|
I am the one of the end, the world maker, and the god breaker. Time is unraveling and Earth is doomed to wander the dark of space, unmoored from the galaxy itself. Galiaroâs plan for humanityâs escape to another dimension has failed and his dark matter robot creations, Beetro and Curse, were imprisoned in a nanoscopic black hole. Now, the entire planet is blighted by drought, the oceans heave beyond their bounds, and thousands are dispossessed. The end of the cosmos was foreseen by an ancient Alchean prophet named Othel. Thousands of years ago, Othel left behind the Dark Earth prophecy for the planet to survive the calamity. Now, the fellowship of Dark Theoryâthe drunken astrocyst Galiaro, Arym of the underground cult, thief Miree, time traveler Hawera, and the street rat Ribcageâmust pick up the breadcrumbs of the ancient prophetâs quest to save Earth. Separately, they traverse the dying world and learn alarming newsâthe dark matter robots, Curse and Beetro, have escaped their black hole prison. Once parallel world enemies, the two robot brothers now have an uneasy alliance, and with an advantage⌠Curse already knows the prophecy. He has seen it before, used it before, and destroyed his own world with its power. Now on the cusp of annihilation, whoever wields the Dark Earth prophecy will unleash the cosmic power that could saveâor doomâreality itself. |
|
Dark Kingdom (Dark Law Book #2) by Wick Welker Warrior at birth. Warrior at death. Dark Theory is real. The universe is expanding without Earth, dooming it to wander the void alone. Resources are dwindling and war festers across the blighted planet. Ria, a cyborg slave, is commanded by an implanted governor chipto track down dark matter, which may hold the key to restoring Earth's place in the cosmos. Ria travels with Haldane, a hardened warrior from a parallel dimension. Together, they traverse the horrors of the wastelands, finally reaching the fabled Fifth Kingdom. There, they find a nightmarish prison state of dark matter mines ruled by an iron-fisted despot. To achieve their goal, Ria and Haldane must fight to not only win the key to the dark matter mines, but also the hearts of an enslaved people. The fate of the universe, and Riaâs freedom, rests on who wins the Fifth Kingdomâand what they do with it. |
|
The key to the future is a book from the past. The world is a frozen wasteland. Oskar and his sister Mitzi are fleeing south, trying to escape the Northern Raiders who have slaughtered their people. They find sanctuary in a strange city where they are made welcome. But the Northern Raiders have followed, and the city is besieged. Oskar joins with his new-found friends and takes up arms to help them defend their home. But then he discovers an old diary hidden away in the library. The diary was written at the time of the cityâs foundation and reveals the truth about what happened all those years ago â and what caused the world to freeze. Oskar soon realises that there is more than one way for him to save this city. |
|
King of the Dead: A zombie romance by Ryana Hunter Almost a decade after the fall of man, the undead rule the world, and somehow Renee is still alive. Only a teenager when the apocalypse started, she watched everyone around her die. What she doesnât realize to the king of the dead is sheâs a ghost from the past. So, when his horde takes the city and he sees her, Zane doesnât hesitate to seek her out. Without knowing it, she is the reason he became the monster he is. Given a second chance, he makes her his own. Heâs devastated when she doesnât remember him, but he canât let her go, not this time. Zane will stop at nothing to make her his queen. She had given up when Zane found her, but sheâs furious he forced her to become his prisoner. When Renee learns the key that might save humanity and destroy the zombies, it breathes a new purpose into her existence. However, to understand the secrets of the king of the dead, she has to get close to him. They discover they are bound by more than circumstance, that life and death may not be what they believe, and they can be reborn through love. Together they can create the Kingdom of the Dead. |
|
Trails: Pit Miners by Gail Brown The middens of the ancestors slowly empty. The last few usable pieces are found. Only a generation since KlaPit mine was abandoned, the new mine at Shells is almost empty. Buried dangers emerge from the bottoms of the pit mines. Forgotten fears told as campfire tales emerge in their spectral forms. Rusty worries her life skill is at an end. She has no other interest, than being the dig leader following Zella. Ambrena feels threatened that her life skill will be less valued as Tanna's daughters grow up. Every mistake is magnified as if it were life threatening. Corandra fears her ancestors have cursed her. Corandra knows they don't want her. Everything she touches crumbles. The box she found spreads a devastating illness. She abandons her villa for a cure. Corandra feels abandoned by her older friends, Ambrena and Rusty, as they embrace their life skills. The only person who notices her anymore is her verbal sparring partner, Henry. Or so she thinks. Will Corandra forgive herself? Will she allow others to forgive her for the damage her ancestors committed? When she has to choose between saving Ambrena and Rusty, or saving Henry, how will she decide? What will that decision mean to the future of the Pit Miners? Will Ambrena and Rusty find the cure they so desperately seek? Is it even what they think it is? Will the battle in the Grass Sea lead to peace, or the forgotten specter of war? |
|
A Toxic Ambition by Erik A. Otto AN ACTION-PACKED YA NOVEL SET IN A SOCIALLY FRAGMENTED SAN FRANCISCO The world has descended into a morass of radioactivity and harsh climate shifts. The wealthy have escaped to rule from the protected Inworld; enormous, impenetrable domes that dominate urban skylines. Outworlders must live a life of serfdom catering to the Inworld, unless salvation can be won through prowess in Ketâa game of dangerous anti-gravity maneuvers and debilitating energy pulses. This is the story of three lost Outworlders youths. Tristan is unmatched in his dedication to the games, Luisa is plagued by the memories of her family, and Michaelis has been cast aside by a corrupt system. Together, they need to find a way in, and Ket may hold the key. Praise for A Toxic Ambition from Kirkus Reviews "Like with 1984, The Hunger Games, and countless others, social commentary and plot are intrinsically woven together in Otto's tale...The book becomes a propulsive procedural, running headfirst into scenes of tension building action, driving the two worlds together towards their inevitable climactic conflict." |
|
For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES. The YA debut from award-winning author, Stuart White. IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY. In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number. To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian AutokratĹr. But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge, love and discovering his identity. |
|
The Finery by Rachel Grosvenor Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide⌠but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground. |
|
Tomorrow Was Beautiful Once by Amy Orrell Tomorrow was beautiful once, and it could be again. But Jack can only choose one future⌠England, 2150. Time travel has accelerated climate change and set humanity on the brink of destruction. As a Person of Mixed Era Origin with the ability to recall parallel versions of time, British historian, Jack Elliot, seems the perfect candidate to travel to the past and prevent the advent of time travel. The catch? Success means Jack will cease to exist. Critically injured when he arrives in the past, Jackâs life is saved by Maddie, a second-generation immigrant and resistance fighter, who mistakenly believes heâs connected to the disappearance of her sister, Suraya. Jackâs denial soon unravels with the discovery that Suraya can lead him to his father â the man who robbed him of his mother â and the inventor of time technology. What begins as a fragile alliance soon puts their feelings and their missions to the test. Jackâs wonât be the only life affected by his sacrifice, but does he have the right to decide who should live and who should die â and will it be worth it for the futures he and Maddie hope to create? |
|
Snapshots of the Apocalypse by Katy Wimhurst In these dark, witty short stories, Katy Wimhurst creates off-kilter worlds which illuminate our own. Here, knitting might cancel Armageddon. A winged being yearns to be an archaeologist. Readers are sucked into a post-apocalyptic London where the different rains are named after former politicians. An enchanted garden grows in a rented flat. Magical realism meets dystopia, with a refreshing twist. |
|
An Orchid in My Belly Button by Katy Wimhurst Offbeat short stories that explore our fragile world These stories savour the surreal, flirt with magical realism, dabble with dystopia. A boy sees the ghosts of dead crabs. A girl with a fox tail is bullied. A disenchanted woman sprouts orchids from her belly button. Fashion models pursue the trend of having plants as hair. Electronic goods amassing all over London herald an apocalypse. Darkness and wonder, the strange and the ordinary, interweave to offer an environmental and social portrait of our times. Guaranteed to evoke a response, whether a giggle, a gasp, or a nervous gulp, these stories will stay with you, enriching your perception of the world. Surreal, absurdist, magical realist; Katy Wimhurst writes speculative fiction that meditates on our reality. Although bleak themes are examined â dystopian futures, the climate crisis, bullying â a quirky imagination and wry humour lift the tales above the ârealm of grimâ. |
|
2033: The Year Things Fell Apart by Rebecca Doll & James Gordon "A hyperreal tapestry of the death of a nation!" A disputed electionâŚa terrifying future! Em, with her partner Ava and stepdaughter Sophia, left a tiny East Coast apartment for a lucrative IT job in Louisville that could fund their future. A disputed 2032 U.S. election and the rise of a powerful neo-fascist demagogue lays waste to her dreams while Em struggles to survive in the belly of the beast itself. Her government contract job turns out to place her in direct proximity to the most hated media figures of the new regime. She can hurt them, but at what risk in a place where her familyâs queer identity makes them a target? In the rising fire of a Civil War, Em must struggle to survive and preserve something of her hopes, her family, or even herself. 2033: THE YEAR THINGS FELL APART Presents a realistic and chilling look at a dystopian world that may lie just around the corner. Beltway insider and political wonk James Gordon is writing again with Alternative Sexuality Educator Rebecca Doll to present a sobering look at a future that may be too close to our own for comfort. |
|
The Warm Machine by Aimee Cozza When a robot built for construction work first sees an angular, sleek prototype military robot slink onto the base heâs working outside of, he immediately falls in love. The problem is, only anomalous bots understand the concept of love, and the lowly laborbot has not deviated from his default programming once. So he thinks, anyway. When the laborbot is scheduled for decommission, the military bot cannot possibly live without him, and the two bots set out on a path to find the fabled anomalous robot utopia Root. |
|
Sol Accords: Starbourne by DG Podporski Everyday life for Jaeden Starbourne has been challenging for as long as he can remember, which as it happens, isnât quite as long as one might think. In fact, Jaeden canât remember anything that happened more than five years ago. He woke up aboard a medical space station with no identity, no family, no friends, no money, and no clue what to do next. For someone without a past, finding work was never an issue. Finding honest work above-board that didnât include illegal activity was the challenge. Securing a dangerous job as an orbital shipbreaker was by no means Jaedenâs first choice, but in this galaxy and given his circumstances, beggars canât be choosers. As his life in this new and unfamiliar place begins to spiral uncontrollably around him, Jaeden quickly finds himself crossing paths with criminal syndicates, mercenary companies, and worst of all, a corporate Technologist; an agent with artificial enhancements that grant the user nearly limitless abilities. Not having a past is no longer Jaeden Starbourneâs biggest issue, because if heâs not careful, heâll lose his future as well. |
|
Jael KedâKorhva hadnât anticipated becoming the galaxyâs most wanted. He hadnât planned on picking up a strange alien artifact, either, but once it was clasped around his wrist, Jael was granted extraordinary abilities. His senses were heightened, his reflexes faster, and he could now regenerate from damage that would spell the end for othersâabilities that would have been coveted even during his days as a warrior monk. Now, working as a scavenger, these powers were a boon, especially when forces from every corner of the stars wanted Jaelâs artifact for themselves and would stop at nothing to get it. What initially appears as an advantage swiftly transforms into a weighty charge. Yet, it's a charge Jael accepts without hesitation, understanding the catastrophic potential should the relic fall into the wrong hands. Prodded onward by visions of an ancient ally and a mysterious enemy, Jael becomes a pivotal piece in a vast interstellar play of power and dominion in a galaxy on the brink of war. A high-octane space opera that blends adrenaline-fueled martial arts with interstellar thriller, Stellar Heir is Mass Effect Meets John Wick, perfect for fans of sci-fi like Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio or Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. |
|
Afterglow Rising From the Ashes by Stacey LP They came without warning, darkening our skies. For months, we fought to survive as everything we knew and loved was torn away. Then, as abruptly as they arrived, they vanished. Though the invaders left, the war wasnât over yet. New terrors emerged from the destruction, threatening all that remained. Alina could never have predicted the post-apocalyptic nightmare she woke up to. Foggy memories and the question of what had happened to her in the months she lost paled in comparison to the fear of the unknown surrounding her. But at least she wasnât completely alone. When she and her companion cross a camp of survivors, their world turns upside down in more ways than one. Carter braved the invasion from the beginning. After tragedy struck, he was left questioning his purposeâ in life, in love, in friendship. He fought for his group to survive, tirelessly pushing to reclaim what pieces of hope remained. And now, he will do anything to keep them safe. In a world on the brink, alliances will be tested, love will be challenged, and the line between hope and despair will blur. Will they rise above the ashes and forge a new beginning? Or will they be reclaimed by the flames in the afterglow? |
|
Living in a corporate-run dystopia, directed by a God she doesnât trust, can a young prophet inspire enough faith in herself and others to make her world worthy of salvation? Fourteen-year-old Iliya Rusul only wants a job to keep her family from starvation. Instead, sheâs pushed to leave everything she knows and loves to be a prophet, preparing the world for the returning Messiah. Worse, the God directing Iliya doesnât seem to care about her family or potentially hurting people to strengthen Iliyaâs miracles as holy propaganda. And every miracle costs a portion of her life. Upon discovering the corruption and suffering beyond her village, Iliya wants to save the world from the ruling political corporations. With help from inspired followers, she builds a coordinated relief program to redistribute wealth and power. But whenever her charitable focus strays from Godâs clandestine plan, God raises the cost of miracles. Losing money and credibility due to Iliyaâs work and growing popularity, the global CEOs in power further consolidate world resources for themselves through hostile takeovers and send out their best assassins to stop Iliya. Can she save those she loves and prepare the world for salvation before she runs out of life? |
|
In the wake of Brian Guthrie's Dragon Award nominated novel Rise, comes Fall . . . War has broken out between the shells, fragments of a shattered world that humanity clings to for survival. To stave off the conflict, the survivors of a brutal attack seek aid from the one source no one else believes can help: the dragons. But the creatures are fractured into two factions and caught up in a fight of their own, a conflict that may be connected to the war above. As the survivors seek answers and help, they stumble onto a secret, long lost, that once nearly destroyed the world. A secret that has the power to save humanity. Or end it. |
|
On a world brought to the brink of destruction, life now clings to the shattered remains of the planet's crust. These fragments are the Shells: fragile wastelands of desert and rock, protected from the cold of space by a water shield. In the struggle for survival, its people have depended on ancient technology, controlled by the omnipresent Network, to sustain the entire population. But the Network is breaking down, water is sparse, and a complete societal collapse is imminent. As the stakes become clear, the inhabitants of the Shells begin to turn on each other, and appear headed for all-out global war. Now the paths of several strangers will converge at the opportune moment. From a woman who seeks to protect her family as it's ripped apart to a prison warden hiding from his past, this unlikely group has little in common--but together, they may hold the key to saving humanity from its worst enemy: itself. |
|
Serotonin Overload by John A. Underwood Serotonin Overload grinds a living from Cap City's neon-drenched streets, working whatever gig comes her way. Sometimes a courier, sometimes a hacker, she knows her way around the slums and digital networks of this putrid urban sprawl better than anyone. Rand works out of an undercity bar six levels below the surface, a dark and smoky place where algopunk bands sweat and scream on a tiny stage and the bartender has pink and blue hair. He's a fixer; sometimes a finder, sometimes a thief. Together, they've run a few jobs, from hijacking self-driving trucks out in the badlands to hacking a crooked cop's personal files for blackmail. They live on the wrong side of the law. But with MetroPol detectives sniffing around and notorious terrorist Sapphire Skye waiting in the wings, this latest job is going to prove more than either of them bargained for... |
|
In a dystopian future, cities surrounded by glass bubbles promise safety from deadly diseases. Martina, a resilient sixteen-year-old from Colombia, struggles to support herself and her younger brother after the death of their parents. Especially with the rising cost of the mandatory medications. But when Martina spots a lone figure outside the safety of the bubble without a hazmat suit, her steadfast faith in their refuge is thrown into disarray. She worries for her brotherâs safety. She canât bear to lose him too. Sheâs determined to find the truth lurking beyond their sanitized sanctuary and ensure his protection. Martina encounters unexpected allies on her mission. Among them is Nathan, a nomad whose unconventional ways intrigue her, and Persephone, a determined pharmacy student with a shared desire for truth. As their paths intertwine, Martina finds herself drawn to both. Will Martinaâs quest for answers unveil the salvation she seeks, or lead her into deeper peril? Can she protect the people she cares about? |
|
In Search of Shadows by Marisa E. Cardin The day after Andartia discovers the truth about the War on Sirona, Jax Cassaway and his crew are suddenly thrust into the uncertainty of space. With a junker ship barely large enough to hold them, they must attempt to rescue the remaining Sironians from their war-ravaged planet â before General Mortox and his Shadows take matters into their own hands. The long-awaited sequel to Jax Cassaway and The Shadow Runners, In Search of Shadows continues the story of Andartia and Sirona on their ever-evolving fight for survival. |
|
Jax Cassaway and The Shadow Runners by Marisa E. Cardin Many centuries after the people of Old-Earth fled their ravaged planet via starship, tension grows in the Carinthean Star System. Resources dwindle. Political unrest builds. Jax Cassaway, outcast, zeneska rider, and dreamer, looks up at the dusty atmosphere above the planet Andartia and wonders what the stars look like beyond. Millions of miles away, from the surface of war-ravaged Sirona, a coded message is sent out to the black. âHelp.â |
|
My Heart is Human by Reese Hogan A single father fights to retain control as he shares his body and mind with an evolving AI. Itâs been nine years since the government banned all technology. So, when Joel Lodowick, a young transgender father struggling to support his five-year-old daughter, has an old bionic upload itself into his head, he is faced with a decision: Go to the cops and risk prosecution? Or use the robotâs skills to turn his life around? Scared of losing his daughter, Joel chooses the latter. Heightened intelligence and physical enhancements quickly land him a better job and a brighter future. But things take a sinister turn when Joel realizes his uninvited companion has an agenda of its own, which may or may not include leaving him in control. Unable to approach the government who covered up the truth about AI sentience, Joel finds himself on the run. With his daughterâs life on the line and his own body turning against him, he must find a way to convince the bionic in his head to value his human life before he loses the chance forever. |
|
The Immortal Part of Myself by MJ James Riley has lived her whole life as an elite daughter of one of the five ruling earthen corporations. She was supposed to be a beautiful figurehead working behind the scenes to help her husband. But the dresses they stuff her in are uncomfortable, social situations leave her confused, and she never really has been a woman. When she was diagnosed with autism, her fatherâs only hope was to marry her off. As she aged, her usefulness to her husband has diminished, and he plans on trading her for someone younger. Divorce isnât legal, but murder is. . . as long as you donât get caught. Except Riley has never been as helpless as they believed. She has a gift for navigating technology, one that has let her lead her own rebellion. But to see her ultimate plan succeed, she needs to survive long enough. Her only solution is to get off the planet. When Matty, a Martian ambassador headed home, sees Riley for the first time, she knows her life will never be the same. Riley needs help, and Matty wants to step in to save her even though she doesnât know what she is saving her from. The more the two women come together, the more Matty falls in love. But what happens when the person you love cannot love you the same way? |
|
Spaced!! Is about a 17 year old Martian named Sha-ne who is just getting settled on her ship with her AI Aye, to be an engineering apprentice, when her entire colony and civilization burns to the ground. Now she and a bunch of Earthling rebels have to figure out how to survive and she doesn't trust any of them. Only 50 Earthlings remain in the galaxy and I HATE everyone of them - Sha-ne 17 year old engineering apprentice. |
|
It was just another rainy day in autumn when Freya's house fell into the sea. Freya isn't your average suburban school kid; she's a demigoddess. But even she can't hold back the sea. A storm sets Freya and her family adrift in a world where the weather comes with attitude, and rising sea levels are as much about personality clashes as climate change. Freya just wants to keep her cat fed and maybe find a friend. But with were-foxes in town, nothing is easy. |
|
Sinister Stories and Twisted Tales: The Ultimate Anthology of Sci-Fi & Cosmic Horror by Anthony L. Abraham A tapestry of interlinked cosmic horrors unfolds in this unique interactive anthology, featuring video links that accompany each chilling story. ⢠"A boy's dream pet morphs into his family's nightmare, serving as a gateway to something far more sinister." ⢠"A father's desperate quest to help his daughter leads him into a dark trade of body parts, where horrific bargains threaten everything he holds dear." ⢠"In a dystopian world of twisted flesh and dark alchemy, a girl must escape her haunting existence or risk becoming the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of the New Flesh." ⢠"In her quest for justice after her husbandâs murder, Betty's plea to a seemingly benevolent god unleashes a dark cosmic force, revealing that true sacrifice may demand a far more monstrous price." This anthology immerses readers in puzzles reminiscent of Black Mirror, exploring unsettling, thought-provoking facets of the human psyche while venturing into realms beyond nightmares and dreamscapes. An absolute must-read for fans of speculative fiction seeking rich world-building and narratives that defy conventions, especially those who appreciate the eerie storytelling of The Twilight Zone, the philosophical twists of Philip K. Dick, and the gripping horror of Stephen King. |
|
Trust in Tomorrow by Dana Sweeney Sleepwalking let them survive a nightmare. Desire woke them up. Demetri When the world ended, I came to the Stronghold and joined their military. Even made it to the helmet corps with the best and brightest. Life in the barracks is a nonstop party, everyone living like there's no tomorrow. Let's face it, there probably isn't. When my friends joined a resistance movement against the rich jerks who run this place, we needed a place to meet. The library would be perfect if it wasn't for the librarian being a total snoop. I offered to chat her up for the greater good... and because I can't stop thinking about her. Save the world, get the girl. Win-win. Stella I arrived in the city weeks before the world ended. I thought I was living a fairy tale, engaged to a prince⌠but the fantasy was dead even before the dead started to rise. Officially in mourning for my fiancĂŠ, I run the library and try to avoid attention. Yet somehow, Iâve caught the eye of a handsome soldier. He makes me long for freedom, control over my fate. But this elite society considers me an asset; they will never let me go without a fight. How do I know so much about the Stronghold? I helped build it. |
|
Lust for Tomorrow by Dana Sweeney Submission is freeing⌠Love is a trap. Iâve never seen his face. But I ache to feel his body. My fellow soldiers call him Alpha. Itâs an insult, mocking his macho bravado, his aggressive arrogance. Iâve heard the snark, seen the rolled eyes. Alpha. Itâs a joke. But when I hear him speak⌠His rich, deep voice. His lush British accent⌠I guess the jokeâs on me. Since the zombies came, civilization fell, and new social structures arose, Iâve known that my independence relies on my disinterest in any particular man. The powers that be havenât resorted to forced procreation⌠at least not yet; they still expect weâll fall in love and walk into the trap willingly. My resistance requires that I avoid emotional connections. My existence requires that I avoid distractions, that I stand and fight. But every time this man speaks, I want to fall to my knees, offer myself to him. However heâll have me. Lust is a distraction I canât afford, but itâs not love. As long as I donât fall in love, Iâm safe. And who could possibly fall for Alpha? |
|
Black Butterfly by Katie L. Carroll Is she the hero or the villain? Black Butterfly wakes to a country devastated by terrorist attacks, supposedly at the hands of the Chinese government. She remembers nothing of her personal lifeânot even her name. All she knows is that she was in New York City on the day of the attacks. Though, she soon discovers she has an unsettling repertoire of violent talents. Elijah and his found family of off-gridders from upstate New York take in Black Butterfly and mend her wounds. With nowhere else to go, she joins them as they head to a rally in Washington D.C. The eclectic group begins to feel like the family she canât rememberâor never had. An encounter with Luca, a spy for a shadowy government agency, confirms Black Butterflyâs worst suspicions about who she was in the life she canât remember. As more memories surface, Black Butterfly heads to the agencyâs headquarters to find out whoâs behind the terrorist attacks. Itâs unclear whether she intends to reveal the truth or go back to her villainous way. And itâs more than her life sheâs putting at risk. |
|
Wire City Kills: Neon Vector by Drew Rhys One dead billionaire. Two mismatched detectives. A secret so revolutionary it will change the world. So valuable ⌠itâs worth KILLING for. When a prominent tech tycoon meets a bizarre end in Silicon Valley's exclusive high-rise district on the eve of his company's takeover by a fierce rival, it's up to the SVPD unorthodox new homicide team to crack the case: a hot shot British rookie in way over his head, and a snarky American cop at the end of her rope. They must unravel a mystery which goes far beyond murder into the dark heart of a dazzling high-tech metropolis. They must infiltrate a world of dangerous tech, sinister corporations, and chill AIs with absolutely no hidden agendas. They must answer the question ⌠WHAT IS NEON VECTOR? Uncover the secrets of Wire City in this whip-smart detective thriller packed with shocking twists, cinematic action, and razor-sharp humor. This standalone book requires no further reading to enjoy. |
|
Shelter Dean Golinskiâs recently deceased father, Marek, believed âtheyâ would come for everyone at some point in time, so heâd made some very serious preparations, fracturing his family in the process. Marek believed âtheyâ would seize any opportunity to test the mettle of the nation; a chisel strike here, a chisel strike there, and then the final blow to render freedom and liberty to slivers and dust. Being estranged from his sister, Jacqueline, for the most part of fifteen years, Dean couldnât convince her not to go to the Comerica Park refuge shelter when a coronal mass ejection, 1,000 times larger than the Carrington Event of 1859, was reported to be enroute to Earth. Played down by official sources, Dean was convinced of the eventâs anticipated severity after watching a video blog posted by Professor Martin Monroe, a discredited Astrophysicist from Ireland; yet everything he said, Dean found, was corroborated through other reliable sources. It was enough to convince the majority of Americaâs citizens into an exodus to the many shelters set up around the country. Dean, however, moved swiftly to occupy a location his late father had prepared for whatever flavor the End Times would take. As if ordained by fate, an assassination attempt is made on the POTUS at a Seattle golf club dinner the day before the CME event, and an opportunity is seized to initiate a game-changing strategy across the U.S., and refuge shelters to protect the countryâs greatest asset forms a key component of that strategy. Dean soon discovers that the sins of the father are indeed paid by the son, as he finds himself and his sister somehow linked to Russian interference within the U.S. political system, in addition to becoming prime targets in a hunt to keep the countryâs over-haul mission on track. Deanâs late father wasnât crazy at all; he was right! |
|
The Magic Circle by Barry Ryerson Forty years ago, nuclear war devastated vast swathes of the world. Since then, the remaining countries strived to rebuild and grow stronger. Continents formed The Peace Accords, an agreement that cut all contact with each other to prevent such a war from ever happening again. Three strangersâan art student in Paris, a Russian spy, and a South African programmerâfind their lives intertwine as magic returns to Earth. Guided by the mysterious Celestials, they must choose how they use this force in a fight that will determine the fate of every single living thing on the planet. |
|
Unnatural Selection by Robert P. Edwards At the end of the 21st Century, humanity is enjoying a renaissanceâor so it seems. For the wealthy, a quantum biotechnology called Stem has eliminated disease and seamlessly integrates with The Web. So why are people dying? Amongst us live the Quants, a meld of robotics, AI, and quantum computing. They carry out vital work in a world dependent on technology. Personal Quants can be built to order for the privileged few. Sophie and her marine biologist father, Chris, live in one of the few habitable zones left in the southern hemisphere. Kazumi is the son and heir of Mashimoto Corporation, a leading manufacturer of quantum technology. Mackenzie is the gifted daughter of technology billionaire Alistair âAceâ Abernathy. Love and loss will drive them together. Across a world scarred and divided by climate change. Only together will they discover the terrifying truth about who is really behind the death of their loved ones. |
|
Your Service is Required by Jeff Walker From the author of space opera novella The Long Lost War and the sci fi/fantasy series Outer Red. Jeff Walker brings you his vision of a dystopian society in Earthâs distant future, where robots rule over whatâs left of humanity. A science fiction drama centred on one man trying to survive in a machine dominated world. Earth is now under the control of two artificially intelligent rulers. Angela and Malcolm; they govern the planet and use humanity to service their needs. David 00472 is one of those daily service attendants that must obey the commands of the two AI overlords. David becomes a person of interest to Angela as she helps him to improve the quality of his life. David, suspicious and fearful of her sudden concern for him, is cautious about her true intent. Malcom, ever watchful of all humans, is unsure why David 00472 has become Angelaâs pet project. Is this part of their cruelty? Do they delight in using humans for their amusement somehow? David meets a man, another Human Service Attendant, that will change and challenge his notion of freedom, and what it truly means to be free. |
|
Utopia by Marie-HĂŠlène Lebeault A Clean YA Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Adventure Three extraordinary teenagers, each an outcast in their worlds, unite to reshape the destiny of a utopian society. Ryn, who couldnât adapt to life under the sea, Eira, born above the clouds but unable to breathe the thin air, and Aiden, rejected by the subterranean civilization, embarks on a thrilling journey to Vancouverâs utopia. Theyâll challenge the elders, confront hidden truths, and discover the power of unity in a fast-paced young adult sci-fi adventure that explores the boundaries of human resilience, and the promise of a better world. Utopia is a What Happens Next? novel developed from the Under the Iceshort story. |
|
Twilight Divide by Melanie Bokstad Horev In a world where hope has been scorched by fire and forgotten gods, Nour fights to survive. Sheâs a warrior, a sister, and a survivor in the brutal wasteland of Aridex. But when she discovers a long-hidden truth about her family, her life becomes a race against time. A prophecy, whispered through time, binds her to a destiny she never wanted. She must choose: protect her brother, the only family she has left, or embrace a fate that could save or destroy them all. The Day Blazers, a ruthless force with blades thirsty for blood, hunt her across the desert. And from the ruins of the old world, monstrous night creatures rise, their hunger as ancient as the wasteland itself. Can Nour find the strength to stand against the darkness and save her people, or will the desert bury their dreams beneath the sand and grit they were born in? |
|
Time Travel Rescue: Escape from the 21st Century by Tom Kranz âWE LIVE IN A WASTELANDââRick Twenty third century Earth is barely hanging on. Climate ignorance and environmental abuse have diminished the population by 48%. Land masses are a toxic sprawl. Five companies run whatâs left. WHAT TO DO? A world class hacker and an altruistic citizen go back in time to stop the Earthâs destruction by the forces of 21st century evil. |
|
The Unceasing Mistress by Casey White In the sprawling, decrepit world-city of Cascartia, youâre only as strong as the people you surround yourself with. When Niall Torson passed through the enclave of Lorellan looking to freelance, he found an oasis of calm, a safe haven from the scavengers and enterprising murderers of the outside world. All thanks to Lorellanâs enigmatic leader â the White Lady. While her bold reign keeps the enclave safe, the Lady is erratic, her judgements swift and brutal. When she pushes her last aide off a cliff for wasting resources, a replacement is the next order of business â and Niall finds his diligent efforts rewarded with an unexpected, very much unwanted promotion. Refusing the dictator is usually a good way to wind up at the bottom of the cliff yourself, though, so Niall sets himself to the impossible task of keeping his mistress happy while plotting his escape. With his peek behind the curtain comes the realization thereâs more to the White Lady than he ever knew â and that the world threatens Lorellan more than its citizens suspect. But is the cure worse than the poison? |
|
The Scotty! by Eric J. Hildeman The Scotty is a device which transforms matter into energy and then energy back into matter, just like Scotty used to do on Star Trek, hence its name. But the harsh reality is that this is no mere transportation device. Taken to its logical conclusion, it is a technology which gives its user the powers of an absolute god! And as the old saying goes, power corrupts. |
|
The Sakura Element by S. C. Vincent When tradition means damnation, and the future is the past⌠Alia Academia â school for the elite. Genetically modified Oka Latellay faces discrimination orchestrated by fellow student Allen Debois. Allen enforces a caste system by the Purveyors of Tradition, keeping modified people in the bottom rung of society. But Okaâs gumption inspires him to start a fencing tourney where everything is at stake. If she loses, her life in high society is over. But if she wins, so ends the bullying of all mods in the school. Oka struggles with her fencing bouts and growing feelings for Allen as he reveals there is more to him than the cold cruelty he portrays. Simultaneously, Allen is torn between adoration for Oka and the Purveyors of Tradition influence. Choosing the former could risk his familyâs wealth and good name. Little do the two know how much their struggles intertwine when Allenâs friend begins to vie for Okaâs affections, and Allen finds himself blackmailed about his familyâs past. In a post-World War world where society functions on sleight of hand and discrimination, Oka and Allen must find the one thing that will save them. Love. |
|
Some people say to never trust a spy A militia officer on the hunt for a murderer. A scientist with the key to humanityâs future. A girl in a glass tank with no memory. One seeking justice. One seeking fame. One seeking answers. With the galaxy on the brink of war, time is not on their side. Join them in their battle for survival. |
|
The Minority Rule by Alexia Muelle-Rushbrook Years of greed and war devastated most of Earth. Now largely infertile, the remnants of the world have been united under one strict, unwavering power focused on Earthâs guardianship as well as humanityâs prosperity. Maia believes in the established order, yet as a budding young scientist, she also wants more than the decreed roles of housewife to a stranger, egg donor, and mother. As family and state force Maia into submission, she resigns herself to a life of compliance until she unexpectedly meets two vastly different women. Discovering they both hold secrets, Maia questions if she can keep silent, even if revealing the truth threatens to irrevocably challenge the foundations of her existence. Silence may not be golden â but it is safer. |
|
The Long Home of the Soul by J. Carl Denton In the year 2095, when one of the most powerful men in the world is brutally murdered, Coleman Hawkins, a burned out Atlanta MetroPol detective struggling with PTSD, is tasked with finding the killer. His investigation leads him face to face with the endgame of global economic disparity, and to a secret too terrible to be believed, too horrible to be ignored. |
|
The Last Knight by Spencer Russell Smith Her husband was murdered, her rebellion left in shambles, and the factions have begun to turn on one another in the chaos. Only one thing is certain: their world is dying and their only chance of survival is together. Sometimes, the darkest circumstances force individuals to greatness. Sometimes, they leave them broken. And so, hiding beneath their worldâs eternal sun, hunted by the God Kingâs undead supersoldiers, the Remnant of those who fought for the goddess that destroyed the world, work to forge the shattered factions of their rebellion into a unified force that can escape their doomed world. Estingai, last of the legendary Knights Reborn must somehow convince the bickering leaders to work together, steal resources from the God Kingâs empire so they might live another day, and uncover the spy that betrayed them so she can avenge her husband. Can Estingai overcome her grief and be the woman the rebellion needs her to be? Can she become the Last Knight? |
|
The First Herald by Carol T. Luna What price would you pay to protect your country? When his city burned around him, Zacharias Eld swore on his life it would never happen again. Sworn in as the First Herald, there is no camera he cannot access, no idle chatter he cannot hear. No secrets he cannot unearth. But a break-in at a lab reveals the hole in the network he spent seven years to build. Worse, the evidence is contaminated, the suspects missing, and the innocent refuse to speak. Zach soon finds himself in a world he thought he had purged years ago, festering in the shadows he once scoured. As the layers of the conspiracy peel back, so too, does the safety of Zach those around him. Either Zach finds the culprit or he will witness the fall of the city heâd spent his life to protect. |
|
The Faithless and the Damned by Sev Romero When the world is on fire, justice eventually comes for all. As temperatures and water lines rise, a revolution led by the young and desperate dispenses bloody vengeance against what remains of the establishment. The Daughters of Adrestia send anxious teen Ava to execute a notorious climate criminalâbut the job does not go to plan and Ava is forced to flee. Elsewhere in the decaying city, grieving widower Victor agrees to deliver a mysterious young boy to a shadowy sect, however, the boy escapes, placing Victor in danger. Ava crosses paths with the runaway boy and he joins her on the run. Victor pursues them, but discovers more ominous threats have also joined the hunt. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues across the back roads and towns that litter the smouldering Australian landscape. To survive, Ava must fight to find her resolve, while Victor must confront his convictions. And as the chase intensifies to its feverish conclusion, both must decide whose side they are on before the world burns down around them. The Faithless and the Damned is a gripping, provocative dystopian thriller by the award-winning Australian speculative fiction author Sev Romero. |
|
The Dream of the Forest by Stjepan Varesevac Cobets More than one hundred years have passed since the cataclysm. The year is 2197 and Earthâs surviving inhabitants now live in heavenly cities above the clouds, unwilling to descend back to the unstable surface. Helen is a lawyer whose life is seemingly perfect, complete with career, partner and plans for a family. But she soon discovers that it is all an illusion. A car accident turns her life in a different direction and she finds herself on the Earthâs surface, in a forested world utterly foreign to her. Is it true that Earth cannot sustain life? What if the truth was entirely different? What if there were survivors â and how would Helen return to her own world? |
|
The Correct Order by Trish Taylor THE CORRECT ORDER With women in control, life is better, but not for everyone. After the defeat of a repressive regime, women under the Correct Order enjoy safer and better lives. The AI entity BELLA dispenses harsh penalties to those breaking the rules. Men found guilty of crimes against women are sent to the Resort, where they undergo demasculationâa surgical penalty. Seventeen-year-old Emily, daughter of a high-ranking Order leader, is about to embark on her dream career as a surgeon. But doubts creep in as BELLAâs judgments hit close to home. As Emily learns the truth about the Resort, she questions her career choice and everything she believed about the Correct Order. |