Born in 1970 (as Jean-Jacques Fomekong), Jack Felson is a French novelist and screenwriter, working in both French and English, and who's been active since 1996. Some of his works transcend the boundaries of time, technology, and identity. Ranging from speculative fiction to time-travel anthologies, taking in political fiction satires, his powerful and unconventional stories immerse the reader in worlds where the future unfolds in the present. Charlie's Trips is by far his most entertaining effort.
Available for instant download, his titles are crafted for those who love stories that linger long after the final page.
Jack started as a novelist in 1996 at the age of 25 with GoodBye Blue Sky, a gritty, exceptionally violent noir novel set during World War II, at the time of the Nazi air invasion of France.
Next came two unusual short story collections, After AIDS and Four - and a short essay, The United States of Paranoia, that recounts a mishap experienced by the author in the United States in December 2001 - three months after Sept. 11 attacks - while traveling there to take film classes. He was turned away twice in a row by immigration authorities for lacking a visa that he did not actually need.
During a brief two-year stay in Vancouver, Canada (2005–2007), he switched to English, managed to direct a short film and penned his first screenplays, one coming very close to being produced for the Masters of Horror series, which, unfortunately for him, was cancelled at that exact moment after two seasons, despite excellent ratings.
He returned to Europe, settling in London in 2009. It was there that he wrote Charlie's Trips, published on Amazon in 2011. The Halloween Picture Show followed in 2015, and Cheneyland the year after - both in French. He has since put book writing on hold to focus on film writing and directing, and on the promotion of his books, notably Charlie's Trips.
- Cinematic Prose and Pacing: Critics highlight Felson’s use of "straight, very cinematic style". He relies on readable, efficient prose that builds momentum rapidly, managing plot acceleration like a director controlling a film's rhythm.
- High-Concept Subversion: Rather than sticking to traditional sci-fi tropes, Felson blends established literary myths - such as combining The Wizard of Oz archetype with a modern multiverse structure. He treats high-concept premises as psychological laboratories, preferring a sharp, literary edge over heavy technical jargon.
- Humorous Yet Gritty Absurdity: Readers often note a stark contrast in his tone. While his earlier French works (like GoodBye Blue Sky) were noted for being gritty and violent, his English fiction introduces a layer of absurdity and humor. Reviewers point out his "knack for bringing a scene to life" through situations that lean into the bizarre.
- Psychological Labyrinths over World-Building: Instead of focusing on dense, macro-level societal rules, Felson's speculative fiction focuses heavily on the internal architecture of his characters' minds. He often explores themes of fractured identity, missing memories, and displaced individuals navigating shifting environments.