SPSFC Self-published Science Fiction Competition 2021
A sister competition to the SPFBO, the SPSFC is for sci-fi self-published works. Stories tagged with this mark were entered into the competition.
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Galaxy Cruise: The Maiden Voyage by Marcus Alexander Hart Humanity needed a hero. It got a karaoke DJ. Leo MacGavin is not the brightest specimen of humanity. But when he inadvertently rescues a flirty alien heiress, heâs promoted from second-rate lounge entertainer to captain of the galaxyâs most sophisticated cruise ship. Before he can flee in terror, a human-hating executive gives Leo an ultimatumâcomplete the vesselâs maiden voyage or mankindâs last colony will be turned into a sewage dump. To make matters worse, a militant cyborg is undermining his authority, a giant spider is terrifying the passengers, and a sentient plant keeps stealing all the beer. If Leo ever wants to see his home again, heâll have to keep the guests happy through seven days of onboard antics and madcap shore excursions. As strange malfunctions tear the ship apart, can he hold his rag-tag crew together, or will he flush the last bastion of humanity down the crapper? Galaxy Cruise: The Maiden Voyage is a hilarious science fiction comedy adventure for readers who love The Hitchhikerâs Guide to the Galaxy and Space Team. And moviegoers who love Galaxy Quest, Spaceballs, and Guardians of the Galaxy. And TV watchers who love Red Dwarf, Futurama, and The Orville. And people who basically just want to see The Love Boat on a spaceship. |
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His Name was Wren by Rob Winters "Reminiscent of John Wyndham." "Well written sci-fi for all ages." "A captivating story." "Couldn't put it down." "Beautifully crafted." "If you enjoyed Super 8, Stranger Things, ET, and Starman, you will love this." During the blackout of 1944, in the small English town of Hurstwick, something mysterious obliterates the church spire and slices through the nearby woods. Despite a government coverup, evacuee George Moss discovers the cause of the destruction, becoming the first of a select few who, over the next seventy years, are entrusted with keeping the truth hidden. Years later, Max Cannon moves to town and stumbles across the secret, triggering a chain of events, putting himself and his new friends in the middle of a deadly conflict⌠His Name was Wren is a first-contact science fiction adventure. A story of friendship, family, and struggle spanning seven decades and a thousand light-years. This story can be read as a standalone or as book one of The Wren Trilogy. |
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Monster of the Dark by KT Belt Carmen Grey always knew she was different. None of the other children seemed able to read minds. None of the other children were able to manipulate their toys without touching them. On the morning of her sixth birthday, three men dressed in black arrive to remove her from the loving care of her parents. She is taken to an underground facility meant for others like her, for Clairvoyants. Stripped of her name and identity, over the years she is fashioned into something scaryâsomething lethal. Each day is an endless struggle and every night is plagued by nightmares. Yet Carmenâs ultimate battle wonât be to save her life but to keep her soul. |
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Political Nightmare by Rainbow Maccabre The girl who was blessed when Daddy killed Mommy; the bird lady born with four arms and no wings; King Kess's trans widower; the most forgettable prince who ever died; secret agents popping up everywhere; and the mind controlling bunny rabbit. Who will put an end to Vasagneâs dark conspiracy? Political Nightmare weaves a plot through past and present to arrange a story full of twists. |
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The Golden Crunk of Cringle by Ken Rudisill What could possibly go wrong when stealing a mysterious artifact from a vindictive alien race bent on conquering the galaxy? After years on the run, two desperate siblings mistakenly stow away on a criminal ship leaving sanctioned space. They think their luck can't get any worse until they overhear the crew discussing mutiny and the GCC. Is it possible the captain possesses the legendary artifact? Despite not knowing the object's true power or the creator's identity, they hatch a plan to steal it and depart at the next space station. Join the cautious older brother and reckless sister as they fight to change their fate, discover the mystery behind their colony's destruction, and enact justice on those that wronged them. For fans of underdog revenge stories, sibling bonds, and sentient animal companions. |
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Billions around the world celebrated Khaos when it was finally revealed, awestruck by the rogue planet entering our solar system. However, for a small group of individuals, it was apocalyptic. Dr. Peels had predicted the path of the celestial body, warning the governments of the world that a near miss was likely. Still, no government had listened, citing other predictive models as the most likely path. In secret, Dr. Peels built a cooperative effort between private industry, lobbied congress and passed laws, ensuring his veiled plans could unfold. Quickly, humanity began to crumble, coups ensued, and anarchy took hold. Dr. Peels was forced to launch his hand-picked crew early, but things quickly fell apart before the mission began. As the vulnerable crew raced towards Mars, the one thing which held them together wasnât human, it was an android named Omega, tasked to learn all it can before itâs too late. Itâs a race against time, gravity, and the laws of nature in this Khaotic story of salvation. |
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"If you think this Universe is bad, you should see some of the others." -Philip K. Dick Itâs prom night for Pinkersville High School senior Jimmy Zarici. A proud space nerd, until today all he wanted to do was study aerospace engineering, play video games, and get to home base with his girlfriend. Tonight, his life will change forever, but not exactly as heâd hoped. In the blink of an eye, the constellations in the night sky are replaced by unfamiliar stars. Earth is thrust into chaos as humanity realizes the planet has been transported to another star system. But we are not alone: Seven other versions of Earth, plucked from alternate universes, orbit a star much like our Sun. On one of these planets, the Third Reich is in chargeâand they have armed spaceships headed our way. Jimmy finds himself part of a select few who will determine the future of humanity. Led by US President Fairuza Bishilâa committed leader, haunted by loss and suddenly called on to guide the world through an unprecedented interplanetary crisisâthey include Tim Brown, an underemployed genius working the NASA night shift until the universe changed on his watch, and Anna Kozinski, a psychology professor finally finding her place in a world that has lost its own. Against a backdrop of fear, anxiety, and global crisis, this brave and diverse team must navigate family drama, terrestrial conflict, and a whole bunch of complicated equations as they struggle to save Earth from the greatest enemy it has ever faced. Join them as they collaborate across nations and universes to battle the forces of evilâand find love along the way. The Shift is a treat for readers who enjoyed The Expanse, Enderâs Game, or The Man in the High Castle. Get your copy today! |
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The Lead Cloak by Erik Hanberg In the future, privacy is a thing of the past. "Staggeringly smart⌠Hanberg's expertly honed storytelling is sleek and fast⌠[an] entertaining tale." âKirkus Reviews Nevada, 2081. Colonel Byron Shaw safeguards the worldâs innermost secrets. From a control center in Area 51, he monitors the expansive surveillance system that once saved him certain death at the hands of ruthless kidnappers. But not everyone trusts technology that peers through strangersâ eyes, so itâs no shock when a guerrilla attack nearly wipes out the network and spills his blood. Tasked with tracking down the terrorist cell, Byron sets off on a globe-spanning chase that brings him to the outer edge of Earthâs atmosphere. But as he infiltrates their ranks, a growing suspicion about the system that preserved his own life could sabotage civilization. Torn between duty and doubt, one manâs decision could rewire humanityâs future. The Lead Cloak is a tech-savvy sci-fi adventure novel. If you like high-stakes action, thought-provoking dystopian themes, and gripping twists, then youâll love Erik Hanbergâs cerebral page-turner. |
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The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin We fight, so the rest shall not have to. In a world where single combat determines the fate of nations, the Grievar fight so that the rest can remain at peace. Cego is a mysterious Grievar boy forced to fight his way out of the slave Circles into the world's most prestigious combat school. At the Lyceum, Cego will learn a variety of martial arts from eclectic teachers, develop deep bonds of friendship and fight against contentious rivals to climb the school's rankings. But, Cego will find far more than combat studies at the Lyceum. He will find the mystery of his past unraveled by forces greater than he could ever imagine. |
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Dragon's Baby by Miranda Martin My strange life as a scientific researcher is ripped apart the day blood-thirsty pirates attack our space ship. In the confusion, the ship is thrown off course. We crash land on a planet that can barely support life. YeahâŚthings are going swell. Iâve escaped the pirates, at least. But when Ladon, a powerful Zmaj warrior, rescues me from the scorching desert wasteland, I soon learn I have bigger problems. This planet is home to a dragon-alien...and he has eyes set on me. Ladon takes me to his lair, where it soon becomes clear I'm not just a prisoner. Iâm his mate. In love with my curves and my soft, human form, he declares he intends to keep me and claim me in every way. And the moment he touches my trembling body, he leaves no doubt... This fierce, protective dragon owns me. Fans of Ruby Dixon and Calista Skye will love Dragon's Baby by USA Today Bestselling Author Miranda Martin, a full length, standalone science fiction romance with a happily ever after, plenty of steam, bloody battles, and alien-human intrigue. Scroll up and one click to start this scorching hot SFR today! |
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Turnabout by Carmen Webster Buxton It's not a super power if you can't control it! Jason Miller's biggest worries were keeping up with his homework, paying for his classic jazz habit,and hiding the fact that he carried a flip phone. But then one day he finds himself teleporting from place to place, a talent he can't control. It gets worse when he lands in an alternate world, one that has many, many more women than men. It sounds great until Jason learns the downside to being a precious commodity: Having a harem is no fun when you're the one who's locked up. |
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Welcome to Petra. It is the ultimate prison. Inmates from all of Ported Space are dumped there, forgotten, and left to survive however they can. Hope dies. Escape is impossible.Disillusioned war hero Kane Pythen comes to Petra on a fact-finding mission, but gets caught in an uprising that threatens to expose a shattering secret. And Rolf Ankledge, Petraâs ruthless warden, will stop at nothing to keep it from reaching Ported Space. If Kane involves himself, he risks losing everything he has. If he does nothing, he betrays the last shreds of his ideals. The prison break of the millennium is on. Now Kane must race against time and vicious forces from all over Petra if he ever wants to see his wife and daughter again. Petra is the first book in The Prison World Revolt series. |
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The Echo Effect by John Robert McGuire In the world before, Aaron Anders had a different life with a different family... Until the White Light washed them away. A select few know the truth about our world: every time the calendar approached the year 2025, the world resets and creates a new Earth, with a new history for each of us. The Awakened remember their previous lives, and throughout history, many of them have done their best to ensure that the world proceeds on a particular path. The lucky few. Aaron didn't feel lucky. Trapped in this loop, forced to live again and again in half-remembered lives, his current reality was spiraling out of control. His wife and his best friend thought he was losing his mind, and the worst part was they might be right. Another existence filled his head, mixing false memories with his real ones until he wasn't sure of the truth. And the only one who seemed to know anything was a stranger convinced "They" were after both of them. |
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The Shepherd Protocol by Fowler Brown Melody Clay is a synth, an artificial intelligence housed in a roughly human-shaped body of alloy and plastic. Hope and desperation have driven her to Boston in 2068. A software failsafe known as the Decay is killing the synths, and Melodyâs missing motherâone of her creatorsâmight have the answer. All she can rely on are her wits, a human with hidden goals of his own, and a head full of her motherâs memories. Each glimpse of the past brings her closer to the shameful secrets that may unlock the future, at the cost of accelerating her own decline. But human society is alien and hostile, and as Melody struggles to stay one step ahead of both an oppressive police force and a criminal ring that wants to scrap her for parts, she begins to uncover a hidden player whose schemes may have dire consequences for humans and synths alike. |
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We are all slaves to order. Daniela wants more for her family. Sheâs a track star and an ace student, but for someone born like her, talent isnât enough. The Orderist movement has spawned a society that rewards those who supposedly possess âmerit,â which includes Americaâs wealthiest. Manhattan has become the capital of the forty-nine Orderist-led states, while California suffers under an economic embargo. Cities are cocoons where the so called âhighbornâ enjoy the pleasures of farm-grown food and private parks, while their outwardly perfect children are protected by floating nanny-like drones that follow them everywhere. Daniela has grown up fighting for the chance to live beyond the desperation of Bronx City. An opportunity to attend the elite Tuck Schoolâa place where even the highborn struggle to obtain a spotâis too great an opportunity to ignore. But what do the richies really want from her? Daniela is thrust into a world very different than the one she expected, a place where both treachery and honor are camouflaged behind beautiful faces. She may have a chance to change the world, if it does not change her first. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as the novel to revitalize the dystopian genre, Age of Order is a story of real characters in fantastic situations. Live this world. |
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*** NAMED TO KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOKS OF 2018 *** Fire, splitting the atom, synthetic biology. There's a dark side to every invention, one which we have been fortunate to contain for most of history. But are we hurtling into the future too fast? Detonation is an epic dystopian tale that is a cautionary reflection on our own innovation-obsessed culture. It follows two societies that are connected, but centuries apart, and their struggle against a superintelligent machine. Amid ideological clashes and political plotting, a diverse cast discovers this insidious threat, and they are forced into an escalating conflict against a tireless enemy. "A highly entertaining and absorbing combination of philosophy and action featuring robustly individualized characters." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) |
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THE WORLD HELD HOSTAGE BY A STOLLEN CYBER WEAPONâ¨â¨Former war correspondent Dominic Elliston has led a charmed life. Until now. A mysterious and unusual invitation will change not just his life, but the very course of humanity. Victor Sagen is a die hard environmental extremist, fuelled by his own dark and tragic past. He is on the cusp of unleashing his final act of environmental activism. His plan is to put the fate of the planet in the hands of an autonomous, artificial intelligence program codenamed Biblical. A reprogrammed cyber weapon that will prioritize the Earth over humanity â no matter the cost or suffering. Dominic finds himself in a unique position to stop Sagen from causing global mayhem. Yet even he is torn by the simple question, should he? In a race against time, Dominic will travel to the corners of the globe to stop the clock ticking on the ultimate weapon and confront his own sense of morality. â¨The stakes are high, the odds long and the line between right and wrong never more blurred. |
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Eighteen-year-old Seven and her best friend, Ten, live where all is peaceful ... except for the violent war raging above the sky. Humanoid robots and self-operated drones tend to everyone's needs, leaving people free to spend their time stimulating their minds and enjoying life's pleasures. But there are strict rules and few choices. Every year, on Assignment Day, the path of each eighteen-year-old's life is laid out by the Decision Makers. Some are given the jobs for which they have shown exceptional aptitude and are "paired" for mating. The others are sent off to fight in The War and never return. When Assignment Day comes for Seven, the assignments shatter everything she has ever believed. For the first time in her life, she is certain that the Decision Makers have made a terrible mistake. But the only way to right this wrong is to do something unthinkable. |
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Terms of Service by Elliott Scott Matchbooks, mysteries, and expensed lunches: they're what every great detective knows well. For Felix Lasko, they're further out of reach than the skyscrapers floating at the top of Neotopia city. He's always dreamed of breaking a case that mattered, but wasn't expecting that a real one would break him. After being blackmailed into service by Elsa Halifax, Felix must discover if the media star's suspicions are true. Could her husband have been murdered but still be walking around, running his factory? And if so, who killed him? Does that kind of technology even exist? In Neotopia, where your thoughts alone can lift buildingsâas long as your Digital IQ is high enoughâit's still hard to swallow. But if Felix is to keep his dream of being a detective alive, he'll need to perform some miracles of his own. For lovers of Noir, Mystery, Sci-Fi, and humor! |
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Mercenary Alex Mercer knows that humanity is change in her pocket. In 2039, ever since she was orphaned on the criminal infested, tropical island of Toppanga, twenty-three-year-old Alex Mercer searched for the answers to her past. Now sheâs presented with a high-risk contract that offers a different payment â information about her parents and her past. Alex and a group of assigned mercenaries must apprehend the elusive rogue soldier Maximillian Roivas. As the mission progresses, Alex feels something lurking in her mind, a dark psychological entity thatâs finally manifested and is vying for dominance. The presence yearns for a hunt, and it craves complete autonomy, and Alex canât ignore the presence any longer. When she uncovers more clues about the mysterious Roivas, she finds disturbing information about clandestine experiments by the U.S. military on vulnerable targets. Alex wonât rest until the experiments are permanently ended, whether itâs by her own volition or by a beast with an insatiable bloodlust guiding her hands. |
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When everyone has a brain-interfacing tracking chip, one glitch threatens the entire network. Sixteen-year-old Kaya Weiss is that glitch. Through thoughts and blinks, Kaya can access anyone or anything on the tracker network. But the authorities monitor everything--where Kaya goes, who she talks to, and what she searches. And without the ability to turn it off, Kaya and her family can't observe a tech-free Shabbat. To fix the glitch, the authorities slice into her skull to reset her tracker, leaving Kaya to question more than the system's invasion into her faith. Kaya won't be a lab rat again. Evading the authorities requires some serious tech skills the rogue underground Ghosts can offer. But Kaya's not sure she can trust them--even if their top tech wiz, Bailen, has interest in her running deeper than her bum tracker. Kaya must decide if gaining freedom is worth losing her tracker's infinite knowledge--because to take down the tracker network, she must betray the only tech she's ever known. |
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Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R. Fletcher The children are the future. And someone is turning them into highly trained killing machines. Straight out of school, Griffin, a junior Investigations agent for the North American Trade Union, is put on the case: Find and close the illegal crèches. No one expects him to succeed, Griffin least of all. Installed in a combat chassis Abdul, a depressed seventeen year old killed during the Secession Wars in Old Montreal, is assigned as Griffin's Heavy Weapons support. Nadia, a state-sanctioned investigative reporter working the stolen children story, pushes Griffin ever deeper into the nightmare of the black market brain trade. Deep in the La Carpio slums of Costa Rica, the scanned mind of an autistic girl runs the South American Mafia's business interests. But she wants more. She wants freedom. And she has come to see humanity as a threat. She has an answer: Archaeidae. At fourteen, he is the deadliest assassin alive. Two children against the world. The world is going to need some help. |
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The Omnibus Edition contains all four parts of The Immune series. THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS. On a warm summer night at Yankee Stadium, a monstrous plot to eradicate the human race is set into motion. Dr. Adam Fisher watches helplessly as the deadly Medusa virus sweeps the globe, wiping out humanity in a matter of weeks while he remains inexplicably immune. As Adam and his fellow survivors struggle to survive in a dying world beset by panic and lawlessness, he discovers a flicker of hope that will send him on a quest through a world unlike any he has ever known. He joins forces with Sarah Wells, a soldier harboring a terrible secret, and Freddie Briggs, an aging football star grieving the loss of his family. As they trek across a ruined American landscape, the challenges mount around them, including a dangerous new enemy that threatens their fragile existence. |
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Hugh Howey's SPSFC semi-finals winner: "A solid piece of space opera. The confines of a spaceship made for a tense setting, and the strong characterisation and well-handled plot twists made this a winner for our judges." Jaigar expected to wake up after thirty years to start building a new world in another star system. Instead, he finds himself one of a handful of survivors on an abandoned colony ship. With no food or water, and only emergency power, his first challenge is to keep everyone alive. The next is to try and solve the mystery of their situation, by figuring out what happened to the original crew and other colonists. But Jaigar will find survival more difficult than he expects, especially when each of the other survivors has a secret that could help him - or kill him. |
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The Exodus Betrayal by N.C. Scrimgeour The cybernetics in her head could save a planet. But when the man who put them there turns them against her in a deadly battle of wills, sheâll have to find a way to save herself. Alvera considers herself the best bounty hunter on New Pallas and with good reason â her cybernetics give her an edge nobody else can match. So when sheâs tasked with investigating the ancient space station that has been silently watching the planet for centuries, thereâs not a doubt in her mind that sheâs the best woman for the job. As for the risks? Well, they only make things more interesting. But what Alvera doesnât realise is by unravelling the stationâs secrets, sheâll be forced to confront some of her own. When the same technology that once set her apart threatens to destroy her mind, what starts as a mission for credits and glory soon becomes a fight for survival â not just her own, but that of New Pallas itself. The Exodus Betrayal is a science fiction thriller with a dash of cyberpunk. Filled with adventure, deception and planet-spanning conspiracies, itâs a perfect read for fans of Altered Carbon, Blade Runner and Deus Ex. |
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Bragg For Hire by John B. Cheek Shipwrecked behind enemy lines ⌠a desperate fight to survive and escape ⌠and a mysterious terror that comes only in the night. When soldier of fortune Atticus Bragg accepts a job to shepherd a young nobleman in his first combat command, it looks like easy moneyâdrop in with the platoon, relax in a quiet sector away from the real fighting, and collect his pay. Easy, right? But it all goes wrong when their drop ship is hit on the way to the surface and crashes in a barren wilderness, far behind enemy lines. Lost and fighting among themselves, Atticus and the survivors must overcome their own divisions and the horrors of a hostile alien world, or none of them will ever leave it⌠|
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SPSFC SPSFC 2022 Indie Recs Indie 2021 San Diego Book Award Winner! A melody from the stars can save humanity, but only if Stephen can awaken the alien within⌠Childhood therapy cured Stephen Fisher of disturbing visions and the delusion of having come from another world. But when his daughter obsesses over a star in the night sky, he fears that his genetic legacy may have burdened her with the same illness. His sanity is then shattered when he loses his child and the military abducts him claiming that she recorded a song broadcast from another world. A voice inside Stephenâs head convinces him that he can bring his daughter back to life. What he discovers instead is a stunning truth about himself, his childâs destiny, and fate of the entire human race⌠Melody is a riveting and thought-provoking science fiction novel. If you like first contact scenarios and action-filled pages, then youâll love David Hofferâs otherworldly adventure. |
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Given the choice between death or revenge, who wouldn't take revenge? As the Fleet's newest Warlord, Syrus is offered the chance take revenge on the Empire that did everything in its power to crush him. Fortunately, the Fleet's also giving him with a ship and the troops to see his plan through. He can't wait to get started. But when he rescues two women from an abandoned planet, he earns himself a brewing mutiny. Trapped in a dead-end system, about to be attacked by an Imperial armada far better equipped than his own, he confronts the deadliest leadership crisis of his career. Can he overcome the challenges and seize his revenge? What secrets do the women carry? Devour the Stars is a dark, space operatic journey that charts one man's quest for revenge... and redemption. If youâre looking for the grit of Game of Thrones and the politics of Dune, welcome aboard. |
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Beneath 5th City by Jesse Sprague Earthâs invaders gave her a choiceâŚSubmission or death.Jaisa has never been the obedient type.The aliens call themselves gods and inform Earthâs survivors that they are creating a utopia. Jaisa knows that no utopia can be built on billions of human deaths. A little obedience is a small, and temporary, price to stay alive while she figures out how she can make a difference. Jaisaâs beauty and ability to please, both of which are to be used at the discretion of the scientific elite who are the one segment of humanity the new gods value, are Jaisaâs only value to the new gods. But her value to humanity may be much greater. Placed into a position of influence, she walks the line between nonconformity and death. On the surface, pretty little Jaisa is the perfect submissive dollâbut she knows the power of hope, and she intends to keep it alive. Youâll love this dark science fiction novel for its unique mix of grit and hope. Get it now! |
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The Nothing Within by Andy Giesler Root is... different. Though raised in a fearful society that reveres tradition and conformity, sheâs irreverent, outspoken, and deeply curious. Her blindness sets her even further apart. Centuries after the Reckoning, a global biotech plague, savage chimeras still threaten human survival. After Root hears a voice that no one else can hear, she flees into the wilderness. Outcast and hunted, she must confront a dire threat to her people--and unravel the mystery of who she really is. |
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On the wild planet of Talamh, humanity thrived... ...until the alien Alfur conquered their world. Now, defeated and broken, humanity serves their immortal overlords. And pleads to the stars for a hero. Rydian Holt is nothing, nobody. Just another human from the streets of Talamh. Or at least, thatâs what he thinksâuntil his mother is caught up in a fledgling resistance group. Branded a traitor and sentenced to fight in the arena, now Rydian must face hardened gladiators in single combat. To survive and advance through the ranks, heâll need the help of an enigmatic weapons masterâand more than a little luck. But after a lifetime of servitude, survival is no longer enough for Rydian. He seeks a way to fight backâ not just against his fellow gladiators, but against the Alfur themselves. If Rydian can uncover their greatest secretâthe truth about the mysterious Light that powers their worldâhe might just win his freedom. |
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IRONSHIELD (The Ironshield Saga, #1) by Edward Nile A Pile of Scrap, Held Together by an Ideal. It's been almost thirty years since the budding nation of Arkenia used Kaizer Warsuits, gas-powered mechanical giants, to wrestle independence from a tyrannical empire. Now, Arkenia is pressured into disarmament by that same power, strong-armed into a deal that will strip them of the very weapons that won their sovereignty. The Southern provinces agree to the terms. The Northern Industrialists do not. Led by commander James Edstein, heir to the legacy of the mighty Ironshield Warsuit, the North defies the Southern Appeasers. Intent on keeping their Warsuits, and their nationâs hard-fought independence, from Imperial rule. Senator Samuel Mutton, veteran of the Revolution and a key leader in the South, wants nothing but peace for his nation. No matter how high the cost. As the Civil War ramps up, both men are forced to question their morals, forced to decide what matters most. Victory, or Honor. |
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Indie Recs Indie SPSFC Kraken Collective Introvert Reed Rothwell is part of a subculture of art deco era enthusiasts, pushing back against bland mainstream society and its mandated technology. Stuck with an AI assistant in his head is bad enough, but when he's inflicted with a forced upgrade to a new beta version, named Mazarin, the navigator starts to take on feelings and opinions of his own. â When rumors spread of beta navs turning on their pilots, Reed is determined not to become a victim. Mazarin hasnât become violent yetâthe AI is sympathetic and understandingâbut with beta participants coerced into slitting their own throats, itâs only a matter of time before Reed is next. The AI megacorporation already has an unhealthy interest in Reed, and all the beta testers who have sought help for their navigators have disappeared. The swingin' cats of the deco scene have the means to illegally terminate Reed's AI. But Mazarin has never tried to harm Reedâhe loves Reed. Grappling with ridding himself of intrusive technology, the morality of hurting his self-aware AI, and avoiding the attention of a company that wants to sweep Reedâs existence under the rug might be too much for one hep cat to handle. |
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Daros by Dave Dobson High above Daros, sixteen-year-old Brecca Vereen prepares to unload a cargo of trade goods aboard her father's ship, the Envy's Price. Nellen Vereen shows her a mysterious artifact bound for a contact below, one that will earn them a lot of credits, and one that they definitely won't be declaring to customs. Materializing out of nowhere, alien invaders fire upon all ships, destroy the jump gate, and knock out communications. The Envy's Price is crippled, and as her father tries to guide it down from orbit, Brecca rescues the illicit artifact and jettisons in a life pod to an uncertain fate below. On the flagship of the invading fleet, Navigator Frim tries to persist within the cruel autocracy of the Zeelin Hegemony, under constant threat of death, but wishing for something better. And then she notices a whisper of radiation above Daros â the trail of a cloaked Vonar ship. What are they doing in the midst of all this? And will the captain kill her just for revealing this disagreeable news? |
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The Clarity of Cold Steel by Kevin Wright The kid disappeared two days ago. Missing. Abducted. Murdered. What have you... Just another in an endless line of indigent kids wrung from the dregs of the Machine City. And itâs my job to find him. Me. Avinash Shakteel, detective extraordinaire. Probably you ainât heard of me. Not if you run the straight and narrow and ply the right side of the tracks. Cause me? I ply the other. Two days missing⌠Two long days in the Machine City, last bastion of mankind in all its fallen glory. Where the sum total of lifeâs cheaper than in part. I hope I find the kid. By God, I do. But if I canât find all of him, I pray I find none. Join Detective Shakteel in this gritty steampunk thriller sure to set your blood to boil. |
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How many times does it take to destroy the world before you can save it? In 1986, physicist Timothy Straus hears voices that teach him how to create a space-warping engine that will change the world. In 2098, a fighter pilot hears voices that help him fight an authoritarian corporatist regime in the ashes of nuclear fallout. In 2155, the only self-aware robot on Mars struggles to steer humanity away from a demagogue who speaks from the shadows. Told through kaleidoscope storytelling across space and time, these three people are connected in ways they could never imagine. As they pull on the strings of the multiverse, what they canât see is that every villain begins as a saviorâevery enemy starts as a friend. With the power to refract reality, will they learn that one person canât save the people? That only the people can save the people? |
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The Wakeful Wanderer's Guide to New New England & Beyond by Jim Infantino A captivating picture of a climate-changed future viewed from two starkly different cultural perspectives, The Wakeful Wandererâs Guide to New New England & Beyond follows the paths of a runaway aristocrat, a Luddite tyrant, a spy seeking retribution, and a wandering historian unicycling north along the crumbling Boston Post Road. Marto Boxter is an optimistic journalist with a head full of implants. When we meet him, he is planning a ride into the interconnected tribes of the Northeast from his town of Reverside-on-Hudson. He plans to document his ride by posting his thoughts in real-time to his post-human followers. Before he can leave on his tour however, a runaway named Helen arrives with secret information that throws Martoâs placid world into turmoil. Meanwhile, Barnabas Yoniver IV, the leader of a Luddite town to the south launches a plot to disrupt the life of all upgraded humans and bring them back to the traditional economy of markets and governments. Aware of Yoniver's plans, rival Luddite families scheme to prevent Barnabas from grabbing too much power for himself. This darkly humorous reflection of our changing world is an exploration of what it means to be human as our relationships with technology become increasingly intimate. |
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The Vacuum of Space by Julia Huni In space, no one can hear you clean Most people want fame and fortune, but not Triana Moore. She prefers programming maintenance bots and eating vendo food in the solitude of the space stationâs control center. But when a highly connected security agent interrupts her routine with stories of murder and missing bodies, Triana canât ignore him; itâs cooperate or find a new job. A girl has to pay the rent, even on a crappy studio compartment. Since working with a shiny detective beats a shuttle dirt-side, Triana lends her programming skills to Agent OâNeillâs investigation. Together, they find more victims and evidence of a major cover-up. A killer with a clean-up crew means moneyâlots of money, and connectionsâjust the kind of notice Triana tries to avoid. Following the clues leads them to the wealthiest levels of the station, uncovers long-hidden secrets and puts the killer on notice. It will take all Trianaâs technical talents, most of OâNeillâs connections, and some really excellent croissants to stop the murders, save her job, and ultimately, her life. This book was previously published as Murder is Messy |
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The United World by Craig Priestley Microchips, drones, and one smart dog make for a thrilling British dystopian series. With the rise of a new global government, only one choice remains: submit to The United World or face the consequences. When John, an anxious first-time father, uncovers the government's secret intentions to microchip his son, his world implodes. Fearing the worst, he tears his wife and baby from their home and the overbearing eyes of the state. As time passes the government carries out their plan to create a utopian society... by any means possible. What will happen to a father and son who choose to fight for their freedom? |
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The Scent of Metal by Sabrina Chase The expedition ship Kepler races to Pluto, intent on uncovering the secrets of the alien structure recently discovered under the ice. Computer scientist Lea Santorin canât wait to figure out the alien technology. Instead, she wakes it up ⌠and it continues its long-interrupted journey across the galaxy, taking Lea and Kepler with it.. And something strange also wakes in Lea. She hears voices no one else can, and sees things the mission command prefers hidden. Why bring so many soldiers along with the scientists? Who concealed the structure, and when? Who waits at the final destination...and will they survive the meeting? (May 2016) Updated cover art and added sample of book 2 in the series |
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The Fourth Sage by Stefan Bolz **Young Adult Winner of the 2014 LYRA contest** On one side, a dark giant: a ruthless corporation, controlling everyone via a highly developed system of artificial intelligence. Every behavior is analyzed. Every outcome is predicted. Nothing is left to chance. On the other side, the losing side, the sole hope for freedom from slavery lies in the raw and unpredictable intuition of a fifteen-year-old girl. |
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The Empress Capsule by R. K. Thorne A dangerous new passenger. A ship full of elite women marines. A package containing a terrible secret. Meet Kael Sidassian: disgruntled mercenary and glorified guard of doors. Forced into a life he would never have chosen as a cyborg merc, he's lost not only his freedom but also his ability to feel anythingâor appreciate the opposite sexâbecause of his cybernetic augmentations. That is, until last week when a renegade scientist blew the lock off his testosterone and reopened his eyes. A chance to free himself has landed in Kael's lap. He can run and hope his "employers" forget he was ever born. He just needs to get a ride off this backwater planet and deliver the strange capsule that's been foisted on him. One last mission. Unfortunately for Kael, there's only one ride off this planet. And it's on the starship Audacity, led by famed war veteran Commander Ellen Ryu and her elite marines. Dangerous, competent, well-trained, female marines. Commander Ryu is not to be trifled with, and she doesn't trust easily. And she certainly doesn't appreciate flirting. As an enemy rises to face them both, Ryu could be Kael's saviorâor the one to finally end him. Because these women are on a hidden mission to seek and destroy abuses of technology anywhere in the galaxy. Abuses like the strange capsule hidden in his cabin. For lovers of sci-fi adventure with a side of romance in the tradition of Lindsay Buroker, David Weber, Elizabeth Moon, and Lois McMaster Bujold, THE EMPRESS CAPSULE is the first volume in the Audacity Saga. |
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Streamrider by Mark Huntley-James Welcome to Bluesky! The most useful island of stability on the slipstream, only a few lightyears beyond Earth, the place to start wars, to bury enemies, and the gateway to the ultimate mineral-rich world of Cinder. Just donât mention the revolution, the ousted Earth Colonial Office, or the uber-rich Rolanders who used to own it. Lois Rolander â rich girl and documentary addict â arrives on the run to save a piece of alien tech. She finds refuge under an alias amid the maintenance grunts. Jo-jo the thief drops in to put a price on Loisâs head and recover the alien tech he was stealing. Instead heâs dragged into a war he learns his grandfather secretly started. Lois and Jo-jo just need to navigate a path through the brewing war, as everyone fights over that alien tech, itself the key to future control of Cinderâs wealth. |
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Soldierina by Better Hero Army Everything's gone wrong. The battleship Timora has crashed into Earth on its arrival, leaving INA stranded on a planet occupied and controlled by mechanized invaders she shouldn't be able to feel with her empathic senses...but she does. Worse, rather than searching for the man she loves, sheâs stuck with a vengeful platoon sergeant she hates more than anything in the universe. In this hard-hitting, near-future military science-fiction thriller, the author behind the Better Hero Army name pens an unforgettable new twist on the sixth sense. |
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Nigh by Alan Miller Weâre not getting any older... An extraordinary event at the genetic level changes everything - the world didnât see it coming. It takes time for people to adjust to waking up to smoother skin and better health. Vices and addictions can now be taken up with abandon as cells repair themselves on the slow but inexorable path to youth and infancy. A global spring clean begins, a purge to free the planet of parasites. In the first week of what came to be christened âGodâs Boomerangâ, confusion and fear gripped the world. Over decades, countries and societies radically change and through the experiences of a reporter, a doctor, two couples and an ancient Iowan farmer, we hurtle through this maelstrom of upheaval, shepherding humankind to its ultimate destiny⌠A very human apocalypse⌠A new end is beginning... |
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Life on Planet Earth by Andy Gorman Humankind is finally coming home, but they are no longer the dominant species... Nearly 700 years ago, the Terminal Plague turned Earth into a desolate wastelandâa world now riddled with the devolved progeny of Homo sapiens. The descendants of the only survivors live out a bleak existence in a lunar city called Omega, where the privileged live deep underground while the poor suffer radiation poisoning on the surface. Headstrong seventeen-year-old Liam Stone hates it there. When heâs not scrubbing shrimp and algae vats, he spends his limited free time in the Earth Simulator, training to leave the cramped halls and rigid schedules of Omega behind. Boasting higher scores and better biometrics than any other candidate, Liam is confident he will earn a spot on the return mission to Earth⌠Until the moment his sister is chosen instead. Devastated but unwilling to give up, Liam chooses to take matters into his own handsâto get to Earth at any cost. But Earth is not like the simulations, and the simulated monsters didnât prepare him for the real threats he will face. |
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Eric Folder has moved to Oregon to attend Portland State University when an automobile accident leaves him stricken with migraine headaches. The resulting visual effectsâsomething medical professionals term an auraârender him virtually blind and defenseless when a gang of street thugs attacks him. Desperate to see and needing to protect himself, Eric reflexively tears at the luminous lines of light and finds they have become tangible. When he pulls them aside, his present reality folds away with them, leaving him in better circumstances with his enemies vanished. Attempts to fold his way out of successive perils leave him in increasingly strange situations until, eventually, his world becomes a nightmare. âA wild young-adult alternate-worlds adventure that will leave you guessing right up to the end! Fans of Philip Pullmanâs His Dark Materials will love this!â âD. J. Butler, author of Witchy Eye âA big, engaging ride across our infinite possibilities - and our choice to be heroes.â âAnthony Dobranski, author of The Demon in Business Class |
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Emergence - The Emiliana Chronicles by Jacki Rawlinson To survive, she must emerge. To win, she must ascend. Just try and stop her. Born from an ancient race of gifted aliens, the whole universe is depending on Emilyâ¨to rise up to the challenge and become the Chosen One that she is destined to be.â¨Thereâs one hitch...she has no idea who she is or where she comes from.â¨â¨Being hunted by her kindâs mortal enemy, her home planet is savagely attacked.â¨Can she survive?â¨â¨Join Emily on her path of discovery, war and destruction as her true strengths emergeâ¨and she joins forces with an unlikely team, supported by Cedrick, the most advancedâ¨Artificial Intelligence unit known in the galaxy.â¨â¨This is the first in a multi-book series, showing how Emilyâs life began, taking youâ¨up to present day. I hope you enjoy the adventure and stick around to find out what theâ¨universe has in store for Emily and her team in book 2 and onwards!â¨â¨Please Note:â¨This series contains copious amounts of creative cussing.â¨If this offends you, then this book may not be for you. |
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THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TOKENIZED: AN URBAN SCI FI THRILLER (The Daedalus Cycle) by Christoph Brueck Blade Runner meets Hunger Games! In a future where the world is completely digitalized a young woman named Cypher is on the run! After stealing the DAEDALUS, a particularly dangerous piece of software from her ex-boyfriend, Cypher is stranded in a refugee camp in Africa. There she soon makes new allies and enemies. Pursued by a local gang and a dangerous international conglomerate she must quickly learn how to use the stolen program to survive. Soon enough she realizes DAEDALUS might be more than the key to escape from her current situation. She might start a revolution with it . . . Book I of the Daedalus Cycle. From the author of the acclaimed short story collection DON'T OVERTHINK THE APPLICATION SAID comes a stunning, thrilling, and provocative debut novel in the tradition of Cyberpunk, William Gibson and Philip K. Dick. A fast-paced thrill-ride into a plausible future, that is the kickoff for the DAEDALUS CYCLE. |
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Extinction Reversed by J.S. Morin These days, even the humans are built by robots. Charlie7 is the progenitor of a mechanical race he built from the ashes of a dead worldâEarth. He is a robot of leisure and idle political meddlingâa retirement well-earned. Or he was, until a human girl named Eve was dropped in his lap. Geneticists have restored Earthâs biome and begun repopulation. But primate cloning is in its infancy; human cloning is banned. Far from a failed genetics experiment, Eve is brilliant, curious, and heartbreakingly naĂŻve about her speciesâ history. But Eveâs creator wants her back and has a gruesome fate planned for her. There is only one robot qualified to protect her. For the first time in a thousand years, Charlie7 has a human race to protect. A.I. didnât destroy humanity. It didnât save us, either. The robots we built in our final days preserved human minds. They survived the end of life on Earth and embarked on the greatest single project in all recorded history. They rebuilt. The result of 1,000 years of genetic engineering, terraforming, and painstaking toxic cleanup has resulted in the ultimate achievement of the Post-Invasion Age: a healthy human. Her name is Eve14. Donât ask about the 13 Eves before her. Or do, because thatâs the reason why sheâs in danger, and why one brave robot puts his millennium-long life on the line to save her. Welcome back to the Golden Age of science fiction, when scientists had planet-sized dreams and robots were robots. Grab your copy while thereâs still an Earth left to read it on. |