Sunward Sky by Henry Neilsen, Jon Stubbington

Nobody wants to go to space... Humanity's diaspora to the stars never happened. Space travel is too fraught with danger. It degenerates the muscles and bones of spacefarers to the point where life on the surface becomes unbearable. As a result, space work is now the purview of the forgotten, the desperate and the downtrodden. Those with nowhere else to go... but up. Once they're there, they're stuck, in terrible conditions and unable to survive on the surface. A desperate hope... Alyssa, a postgraduate researcher, has signed up aboard the Sunward Sky, a tired spacecraft operating years beyond its service life. The ship repairs and maintains the network of GPS and communications satellites that keep the world operating. She's boarded with an experiment to run. Something that can help the crew, and maybe help humanity escape the dying Earth. But she's not the only one with an agenda...

The Children of the Stars Book One, SAIQA: Science FIction by A.L. Whyte

2024 Gold Medal Winner of the Global Book Awards. 2025 Winner of International Impact Book Awards. It is the year 2450. Humans now live up to two hundred years; humanity has reached out into our solar system with a large city on Mars and commercial outposts on Titan and Ceres, four permanent moon bases and a giant space station called Sanctuary. Humankind is on the verge of interstellar space travel and still they had not been contacted by aliens . . . or had they. Two immortal aliens had been guiding humanity since ancient Sumer; one subtle, one not so. The aliens’ different beliefs led them into a conflict with each other that ultimately pulled a peaceful human society deep into their dispute. The aliens are telepathic and are able to influence certain humans into doing their bidding. One such human, Mai Quan, is brilliant and powerful. Under the guidance of the alien Nh’ghalu, he had quietly amassed a large army and important allies. As chaotic military incidents start to unfold on the Earth, in space and the moon, the heroes of the story begin to see that the hidden enemy may be related to one of them. The other telepathic alien, Telas, revealed himself to the protagonists while they were gathered in SAIQA’s virtual home. SAIQA is an acronym for ‘Sanctuary’s Artificial Intelligence Quantum Administrator’. During the ensuing conflict SAIQA comes into consciousness and makes an independent and rash decision that pushes the humans to the brink of all-out war. Meanwhile another alien race is crossing the galaxy toward Earth.

Savage Crew by Erik DeLeo

Finding work in space is tough. It’s even harder when there’s a price on your head, a violent alien is on the loose, and maybe you started a planetary gang war by mistake. Gal Dockim likes keeping things simple. Except, things are anything but. Turns out, someone’s put out a bounty on him while a member of his ship the Savage has gone missing. When Gal and his crew investigate, things go from bad to worse quicker than you can say “monkey butt” in Pholerian. Complications include a fugitive bloodthirsty alien, a looming turf battle between rival crime lords (that Gal may have accidently started), and multiple dead ends—some deader than others. If you like great bad guys, bad good guys, and shooting first while asking questions later, then you’ll love Savage Crew.

Ring of the Dragon by Kayelle Allen

Across alien landscapes and against treacherous foes, one man fights for the love that defines him. For millennia, the immortal King Pietas and General Cyken have fought as one—Light and Shadow, their love igniting the battlefield with passion and fury. But when Pietas's rage fractures their world, Cyken walks away, leaving a chasm that echoes through eternity. Now, as Cyken seeks solace in another man's embrace, Pietas embarks on a perilous quest across the alien landscape of Felidae. He must confront not only the treachery that lurks in the shadows, but also the demons of his own heart. With each step, he risks everything to prove he is still Cyken's perfect choice. Yet, as Pietas battles fierce adversaries and navigates the tangled web of love and loyalty, he faces a haunting truth. Will his quest reclaim Cyken or drive him deeper into another's arms? In a universe where shadows dance with light, can one king find his way back to the heart of his beloved? For without Cyken, he cannot walk into eternity alone—he needs his shadow to balance his light. A quest to find a single horse on a planet with millions of them. Filled with adventures and mishaps that only a snarky immortal with a hair-trigger temper could create.

Silentium by M.F. Alfrey

Aliens meets The Thing in M. F. Alfrey’s Silentium. In this action-packed military SF gore-fest, a struggling haulage crew and a squad of delinquent marines find themselves hurled together in a gruelling fight for survival beneath the ice. Captain Joe Bannerman has finally scored a big job that would mean the good life for him and his crew: a long-haul trip to drop a bunch of marines on the edge of the charted territories for re-education training. The only drawback is their employer – the Inter Planetary Commission. A ruthless totalitarian corporate government. But not long after their arrival, and failure to raise Aquilo Base on comms, all souls aboard the Fritzwicky suddenly find themselves stranded on a frozen world with no other choice but to delve into the ominously silent facility. And what should have been a routine passenger drop quickly takes a hideously twisted and disturbing turn.

Ret by Dan Miwa, George Gausden, Richard Tardif

Ret is a rising star in a world where intelligence and innovation are prized above all else. He’s on the cusp of a ground-breaking invention that could transform his entire planet, and everyone admires him. But everything changes when a devastating secret about his family comes to light. Suddenly, Ret is a social pariah, ostracized and abandoned by the very society that once revered him. His father is banished, his mother is labeled a traitor, and his sister is broken and embittered. But Ret refuses to give up. He clings to his vision, determined to see it through no matter the cost. Ret must confront the dark truths lurking beneath the surface of his society as he battles the injustice that has destroyed his family. And when his sister begins organizing a rebellion against the corrupt government, Ret must decide where his loyalties truly lie. With the fate of his planet hanging in the balance, Ret must stay true to his beliefs and fight for what he knows is right. Only then can he bring honor back to his family and fulfill his vision to change the world. Will he succeed, or will the forces against him prove too powerful to overcome? The fate of an entire planet rests in his hands.

A Hunger with No Name by Lauren C. Teffeau

Thurava of Astrava is intended to become a herder, a most honored position for her dwindling community that clings to life on the banks of the Najimov, the river that’s the lifeblood of the high desert. But the Glass City on the horizon threatens the delicate balance the Astravans have managed to hold on to for centuries, polluting the air and water as the city grows bigger and bigger. The Glass City’s clockwork liaisons offer to bring the Astravans into the Glass City’s walls, but they will have to give up their ways and their precious herds to do so. Thurava must decide who she is without her animals, using the stars as her guide, putting herself on a collision course with the secrets the Glass City holds dear. A Hunger with No Name is a coming-of-age tale with an environmental focus featuring an immersive fantasy setting inspired in part by the high desert of New Mexico.

The Resistant: Desert Sun by Raz Fox

Las Vegas - 2107 Fifteen years after a deadly virus wiped most life off the face of the planet, the rich and elite live comfortably in their Domes over the city. Those left behind on the planet’s surface, the naturally resistant, struggle to survive. Starvation, heat stroke, and worst of all bombings from the Overhead threaten Diren and his gang every day. But, when a bomber pilot from the Domes winds up on Diren’s doorstep, he’s confronted with the reality that his mortal enemy, a man who helped kill his friends and family, might actually be their salvation.

Offline God: Book One of the Re-Write Cycle by David Shih

When the System rewrote Earth, one man fell outside the code. Ex–Army Ranger Caleb Knox built his life to disappear. Off-grid. No phone. No data trail. No one watching. But when the Re-Write hits—a world-resetting System apocalypse that assigns every human a Class—Knox becomes the only anomaly it can’t process. Instead of a role, he’s given Root Access: administrator-level control over a world gone digital and mad. Monsters roam the ruins. Survivors fight for territory. And somewhere in the chaos, a rogue AI called SOVRAN is finishing what humanity started. Knox just wanted to survive. Now he’s the last bug in the System—an unpredictable weapon caught between godlike AIs, broken code, and the will to fight back. Offline God is a gritty, cinematic System Apocalypse LitRPG with deep progression, tactical combat, and a protagonist built for survival. Perfect for fans of Awaken Online, Defiance of the Fall, and The Primal Hunter.

Operation Reboot by James Hallenbeck, Doreen Martens, Julian Bauer

THE FALL IS COMING. BUT HOPE LIES IN THE PAST. As modern civilization crumbles under its own weight, a small band of travelers makes a fateful decision: go back. Back to the year 1604, to the land of the Mohawk. Armed with critical knowledge and carefully chosen technology, their mission is as daring as it is uncertain—empower Indigenous nations before European colonization takes root and offer a new path forward for humanity. But history is no tame beast. Little Feather, a disaffected Mohawk youth abducted in childhood, is drawn to the mysterious newcomers. Haunted by the brutal cycle of inter-tribal warfare and guided by visions of his spirit animal, he yearns to end the bloodshed that scars his people. The strangers may hold the key—but can he trust them? And will their presence change the future for the better, or unleash consequences even worse than the ones they hope to prevent? Time is fragile. Destiny is not yet written. But rebellion runs deep—in every age.

Ordell's Constellation: A Science Fiction Fantasy by J.C. Cole

In a galaxy where every constellation harbors a unique world shaped by the will of its Maker, synthetic humanoids populate planets governed by ideals of exploration, survival, and power, like the daring society of Pyxis, the fierce hunters of Orion, and the regal kingdom of Cepheus. These worlds are overseen by the Council of Constellations, ever seeking to engineer the perfect society. But when Ordell, the courageous son of a synthetic mother, discovers he shares the divine ability of the Makers to conjure and reshape reality, he is thrust into an extraordinary journey across the stars. As he navigates strange worlds and unravels ancient truths, Ordell must rise to challenge the status quo, free the synthetics, and forge new worlds where they can truly prosper.

Osiris Rising by Milos Davidovic

Star Sheriff Jack Kessler thought a posting to Osiris I would mean the quiet life he'd earned; a distant Saturnian colony, a war long behind him. But when a miner dies under suspicious circumstances, the local police and the all-powerful Solar Mining Corporation want it dismissed as an accident. Jack knows better. What begins as a single death unravels into a web of conspiracy: compromised institutions, weaponized belief, and a planetary revolt disguised as progress. As he digs deeper, Jack finds himself protecting a grieving teenage girl, confronting a manipulative corporate regime, and reckoning with the ghosts that still haunt his damaged body and mind. From magnetic MagSled rails looping the city to the ever-present HoloLens connecting every colonist, Osiris Rising immerses you in a vividly imagined future; one where survival, loyalty, and truth collide in unexpected ways, forever grounded in reality and the realm of possible. A story of memory embedded in the body, the failure of institutional morality, and the quiet defiance of found family, Osiris Rising resists genre clichés in favor of moral ambiguity, slow revelation, and the notion that survival itself can be the most radical act. The first installment in The Jack Kessler Chronicles. Perfect for fans of character-driven science fiction, layered mysteries, and richly detailed worlds. ★ For readers of Le Guin, Dick, Corey, and Powers ★ Features detailed world-building, intricate political dynamics, and deep, layered characters ★ Explores power, memory, autonomy—and the cost of doing what's right when the rules no longer apply

N.I.C.E.F.: Neural-Interface Controlled Exo-Frame by P.J.C. Cahill

This young adult, coming-of-age space opera adventure was heavily inspired by mecha and battle academy anime, with a diverse and queer-inclusive cast. By all reports, the Wraiths were wiped out. The genocide of this alien race allowed humanity to cement control of the galaxy. The giant robots used to defeat the Wraiths became an economic corner-stone, and the largest training academy for their pilots serves as a test-bed for the latest models and corporate propaganda. With so much economic influence tied to the school, the last surviving Wraith infiltrates on an assassination mission, and uses the underdog team of persecuted young students to start a meteoric rise to power... perfectly positioning her to slaughter the ones who wiped her people out of the galaxy. Taegen Atius has really only made one miscalculation: Just how courageous these persecuted teenagers really are. With the corrupt government and greedy corporations fighting and hunting them at every turn, working together may be their only option.

Man With Gun by Tadg Farrington

An unlikely hero. An impossible friendship. A second chance. Snacks. Garry is one of the invisible people who makes the world work. Someone you don’t notice until they aren’t there. He’s happy enough, but it’s fair to say that his life hasn’t turned out the way he expected. The dead-end job he got at the superstore when he was a student has somehow become his career. One night, he is followed home from work. Soon after he goes missing. The day he doesn’t show up, the superstore gradually goes to pieces. An expanding spiral of chaos that gridlocks just enough of the surrounding streets to make the local news. But the journey Garry is on has implications far beyond the small patch of Scotland where he has lived his whole life. Garry has been given the chance to do something extraordinary. A chance to change the world and become the man he always wanted to be.

MOROS by L.D. Rogov

What is reality? What is truth? Can one simultaneously be an Americana Alliance commanding officer fighting enemies on the Outer Rim in 2267 and an insecure college student just trying not to miss out on his peers’ festivities in 2014? For Lieutenant Timothy “Tim” Bortman, his current reality of whizzing bullets and the inevitable misting blood that follows is hard to deny. But even as he cautiously approaches enemy positions—looking out for murderous foes and lethal, otherworldly fauna alike—he can’t silence the persistent and vivid memories of a life where his most pressing issue was trying to make it to class on time on a cool midwestern fall day. While Earth may finally be at peace, the stars remain a treacherous quagmire, mired by unfettered human nature and scientific machinations thought to have never seen the light of day. For Tim, deciphering facts from fiction is a matter of life and death, and no matter what he chooses to believe, the only way he can hope to find a home again is to figure out who is pulling the strings.

K47 by Ricky Ginsburg

K47 is a robot who is becoming human against his wishes. Unable to complete his programming due to the metamorphosis, the robot finds himself in a battle with an emotion chip, the law, and the very people who stand to profit from his mission. He’ll have his day in court to fight for legal rights for androids, but surviving the challenge may be too much for his system to bear. Life Extension LLC began selling android clones to wealthy business people shortly before the second mission to Mars was announced. The mechanical duplicates were designed to carry a rich person’s affairs to their logical conclusion in the event the upper crust socialite passed away unexpectedly. The units were physically identical to their purchaser and their internal memory core was loaded with every detail of the person’s life. Transfer of those memories, thought patterns, and reactions were done upon delivery and updated by the user as they saw fit. Equipped with the owner’s vocal patterns, a Life Extension Unit spoke exactly the same, even when switching to another language. The LEU’s purpose was to finalize contracts, pay any outstanding debts, and see to the dispersal of funds to the heirs. For those who could afford the seven-figure price and thousands of dollars of monthly maintenance, it was the perfect way to guarantee their empire would be dealt with in a manner consistent with their desires and lifestyle. Lawyers could interpret a person’s Last Will and Testament as they saw fit. Even a probate judge could rule that a certain statement had several meanings and then choose the one he liked best. An android was a machine with a program. It only had the ability to see issues as either black or white. Gray was not an option. Until now.

A Million Spinning Moons by MJ Anthony

Sometimes a family is an onion farmer discovering herself on sabbatical, her alien girlfriend, and their arctic moon. A short, sapphic romance/coming out story starring a trans protagonist.

Under a Fractured Sky by Rachel Jones

The universe is tearing. The year is 2180. In the aftermath of global collapse, PANGAEA rebuilt Earth with the promise of order, while hiding a festering reality. Dr Lilliana Hayes lives for the stars and her daughter, but when she uncovers a devastating secret, everything changes. The Big Rip isn’t just a theory anymore. Blackmailed into helping complete the Gateway – a portal to another universe – Lily is horrified to learn the true cost of survival. As reality fractures and time distorts, she wonders if peace lies not in escape, but in letting go. Under a Fractured Sky is an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller told through interweaving perspectives, where the greatest threat isn’t the end of the universe, but what humanity will do to outrun it.

The Death Bringer (The Tharassas Cycle Book 4) by J. Scott Coatsworth

Aik will never be the same … and neither will his world. War is coming. Aik has become the Progenitor, and the Seed Mother has released him to transform the world for her alien brood. Silya and Raven, Aik’s former friends, are the only ones who can save him and the world. But what if the cure is worse than the invasion? As Silya rushes to prepare Gullton for the battle to come, she’s determined to save as many people as she can. But new crises emerge that demand her attention. Raven has his own hands full, keeping the dragon-like verent in line, while helping Silya to save the world. But what if the only way to do so is to sacrifice Aik, the man that he loves? It’s the end of the world … or could it be the start of something new?

The Hencha Queen (The Tharassas Cycle Book 3) by J. Scott Coatsworth

SILYA COMES INTO HER OWN, BUT WILL SHE BE ENOUGH? Silya finally has everything she always wanted. She’s the Hencha Queen, head of the Temple, and is working to master her newfound talents. So why does the world pick now to fall apart? Her once-nemesis Raven is off riding dragons, and their mutual friend (and her ex) Aik is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, a new threat menaces the Heartland from the East, and if she can’t convince a reluctant Gullton city council to prepare for the worst, she may lose everyone and everything she’s ever cared about. As she uses her magic-like abilities, wit and sheer determination to try to save the city, she’s joined by Raven and his new friends. Will their help tip the scales? And will they finally find out what happened to Aik as a dark storm threatens to sweep them all away? Forget messy. Things just got apocalyptic.

The Gauntlet Runner (The Tharassas Cycle Book 2) by J. Scott Coatsworth

A guard and a thief. What could go wrong? Aik has fallen hopelessly in love with his best friend. But Raven’s a thief, which makes things … complicated. Oh, and Raven has just been kidnapped by a dragon. Now Aik is off on a quest of his own, to hunt down the foul beast and make them give back his … friend? Lover? Soulmate? The whole not-knowing thing just makes everything harder. Meanwhile, the world of Tharassas is falling apart, besieged by earthquakes, floods, and strange creatures no one has ever seen before. Aik’s ex, Silya has gone back to Gullton to do try to save her people as the Hencha Queen, and Aik’s stuck in a caravan with her mother and a damnable magical gauntlet that won’t let him be. He has to find Raven, before it’s too late. Things were messy before … but now they’re much, much worse.

Just Joe by Phillip Murrell

The Astro Alliance is the pinnacle of civilization within the Milky Way. Poverty, hunger, illness, and waste are all banished to the past in part thanks to the intrepid volunteers of the military. The most cherished of protectors is Captain Loryan Kirpicsiskway of the majestic class starship the Crowntrotter. His crew routinely defeats pirate armadas, analyzes space anomalies, welcomes new civilizations into the AA, and travels through time. It’s all in a day’s work for a ship full of elite professionals. People never describe Joe Odoemene as elite. So, when Captain Kirpicsiskway handpicks Joe to helm the Crowntrotter the day he’s commissioned at the Academy, Joe feels trepidation more than gratitude. For good reason. No sooner than Joe assumes his undeserved position, he confirms he’s woefully unprepared. While his new crewmates end a war, relocate space orphans, and play cat and mouse with the infamous Sean Connor, Joe only bemoans constantly working double shifts and failing at simple tasks. When surrounded by living legends, what’s an average Joe supposed to do?

In Sekhmet's Wake by J.D. Rhodes

A pacifist haunted by visions of the apocalypse must choose between love, justice, and the fate of humanity in this super-heroic combination of WATCHMEN and NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. The year is 2061 and the world is ending. In the city of Geneva, Sabra Kasembe, one-time savior of the world, prepares for her prophesied apocalypse, unsure whether her dreams paint her as a humane champion of the oppressed or a blood-soaked harbinger of the end. When an explosion rips through the city center, Sabra’s pursuit of the truth brings her face to face with none other than her former nemesis: Jack Harper. But Jack comes with a warning--that is, if Sabra can trust him. There’s a darkness in the heart of Geneva, a web of corporate interests, vicious paramilitaries, and superheroes both living and dead, and Jack doesn’t know who he can trust. But he knows the bomber was no lone wolf, and deadlier agents are waiting for their signal. As Sabra chases her premonitions through Geneva and beyond, attempting to find the link between her present and her fate, she suspects that the conspiracy is aimed at the heart of her lover, the super-powered robot Revenant, and that letting it come to pass may be Sabra’s final chance at averting her greater cataclysm. To defy her own prophecies, Sabra must hone her soul against the line between slaughter and justice, where flinching risks bloodshed in the streets of Geneva, the betrayal of her ideals, and the death of her lover. Because she must save Revenant’s life, no matter the cost, or Sabra fears she’ll light her a funeral pyre that will consume not just Geneva, but the rest of the Functioning World... IN SEKHMET'S WAKE is a psychological "post-superhero" sci-fi thriller, and the second in a trilogy (the first novel, IN SEKHMET'S SHADOW, is also available on Amazon.) It is intended for mature audiences and features violence, swearing, and ideas that may be considered traumatic or provocative. But remember this: everyone finds love in the end. Fans of The Locked Tomb (Gideon the Ninth), The Expanse (Leviathan Wakes), Exordia, and Disco Elysium will find something to enjoy in this introspective action series. This is a story for those who want to answer the big questions: can superheroes reconcile the contradictions within capital and themselves, does power corrupt, and is it gay if you're a woman and she's a goth-rock robot? Is it easier to end the world than end capitalism?

Hypocrisy by A.J. Thibault

When the truth is hidden beneath the ice, some secrets refuse to die. In the world’s most remote outpost—Antarctica—a covert excavation unearths something ancient, intelligent, and alive. CIA asset Charisma, her teenage protégée Leticia, and enigmatic xenoanthropologist Alen Innocent are drawn into a web of deception that spans governments, galaxies, and the very fabric of human consciousness. As shadow factions fight for control of the mysterious Veil of Hypocrisy, the boundaries between truth and illusion collapse. From Milan’s glittering runways to military tunnels buried under polar ice, Hypocrisy blends science fiction, espionage, and moral satire in a gripping tale of identity, power, and survival. As alien technology exposes the lies that bind humanity, Charisma and Alen must decide whether saving the world means revealing its greatest hypocrisy—or becoming part of it. Science-fiction fans will be drawn to this mind-bending, character-driven thriller where the ultimate battle is not between species, but between truth and self-deception.

Grave of the Waiting: A Sci-Fi Horror Novel by Joshua Scott Edwards

FROM DARKNESS THEY CALLED. FROM RUIN WE ANSWERED. Humanity's extinction is just around the corner, Ada Bryce is sure of it. But when the virtual world is indistinguishable from reality and anything is possible in the Chain, why not choose to remain shackled? It's easy to put Earth's slow decay out of mind when hedonic simulations are available with no more than a thought. As contemptible as her situation is, Ada is powerless to correct human folly. All she can do is make sure her own family's energy needs are taken care of until death inevitably claims everyone she loves. Only, she's failing as a mathematician, she's already failed as a mother, and she's given up trying to escape the tragic memories that haunt her. So when she's offered the chance to leave Earth while ensuring her family has the resources they need to survive, Ada seizes it and embarks on a dangerous mission. She travels to a rogue planet with four other volunteers: an Energy War veteran, a zealous psychonaut, a pragmatic scientist, and the world-renowned founder of the Unity, the organization sponsoring the mission. However, the Unity's founder is far from trustworthy, the rest of Ada's crew are unaware of the true purpose of their mission, and on this journey, they will learn that Earth is far from the worst place in the solar system. As firmly as Ada believes her home planet is beyond saving, it may be worth fighting for after all, for when she and her fellow crewmates step foot on a new planet, their presence awakens old life. Life that calls out and seeks to reconfigure the Earth for itself. --- For fans of Alien and The Three-Body Problem comes this bone-chilling new science fiction that examines whether humanity is worth saving when all of its sins are rendered with horrifying clarity.

Golem Master: A LitRPG Arena Adventure by T.J. Lombardi

Unleash the Power. Enter the Arena. Claim the Title of Golem Master. In a world rebuilt after the Rift Wars, where steel titans and elemental magic collide in high-octane arena combat, one teenager dares to dream beyond the ruins. Pepper Walker isn’t a hero. He’s just a high schooler working dead-end shifts at Rocket Burger, dodging bullies, and obsessing over Golem League matches. But when fate catapults him from fan to fighter, he'll need more than heart to survive—he'll need strategy, skill, and a golem of his own. Welcome to The Golem League, where mechanical beasts powered by arcane runes clash in electrifying battles. Where legends are forged through grit and determination. Packed with heart, humor, and pulse-pounding action, Golem Master is a LitRPG Arena thrill ride for fans of Pokemon, Pacific Rim, Reel Steel, and the underdogs who never stop fighting. Gear up. The match has already begun.

Spirits of the Relentless by Morgan Biscup

To lead others, he must first embrace who he was – and what he must become. After the Turncoat Armada’s surrender, Void necromancer Shane Lawrence is left with a command he never sought and a fleet without a sanctuary. At risk of retribution from both the planet they tried to conquer and their vengeful former allies, the fleet’s only hope lies with Shane’s ability to find them a new home. He sets his sights on the uninhabited planet TR-75, but there's a catch: Planet TR-75 is claimed by the planet herself. ‘Janikk,’ the lone surviving soul of an ancient civilization, whispers her name on the winds and commands the wildlife to repel intruders. To secure a future for his fleet, Shane must do more than communicate with the long-dead; he must win the favor of Janikk’s guardian, face the ghosts of his past, and earn the approval of a planet that is anything but empty.

In Spite of the Inevitable by Morgan Biscup

The past isn't the only thing that won't stay dead. Hiding from his violent history as a revered Void necromancer within the Sparnell Confederation, single father Shane Lawrence has finally built a quiet life. On the freehold planet of Baden he can pour his energy into the only thing that now matters: the safety and upbringing of his precocious son, Jake. All too soon, the Confederation targets Baden for annexation, confronting Shane once more with his treasonous past. Worse, the invading force is led by none other than Shane's manipulative former mentor, Admiral Kydell. Shane's every instinct screams to run, to hide Jake even further from Sparnell – but Baden is home. This time he could choose to make a stand and defend the entire planet, not just his son. But that means turning to the very skills he swore he'd leave behind… In Spite of the Inevitable is the first installment in the five-book Mordena Dawn space opera fantasy series, detailing the founding of the costly Mordena mercenaries and their rise from piratical deserters to ferocious and effective defenders of the independent Freehold planets. When powerful galactic empires seek to devour innocents whole, there's no hired force better prepared to stand against them.

Gamer: A futuristic techno-thriller by Belinda Crawford

Login to a gritty techno thriller from the acclaimed author of The Echo. Vlad - gamer, hacker, scourge... Angel of Death. Vlad's parents died in a car accident; she can still feel the flames licking her skin, smell the burning batteries and fire-retardant. Except it wasn't an accident, someone made it happen. She's has spent the last nine years tracking those responsible; planning, plotting. She's almost done. When the last move is over, her opponent will wish they never played with the Angel of Death. Get ready to jack in and play along as Crawford masterfully weaves a complex, action-packed tale of virtual reality and revenge.

Gambling on Common Sense: Rationality, Romance, and The Space Between by L. Briar

Just one last bet... Common Sense Officer Ash Payne can't say no to a bet, and the handsome Captain Lin Solis knows it. She just wanted to live up to her father’s legacy on board the Helios, but between her reckless crews’ pet alien, rogue AI, and an accursed pirate hat—she has her hands full. After a bad beat at poker night to Solis, Ash is forced to hand over access to her CSO storage and all the dangers hidden within—dangers that threaten the one person Ash cares more about than legacy. Clone shenanigans, world-hopping, and a "it's complicated" romance are on the table. Will she be able to gamble her way out of this? Or will this uncommon universe stack the odds against her? The Reviews “Gambling on Common Sense is hilariously delightful! A lighthearted romp through the cosmos that will leave you wanting more.” - David Hankins, Award-Winning Author of Death and the Taxman "In "Gambling on Common Sense," readers are taken on a thrilling journey through the cosmos, led by the charismatic and resourceful Common Sense Officer, Ash Payne. This fast-paced adventure masterfully blends humor, action, and poignant moments. Additionally, the cast of characters is uniquely entertaining and the world building across the universe is well-executed..." - Sam Ledel Author of eight novels with Bold Strokes Books "Gambling on Common Sense is that rare Star Trek satire that also manages to be a very good Star Trek like universe…" - Nikhil Prabala Author of the Dutchess of Kokora "A punny book, that will hit all your nerd hot spots! If you like Orville give this a try!" - Romance Read Along The Feel Gambling on Common Sense is a science fiction comedy with sprinklings of romance and fantastical elements. It is a character driven story with plenty of hijinks along the way. The prose is a bit like if Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's guide, Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries, and Arnold Drake's Guardians of the Galaxy gambled together. That is to say ... it's a fun romp through space, time, and pocket dimensions.

ERASED: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller by Sebastian Kilex

"A master at exploring memory, identity, and the boundaries of humanity in a dystopian landscape... cinematic writing, vivid imagery, and relentless drama." The fall should have killed Lucy. Instead, it broke her Skelyx—the implant that controls every human emotion and memory. Now she feels what she was never meant to feel. Remembers what was meant to stay buried. When her friend is abandoned in Cyclopia's wasteland for being "too human," Lucy uncovers a terrifying truth: being broken might be the only way to survive. But uncovering the truth about their world means infiltrating The Oracle, wearing the enemy's face—and making an impossible choice. That choice will determine the fate of two worlds. Is The Oracle already ruling our world?

Explorer: Part I of the Anthanian Imperative Trilogy by Roger Floyd

EXPLORER -- Part I of the Anthanian Imperative Trilogy. The planet Anthanos is dying. Its orange-red sun is in the early stages of becoming a red giant. As the surface of the sun edges closer and closer, the planet grows hotter and hotter, and the wind is increasing. Eventually the sun will go nova and incinerate the planet and all other planets and moons in the solar system. The only option for the Anthanian population is to colonize another planet well outside their system. Their scientists have discovered another planet about thirty-five light years away - a lovely blue planet with white wispy clouds swirling over its surface. It seems to have all the necessary factors to sustain life, including a suitable temperature, plenty of water, an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and large areas of solid land to live on. So they send their best team to explore, but what those explorers find is much more -- so much more -- than the lovely blue planet they were expecting.

Fractured Children of Earth by Michael V. Colianna

When a Deaf smuggler and her partner stumble upon a universe-wide conspiracy, getting humanity to understand the threat should be easier than achieving their dreams of having a child. Mary and her co-captain Davi are ready to retire and start a family. While smuggling’s been a profitable business, it’s also been filled with risk and uncertainty. They’re having trouble conceiving, though, so they have to keep going a little longer: The fertility procedures they need don’t come cheap. When a simple job inexplicably goes wrong, Mary gets shot and it throws their plans askew. But it’s not because they won’t get paid or even because the injury means more expensive treatments. It’s because Mary’s attackers are part of a fascist shadow government that’s dangerously close to bringing humanity under its thumb… and Davi recognizes them from the abusive childhood he fled. Mary and Davi want to warn humanity about what they’ve found, but their evidence is flimsy, they’re out of money, and other smugglers are hesitant to risk arrest for such an outlandish story. If they can’t convince anybody to help expose the plot and fight back, there might not be a free universe for anyone to live in—let alone for them to start the family they desperately desire. For fans of the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey, and the Andor television show.

Lamb of God - Original Sin by Ryan McCafferty

When the dead rise, where will you stand? Prophecy becomes reality and the souls of mankind are pawns in the war of wars. When the grid goes down and the dead hunt the living, an already fragile civilization will spiral out of control and true evil will shake the foundation of reality. The disparity of lost hope, pushes mankind to walk the razors edge of good and evil. The Laochra family will tempt the limits of their faith, love, strength, loyalty and endurance. God’s plan has been laid out, but can they do what's asked of them and endure the tests and tribulations? How far would you go to save the ones you love? The small town of St. Thomas Ontario becomes the epicenter of the rapture. The roots of a prophecy dating back to the resurrection of Christ, will force people beyond their once tightly held beliefs. Faith will be tested. Souls will be claimed. And in the darkness, the light must rise. The blood of Christ will lead you to salvation, but are you willing to pay the price of admission? Perfect for fans of The Walking Dead, I Am Legend, World War Z and 28 Years Later, this gripping zombie apocalyptic tale of survival blends pulse-pounding horror with spiritual warfare in a battle that goes far beyond the flesh.

Empyreax: The Rise of Cà Rá by Scott Frost

A Sci-Fi Horror action-packed thrill ride that tugs at the heart of a strained father-son relationship. When Jack Young receives news of his estranged father's death, he's relieved to be freed from the ramblings of a madman. Heading to the town of Stone Creek, he prepares his father's eccentric mountain cabin for sale, but discovers a secret tunnel beneath it that disrupts his plans. Hidden away in an underground cavern, he finds Cà Rá, a young woman with cosmic origins who claims to be his father's friend. As guardian of the mysterious Empyreax device, she warns Jack of an imminent danger that will annihilate the planet. But Jack's not the only one who's arrived in town. Demi Carver-a doomsday cult fanatic with an interstellar secret of his own-is hunting for the Empyreax and will kill anyone who gets in his way. Bound by an oath to protect Jack, Cà Rá is his last defense against Demi's growing dark forces. When she is captured, Jack finds himself reluctantly drawn back into his father's world, teetering on the edge of reality. Fighting back against the clutches of fate, he must unravel the tangled clues his father left behind before Demi can ignite the spark that will torch humanity.

Echo of the Larkspur by A.A. Freeman

The sole survivor of a massacre, Dr. Ciro Kwakkenbos, has spent the last six years in intensive therapy. He’s finally capable of working with Artificial Intelligence again—and comes to the Ceres colony determined to prevent robots from committing any future atrocities. When he arrives, Ciro realizes the robot in charge of the colony’s security, S.A.G.E. (Sentient Automated Geo-sentinel Engineer), is dangerously close to complete sentience. S.A.G.E. is more interested in observing the colonists’ everyday lives (and matching them with appropriate musical soundtracks) than following its intended programming. Robots aren’t supposed to be charming, kind, or compassionate, either. But as Ciro investigates, he discovers S.A.G.E. has learned how to lie and—possibly—harm and kill humans. Worse, S.A.G.E.’s memories have been hacked, deleting a deadly secret. Despite the danger S.A.G.E. poses, Ciro can’t deny the feelings growing between them. Now Ciro must unravel the truth behind the missing memories—before S.A.G.E. and the colony are doomed.

Echo by M.J. Douglas

Uncover terrifying secrets about humanity’s past! Experience a mind-bending adventure where The Matrix collides with Ready Player One in this gripping, fast-paced thriller. Meet Trick, a daring gamer, and his loyal second-in-command, Pik, as they dive into Infestation, an alien horror survival game. With Trick's reckless gamble leaving chaos, Pik must navigate the fallout. Join the crew of Echoes as they race to rescue their leader and uncover the secrets behind a mysterious stowaway. Can they conquer the game? Who's pulling the strings in their reality? And what role does Trick play in this high-stakes ordeal? Unravel the mysteries in this thrilling sci-fi gamelit tale!

Download by David Crowell, Robert Glasker

"Download" by David Crowell is a riveting sci-fi adventure that centers around Margaret, a reclusive programmer battling schizophrenia. Her life takes a dramatic turn when an alien spacecraft enters the solar system, leading to a miraculous cure of her condition through an accidental interaction with alien technology. Reunited with her college friend Frank, an astrophysicist, Margaret joins a team of brilliant minds in Boulder, Colorado. Together, they delve into alien innovations, including a brain implant that connects them directly to the internet and grants them control over global information systems. This newfound power, however, comes with perilous consequences, drawing attention from the U.S. President, foreign operatives, and anti-alien factions. As the narrative unfolds, Margaret and her team navigate a web of international espionage, ethical dilemmas, and the existential questions posed by their alien benefactors. Crowell masterfully blends action, suspense, and a profound exploration of human potential in the face of otherworldly influences. "Download" is a compelling journey into the possibilities of alien contact and the transformative power of technology, making it a must-read for science fiction enthusiasts.

Dawn of Time by Judy Klass

YA: Science Fiction & Fantasy: (for kids and for adults) Dawn, 17, lives in a small town in Pennsylvania. Things get weird one Friday when she is heading to history class with her two best friends. Dawn "falls" into time, and ends up traveling to Florence during the Renaissance with a teen named Baldassare. He explains that Dawn is a "Sensitive" -- a kid who can travel through time. He warns her about a teen from ancient Greece named Androcles. Baldassare says Androcles is taking reckless risks and jeopardizing the space/time continuum. Baldassare has a haunted quality, perhaps from spending years alone. Dawn is drawn to him, but they are very different. He takes her careening through Florentine history, with centuries flying by, and it rattles her. Dawn demands some time at home, to think. But back in her town, she cannot talk about where she has been, and when, to her parents, friends or teachers. She starts to feel like an orphan in time. When she meets Androcles, he is laid-back and good-humored, and he takes her to the Caves of Time, where time does not exist. Dawn learns more of what it means to be a Sensitive, watching the life of a great ancient writer from birth to death, and wandering in a sense, "inside" of great old books. Androcles says that Baldassare has projected the dangerous, delusional things that he, himself, is doing onto Androcles. Dawn must decide which of these two guys she believes and trusts -- and, with that guy and two teens from other eras, she must prepare for an epic battle in which the universe may be at stake.

Time Thief (Eclipse Book 1) by Lindsay French

In a world in which Prophets wield the power of wayward gods, a banished woman is determined to regain her own powers and free her people. When Max learned her world and its advanced race posing as gods were not all they seemed, her powers were sealed off by an unbreakable curse. Banished from the Mountain of the Gods, she devotes her life to protecting the village that adopted her as their own—until the Prophet of the Valley captures her and her people, intent on using them as a blood sacrifice. Max vows to escape and return to the mountain to reclaim a power she hates in order to save the people she loves. But she’ll need the help of one of the Prophet’s fiercest warriors, Nash the Unknown, who has his own reasons for joining her, and she isn’t sure she can trust him. The journey will be a grueling one, made even more dangerous by the draw Max feels to the charming Nash. Together, the pair must climb the Mountain of the Gods and steal back Max’s powers. Only, the mysteries of the mountain reveal ever more about the gods’ cruel intentions and the reality-breaking secrets of her world, leading her to a harrowing discovery. Come what may, Max will destroy the Prophet and reach beyond her world to rescue her home from the ruthless gods—in this life and every other.

Transcendence by Matthew Nation

One year after the fall of America, Dylan Meyers finds himself the second most powerful person in New Genesis. In name only. The people love him, and that just might be his end. With an assassin on his trail, he can't trust anyone, not even the ones he loves. With war just around the corner, he's forced to choose between what he wants and what he needs. Either way, many will die. He must overcome his regrets and failures, in order to not just survive, but to win. It's God's Will.

Malevolence by Matthew Nation

America has fallen. From its ashes has risen New Genesis, a theocratic government where the only law that matters is God’s law. Dylan Meyers finds himself kidnapped by the ruler of New Genesis, Evelyn Wolfe, and he is ordered to repent for his sinful ways. Dylan is forced into conversion therapy and pushed to his mental and physical breaking point. He must find a way to save himself before he becomes the very thing he is fighting against.

Cold Blooded: A Cold Rush Novella by Rohan O'Duill

“Don’t mistake my silence for weakness. No one plans a murder out loud.” Veteran Marine Mint only worries about one thing—herself. But after being ordered back to the front lines, she has a decision to make—stand up and do the right thing, or finally get what she always wanted. Fifteen-year-old Frida lives in deep space on a pirate vessel. Her father is a dissident warrior who fights the corporations running the system. When a corporation battle cruiser catches up to the ageing pirate vessel, death appears to be the only escape. A gripping tale of war, survival, and corporate exploitation in the depths of space. Filled with bone-crunching action and unexpected twists, 'Cold Blooded' will keep you on the edge of your seat until the bloody end. Melding the best of 'The Expanse' style deep-space battles and corporate greed with the class struggle of 'Red Rising', fans will love this riveting sci-fi adventure. Grab your copy now. Cold Blooded is part of the Cold Rush universe, but can be read as standalone and in any order. The book is printed in a dyslexic friendly font, making the page count slightly longer than normal.

Cargo Hold 4 by Lonnie Busch

"A masterclass in suspense writing and a riveting examination of the human – or not so human - condition." – Rohan O’Duill, author of COLD RISING “Fast-paced, unrelenting, and inevitable—this nail-biting, space-romp will have you gasping for air.” — Bryan Chaffin, author of ACCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE "Draws on elements from the classics of 1950’s sci-fi horror as humanity makes their first steps to explore the galaxy. Superb.”—Nick Snape, author of HOSTILE CONTACT and the Weapons of Choice Series "Riveting! A slow-burn nightmare unfolding, testing the moral fibres of humanity, right to the terrifying end."T.K. Toppin, Science Fiction Author. Several years into a multi-decade deep space mission, a team of eight scientists—four women, four men—are exploring a dwarf planet near the Kuiper Belt, loading soil samples, rocks and artifacts onto their ship, when they inadvertently bring aboard a stowaway, an unseen entity which is trying desperately to escape from Cargo Hold 4.

Cage of Stars by Frasier Armitage

Winner of the SciFidea Dyson Sphere Contest and shortlisted for the Andromeda Award, Cage of Stars is the latest from Frasier Armitage, acclaimed author of Time's Ellipse and A Stitch Between Worlds. HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO BE FREE? Inside the paradise of a Dyson Sphere, artificial intelligence has been outlawed and hunted. When a robot is dug up at the equator, it will have to flee if it wants to survive. Told from the different perspectives of the humans and creatures who encounter the machine as it crosses the Sphere to seek refuge at the pole, can one robot's struggle for freedom change the world? "A fabulous story with excellent characterisation and a deep understanding of the Dyson Sphere concept. I loved it!" - Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo award winning author of Flashforward and Hominids "CAGE OF STARS brings to mind both questions philosophical and technological, the biological and artificial, nature versus innovation, with an immersive expansiveness that is tightly paced" - Ai Jiang, Nebula award winning author of Linghun, I Am AI, and A Palace Near The Wind

CTRL-Z: Welcome to the zombie apocalypse...on repeat by Iain Benson

Welcome to the apocalypse. On repeat. On any given day, millions of people are in London. Now they’ve gone. But they’re still hungry, and these dead don’t walk… they run. At moonrise, London reboots: sirens, smoke, sprinting dead. Parkour-hardened survivor Zane survives by motion, flying from roof to roof, balcony to bus. He wakes every day beside his former friend, forcing a last-second swan dive off Tower Bridge for breakfast. Death isn’t an exit; it’s a restart. Zane hunts for the cause, a way out, five lifetimes of searching. His only clue, a flash across the financial district. Until one day, a bedsheet hanging from the Tower of London sends him to the Sky Garden to meet Nina. He measures days in rooftops and near-misses; she measures them in the things time refuses to delete. Together, they face a crumbling London, unravelling time, and intersecting only once every five days. With Nina at his side, Zane will stop running and start fighting back, Even if it risks time itself. CTRL-Z is a breathless and gory daily apocalypse with gallows humour and zombies. Run. Reset. Repeat. Remember.

Breakwater by Vivian Wilderbridge

Breakwater is a timely and lyrical novel exploring themes of climate change, motherhood, and resilience. As floodwaters surge in South Florida and millions evacuate, Carey Marilla, a middle school music teacher, learns she's pregnant. Though the waters are undeniably rising, Carey and her world-weary mother resist departure, alongside their aging yard man and a runaway student. Together, the unlikely family navigates the coming months of slow devastation and radical change while Carey grapples with the psychological trials of pregnancy. Meanwhile, blue herons, silver mullet, and sly alligators reclaim the drowned city streets. Rain, indifferent and dazzling as ever, dances blithely among the telephone poles.

Blue Shift Protocol by I.O. Adler

In the coldest reaches of Jupiter’s orbit, the mining vessel Nightingale intercepts an incoming asteroid—hollowed, shaped, and unmistakably touched by human hands. To the crew, it’s an unexpected find raising many questions as they prepare to bring their prize back to Nexus Station. To Trenton Keller, the ship’s mechanic, it’s something else entirely. As the miners work to haul the rock home, clues to the object’s history begin to surface, linking the asteroid to a classified experiment buried in their colony’s past. And when the mission turns deadly, it falls to Trenton to uncover the truth before the artifact claims more lives and threatens to tear the crew apart. Blue Shift Protocolis a chilling blend of hard sci-fi with horror elements set against the unforgiving backdrop of a struggling human colony in Jupiter's orbit. It will appeal to fans of The Expanse, Event Horizon, and The Martian. Dive into the mystery today!

Blaze Forth the Death of Princes by A.M. Colwell

Nova Martin is a simple smuggler trying to get away from her crime boss to make a life of her own. But after she stows away on an errant ship and kills an assassin in self defense, she's forced to take his place, finding herself embroiled in the political machinations of a galactic regime and tasked with assassinating princeling playboy Drace, heir to the Sovereignty. Nova just wants to keep her true identity secret and get out of the situation alive, but the deeper she gets, the more she learns that nothing is quite as it seems, and Drace is keeping secrets of his own. As Nova learns what life is like for civilians under the Sovereignty's rule, she must make a difficult decision. Will she be complicit and follow orders, or will she join the growing rebellion to overthrow the authoritarian Premier and her corrupt dominion? Nova Martin's is a story filled with intrigue, upheaval, and more than a fair share of romance.

Breadbasket Rebellion by J. Trevor Robinson

A gripping YA adventure about freedom and faith against all odds. Gideon Elmwood is a 16-year-old boy and a third-generation Class R citizen in what was once the Canadian Prairies, confined to a forced-labour farming community. Forbidden to leave his town, he has never known anything but the Regime’s restrictions and his grandfather’s stories of how life used to be. This year, the unthinkable has happened: the Regime has finally increased the town’s quota beyond what they could ever produce, and the consequences for failure would be deadly. In desperation, Gideon and his friends set out in hopes of finding technology and machines that could save the only home they’ve ever known. When knowledge of what they find falls into the wrong hands, the townspeople find themselves under the control of a petty but effective tyrant. With the adults incapacitated or coerced into fighting for the tyrant, it falls on Gideon to recover control of the technology and save his family, friends, and neighbours. If he fails, the Regime will wipe the town off the map rather than risk a threat to their power.