Algonquin teacher releases new science fiction novel in May

CRYSTAL LAKE – His childhood was filled with hours in front of the tube watching episodes of “Star Trek” and creature features such as “Frankenstein” and “Dracula.”

Whether it was Captain Kirk saving the galaxy or giant monsters terrorizing villagers, Michael Lodico quickly grew fond of the science fiction and horror genres.

Lodico is now 57 years old and teaches sixth-grade science at Westfield Community School in Algonquin. The Crystal Lake resident tapped into his long-time love for sci-fi and horror when writing “Portals,” his book published by RoseDog Books through Dorrance Publishing Company.

“I was brought up on ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ and read comics,” Lodico said. “My parents were busy a lot and, if I was good, I got to stay up on Saturday night and watch the creature feature while a babysitter was there. My favorite is ‘Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.’ I put a lot in the novel that I don’t get to teach anymore. A lot of the star systems, galaxies and nebulas in the book are factual but they aren’t part of the curriculum anymore, so it’s my way of sort of keeping them out there.”

“Portals” follows the story of high school junior Lou Sills in the year 2060. Sills is pestered by bullies in school. He gets interested in science in the past, present and future. He follows a college professor who discovers wormholes. When Sills goes to a seminar at his high school on a weekend, Lou gets interrupted by bullies and suddenly gets thrown into a wild adventure through the wormhole as he tries to make his way back home.

“It’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ meets ‘Star Wars,’ ” Lodico said.

Lodico said he wanted to reach more of a teen audience.

“I wanted to gear my audience towards middle school and high school kids because, for most of my life, that’s what I’ve been surrounded by,” Lodico said.

Lodico began writing after a Stage 1 testicular cancer diagnosis in 2005 and then another bout of Stage 3 testicular cancer in 2007.

“I still have some effects from it today,” Lodico said. “I changed a lot in my life after I was diagnosed. I changed my diet considerably and took a new approach to life.”

The two-time cancer survivor said he took to writing as a distraction.

“I was getting to a point with the side effects of my cancer that I needed more distractions in my life,” Lodico said. “I was painting and I adopted three cats. I started writing these novels, started hiking and doing volunteer work. I just went with the flow.”

Lodico currently is working on ideas for a new book with a “Twilight Zone” feel.

He hopes that “Portals” and his future stories will continue to take readers on wild, imaginative rides.

“Portals” was released online in May and is available for purchase on Amazon, at Barnesandnoble.com and rosedogbookstore.com. The 192-page book is available in paperback and eBook form.