Human Evolution
The Atlantis Plague is a novel about a disease that forces humans either to die or to evolve beyond themselves. The evolution of humanity is a seemingly omnipresent theme; characters discuss the origins of humanity (which happened through evolution and was sustained through the efforts of the Atlanteans) as well as the future trajectory of human evolution. Some characters, such as Ares and the Immari, want humanity to evolve through natural selection (aided by the Atlantis Plague) to something greater, and the main characters work to stop this apocalyptic event.
Secret Organizations
Secret organizations are one of the main appealing elements of these novels. In the first book, the reader learned about the shadowy organization known as the Immari, which were an offshoot of the religious order of the Immaru that rejected religion and embraced science. In this novel, the Orchid Alliance comes to light as an oppositional force to the Immari, and the society of the Atlanteans is still powerful and still elusive, soon to be revealed in the final book of the trilogy.
Alien Influence
The influence of aliens on human civilization is immense. According the story, the injection of the Atlantis gene into humans by the Atlantean Janus was the only reason humanity survived long enough to evolve to its present state. Alien qualities are latent in most of humanity, and the effect of the Atlanteans is even greater and more immediately relevant than that: the Atlantis Plague is now in effect, affecting the Atlantis gene in different people and weeding out the strong from the weak. It is also said that the Atlanteans, living underneath Antarctica, saved humanity from extinction long ago (taking the form of the Atlantis gene).
