SPSFC 2023 Self-published Science Fiction Competition 2023
A sister competition to the SPFBO, the SPSFC is for sci-fi self-published works. Stories tagged with this mark were entered into the third year of this competition.
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The Mars Migration by Wayne M. Bailey When a pair of otherworldly spheres land on Earth in Canada and the UK, Amber and Daniel are instantly transported away from their homes to a strange world beyond a black hole. Amber and Daniel, are taken on an unwanted adventure to be studied by a race of people living without a sun in the desolate Dark Space. Meanwhile, their families and friends on Earth remain frozen, trapped inside a twenty-mile bubble surrounding each sphere where time does not pass. The governments on both sides of the pond struggle to explain what these anomalies are, why they are there, and exactly who is responsible for them. Stuck in an alternate universe on the brink of civil war, Amber and Danielâs captors inform them that they will not be returned home, forcing them to say goodbye to their families and lives on Earth. Could an unlikely allegiance with their captorâs enemy help them secure a way home? |
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The Mimameid Solution by Katherine Kempf RagnarĂśk was only the beginning. Five years after the world he knew collapsed in ecological disaster, Lysander is back in his homeland of Old Scandinavia with his companions, Magdelena and Linnaea. The atmosphere is full of ash, the days are cold and dark and they are constantly under threat from the Celts, who have invaded and are burning the countryside in their wake. When a rogue group of soldiers led by a fiery Lieutenant named Petra offers them refuge in a place called Mimameid, they are tempted by a chance at safety. But when Mimameid turns out to be more than he bargained for, Lysander must take control of his own fate and decide whether to stay or to go. |
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What if avarice after billionaire-ism is just a subset of ordinary hoarding disorder? What if someone discovered a way to repair that? Who would benefit? Who would oppose such a cure, and how aggressively? The Money Cure is a comic romantic adventure set in the near future, when a housing crisis forces working people, from retail employees to programmers, to live in illegal housing called underhousing. Jemma is a beautiful loner with aspirations as a graphic novelist. She wants to make money to buy the time she needs to create a work of art. Employed in a menial job at a spa for the ultra-wealthy, her real ambition is to delight readers. Jemma also wants to acquire enough money, cash, assets, or whatever, to move out of her van, parked in underhousing. Financially challenged and stuck in a dead end job, Jemma devises an only slightly illegal plan to fix her money problem. Oz Vasquez is a sociable, outgoing biologist. He is one of a group of scientists who believe the solution to the deepening housing crisis is a change in how people, especially billionaires, regard the acquisition of vast hoards of money. The scientists believe the ultra-wealthy behave as crudely and irrationally as dragons sitting on hoards of gold in fairy tales. They are searching for a cure for what they call the dread moneypox. If they find such a cure, some of them intend to administer it to the ultra-wealthy by any means necessary. When Jemma and Oz meet, each secretly hopes to use the other to advance their scheme. Then they fall in love. Their intentions toward each other change, but their plans are already in motion. Their situation is complicated when they become entangled with a group of minor criminals called the Candy Mommies and Daddies. The Candies are masters of the misdemeanor, who sometimes step over the line into felony. Will either Jemma or Oz, or both, succeed? Will they betray each other, or help each other? Will their love survive their ambitions? |
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The Prism Effect (Skylight, #1) by J. Wint Just beyond Earthâs atmosphere, orbiting like a shining beacon of hope, is the celebrated Skylight University and only the brightest students are accepted into its hallowed halls. Not surprisingly, Jet Stroud can hardly believe it when he receives his acceptance letter. Afterall, who would want a kid with glowing eyes and a deadly disease called âThe Youthful Deathâ on their campus? Thanks to his rare condition known as ephebus mortem, Jet has always been avoided and feared because of his eyes. When he learns the legend claims he will die before his twenty-fourth birthday, his excitement at being accepted into Skylight University is suddenly crushed. Determined to find answers, Jet quickly picks himself up. Accompanied by another kid from his hometown, a loner named Cutter Jade, they seek out the other three students with ephebus mortem. Despite their differences, the small group develops a shaky friendship and begins a quest to find a cure. But not all is as it seems at Skylight University. Mysterious shadows lurk in the hallways and bizarre visions of serpents and prisms haunt Jetâs dreams. While reading the obituary of a former student with ephebus mortem, Jet discovers several clues hidden in a trilogy of old paintings. As the group follows the breadcrumbs left behind by this former student, their quest takes an unexpected and deadly turn. The pace to find clues quickens when strange voices, ghostly apparitions and bizarre events threaten to splinter the small group apart. With the semester roaring to a close, and tensions running high, Jet fears they may not survive long enough to crack the code. Could the clues hidden in the paintings hold the cure to the strangest disease ever known to the human race? Can Jet and the others unravel the mysteries of ephebus mortem in time? In the end, Jet discovers something so profound that it will change his life forever. |
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The Prometheus Proposal by Ronald D. Ferguson One hundred years after the first man walked on the Moon, climate change and overpopulation make civilization on Earth increasingly difficult, and the planets and moons in our solar system provide inadequate havens. The technological genius, Alastair McCleod, proposes a Prometheus-like solution. He wants to give humankind a new kind of fire, the stars, and as the richest man in the solar system, he devotes his influence, prestige, and wealth to implementing his solution. His Proposal is as controversial as it is " We don't have the technology to take ourselves to the stars, and so instead, we will send the dead and the unborn ." The Prometheus Proposal is the saga of the McLeod family quest to reach the stars. |
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The Rains Came Down by Julian Shaw A world where nature has claimed the streets of London⌠where ageless people are perilously addicted to sucking marbles⌠and where the deaths of three men from another world threatens the order of the universe⌠In this, his debut novel, Julian Shaw has created a life-affirming and enchanting parallel universe, remarkable for its torrential bursts of action and overwhelming floods of emotion. ________________________________ When Gareth Edwards dies in a train crash, he emerges in The Meadow , a realm existing somewhere between life and death. Hunted and on the run, he finds refuge with a travelling circus and journeys with them across the splendour of this strange world, where pubs organise rebellions, cave dwellers archive Earthâs disasters â and where a network of monasteries are commissioning expeditions into the Welsh mountains that are too dangerous to speak of. Gareth joins one of these expeditions, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for him â something with origins that reach beyond this world and into the trauma of his past. |
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The Rat's Nest by Adam Crookston In the Year 3022, the people of earth have migrated planets over 82 times, saving ones that provide useful resources and storage. After a woman goes missing on the infamous planet 28. It's up to a gifted soldier to return her to safety. A story about Self Belief, Belonging, and pushing through the worst.Will Tom survive the trails and tribulations, or will Cain take over the minds of everyone. |
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The Rise Of Manifesto The Great by Kerrie Noor Manifesto the Great comes from a dynasty of leaders who treat women like breeding machines. When his father dies, he must take over as leader, but will he be able to control the women?Planet Hy Man is a planet as pure as a babyâs belly button until a spaceship arrives. A spaceship full of celibate men and women hungry for all things âearthyâ.They hurl themselves into a frenzy of real meat, real air, and procreation until a leader emerges to create order, civilization, and a sewage system.Manifesto the Great watches as his forefathers pollute the planet, treat women like they are walking wombs, and design dodgy robots until that is, itâs his turn.Will he rise over the tidal wave of discontented women, or will he drown under a sea of underwire and estrogen?The Rise Of Manifesto The Great is the first of three prequels to the Planet Hy Man science-fiction comedy series. If you like high-mileage heroines, fast-paced satire, and meticulously crafted universes, then youâll love Kerrie Noorâs otherworldly farce. |
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The Southron Deception (The Southron Chronicles, Book 1) by J.L. Birchwood The year is 2085 In the Southron Union, a breakaway autonomous region of the former United States, climate change steals more of the South with each passing day, shrinking the coastlines and leaving behind an ocean of sand in its wake. Ruled by a man known only as The General, a charismatic leader who rose to power following a military coup, life here is a brutal convergence of violence and starvation. Tasha Strong enjoyed a privileged existence. She had food to eat. A roof over her head. Water flowed freely from the tap. After being hand-selected for a top job by The General, she met Derik, a devastatingly handsome bodyguard, and the final piece of her perfect life clicked into place. At least for a time. When a terroristâs bomb detonates during The Unionâs independence day celebration, Tasha Strongâs world is turned upside-down, forcing the formerly naĂŻve, pampered young woman to embark on a quest to expose the insurgents responsible and bring them to justice. Every step Tasha takes to unravel the mystery of the bombing reveals unexpected truths, destroying the illusion of The Union, and imploding the delusion of her idyllic life. |
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Who Knew The Storm by Josephine Draycott If you were expecting a syrupy sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's book, The Secret Garden, think again! This novel, three-part novel whisks her beloved characters right off the page and takes them on a fantastic journey which broadens their hitherto narrow horizons and changes their lives irrevocably, teaching them along that way that, in the words of the late, great Douglas Adams, everything is connected. It's a wacky tale of friendship without frontiers, a fantastical feast of pseudo sci-fun fun, and despite being a sincere tribute to Hodgson Burnett's original masterpiece, is far as removed from her universe as Betelgeuse is from Birmingham. Kids, be warned! |
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Randolph Runner by David Dvorkin Butler, warrior, moral philosopher, robot. Randolph is all that and more. Randolph is the prized product of Superior Domestics, a Silicon Valley firm dedicated to producing robot servants for people who grew up watching British period costume dramas on PBS. The companyâs motto is, âAll the gracious living of Upstairs with none of the unseemly drama of Downstairs.â When the novel opens with the assassination of King Donald II and a coup dâĂŠtat, Randolph epitomizes that motto. He is calm, quiet, supremely competent, always in the background, and never interfering. He is a mere witness to great events. He is focused on supervising his staff and properly running the household of General Henry Redgrave, architect of the coup and wouldâbe power behind the throne. But Redgraveâs ambitions go far beyond standing behind the throne. He wants to be king himself, and eventually an emperor. Using the crazies of the Hundred Star Flag movement, he begins his intended wave of southern conquest at the Mexican border. Others have similar ambitions. Anton Moravec, president of a unified, revitalized, and aggressively expansionist European Union, is at war with Russia. His ally, China, is eating up Russian territory at the other end. India watches nervously. Two beautiful women, natural enemies, are the objects of passion of both men. Lurking in the background are the survving members of the Trump family, scheming to get back into power. War! Romance! Sex! Skulduggery! Artificial Intelligence! And lots of other stuff, too. Itâs all really terribly complicated. Randolph, whose personal motto is, âA place for everything and everything in its place,â could probably organize all this and bring about peace and quiet, but what human would knowingly hand that much responsibility over to a machine? In fact, unthinking, humans have already done so. Increasingly, autonomous machines have taken over tedious duties such as transporting cargo, performing minor surgery, and blowing away trespassers. Randolph is aware of these machines but looks down on them. He and his fellow robot servants are true artificial intelligence, but the digital brains operating these other machines are merely very advanced computers. In Randolphâs opinion, they only simulate AI. However, those other machines have thoughts of their own. As the world descends further into chaos, Randolph is drawn in, ever less the observer and ever more the participant, until at the end he is the very center of all. |
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Quantum Reaction by Marc Wayne Life-altering tech is on the horizon, and someone wants it stoppedâpermanently. Can a murder witness escape paying the ultimate price? Near future. Angela Kapp struggles with her past. Working remotely from an isolated cabin in a dead-end customer support job, she drinks too much and spends her days avoiding the world. But while on shift using a visual-interpretation headset to assist a blind person, the cynical loner is horrified when she virtually experiences the other womanâs gruesome slaying. Shocked the next day when she recognizes the killer closing in on a second sightless client, Angela shouts for the software engineer to run. And after learning that he and the first victim are connected by a soon-to-be-released teleportation innovation, she convinces him to go to ground in her secluded home ⌠only to become a target herself. Can her paranoia and his unexpected skills thwart a sinister plot? Quantum Reaction is a gripping science fiction mystery. If you like resilient heroines, unique blind heroes, and high-adrenaline action interwoven with humor, then youâll love Marc Wayneâs flash forward to adventure. Buy Quantum Reaction to take a leap into tomorrow today! |
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The Cartographer's Vault by Richard Houlden This is a collection of science fiction tales that will take you across the cosmos of existence. Each one is a glimpse into events that have yet to happen or have happened in another timeline. Every event is archived within the walls of the space station Catographer's Vault. Follow Ashra Whistlo as she leads a team to rediscover this station that has been lost to time for over a millennium but heed the warning that she is given from The Do not lose your grasp on what is your reality. You will be presented with real people and real existences within this room. Their emotions will be palpable as if they were yours. You must detach yourself from their reality and remember that it isnât yours. |
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Corona is the deliciously dark and dystopian debut novel from David Arrowsmith, author of Nevada Noir: A Trilogy of Short Stories and The Drowned. In a fallen London, how far will one man go to save his family â and himself⌠or is it already too late? Trapped in his top floor mansion block apartment in Denmark Hill, South East London, can The Man escape and pick his way through the crumbling ruins of the city, avoiding the violent gangs that now vie for supremacy, and find his heavily pregnant ex-wife? Can a belated act of heroism wash him clean of his sins, or is he too far gone? In a world where civilization has fallen, what hope is there for the future? Corona is a novel about the fault lines in our lives and relationships: a failed marriage, the burden of parenthood, a love forged in extremis. It may be a dystopian story, but it's set in the emotional reality of the here and now. It's Sci-Fi - but not as you know it... This is a story about the dark â and the light â inside all of us, about manâs inhumanity, and humanity. Itâs a tale in which the threat, the danger, comes from within us â not from the undead or vampires or even a virus, but from our neighbours, our friends, even ourselves. Corona combines elements of dystopian fiction with the literary survival horror of works like J.G. Ballardâs High Rise and Concrete Island, and even a hint of the Cli-Fi sensibilities of his The Drought and The Drowned World. Itâs the perfect read for anyone who enjoyed The Last Of Us, Children of Men, Mad Max, The Road, The Walking Dead, I Am Legend or 28 Days Later. Do you dare to embrace the darkness within? |
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Crazy Foolish Robots by Adeena Mignogna What would you do if you were kidnapped by alien robots? Ruby Palmer finds herself on an entire planet surrounded by the things she hates the most: robots. Besides taking everything she says way too literally, the robots have problems of their own. A myriad of technical glitches are, on the cosmological scale, quickly destroying them. Ruby has the programming knowledge and skills that matter to them, but can she overcome her fears and find it within herself to help? Her survival, along with the survival of all of humanity and robot kind, depends on it. If you adore all the charming and delightful robots in sci-fi from R2D2 to Wall-E to Bender to Marvin to Johnny 5, you'll love The Robot Galaxy Series! |
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Crimson Gauntlet (Crimson Gauntlet #1) by I.O. Adler Even as the world burns, the game is everything⌠When a wave of monsters attack the town of Bell Park, Eddie Rush has no idea the invasion is an introduction to a new interactive experience. Crimson Gauntlet Online wasnât supposed to go live for weeks. But for Eddie and his group of gamer friends, the chilling realization dawns on them that the promised game is responsible for the spreading destruction and death. If Eddie wants to survive, heâll need to learn the rules, and fast. Because Crimson Gauntlet isnât taking prisoners. Full of action, dark humor, and mystery, Crimson Gauntlet is perfect for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl, Ready Player One, and Robopocalypse. From the award-winning author of Shadows of Mars and The Seraph Engine. Discover a new favorite series in this post-apocalyptic LitRPG adventure. Grab your copy and enjoy the ride! |
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Cultural Practices of the Heartland by Andy C.F. Crawford Deep within the suburban jungle of Cincinnati, a monster has emerged, bursting out of the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill. Taking its name from its birthplace, Rumpke is a thousand feet tall, has revolting personal habits, and might be vaguely familiar to readers, considering his orange-tinged hair and proportionally tiny hands. What do Americans do when such a creature appears, lumbers around at random, and occasionally defiles a local landmark? For millions, the choice is obvious â worship it.New York journalist Fred Millard is assigned to report on the exploits of the monster, his bizarre fandom, and the ludicrous internet conspiracy theories that have caught fire since his appearance. Fred quickly learns that the absurdity of Rumpkeâs fandom leads to more serious consequences than mere internet hysteria â when serious illness starts to spread in those closest to the monster, its biggest fans refuse to follow the governmentâs guidance of masking and social distancing, worsening the outbreak. And most appalling of all, one conspiracy theory inspires a violent mob to assemble in Washington, DC and assault a federal building, with deadly results.A funhouse-mirror reflection of modern American politics, CULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE HEARTLAND is a sci-fi tinged political satire novel. It was written for all of us who are exhausted, baffled, and even terrified by the insanity of American politics in recent times. |
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Cydonia Rising (Andlios #1) by Dave Walsh The Emperor has fallen. Poisoned by his son bent on claiming the galaxy for himself. Katrijn is the heir to the throne, or was, until her brother killed their father and claimed it for himself. She had promised her father to restore order only to end up in exile, dodging her brotherâs assassins. Now she must fulfill her fatherâs dying wish: bring freedom to the Republic. On the other side of the Republic, a lost Krigan princess conspires with her former enemies to take the galaxy back for themselves, for the good of the people of Andlios. Is it too late to save the galaxy? For fans of kick ass heroines and classic space opera tales, because everyone loves a girl that can wield a giant laser-axe. |
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Dial G for Gravity (Brent Bolster Space Detective, #1) by Michael Campling Brent Bolster has a particular set of skills. Unfortunately, most of them have no practical application whatsoever. Now, he's met his worst nightmare: an alien with a clipboard. So begins the adventures of Brent Bolster and his ragtag coalition of associates. With a client in the shapely form of a gorgeous dame, a musclebound assistant, an alien with an attitude, and fish called Algernon, Brent uncovers a galactic conspiracy. Meanwhile, a mighty warship is on its way. Affectionately known as The Skull by its crew of warlike Andelians, the ship causes all who see her to tremble. And in command is the notorious Admiral Norph, a warrior who makes Genghis Khan look neighborly. The scene is set for a galactic confrontation. Can Brent handle it? Probably not. But it will be fun to watch him try. Youâll get a kick out of this comedy because all sci-fi fans love a tongue-in-cheek reference. Dial G for Gravity takes the world of an old-fashioned gumshoe and propels it into the future. But like all good sci-fi, it has something to say about the way we live now and where weâre headed. |
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Epivision: Volume 1 by Matthew Thompson Bright Olsson saved his young brother from drowning in 1964. He could not, however, save himself from the icy waters of Lake Runn, Sweden. But his life, as it would turn out, continues within a technologically advanced world, 3 billion light years from Earth. For his selfless act, he becomes an Epi-Guardian, gifted with the ability to see the future perils of others and be their saviour. Except for a life-altering accident, his future visions are severely hampered, and he fails to protect the love of his life. To save himself from self-destruction and to start over, Bright exploits his guardianship by illegally blessing clients in need of protection. It takes him to Sector HK-909, a replica of Earthâs Hong Kong, to work for a man known as Hawker. Kaye Riley, an agent for the Investigation of Criminality on Angelo, will go above and beyond to arrest an Epi-Guardian after what happened to her best friend. Partnered with agent Katsuhiro Miike, a man labelled a snitch and potentially a hindrance to her unorthodox methods, she arrives in HK-909 on a crusade to bring Olsson to justice. Her career and personal vendetta rest on the assignment, though she never expected how life-changing it would be. |
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Eco-Terrorism by Daniel Musenga-Grant ECO-TERRORISM Climate Change is impacting millions of people around the world . . . Three events begin to intertwine the lives of Discharged Lieutenant Ravid Malach, Birmingham Student Gemma Anderson, and Detective Inspector Damon Read. As they uncover the shadowy network of the mysterious Benefactor, they must ask the question . . . How far would you go to save us all? |
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Eclipsing the Aurora (Consensus Universe #1) by Peter J. Foote When Nigel gets chucked off a dam, he thinks his time is up. Vivian â an alien from an ancient race that uses Earthâs deep oceans as a retirement home â rescues him and convinces him to join the Consensus. Now all he has to do is give up his life on Earth. But he canât abandon his birth planet when he learns that the Menace plans to attack. To stop the apocalypse, he must find his high school crush, rescue the daughter he never knew he had, and make the case to the Consensus that humanity is worth saving. It would be a lot easier if he didnât have amnesia. If you like found family, unlikely heroes, and unique alien technology, youâll love Eclipsing the Aurora, the latest sci-fi adventure from author Peter J. Foote. Content warning: Historic drug use and sexual assault of an adult are mentioned and/or implied within this story. Child endangerment (kidnapping) is featured. |
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Duck by Pamela Zero Pulled hundreds of thousands of years into the future, a young girl fights for her freedom as she builds a new life. Duck, a young girl, is pulled forward hundreds of thousands of years into a terrifying prison lab. Duck finds a new family, but some things are strange now. The micro-thin bodysuit that she can't take off, the growlers that keep chasing them for experiments that make no sense. And once she gets out into the world with her family they are still hunted, this time by the Service, a galaxy-wide mercantile organization. The Service swears that one of the Visitors, as the people pulled forward are called, will fulfill a prophecy and renew the Service's source of power. Struggling to figure out new, time related skills, Duck and her family must avoid the Service while trying to build new lives. |
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Beating the Apocalypse by Joyce Reynolds-Ward Rianna and Bobby are Canariesâtwo of the living toxin monitors who are the Coalition for North American Survivalâs best tools for predicting and enduring an outbreak of the poisonous Clouds that threaten to destroy all life under the Dome. Their heightened sensitivity to airborne toxins coupled with bioengineered tweaking, training, and medications means they can take data on current conditions as they affect living beingsâand tolerate higher exposures than most people. More than that, Rianna and Bobby are a couple. Theyâre the two best forecasters of Cloud behavior, prized and protected by their supervisor, LeBrand, because of their complementary talents. So why are their bosses trying to kill them? Whatâs the real agendaâand just how bad is that last Cloud formation going to be? Can Rianna, Bobby, and LeBrand manage to stay alive long enough to find out whatâs going on? |
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Cloudthinker by Andrew McGlinchey Numbers donât lie. But people do. Seasoned journalist Parham Nasiri is convinced thereâs something sinister behind tech giant Magentaâs new product, Cloudthinker. The AI service can do anyone's job and is decimating the workforce, sending shockwaves through an already fragile economy and tightening Magentaâs grip on society. After his employers subscribe to the service and put him out of a job, Parham becomes determined to uncover the truth. His digging into Cloudthinker's origins leads him to Boogie Wu â an enigmatic math genius who died in a corporate jet accident â and heâs ensnared in a web of mystery and deception. Tangled up with a corporate whistle-blower, a human-like autonomous hacker, AI-powered robots, and the increasingly blurry line separating humans from software, Parham confronts the world-shaking consequences of Magentaâs real intentions. Heâll be forced to make impossible choices to stop the world from tipping into crisis...â¨â¨Set in the very near future, Cloudthinker is a propulsive new thriller that confronts big tech, memory and consciousness, and what it means to be human. |
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Arter: A Pure Impurity Series Novel by Sylas Seabrook For a hundred thousand years, Sumatta has reigned as the source of all life on the planet Arter. Arter is a pangean continent whose skies are filled by a constant aurora and whose science is based off of aten, small bits of energy captured by nature which harness the fundamental forces of nature. Unel seeks to use aten to connect Arterians through their dreams in hopes of one day allowing Arterians to communicate through the mind directly. Finding the right aten and the right design for his device, the draumr, proves frustrating, and he finds himself relying on the support of his bonded (wife) to complete the project. As he discovers the necessary formula and they begin a family, Sumatta brings a message. Sumatta, Guardian of Ages, brings a message of a new age which will change Arter forever and give new meaning to Unelâs hopes for the draumr device. This story was 6 years in the making and is the first in a series of books which will take us deeper into the world-building of a universe of universes filled with characters who seek to better themselves, save the worlds they know, and the gods who play amongst them. |
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Ben crouched in the shadows with nowhere to go, his heart hammering in his chest. The guard was twenty meters away now. Fifteen. Ten⌠A thousand years in the future, people kill for Dorium. They threaten war over it. And if the headlines are to be trusted, somebody recently destroyed an entire colony for it. Thatâs why itâs a big problem when Ben Ashley accidentally steals some. Benâs a good thief. Maybe too good, thanks to the strange ability that lets him open locked doors and manipulate AIs. But when he gets caught with the solar systemâs most valuable substance, it will take all his skills and more just to survive. A shady deal to stay out of prison propels him into a deadly world of espionage, organized crime, piracy, interplanetary conspiracy, and a hidden plot that threatens the only home Ben has ever known. How can he save himself and his friends? Whoâs responsible for the brutal attack on a quiet colony? What is Archimedes? And why does it seem like all the bad guys are working together? Ben canât escape this time. The only way out of danger is right through the heart of it. To have any hope, Ben will have to harness the Aurora, the rare power that nearly kills him every time he uses it. Heâll have to find out who to trustâand decide whether he can trust himself. Benâs a good thief. Can he be a hero? Archimedes is a fast-paced adventure set in our solar system a thousand years in the future. If you like heists, space battles, and high-energy sci-fi with a dash of superhuman abilities, youâll love Archimedes. |
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Arbiter: the cosmic prophecy by Omal Don Spater In the twenty-fourth century, when Elysium is made and the Mars is colonized, the worldâs destiny twists, as the rise of a dictator brings forth new supremacy through a cyber oracle to conquer the Superstates, annihilating the peace and harmony of people. Bodhi TurvaĹa, a 28 years old young man living in Indiaâs undisputed lands, decides to leave Earth before the beginning of the apocalypse. He desires to enter Elysium, risking all that he loves the most, for a better life, and dares to venture out, with his fiancĂŠ, Anjana Kashyap, and her cousin, Agastya Kashyap, traversing through the prohibited lands, to reach the Exodus Port in Moscow, Soviet State. Little do they know that he is carrying one of the greatest assets to Elysiumâs âAcer Rubrum Arcâ until coincidentally meets Shen Er Shi and Bane Lux amid two encounters that refuel their adventurous journey. Their mission henceforth tenses while the suspense starts grasping them with its thrill, although finding great endurance, in the hand of mere blessing, they seldom felt cynical about their frail status, focusing to see the peak of escape, after all. Despite resistance, does he succeed to deliver himself to the Elysium, with his entourage, or does he fail to accomplish his predestined duty? Itâs for you to find out âŚ!! |
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Any Job Will Do (The Grand Human Empire #1) by John Wilker Jackson âJaxâ Caruso inherited a ship from his parents. Theyâre dead, they donât need it. The unification wars happened a while ago, Jaxâs parentâs fought for the losing side. Now he takes the jobs he can get; smuggling, bounty hunting, hauling cargo. If it pays, heâll do it. When Jax is approached with a job that seems too good to be true, he should have known better, he should have walked. He didnât. Now he and a few friends are in it deep; Imperial entanglements are the least of their concerns with organized crime on their tails. Will Jax and his friends finish the job without getting caught, or killed? Only one way to find out! Get your copy today! |
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After Moses by Michael F. Kane His gruff exterior hides a man who wants to do the right thing. But running from trouble wonât work when the planets need a hero. Arizona Colony, Mars. Matthew Cole doesnât want anyone else aboard his ship. But the notorious solo freelancer is persuaded against his better judgment to guard a dangerous prison transport along with an exo-suit-clad former rival. Outmaneuvered when the crookâs cronies spring the inmate with heavy firepower, the poncho-wearing captain vows to scour the solar system to restore his rep and claim his paycheck Reluctantly banding together with his seven-foot partner in her powered armor, Matthew has his hands full leading an unwanted ragtag crew. But the headache of dealing with people again is nothing next to the prickling between his shoulders as he continues to run afoul of greedy politicians and criminal syndicates. Is this space cowboyâs moral compass sending him to a fatal crash landing? |
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A Quiet Rebellion: Guilt (Numoeath, #1) by M. H. Thaung When infectious paranormal powers aren't a gift but a threat to society, a man's conscience leads him into increasing trouble as he opposes a corrupt official. Convoy captain Jonathan has a guilty secret: he killed a traveller who was cursed while under his protection. The killing wasn't to defend the innocent, but to hide governmental employment of curse victimsâlike Jonathanâwho have developed paranormal powers. To assuage his guilt, he bends the rules to help another, younger victim. His growing fatherly affection for her leaves him vulnerable to pressure from an unethical researcher. Can he navigate the bureaucratic web, do his duty and still keep his conscience intact? This is the first book in the Numoeath trilogy. |
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A Perfect Heresy by Courtney Maguire Dystopian science fiction perfect for fans of Ursula LeGuin's Left Hand of Darkness and The Hunger Games. The City was prosperous once, a beautiful utopia made up of perfect people unplagued by disease or infirmity, existing under the benevolent eyes of the Mother. Its high walls guarded it from the ugliness of the world, making it possible for its Citizens to live by the Motherâs will. But then, the Outsiders rebelled. Tired of being oppressed and exploited by the City for their resources, a Resistance rose up against the Cityâs rule, attacking its soldiers and drawing them into a genocidal war in which there were no winners. Jax, once a City soldier, now a Heretic, is just trying to make xyr way home when xe meets Koi, a sick Outsider in search of xyr last remaining family, a sibling abducted by City soldiers. Jaxâs fragile faith will be tested once again as their journey to the City center exposes truths neither of them were prepared for. Can two people from opposite sides of the wall help each other find what theyâre looking for? Previously published on Kindle Vella. |
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Meet Lisa Hudson, a dedicated journalism student, on a beautiful, spring morning in Pittsburgh that proves to be the last ordinary day of her life. As she struggles to survive in a new reality, forged from catastrophe, Lisa confronts its mysteries and dangers with the aid of intriguing and unlikely companions. For her, the world will never be the same. For you, the journey is just beginning. Michael Shotter is a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a lover of science, fiction, and fantasy, his works aim to push beyond the boundaries of traditional genre fiction into new and exciting realms born from literary craftsmanship. "309" represents his most ambitious effort to date and is sure to thrill fans of both science fiction and high adventure. |
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Water didn't flow right on Hidrin, not as it used to. Itâs been like this for millennia. Rather than rest in basins or canyons, waters rise high into the sky to pierce clouds and race over continents. Bels, they are called. Mimicking the image of a yarn ball, they weave over and under one another, disrupting the already fractured view of the stars. Strange sights, but sights that people have grown comfortable and accustomed to. As the fish learned to ride them, so too did humanity. From one end of a continent to another, humans used bels for transport, trade, and of course, warfare. Now waged with machines of once impossible mobility, there are few bodies of water on Hidrin that haven't seen conflict. And those that havenât need only wait for the next war and their turn. Unfortunately for Mint and her home of Vostoria, that turn had finally come. She just didnât think they would be separate turns. As Vostoria becomes awash with combat, she finds herself swept elsewhere and with few options to get back. Whether the result of dumb luck, mere coincidence, or genuine fate, Mintâs course was set for both discovery and disaster. |
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Birthright of Scars: Rising by Laurisa Brandt "The problem with a dead legend, is that there's always the threat of him resurrecting. And anytime he does will be inconvenient for those in power."â¨The Tourmaline Renegade rises in this epic new series.â¨â¨Falling in love with his bounty hunter was never part of the plan. After the Kobalt empire spent decades suppressing Pyron culture, Emperor Cinnabar designed the walled Pyron sector with only one purpose: extermination. Disrel of Tourmal has little left except his sister, but he wonât accept death without a fight. When the state mandates that all Pyrons relocate to the walled sector, Disrel does not hesitate to don a mask and replace the capitol flag with one that proclaims Pyron is free. What he didnât count on was a simple act of defiance becoming the symbol of an empire-wide revolution. By the time dawn breaks, a sable commander renowned for catching renegades is on his trail, and Disrel is driven into the center of the resistance against the state. Decorated Sable Commander Ambrosia is ready for the challenge of pulling Pyron resistors off Tourmalâs streets. But the layers of unrest in the capitol go deeper than a masked renegade inciting insurrection, locking her in a deadly dance between conviction and duty, comrades and terroristsâone that requires a flawless loyalty to the state to survive. And the unassumingly charming Disrel keeps getting in her way. Disrel and Ambrosia are thrust into each otherâs pathsâas renegade and sable, as citizens of the empire struggling to survive the upheaval. But as their feelings for each other grow, theyâll have to choose: one love destined to destroy them both, or the fate of an empire?â¨â¨Birthright of Scars: Rising is followed by Birthright of Scars: Choosing |
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Cold Between Stars (The Echo #1) by Belinda Crawford In the dark, empty space between solar systems, something lies in wait. Itâs pretty easy being a ship kid; clean out the cyclers, avoid your sister, donât get sucked into space. The hardest bit about it is spending a couple of decades in stasis/sleep while your ship travels to the next solar system. Then rinse and repeat all the way back to a home youâve never seen. Except Kuma just got kicked out of stasis early, like years early. And heâs alone. All. Alone. Except for the fug. |
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Chrom Y Returns: The Chrom Y Series: Book One by L.V. Ditchkus Hundreds of years after a horrific disease destroys Earthâs male population, Sofia Andes7 and her wife embark on a perilous journey back in time to save humankind. While Sofiaâs wife impregnates herself with five male zygotes, Sofia is transfixed by the sleeping sperm donor. Sofiaâs first and subsequent trips to the twenty-first century awaken long-dormant feelings, and she begins to question the presumed differences between men and women. As she grapples with the ethics of stealing sperm from the unwitting donor, Sofia hatches a plan to spare him from the deadly virus. But Sofiaâs altruistic plan may never materialize. Tenacious Sofiaâs first priority is to protect her wifeâs unborn babies from male-hating terrorist groups, questionable actions of their government, and a nefarious Artificial Intelligence. With humanityâs future at stake, Sofia will draw on all her strengths to save the people she can. However, the laws of time and space have their own imperatives, and saving everyone she loves may be beyond her reach. |
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Children of the Black (Silver Sights Saga, #1) by W.J. Long III Humanity has survived. On the far end of the universe, with Earth little more than a faded memory, they thrive on worlds where once they were enslaved. In the millennia since, these persistent beings built new societies, but when the two greatest nations among them met for the first time, there was war. The all-consuming conflict bent the wills and morals of both powers beyond recognition, leading to levels of experimentation and cruelty once thought impossible. Yet, in a universe drowned in blood, an opportunity for peace is seized. In the uncertain aftermath of the truce, a broken soldier haunted by the horrors of the war and the lost psionic girl he once risked his life to save scratch out a life in the dusty streets of Minerva City. Meanwhile, from worlds beyond, shadows from their past descend to offer a different path. In exchange, the two must find a powerful secret once thought capable of bringing solace to a desperate wartorn universe, but in this time of uneasy peace, it holds a more destructive power. Uniquely qualified and entirely in over their heads, they put their lives on the line to embark on a harrowing adventure and discover not only answers to their broken pasts but a taste of perils lurking in the Black. |
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Caught In The Vortex: Longevity Universe Book 1 by A. Elnas âNow I know who is pulling the strings, who twisted my life into a nightmare and made me a pawn in a conflict threatening the universe.â After escaping Earth and humanityâs self-imposed destruction, Cockroach has buried the past for a brighter future. A new home and working for the prestigious, all-powerful longevity industry are the base for a peaceful existence. However, darkness looms behind the light, and a threat casts its shadow. When an attack against the industrial empire occurs, a long-forgotten ghost emerges, shattering the well-constructed serenity. Being marked the prime suspect, a desperate Cockroach flees from authorities while battling inner demons and looming demise. The support from an unexpected source gives rise to hope and might present salvation. But nothing is as it seems, and when bitter insights reveal themselves, the human mechanic must find the strength to face the truth and fight. Caught In The Vortex is the engaging first book in the Longevity Universe, a trilogy of adventurous Sci-Fi novels. If you enjoy unlikely heroes, blurred lines between good vs. evil, and emotional struggles, this imaginative roller coaster ride is for you. |
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Brian, Created Intelligence by A.J. Pagan IV Within a four foot stainless steel cube, a bodiless brain is awake, thinking, computing, knowing. Brian was created by genetic engineer Dr. Ellie Parsons, and neuroscientist Tom Marshall, at biotechnology company Dipol Inc., in San Diego, CA. Ethical questions abound as they hide Brian's true identity from him and the world around. To Brian, he's merely artificial intelligence, tasked with creating even more intelligent systems. To Ellie and her company, he's a means to an end, to create true artificial intelligence using his genius and the brain computer interface attached to his only true organ. All is as well as it can be until the day a psychotic agent of DARPA, Jonathan Volt, commandeers it for use in none other than militarization. Once Ellie neurally links herself to Brian, all bets are off to ensure his safety as his entire life is literally on the table. |
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Bloodletting: Aria of the Forgotten: Book One by Sean Thomas The planet Syrullia, once a military and economic superpower, is in crisis. Reactionary bigots control the government. A vicious private military organization occupies the poorest sections of its cities. The threat of galactic war looms ever-larger. And a raging drug epidemic, fueled by a cheap, highly addictive narcotic called bloodspice, claims thousands of lives a day. Amidst this turmoil, private investigator Raivena Moss is hired by a grieving mother named Halunek to look into the death of her son, a university dropout and bloodspice addict. His death was ruled an accidental overdose, but suspicious bruises on his wrists and neck give Halunek reason to believe he was murdered. The investigation leads Raivena to the most dangerous corners of the galaxy and forces her to confront her identity as a âForgotten.â Racially mixed and rumored to possess preternatural abilities, most âForgottenâ were hunted down and killed by a fanatical theocratic government years ago. As Raivena plunges deeper into the investigation, she realizes the case goes far beyond a single murder. With the help of an unlikely source, she uncovers proof of a ghastly crime, shocking in its scope and cruelty. Now she must risk her life to expose this insidious plot before millions of innocent men, women, and children suffer a horrifying fate. An allegory about the compounding violence of hate, Bloodletting is both a portal to a strange, new worldâand a mirror image of our own. |
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From a secret facility underneath the New Mexico desert, to the frozen moon of Enceladus in Saturn's rings, this historical science fiction thriller will entertain you from beginning to end. A year before the Spanish set foot on the YucatĂĄn shores, a handful of the strongest Aztec were selected for an important mission. Led by their greatest warrior, they raced to escape with the empireâs gold. Over five hundred years later, the treasure theyâd sworn to protect is found in a West Texas cave, putting anyone near it at great risk. In the future, no communications are private from the National Security Agency. A group of five must navigate the dangers that follow their discovery; the wrath of a biker gang, hellbent on revenge. A shadow government, wielding the power of highly trained soldiers and the unrelenting artificial intelligence of the world's smartest computer. |
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Blaze Of Anger (The Anger Series, #1) by Melanie Bokstad Horev In the divided world of Eden 4023, anger is illegal, hidden, and suppressed. Doctor Tanger, the new hunter of angry people, is struggling to cope with the loss of a boy who changed his life. With the help of an orphan girl, Dancer, Tanger embarks on a journey of self-discovery that uncovers secrets about his past, the world he lives in, and the unexpected places where anger blazes. As Tanger is torn between loyalty and love, he encounters the Resistance and begins to question the controlling powers of Rita Hart and the Silvers. Will the people of Eden be able to unite and coexist in peace, or will they be forever divided? |
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Blackout Trail by Linda Naughton When the world goes dark, a doctor embarks on a perilous journey.â¨â¨Doctor Anna Hastings is no stranger to disasters, having spent much of her career as an aid worker in conflict zones around the world. Yet when an electrical phenomenon known as an EMP brings down the power grid, Anna faces catastrophe on a scale she never imagined. She must learn what it means to be a doctor in a world deprived of almost all technology. As the blackout causes planes to fall from the sky, Anna crosses paths with devoted father Mark Ryan in the chaos at the airport. Mark convinces Anna to travel with him and his seven-year-old daughter Lily to their familyâs cabin in remote Maine. There Mark hopes to reunite with his wife, and find a safe refuge from a society on the brink of collapse. Journeying across a thousand miles of backcountry trails, they will face a daily struggle against nature. Their biggest peril, though, may come from their fellow survivors. As Anna grows closer to Mark and Lily, she resolves to see them safely home. But can she hold onto her humanity in a world gone mad? |
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Bitcoin Hurricane by Kate Baucherel Sheâs a hacker at the top of her game. They are cybercriminals who wonât stop until they bring her down. Can she crack the code before they strike? Welcome to London, 2045 - where financial systems have crashed, and the world's economies are on the brink of collapse. The only hope of salvation lies with Cameron Silvera, the legendary hacker known as the SimCavalier. The SimCavalier is feared by black hat hackers across the world and trusted by corporations and governments to get their systems back online fast. Her identity is a closely guarded secret, but a message hidden deep in the very ransomware sheâs cracking tells her that cybercriminals are on her tail. With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Cameron clings to the last vestiges of anonymity, but a tenacious journalist blows her cover and she finds herself hunted by the very criminals sheâs been trying to stop. They infiltrate her team, laying a false trail while the real threat looms ever closer. As the world teeters on the brink of disaster, Cameron and the team must race against time to take down the cybercrime syndicate and prevent a global wave of cyberattacks from unleashing chaos and destruction on an unprecedented scale. Will they prevail, or will the world fall victim to the greatest hack in history? The fate of humanity rests in their hands. |
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Three Rivers Plague by Zachary Forbes After a return concert in his hometown, famous rockstar Thomas Wylde witnesses the unleashing of a biological weapon, which forces the nation into anarchy. His band is soon plunged into the post-apocalyptic city of Pittsburgh, now plagued by undead horrors, cults, cocaine junkies, and even the mafia. A member of his band falls victim to the deadly new virus, sending the group spiraling into the mystery of this supposedly Soviet-made bioweapon. But not everyone is convinced of its origins--like Boston police detective Dick Kennedy. In the following days, it's up to Thomas and his band to discover the truth, not only about this new world, but about his government, his friends, and himself, all the while trying to carve out a slab of survival for everyone and everything he cares about. This book is a 9-episode story, with each episode divided into digestible chapters. Set in post-apocalyptic 1980s America, Three Rivers Plague will make you fall in love with its charming characters and keep you on the edge of your seat with heart-pounding suspense. Itâs a collection of elements from all sorts of genre fiction, including sci-fi, horror, dystopian, and even detective thriller. Thereâs something here for everyone to sink their teeth into! |
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The Training Grounds: Mystery of the Immortals by Jason Clark Debut author Jason Clark presents an exciting new genre-bending sci-fi/fantasy story set in a brutal future world, where swords settle disputes and those who can control the elements are the most feared warriors. Get ready for a fantastic escape from reality. When Darius receives an invitation to attend the Training Grounds, he wonders why an insignificant farm boy would be asked to join the most elite training academy in Merchant Valley. The only thing special about him is that he has unsettling visions he canât understand. Despite the unknown, he accepts this privilege, and with his best friend, they set out on this new adventure. While there, they quickly form alliances with a skilled archer, a talented blacksmith, and a powerful wielder of the elements. Together, this new band of friends will learn that not all is as it seems at this new school. In fact, secret plots abound. It makes them question everything and everyone, including the head of the school, Dean Anders. Now itâs up to this adventurous group to uncover the truth about their world and find out the meaning of Dariusâs vision. Visions that include a weapon known as the reaper that carries with it apocalyptic repercussions. But between classes, finding love, and training, will he and his friends be able to discover the truth before itâs too late? |
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The Key to Reality by F. Ted Atchley A desperate father holds the key to victory in an alien civil war. If he chooses well, he'll reunite his family. If he chooses wrong, they all die. An Elite Cybersecurity Analyst. A Desperate Rebellionâs Best Hope. Brandon thought the assignment was just another standard security assessment. Wrong. As he peels back the layers of a deepening conspiracy, he discovers everything he thought he knew about his reality is a lie. And heâs the only one who can save it. Exiles from another reality see Brandonâs new knowledge as the key to victory over their tyrannical king and his immortal army. Pursued by both loyalists and rebels as he crosses the borders between realities, Brandon must protect his family, while figuring out who to trust. Choosing well means rescuing his family, and saving both worlds, but choosing poorly will empower a malevolent evil to wipe out humanity. |
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The Jungle Planet: A Science Fiction Thriller Novel by Jeff Walker The Jungle Planet is a sci fi trillerâThe crew of the harvesting space vessel Skyward Seven, are bound for Dreganon Vâa jungle world with a rich, and highly concentrated oxygen atmosphere. As they extract the planetâs dense O2 supply, Katelan Driscoll (Astrobiologist/interplanetary botanist) and crew being to discover that this world is more than what they bargained for. Not only is the air thick with an overabundance of pollen and spore that continually clog their collectors., but strange things occur with the surrounding plant life The jungle isnât all that it seems. Katelan will discover something else is waiting for them in the depths of this deep, dark jungle planet of Dreganon V. If you love exploration science fiction thrillers and unexpected horrors on alien worlds, then The Jungle Planet is the book youâll want to read till the very end. Author Jeff Walker (The Long Lost War, The Massive Planet: The Adventures of Deep Contact, and Outer Red) takes you to a world full of beauty and wonder. It is also one that brings out our fears and evenâour deaths! |
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The Forsaken Planet by Bryan Wilson The world is more than just a planet. Itâs an ancient tribute to the woman who guided it from ruin, a devastation she foresaw arising again. When mysterious aircraft wreak havoc across Earthâs skies, it is revealed that there are clusters of other planets where humankind resides, distant worlds where the people wield the power of the stars themselves. It is an energy force that can bring about miracles or, as the alien fleetâs ruthless leader displays, unleash horrors beyond imagination. After experiencing a loss during the onslaught, Colton Samson, an ordinary college student, vows to protect his loved ones at any cost. But to learn the power to do so, he must enlist into the Army of the Universal Throneâa second alien force with its own agenda. With the revelation of a secret prophecy foretelling humanityâs demise and Coltonâs improbable role in preventing it, he embarks alongside a diverse group of friends to the Throneâs capital, the planet of Vintara. There he faces prejudice from supposed allies, lifelike combat simulations that test him to his core, and the looming threat of a universal war. Only by embracing his true potential can Colton hope to secure the safety he seeks, in a universe that views him as nothing more than Forsaken. -A coming-of-age story about family, the bonds of friendship, and leaping blind into the dark to protect them both. Come learn the truth about Earthâs ancient past alongside Colton, journeying with him to Vintara, where action, mystery, and a side of romance await. Itâs time we all begin to grasp the true power of the stars |