Wayward Galaxy 2 – Audiobook Trailer Exclusive Preview

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Coming this summer, the sequel you’ve all b-b-been waiting for...

Wayward Galaxy 2 is now available on audio! Here's the exclusive trailer for the audiobook launch of the explosive sequel to the blockbuster new series that had sci-fi listeners calling for more.

"Their foothold established, Reach and the soldiers sent to secure Amir have only begun to repair the destruction inflicted on them by hostile neighbors when a terrifying new threat emerges from the deep woods and dark jungles of Amir itself… something so lethal and evasive, not even Brody can seem to take it down.

New threats and old enemies arrive as more mysteries of this new home world are uncovered, and with them, clues to humanity’s own mysterious past."

Don’t miss this next installment featuring the gritty combat of Galaxy’s Edge combined with the world-building intrigue of the Renegade Star series performed by none other than award-winning narrator R.C. Bray.

GET IT NOW ON AUDIBLE

The Dark – An Exclusive Preview of the R. C. Bray Narrated Audiobook

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There shall come over the whole Earth, an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights.

Discover Sci-fi presents an exclusive sneak peek of the audiobook sample for “The Dark” the brand new release from New York Times and number one Audible best-selling duo Jeremy Robinson and R. C. Bray, a story of a horrifying revelation about the centuries-old Three Days of Darkness prophecy, during which the legions of Hell will be unleashed on Earth....

Miah Gray is a 27-year-old former army soldier living in rural New Hampshire with his sister, mother, and her boyfriend. He is plagued by PTSD, finding solace, but not redemption, with the aid of prescribed cannabis. All he wants to do is get high, relax with a good sandwich, and watch a meteor shower with his neighborhood crush, Jen.

When the sun's light is blotted out the following morning and the world is plunged into darkness, Miah finds himself locked down with his family, covering windows with trash bags, lighting candles, and following the arcane rules of an ancient prophecy. But there is no escaping what comes next.

The Dark is a mind-bending and character driven sci-fi-infused horror novel like no other. Dive head first to this 10 hours plus post-apocalyptic thriller, available now on Audible.

Check out the exclusive clip from the audiobook, read by narrator extraordinaire R.C. Bray, below.

GET IT NOW ON AUDIBLE

10 Books Publishing This Summer We’re Stoked About!

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Summer is in full swing! Whether you have plans to hit the beach, or head to the mountains, or just chill at home... whatever you plan to do this summer, we hope a good book will always be in reach and that you'll find plenty of time to kick back and enjoy it. Not sure where to start? As always, we have you covered! Here is a list of 10 books publishing this summer that we are stoked about! 

Questland by Carrie Vaughn 

Release Date: June 22nd, 2021

Literature professor Dr. Addie Cox is living a happy, if sheltered, life in her ivory tower when Harris Lang, the famously eccentric billionaire tech genius, offers her an unusual job. He wants her to guide a mercenary strike team sent to infiltrate his island retreat off the northwest coast of the United States. Addie is puzzled by her role on the mission until she understands what Lang has built:  Insula Mirabilis, an isolated resort where tourists will one day pay big bucks for a convincing, high-tech-powered fantasy-world experience, complete with dragons, unicorns, and, yes, magic.

Unfortunately, one of the island's employees has gone rogue and activated an invisible force shield that has cut off all outside communication. A Coast Guard cutter attempting to pass through the shield has been destroyed. Suspicion rests on Dominic Brand, the project’s head designer— and Addie Cox's ex-boyfriend. Lang has tasked Addie and the mercenary team with taking back control of the island at any cost.

But Addie is wrestling demons of her own—and not the fantastical kind. Now, she must navigate the deadly traps of Insula Mirabilis as well as her own past trauma. And no d20, however lucky, can help Addie make this saving throw.

Read Questland  here on Amazon.

Vapor Trails (Terran Scout Fleet Book Three) by Joshua Dalzelle

Release Date: July 5, 2021

Marine Lieutenant Jacob Brown was on borrowed time, and he knew it.

He was a rogue element, disobeying orders and pursuing mission goals of his own. His Scout Team had been burned, disavowed by his chain of command and the owner of the stolen ship he was flying was after them to get it back. To make matters even more complicated, the man Jacob had stolen the ship from is an infamous outlaw and mercenary named Jason Burke… his father.

Being hunted down by both the United Earth Navy and the mercenary group that called itself Omega Force, Jacob has only one chance to keep his team out of a military prison and bring down the head of the One World terrorist faction that always seemed to be three steps ahead of him… and that was only if his father didn't catch him first.

Read Vapor Trails  here on Amazon.

Lost Hope (The Bridge Sequence Book 3) by Nathan Hystad

Release Date: July 6th, 2021

Rex Walker has returned to Earth only to discover it under attack. Time has run out.

With the assistance of his new allies, Rex and his friends race to prevent a widespread invasion. Not to mention save his sister and best friend Marcus from the ultimate sacrifice.

Dirk is on Rimia and finds himself working with someone from his past. A man he thought was dead.

Rex must team with the Freedom Earthers and Special Agent Evan Young to stop the Believers from destroying civilization once and for all.

When everything else is gone, sometimes hope is all you have.

Lost Hope is the gripping conclusion to The Bridge Sequence.

Get your copy of Lost Hope here on Amazon.

We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen

Release Date: July 6th, 2021

Misanthropic psychologist Dr. Grace Park is placed on the Deucalion, a survey ship headed to an icy planet in an unexplored galaxy. Her purpose is to observe the thirteen human crew members aboard the ship—all specialists in their own fields—as they assess the colonization potential of the planet, Eos. But frictions develop as Park befriends the androids of the ship, preferring their company over the baffling complexity of humans, while the rest of the crew treats them with suspicion and even outright hostility.

Shortly after landing, the crew finds themselves trapped on the ship by a radiation storm, with no means of communication or escape until it passes—and that’s when things begin to fall apart. Park’s patients are falling prey to waking nightmares of helpless, tongueless insanity. The androids are behaving strangely. There are no windows aboard the ship. Paranoia is closing in, and soon Park is forced to confront the fact that nothing—neither her crew, nor their mission, nor the mysterious Eos itself—is as it seems.

Read We Have Always Been Here here on Amazon.

E-Day by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Release Date: July 6th, 2021

Engines. Genetically modified warriors that keep the great Nova Alliance war machine churning against the enemy Coalition. Most days, Engines are all that stand between salvation and chaos. Led by legendary Engine, Captain Akira Hayashi, Shadow Squad has fought on the frontlines for a decade. They are on the brink of victory when the Coalition launches a series of desperate and devastating attacks that cripple the Nova Alliance restoration sites vital to save the dying planet.

As the sites burn and Earth’s hope of salvation fades, Shadow Squad is equipped with neural implants to connect them to Apeiron, the first hybrid-human-AI entity. She is coded for what Captain Hayashi believes is an impossible task—peace. But war isn’t the only threat to the Earth. Apeiron has uncovered a deadly secret with implications that could end all life. This rapidly approaching threat can be stopped only if humanity bands together on what will become known as E-Day, a pivotal moment that will determine the evolution—or the extinction—of the entire human race.

Grab E-Day here on Amazon.

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The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry

Release Date: July 6th, 2021

"I love you. In every world."

Young real estate agent Madison May is shocked when a client at an open house says these words to her. The man, a stranger, seems to know far too much about her, and professes his love--shortly before he murders her.

Felicity Staples hates reporting on murders. As a journalist for a midsize New York City paper, she knows she must take on the assignment to research Madison May's shocking murder, but the crime seems random and the suspect is in the wind. That is, until Felicity spots the killer on the subway, right before he vanishes.

Soon, Felicity senses her entire universe has shifted. No one remembers Madison May, or Felicity's encounter with the mysterious man. And her cat is missing. Felicity realizes that in her pursuit of Madison's killer, she followed him into a different dimension--one where everything about her existence is slightly altered. At first, she is determined to return to the reality she knows, but when Madison May--in this world, a struggling actress--is murdered again, Felicity decides she must find the killer--and learns that she is not the only one hunting him.

Traveling through different realities, Felicity uncovers the opportunity--and danger--of living more than one life.

Get your copy of The 22 Murders of Madison May  here on Amazon.

The Cost of Freedom (Starship Freedom II) by Daniel Arenson

Release Date: July 13th, 2021

Not long ago, the starship Freedom was a museum ship. A relic of a bygone era. A rusty old warship converted into a tourist trap.

Then the aliens attacked.

Now, once more, the legendary Freedom flies to war.

The war is brutal. The enemy is merciless. The rahs, vicious arachnids from deep space, crave only one thing. Human flesh.

Before this terror, Earth’s fleet crumbles. Starships burn. Millions die.

But the Freedom still flies. James King, her gruff old commander, still fights.

The Freedom will never surrender. The Freedom will never flee. The long, cold night has come to Earth, but the Freedom shines bright.

The survivors of the fleet rally behind her. All brave souls heed her call. The Freedom sounds the cry of Earth: We will win!

Dive into The Cost of Freedom here on Amazon.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (A Monk and Robot Book) by Becky Chambers

Release Date: July 13th, 2021

It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.

One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered.

But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.

They're going to need to ask it a lot.

Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

Get your copy of A Psalm for the Wild-Built  here on Amazon.

Sentinel (Deadmen's War Book One) by Anthony Melchiorri

Release Date: July 20th, 2021

Born on a forsaken desert planet, Cole Shaw has two options - perish from starvation and disease, or enlist in the New World Republic’s armed forces. He chooses the military. For the first time, he thinks he has a shot at a better life. But survival is not guaranteed.

Leading an elite team of mech operators, he is deployed to a frozen planet called Ferrous where dangerous relics of a past war lurk beneath the ice and savage creatures prowl the barren wastelands. Scientists on Ferrous are chasing rumors of godlike technologies buried in the ruins of a long-extinct civilization. When Shaw and his team are assigned to protect the researchers, they face an unexpected, merciless new enemy desperate to stop them.

An ancient secret has been awakened on Ferrous. The deadly race to claim this terrifying power has only just begun.

Start reading Sentinel here on Amazon.

In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu

Release Date: August 31, 2021

Anima is an extrasensory human tasked with surveilling and protecting Ora’s citizens via a complex living network called the Gleaming. Although ær world is restricted to what æ can see and experience through the Gleaming, Anima takes pride and comfort in keeping Ora safe from harm.

When a mysterious outsider enters the city carrying a cabinet of curiosities from around with the world with a story attached to each item, Anima’s world expands beyond the borders of Ora to places—and possibilities—æ never before imagined to exist. But such knowledge leaves Anima with a question that throws into doubt ær entire purpose: What good is a city if it can’t protect its people?

Grab In the Watchful City  here on Amazon.


Which of these summer releases will make their way into your beach bag this year? Which ones are you most excited for? Let us know here in the comments, or over in the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook group! 

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

The Top 10 Sci-Fi Books of 2021 (So Far)!

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“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” ― Mark Twain

The good friends and the sleepy conscience, you'll have to manage on your own, but good books, we—and your fellow Discover Sci-Fi community members—well, we have you covered there! Curious to see which book published so far in 2021 Discover Sci-Fi readers loved best? Read on to find out!

Without further ado, based on the combined nominations and votes here on the Discover Sci-Fi blog and in the Facebook group, are the top 10 books of 2021 (so far!)  

10. Lost Contact by Nathan Hystad

Lost Contact is the first book in a new series by Nathan Hystad and we have to agree with readers that it is one of the best reads so far this year! Last month, we published a list of the Top 10 First Contact Books of All Time which, as you would expect, is a goldmine of great titles; if you worked your way through those and are looking for one more action-filled first contact story, this is it! 

Rex Walker always wanted to be like his father: a daring, adventurous man, traveling the world in pursuit of mysterious relics. Now Rex is the same age his father was when he disappeared without a trace.

While teaching anthropology at a Boston college, Rex attempts to bury the past, until he discovers a hidden clue he can’t ignore.

With the help of his sidekick Marcus, a former student turned protégé, he teams up with an alien-obsessed billionaire, and they search for the fabled Bridge.

As an unidentified object nears Pluto, speculation surges. The Believers, a fanatical cult, hail it as the homecoming of a distant alien race.

Will Rex solve the puzzle before it’s too late?

Pick up Nathan Hystad's Lost Contact here on Amazon

9. Asylum by Lindsay Buroker

Last September, Lindsay Buroker blew us away with Layers of Force, the stunning conclusion to her Star Kingdom series. It was hard to say goodbye, and so fans were thrilled at the release of Asylum, a standalone novel set in the Star Kingdom universe. 

A young woman with cybernetic upgrades, Mari Moonrazor has decided to flee the restrictive machine-worshipping cult she was raised in. She longs to know what it’s like to live among normal humans and experience simple biological pleasures like consuming alcohol, kissing a boy, and—most importantly—eating chocolate.

But her mother, the infamous astroshaman leader Kyla Moonrazor, is determined to get her back, even if it means sending a bounty hunter after her.

Mari’s only hope for freedom is to be granted asylum from the leaders of the powerful Star Kingdom. First, she must prove that she has knowledge and resources she can offer them. Second, she has to earn their trust.

This all would have been easier if her people hadn’t bombed their planet…

Get your copy of Lindsay Buroker's Asylum here on Amazon.

8. Starship Freedom by Daniel Arenson

Looking for a fast-paced page-turner? If you haven't already, definitely give Daniel Arenson's newest series a shot! Word to the wise: you'll want to carve out a full day to devour this as the first book, Starship Freedom, is one of those reads that is almost impossible to put down!

The starship Freedom was once a mighty warship. Today she's a tourist attraction.

The space wars ended long ago. The Freedom is now a flying museum. The tourists love it. The Changing of the Guard, the starfighter aerobatics, the starboard cannon salute . . . it's the best show in the galaxy.

James King commands the starship Freedom. He hates his job. He was a real soldier once. Back when the Freedom was a real warship. He never imagined himself running a tourist trap. Right after Christmas, he plans to retire.

Then, on Christmas day, the aliens attack.

Horrifying aliens. Creatures of claws, fangs, and endless malice. Within hours, they devastate Earth's military. Millions die.

So much for retirement.

Start reading Daniel Arenson's Starship Freedom here on Amazon.

7. Monroe Doctrine by James Rosone and Miranda Watson

James Rosone and Miranda Watson knocked it out of the park with their new technothriller series, Monroe Doctrine! The first book came out in January and the second was released in March; if you haven't yet, start now with book one and get caught up before book three comes out this fall! 

Was an attack on the U.S. imminent?

In a lab deep in the heart of China, a brilliant engineer had a breakthrough. It was the most powerful AI ever created. Ma Young believed the Jade Dragon could solve the world’s most dire challenges. There was just one problem…

The president of China had other ideas.

Was this their chance to conquer? 

Grab James Rosone and Miranda Watson's Monroe Doctrine here on Amazon.

6. Acheron Salvation by Ken Lozito

Ken Lozito is known for his incredible world building and tight storytelling, skills that are on full display in his Federation Chronicles series. Acheron Salvation is the second and most recent entry into that series and as with the first book—or anything Lozito writes, for that matter—it should not be missed! 

First came the development of a Personality Matrix Construct—PMC, transferring human consciousness into a machine. It changed the galaxy and the way wars were fought. Then something went wrong with PMCs and the Federation Wars toppled the galactic order. PMCs became a menace to be hunted and exterminated.

Long after the Federation Wars, the galaxy limps on. Spacers carve out an existence upon the bones of the old worlds, but things are about to change. . .something has begun broadcasting signals to reactivate PMCs that were stored in secret.

Quinton Aldren is a PMC. His consciousness was uploaded and stored over a century ago, before the Federation Wars. All Quinton wants is to leave his past behind, but the broadcasts keep occurring. More PMCs are coming online, and not all of them are entirely stable. Federation War machines are on the hunt for them, and they don’t care who gets in their way.

Grab Ken Lozito's Acheron Salvation here on Amazon.

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ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. The Emissary by G J Ogden

We love it when we get a chance to connect with authors whose books have been nominated by our community to chat about their work and why it might resonate with fans the way it does. Landing in 5th place on our list, G J Ogden's fantastic new book, The Emissary was a big hit with readers and this week we got to speak with Ogden about why that might be! 

I think The Emissary has resonated with readers partly because it’s just a straight-up fun, action-packed story. However, beneath this there’s a darker element as readers get to know the crew of unique ‘Omega officers’, all chosen for their cold-hearted ruthlessness and willingness to ‘do whatever it takes, no matter the cost’. They are a necessary evil in the war against an unstoppably brutal enemy. Fans of the book love this depth, and the moral and ethical questions it poses, along with the fact the captain is still human and struggles with PTSD. I think it’s this layer of depth, on top of the fun and action, that makes it so compelling.
– GJ Ogden

The Sa’Nerra were close to defeat, then everything changed. Armed with a unique neural weapon, the merciless alien warriors turned Fleet crew against their own. Entire warships went rogue. Suspicion and fear ran riot. Surrender seemed like the only option.

But Captain Lucas Sterling knows that in the fight against the Sa’Nerra there is only victory or death.

Sterling is an Omega Captain. His rank and his command of the Fleet Marauder Invictus were both won in a depraved and monstrous trial of grit and determination.

Sterling will do anything to ensure the Sa’Nerra do not prevail. Even if that means killing Fleet crew that have been “turned”. Even if that means killing the people he loves.

But the neural control weapon is not the only danger Fleet faces. Deep inside the Void the aliens are building a super-weapon. Sterling and his crew must destroy it at all costs.

Back on Earth, the United Governments are desperate for peace. Then after fifty years without a single word of contact between the two races, the Sa’Nerra finally send an emissary.

But the belligerent alien race sent an emissary of war, not peace.

The fate of humanity now lies in the hands of Captain Sterling and the Omega officers of the Invictus. But victory is only possible if he is willing to do anything it takes to win.

Get your copy of G J Ogden's The Emissary  here on Amazon.

4. No Quarter by Joshua Dalzelle

Joshua Dalzelle proves the old adage that "good things come to those who wait" with release of No Quarter, the second book in The Unification War Trilogy. This incredible second entry came almost two years after the first book, but we think it was well worth the wait, and clearly Discover Sci-Fi readers agree! 

As with Ogden, we had a chance to chat with Dalzelle this month and found his thoughts both on second books in general, and this second book in particular, super interesting!

No Quarter is the dreaded second act in the final trilogy of the Black Fleet Saga. The series has been quite popular overall, but the second books in each trilogy always seem to be polarizing because they necessarily end on bleak prospects for the protagonists and this one is no different. I think this book stood out for readers because there were some twists they weren’t expecting this far into the series. As a purely military sci-fi novel I’m not looking to pull a bait and switch or to trick the readers like a thriller might, but it’s still fun to keep them guessing going into the last book of the saga.

Humanity is fractured and on the brink of war…

The United Terran Federation and the Eastern Star Alliance have been fighting in minor skirmishes along the border region for the last few years, but now it threatens to break out into a full-on war with the victor assuming control of all human space.

The Alliance has fired the opening shots with a horrific strike on a civilian target, killing millions and shocking the Federation's parliament into action. Now mighty fleets of starships are moving against each other, ready for the final battle that will settle the conflict once and for all.

The venerable Admiral Jackson Wolfe prepares himself for one last fight as his nemesis, Admiral Vadim Kohl, looks to make a name for himself by defeating the infamous Federation officer in battle. Jackson knows events are now in motion that can't be stopped and only one thing is certain: win or lose, nothing will ever be the same again.

No Quarter is the second book in the Unification War Trilogy and the eighth book in the overall Black Fleet Saga.

Pick up Joshua Dalzelle's No Quarter here on Amazon.

3. CyberWar by Matthew Mather

You're missing out if you haven't read our 3rd place pick. The long awaited, highly anticipated CyberWar is the 3rd book in Matthew Mather's World War C series, which is currently in development with Netflix.  We can't wait to watch and we know it'll be amazing, but you know the book is always better so make sure you read the series before it hits the screen! 

Chechen separatists destroyed thousands of satellites in orbit, the effects crippling the world's militaries. Power and communications failures sweep the planet, while emergency services are hobbled as fires and powerful storms rip across America.

Still recovering from his injuries, Mike Mitchell returns to his family at Senator Seymour's residence in Virginia, the place a fortress secured by dozens of Secret Service agents. The CIA has tracked down the terrorists that launched the attacks and offers a front-row seat to watch events unfold as a SEAL team closes in--but the video feed goes dead.

Outside the senator's house, thudding detonations as an attack begins.

Scrambling to stay alive, Mike realizes the onslaught isn't only against the Seymour residence in Virginia, but that a furious blitz has begun all over the country. As the full weight of America's military presses on stopping these terrorists, how are the attacks possible? Is it an invasion? Or something more sinister?

With their lives and the fate of the nation hanging in the balance, the bigger question becomes--who is the real enemy?

Get your copy of Matthew Mather's CyberWar here on Amazon.

2. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Okay, so we were a little—scratch that—more than a little surprised that Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary didn't top this list. The response to the release was off-the-charts. Readers quickly snapped up and binged the book and as they did, in came a torrent of glowing reviews and commentary as readers posted their thoughts to the Discover Sci-Fi facebook group. You'd be hard pressed to find another recent release that elicited that much enthusiasm among the group as a whole. Nevertheless, 2nd place is not too shabby, and if you haven't already, you really need to read this! 

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

Pick up Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary here on Amazon.

1. Breakaway (Expeditionary Force Book 12) by Craig Alanson

It's hard to keep track of how many times Craig Alanson's Expeditionary Force series has landed in 1st place in these reader's choice polls! This recent win is for Breakaway, the incredible 12th book in the aforementioned series. Alanson is a damn fine storyteller with the ability to keep hungry fans happy with regular releases in this, his wildly popular series—clearly a winning combination! 

The Merry Band of Pirates offered the bad guys a ceasefire. We won’t mess with them, if they don’t mess with us. Easy, right? NO. The aliens chose to do things the hard way. So, the Pirates are racing around the galaxy to clean up the threat to Earth. The infant UN Navy has their own mission with the Alien Legion: get humanity some allies in the fight. And the Ethics & Compliance Office might have to do something...ethical. Unless they can find a way around it.

Pick up Craig Alanson's Breakaway here on Amazon

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Will any of these new reads make your summer reading list this year? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group and make sure to check out our most recent poll while you're there!

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.