

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier

A sci-fi setting of crime and conflict. Compatible with Traveller, the Cepheus Engine, and other popular game systems.

www.kickstarter.com

3 5

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 7d

All JB had to do was show up and join the protesters, maybe take a few pepper-ball hits and a lung-full of tear gas, and he could've written his ticket to the White House. Now, he's staring down a potential PR disaster.

1 1

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 9d

But don't take my word for it. Check out these reviews and see if THE SURGE is a fit for your reading list.
www.wrath-bearingtree.com/2025/09/01/n...
chireviewofbooks.com/2025/05/20/t...
scottwhitmorewriter.wordpress.com/2025/07/13/m...

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 9d

THE SURGE is one of the best novels you've probably never read. You'll laugh. You'll cry. It'll become a part of you.

www.amazon.com/Surge-Adam-K...

The Surge

The Surge [Kovac, Adam] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Surge

www.amazon.com

1 3

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 10d

One week remaining to back Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier on Kickstarter!
#CepheusEngine #TravellerRPG
www.kickstarter.com/projects/158...

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier

A sci-fi setting of crime and conflict. Compatible with Traveller, the Cepheus Engine, and other popular game systems.

www.kickstarter.com

2 4

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 11d

Really enjoyed talking about the latest Kickstarter for Scoundrels of Brixton--and the Hard Vacuum series--with @thedungeonplunger.bsky.social. Jason is a fabulous host and I highly recommend following his podcast. Check out the episode:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YLY...

Committing Crimes With Jeff Jones & Adam Kovac

YouTube video by The Dungeon Plunger

www.youtube.com

2 3

Reposted by Adam Kovac

The Dungeon Plunger🪠 @thedungeonplunger.bsky.social · 12d

rss.com/podcasts/the...

Committing Crimes With Jeff Jones & Adam Kovac | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

I chat with Jeff Jones of RPG Ramblings and author Adam Kovac on their newest zine for Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier. We also talk about Adam's other projects including his Hard Vacuum advent...

rss.com

1 5 6

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 12d

And I kinda sorta wrote a book about it.
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

The Surge

Check out The Surge - <p><b>Larry Chandler knows what his fellow soldiers don't-that war scars you and haunts you, leaving you with memories you'd prefer not to face. </b>They're all National Guardsme...

bookshop.org

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 12d

Shouldn't have to repeat this but here we go again and this time I'll do it slow for those having trouble understanding:

Not
Every
Combat
Veteran
Of Iraq
Or Afghanistan
Suffering from PTSD
Is
A
Kill-crazy
Madman

5 11 56

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 13d

And if you're new to the Brixton System, backing the campaign is a fabulous way to catch up on all the action.

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 13d

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier. Issue four in the series is loaded with useful, entertaining content for anyone seeking crime and mayhem for their #CepheusEngine or #TravellerRPG sessions. Check out the Kickstarter and see if it's a fit for your table.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/158...

Scoundrels of Brixton: Savage Frontier

A sci-fi setting of crime and conflict. Compatible with Traveller, the Cepheus Engine, and other popular game systems.

www.kickstarter.com

1 4

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 14d

Rogue Trooper!

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 14d

Christ, it's friggin amateur night.

1 1

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 14d

"Chandler once had that dream, too, but knows how easily it became a nightmarish reality that ruins a man’s happiness and sense of self-worth at an early age." - @petermolin.bsky.social
#FridayReads #BookSky
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
tortoisebooks.com/store/thesurge

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 15d

Larry Chandler raises an eyebrow.

Adam Kovac @boondock60mm.bsky.social · 18d

Did not expect to have three projects out in the world at the same time (a good thing) and since I've run out of clever ideas to post and a house to clean, I'm just gonna leave these here:
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
tortoisebooks.com/store/thesurge
www.kickstarter.com/projects/158...