About Jake Cosmos Aller
I’m your host, John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, a poet, novelist, and retired U.S. Foreign Service officer. I spent 27 years in the Foreign Service, serving in ten countries across Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, including South Korea, India, Spain, and the Eastern Caribbean. Since retiring in 2016, I’ve been living primarily in South Korea, with regular visits back to the United States.
I’ve been writing poetry and fiction for decades, and my work has appeared in more than fifty literary journals. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles, shaped by growing up in Berkeley amid the lingering echoes of the Beat generation. My fiction often takes the form of sci‑fi political thrillers.
I’ve completed six novels so far, including Giant Nazi Spiders, The Great Divorce, Jurassic Cruise, The Life and Times of Big Daddy, and Fort Ashland. The opening chapters of several novels are available on this site, and I welcome thoughtful comments.
Politically, I lean left but distrust rigid ideologies on both sides. I’m a lifelong Democrat, a pragmatic progressive, and a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community. I believe civil disagreement is healthy; dehumanization is not.
Spiritually, I’ve traveled a long road — from hardcore atheism to a loosely Buddhist, non‑temple, non‑dogmatic worldview. I try to do the right thing and remain skeptical of anyone claiming divine authority.
I grew up in a political family in Berkeley, California. My ancestry is a mix of eighteen nationalities, including Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. My mother descended from families sometimes referred to as the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — those who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears. DNA tests confirm Native ancestry, though not tribal specifics.
The name Cosmos comes from my middle name, passed down from my great‑grandfather. He wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller — despite persistent rumors, the name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though it certainly sounds like it should.
I welcome readers and comments. Spirited debate is fine; personal attacks are not. Despite our differences, we are not enemies.
— Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos)
