Allen Van Camp Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Allen Van Camp is a science fiction thriller author with roots in Seattle and a current home beneath the Arizona sun. His writing journey began in the early 1980s, sparked by a vivid dream while stargazing at the Little Dipper from his San Diego bedroom—a moment of wonder that eventually led to The Zone Engine, his debut novel.

A U.S. Navy veteran and retired drummer, Allen brings a rich global perspective to his work, shaped by years at sea and decades immersed in high-tech environments. He served as part of operations and engineering aboard nuclear submarines, where precision, innovation, and pressure were a way of life—experience that now fuels the technical realism in his writing.

With over 30 years in UL compliance engineering and three patents to his name, Allen crafts stories that fuse hard science with human spirit. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him deep in sci-fi classics, exploring emerging tech, or sketching out the next “what if?” on a napkin.

“To every dreamer, innovator, and risk-taker—this book is for you.”

The Zone Engine The Zone Engine is a 109,000-word science fiction thriller that masterfully intertwines advanced technology, psychological depth, and a relentless pursuit of redemption. Drawing inspiration from the scientific plausibility found in works like The Expanse, Interstellar, The Peripheral, and Dark Matter, this debut novel offers a gripping narrative that challenges the boundaries of time and morality.

At the heart of the story is Flynn, a former Navy submariner turned pilot, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he and his team at a pioneering startup develop a groundbreaking cold fusion engine. This engine, incorporating a mercury centrifuge, generates unique electromagnetic fields, hinting at the potential for limitless clean energy. However, the engine’s unexpected properties attract the attention of a corrupt corporation and its government allies. In a swift and brutal move, the team is framed, their prototype seized, and Flynn’s family vanishes amidst the ensuing chaos.

During the assault, the team employs the original engine, Alpha, in a desperate defense against the overwhelming forces. Flynn’s survival is ensured by an enigmatic interdimensional being who intervenes at the critical moment. This encounter leaves Flynn with more questions than answers but ignites a determination to uncover the truth and seek justice.

Fifteen years later, Flynn lives under a new identity, leading a quiet life while secretly delving into quantum field theory. His obsession: to calibrate the Beta Engine for time travel. After years of meticulous research and experimentation, he finally deciphers the precise frequency and vibration needed to navigate the temporal landscape. With this knowledge, Flynn embarks on a mission not just to alter the past but to expose the systemic corruption that destroyed his team and to reclaim the lives that were stolen.
The Zone Engine delves deep into the tantalizing edges of time travel and quantum mechanics, exploring the emotional toll of unfinished business and the heavy burden of knowledge that others would kill to possess. Flynn’s journey is not just a quest through time but a profound exploration of responsibility, resilience, and the enduring hope for redemption.

This novel is the culmination of Allen Van Camp’s years of scientific curiosity, military experience, and storytelling rooted in the wonder of “what if.” His unique background infuses the narrative with authenticity and a compelling sense of realism, making The Zone Engine a must-read for fans of thought-provoking science fiction.

(Thank you to Allen for this bio!)