This, our third and final post in this series, will conclude our 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards round up! You can see the top Sci-Fi Books of 2023 list here, and the top Audiobooks of 2023 list here.

Before we jump in, we’d like to thank you all one last time. As we’ve said before, your nominations and votes each year play a pivotal role in this year end showcase featuring the sci-fi reads that best captured readers’ hearts and imaginations in 2023.

Our final top ten roundup features this year’s best in LitRPG! As with audiobooks, this is the first year we’ve had a list dedicated exclusively to LitRPG standouts. We really love this genre—one that combines elements of role playing games with traditional narrative storytelling—and judging by the way our community turned up for our inaugural showdown, you guys do too! 

So, without any further ado, we unveil our 2023 Readers’ Choice Award list, featuring the ten best LitRPG reads of the year as chosen by Discover Sci-Fi readers. Scroll on to check out the top picks! 

10. Of Slicing Men: The Good Guys Book 14 by Eric Ugland

So, remember that whole ‘send Montana to the capital – he’s ready for prime time’ plan?

Yeah. That might’ve been a little bit hasty.

Our hirsute hero really stepped in it. Like, is on the verge of losing his dukedom and everything he’s worked for stepped in it.

The only way out? A little-known technicality that stops Senate proceedings and sends Montana off on what’s most likely an insurmountable quest. One where odds are good that he’ll either die without a respawn or accidentally commit treason against the Empire.

Neat.

Can Montana stop the Dark Queen’s army on his own and hold the line for Glaton? Will he do enough to save Coggeshall from the aristocratic vultures circling? And will he finally find the sword of the gods he lost on his very first day in Vuldranni?

Of Slicing Men is The Good Guys at its finest: gory battles, surprise tactics, and unexpected heroes. Come for the long-term campaign play and rich character progression. Stay for the stupid banter and crazed, demonic inch worms.

Read Of Slicing Men here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

9. Quantum Conjurations: Eldrich Engineer Book One by Kevin McLaughlin and Michael Anderle

His experiment shouldn’t have wrecked his lab, created a portal to another dimension, or sucked him through said portal.

Despite all that, Charles Smith found himself landing atop the emissary of an evil group of mages called the Shadow Council.

Literally on top of him, along with half the gear from his lab, which had the fortunate side-effect of turning the evil sorcerer into paste.

This won Charles the gratitude of King Alfred, ruler of the Kingdom of Kortall and the man who said sorcerer had been threatening moments before Smith’s arrival.

But the reward for a job well done is always more work!

Alfred quickly recruits Charles to help defend his kingdom against the invading army. Wildly outmatched, Alfred’s forces are on the verge of being crushed. If he falls, there will be little to stop the Shadow Council from taking over the entire world.

Charles will need every trick he knows, including a lot of science, some engineering—and maybe even a little bit of magic—if Kortall is to have any hope of surviving!

Grab Quantum Conjurations here on Amazon. 

8. The Primal Hunter Seven by Zogarth

Having arrived at the Order of the Malefic Viper, Jake is eager to improve his alchemy…

However, reality can often be cruel. Because while trying to do just that, Jake will be dealing with the political landscape of the Order. Between hiding his identity as the Chosen of the Big Boss, being forced to attend get-togethers, visiting vampires to sell ancient memorabilia, and trying to actually learn some alchemy, Jake's busier than ever.

Earth also still calls. There, he helps friends deal with family issues by going on a nice road trip with Carmen and Sylphie. On the way, he can hopefully find time to hunt down the final Primas he needs – powerful monsters with unique key fragments – to participate in the upcoming system event dubbed the Seat of the Exalted Prima.

An event that hopefully – no, certainly – won’t have any unforeseen Bloodline-induced shenanigans.

Definitely not.

Grab Primal Hunter here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

7. Quest Academy: Silvers by Brian J. Nordon

Read Quest Academy here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

6. Beware of Chicken Three by Casualfarmer

Jin Rou wanted to be a cultivator. A man powerful enough to defy the heavens. A master of martial arts. A lord of spiritual power. Unfortunately for him, he died, and now I’m stuck in his body.

As Jin, I’m a man of the earth. A wielder of shovels and lord of rice and wheat. And sure, I also had to die and get pulled into another universe to end up here. But guess what? I’m starting to think it was worth it.

I’ve somehow managed to get away from it all. Finally free of the bloodshed of cultivator fights, I figure I’ll live in the slow lane from here on out, my only real concern the rain—or lack thereof.

Unfortunately, I’ve suddenly got a shady organization looking for me, my cat has gone off to fight in a martial arts tournament, and my chicken has uncovered an ancient crystal containing portents of doom. You know, the usual stuff.

I’m not worried though. Sometimes trouble finds you. And while I may not be a master cultivator . . . trouble should know better than to mess with a farmer.

 Grab Beware of Chicken here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying our year end Readers' Choice Roundup, the LitRPG edition, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Induction: Welcome to the Multiverse Book One by Sean Oswald

The apocalypse is coming but only those lucky or perhaps unlucky few know.

Silas is inducted into the System becoming the last in a long line of
Earth's 'Forerunners.'

The rewards are great but the danger is greater.

We are not alone in the universe. The fate of five worlds hangs on how their forerunners perform.

Will Silas have what it takes to win Earth a place in the multiverse or will Earth become another mining
world stripped of all resources and left a barren husk floating in the cosmos?

A system enforced secret... a deadly challenge... and only a year to go.

The countdown begins now!

Get your copy of Induction here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

4. Wolf in the Void: The Grand Game Book Five by Tom Elliot

A House in waiting. A Wolf on the run. And with his foes multiplying, can Michael accomplish all that he must?

Michael has taken the Game by the throat. No longer content to lurk in the shadows, he has started down a path that will inevitably bring him into conflict with the Powers.

But the Powers are no easy foes. Nor are they Michael’s only adversaries.
Other enemies stir. Some confront him openly, while others watch patiently from the sidelines. A lone wolf no more, and with many of his own pieces in play, Michael may find himself more exposed than he believes.

The stakes are high. And the schemes of the players convoluted.
Evading entanglement will not be simple. Avoiding the ire of the Powers will be even harder. And escaping the attention of beings beyond his ken may well be impossible. Can Michael trace a delicate balance between obscurity and strength? Or will his dreams for House Wolf end in ashes?

Grab Wolf in the void here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

3. Forge Master: Tower Book One

Ascending should have been the easy part...

But after being thrown into the void, Thorn finds himself stranded in a strange world filled with even stranger creatures.

Together with his cute battle pet, the mysterious god beast Hati, and a sentient AI named Eve, Thorn must forge a place for himself in this new world. Unfortunately, the local guilds all have other ideas and soon the Titan finds himself embroiled in plots that even his famed strength cannot help him with.

Rallying his strengths and learning how to fix his weaknesses will be the absolute minimum Thorn needs to survive, but if he wants to thrive, he’ll be forced to take risks that put his life and the lives of his friends on the line.

Dive into Forge Master here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

2. He Who Fights With Monsters Book Ten by Shirtaloon 

A subterranean power creates strange bedfellows for Jason and his friends in the epic next installment of He Who Fights with Monsters.

Following the devastating attack on Yaresh, its people are left to pick up the pieces. The city lies in ruins, but its decimated defenders have more to deal with than just reconstruction. Jason's actions during the battle have brought unwelcome attention from allies and enemies alike. While the adventurers question his loyalty, the messengers question his very nature. Both have designs on Jason that he intends to thwart, but a danger comes to light that shifts everyone's agenda.

Deep underground, a hidden civilization has survived by tapping into a long-buried power. That power's growing instability has become both a threat and an opportunity to the warring surface factions. Neither side can stop or claim the power alone, leading to an uneasy alliance with a reluctant Jason at the center. The adventurers, messengers, and Jason himself all have intentions for the power but little idea what awaits them below ground. There are more players involved than any of them realize, and soon, they will have greater problems than each other.

Get your copy of He Who Fights With Monsters

here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

1. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book Six by Matt Dinniman 

A pantheon of forgotten gods. An old grudge between a talk show host, an heiress, and the man they shattered along the way. A rapidly deteriorating AI system. An inconvenient tiara upon the head of a friend.

It's bedlam on the eighth floor. 

As management reels from the unexpected conclusion of the seventh level, the surviving crawlers stumble onto the eighth and find themselves scattered. It’s a map based on Earth’s final days before the collapse, where ethereal, intangible ghosts of humanity go about their lives, oblivious of the impending doom. Living amongst these ghosts are monsters based in Earth lore. “Legendary” creatures tied to the geographical location they inhabit.

Each team of crawlers is given a task: find and capture six of these beasts. The captured monsters will be turned into cards. Cards that can be summoned into battle again and again. The stronger, the deadlier, the better.

At the end of the floor, the bad guys will also have decks, and they will have some of the most powerful cards available. So it’s crucial to assemble the toughest squad possible.

But, like always, there is a catch. There’s always a catch.

As Carl and Donut know all too well, just because someone is captured, it doesn’t mean they have been tamed.

Her name is Shi Maria. She’s easily the most powerful monster in their area. If they want to survive, they must capture her. But she is no ordinary beast. She’s intelligent. She was once married to a god, a god who is now missing. Her special attack is known to drive one insane. They call her the Bedlam Bride.

Get your copy of The Eye of the Bedlam Bride here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

How many of the 2023 Readers' Choice top 10 LitRPG books have you read? Which ones are you adding to the top of your TBR for 2024? Any stellar LitRPG titles you think didn't get their due? 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.

Looking to tempt a friend to the dark side? Beloved by readers who don't typically gravitate toward the genre, these sci-fi books are sure to do the trick! Keep this list handy next time you are eager to recommend a science fiction book to a friend who says they "don't read sci-fi." They'll be changing their tune, tout suite! 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

It is so easy to get sucked into this story, and fast! There are a fair number of action packed battle scenes, but if that's not one's jam, they are pretty easy to read over without missing the heart of the story. 

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Read Ender's Game here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Published in 2014, Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven enjoyed something of a renaissance early the recent pandemic (the fact of which Mandel gives a nod to in her newest book, the 2022 release Sea of Tranquility.) Station Eleven is a bit of a slow burn but as with the author's other works, is beautifully written and intricately plotted. Just thinking about it now has us wanting to pick it up again! 

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

Read Station Eleven  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This highly accessible sci-fi classic turns 70 this year and feels just as modern and relevant today as it did in 1953. Fahrenheit 451 manages a lot in less than 200 pages, giving us much to ponder and ultimately leaving the reader with a sense of hope—a welcome surprise given the dystopian setting of the book. 

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

Get your copy of Fahrenheit 451 here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Read Handmaid's Tale  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

When it hit the shelves fifteen years ago, Suzanne Collins' dystopian thriller The Hunger Games ignited the interest of even the most reluctant readers. And why not? With a fierce, loveable heroine, complex villains, heaps of actions, and unrelenting tension, it has a lot to recommend it! Put this one in a friend's hand and they won't be coming up for air until they've read all three books in the original trilogy and the prequel! 

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Still, if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

 Grab The Hunger Games here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Save this recommendation for your friend who loves feel-good reads! Becky Chambers is a great storyteller and with The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet treats readers to a well paced tale with incredible worldbuilding, a loveable cast of characters, and so much more. If you haven't read this one, do! Once you do, you to will be singing it's praises to everyone whether they are sci-fi lovers or not! 

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.

Get your copy of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this list of sci-fi beloved by non sci-fi fans, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

This one is a fun, fast, mind-bender! Dark Matter was first mentioned on the blog in a post from August 2020 where DSF readers voted it into the top 10 sci-fi stand-alones published since 2010. It's interesting and exciting, yet undemanding, and so hard to put down. These qualities make it a great option for any reader and a fabulous choice for one with an entire day spread out before them to spend doing nothing but reading! 

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. Hiswife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

Grab Dark Matter here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Whatever you do, don't tell the friends you're recommending this one to that it's a zombie book. With outstanding world building, skillful twists, a loveable main, and emotional heft, The Girl With All the Gifts will capture the interest and heart of any reader who gives it a shot! 

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

The Girl With All the Gifts is a groundbreaking thriller, emotionally charged and gripping from beginning to end.

Dive into The Girl With All the Gifts here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Silo Series by Hugh Howey

With the recent success of the first season of Silo on Apple+, this one is an obvious choice! How many of your friends who don't typically read sci-fi have already come running to you to rave about the series? We bet all of you know at least a few! We'd suggest you keep a copy of the book on hand for the next it happens; you can smile and nod and hand it to them to take home. They can thank you later. 

The remnants of humanity live underground in a vast silo. In this subterranean world, rules matter. Rules keep people alive. And no rule is more strictly enforced than to never speak of going outside. The punishment is exile and death.

When the sheriff of the silo commits the ultimate sin, the most unlikely of heroes takes his place. Juliette, a mechanic from the down deep, who never met a machine she couldn’t fix nor a rule she wouldn’t break.

What happens when a world built on rules is handed over to someone who sees no need for them? And what happens when a world broken to its core comes up against someone who won’t stop until things are set to right?

Their world is about to fall. What—and who—will rise?

Get your copy of The Silo Series

here on Amazon.

Which other titles do you feel would be at home on this list of books beloved by non sci-fi fans? Which one of these sci-fi reads will you be recommending to your friends? Are there any book here you previously missed that you're planning to pick up for yourself? Fill us in in the comments here, 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.

Hey there, sci-fi aficionados! Alex here, your trusty editor at DSF, bringing you an exclusive Q&A with the brilliant mind behind the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series, Skyler Ramirez.

As we celebrate the launch of the sixth book in this action-packed, humor-laden saga, we're diving deep into the creative process, character evolution, and future plans of our favorite space-faring heroes. Buckle up and get ready for a thrilling ride through the mind of an author who has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers everywhere. Let's jump right in!

Alex: Congratulations on the launch of book six in the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series! How does it feel to reach this milestone?

SR: It’s an amazing feeling. When I wrote book one, The Worst Ship in the Fleet, I never expected it to take off like it did. Now, I have awesome readers who are constantly asking me when the next book in the series will come out because they’ve fallen in love with the characters just as I have.

Alex: What can readers expect from this latest installment? Are there any major plot twists or new characters introduced?

SR: The end of book five, The Worst Detectives in the Federation, revealed a pretty big twist for one of our characters. She’ll be integral to The Worst Traitors in the Confederacy and is one of the titular ‘worst traitors’ in the story. We also introduce a few new bad guys and a little more of Brad Mendoza’s backstory. All in all, it’s a thrilling ride with space battles, gun fights, and even a car chase in a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang Convertible!

Alex: How has the series evolved from book one to book six? What significant changes or developments have occurred in the storyline or characters?

SR: When I first started writing this series, I began with a cast of very broken characters—all the main characters have either done terrible things or had terrible things done to them. Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes is a redemption story, and as the series evolves, we see all the characters really starting to come into their own. This is especially true of Brad Mendoza and Jessica Lin, but now they have an ensemble cast supporting them, each with their own backstories and trials to overcome.

Most of all, however, the story has evolved from a small naval battle in a single star system to a galaxy-spanning thrill ride that sees our ‘dead heroes’ get in way over their heads. The best part is that even we, the readers, don’t know just how far this entire thing goes, so we get to put together pieces of the mystery along with Brad and Jessica.

Alex: Can you describe any challenges you faced while writing this series, especially with keeping the plot fresh and engaging over multiple books?

SR: I think the biggest challenge is writing fast enough. I have a ton of faithful and enthusiastic readers who are always hungry for more. And I have a number of storylines in my head that really just need to get out and onto the page. So, it’s a continuous challenge to write fast enough to satisfy both the readers and my own need to tell this story. But overall, it’s just a lot of fun, and I feel that there’s so much that these characters can do that keeping the story fresh isn’t an issue yet.

Alex: How have the main characters grown since the first book? Are there any particular character arcs that you are especially proud of?

SR: When we first meet Brad Mendoza in book one, he’s a drunk and a loser who is haunted by past mistakes and lets his guilt spoil his entire personality. You’re supposed to dislike him at the beginning, and a lot of readers definitely do. But over the course of that book and the series, he evolves and changes in unexpected ways. I think the best part of it is that we all have a little Brad Mendoza in us. We’ve all done things that make us feel guilty or made mistakes that we have trouble reconciling with the person we want to be. So, seeing Brad overcome his imperfections and demons really gives us all hope. And that’s the main message of the series: we can always hope to be better. Nothing we do disqualifies us from becoming a good human being; we just have to be willing to put in the work to change.

Alex: Are there any characters who surprised you by taking on a larger role or evolving in unexpected ways as the series progressed?

SR: Jessica Lin, for sure. She started as both a foil and a potential love interest for Brad in The Worst Ship in the Fleet but has very quickly evolved beyond that to be just as much a main character as Brad is. The great thing is that I didn’t originally plan for the stories to be told from her POV along with Brad’s. However, as I continued to write, I found that it was impossible to tell the story any other way, and Jessica needed her own voice. She is awesome and quite possibly my favorite character that I’ve ever written.

Alex: The world-building in the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series is quite detailed. How do you keep track of all the intricate details and maintain consistency across the books?

SR: This is one of the hardest parts of writing, and I’m definitely not perfect at it. I have spreadsheets, summary pages, character pages, and a whole host of both successful and unsuccessful tools for keeping track of the details. I’ve also got color-coded annotated copies of each book in the series sitting on my desk while I write, and I’m constantly opening one or more to recall some story point or character attribute.

Alex: Did you have the entire world and its rules planned out from the beginning, or did it develop more organically as you wrote each book?

SR: A little of both. I like my stories to be character-driven, and very often, I find myself having to abandon the plan I had for a story because I come to an inflection point and think, ‘There’s no way Brad would make that decision.’ So, I have to revise my plot to accommodate how my characters would actually act in various situations. Even though I always have the next 2-3 books planned out in my head and an outline of major ‘galactic-level’ story points, the narrative is constantly evolving and changing. Same with the rules of the world. This isn’t hard sci-fi, but I do try and keep things as consistent as I can without belaboring the scientific details but sometimes I fudge things a bit to fit the narrative.

Alex: What does a typical writing day look like for you when working on the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series?

SR: I just started writing in earnest in the last couple of years, so I’m still not at the point of doing it full-time, and I do have a day job. I may spend one-to-two hours in the early morning hours writing, then go do my day job, have dinner with my family, help get the kids to bed, and then go back and write for another two-to-three hours in the evening. I’m lucky to have an extremely supportive wife and great kids who are on this journey with me and encourage me to take the time to write.

Alex: Are there any overarching themes or messages you hope readers take away from the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series?

SR: Absolutely. It’s a redemption story. But it’s more than that, too. All of my books are about seemingly ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Because I firmly believe that we can all be extraordinary. Sometimes, it’s a matter of being put into the right circumstances, but just as often, it’s about us making deceptively small decisions that add up to great things. I like to think there’s a little of Brad and Jessica in all of us.

Alex: How do you balance humor with the darker elements of the story, especially given the series' unique blend of comedic and heroic elements?

SR: It hasn’t been easy, and I spend a lot of time agonizing over this. My goal isn’t to write ‘fluff’ fiction but to deal with very real-world problems and some intense situations. But I also want people to recognize that humor is one of the most important tools we, as humans, have to help us deal with dark issues. Being able to laugh at ourselves and at tough situations is one of the things that makes humans so powerful as a species.
I also try not to delve too deeply into some of the darker elements of the story. My readers’ own imaginations can do that if needed, but I don’t want to drag them down with the details unless they are directly germane to the story. Reading should make us think, but it should also be an escape that we enjoy.

Alex: How have readers responded to the series so far? Are there any memorable interactions or feedback from fans that stand out to you?

SR: The reader reaction has been outstanding and surprising. So many have reached out to me on social media or via reviews to share how much they love the series. The most common thing I hear is, ‘I read all the books in one weekend!’ Which is very humbling because we all have a limited amount of free time, and to think that there are readers who are willing to spend up to 12 hours in a single weekend to read my books is just awesome.

I also have a lot of readers tell me how much they love and/or relate to Brad and Jessica, which is great. Seeing those characters, who are extremely alive to me, come alive for and even inspire others is what makes me want to keep writing.

Finally, a lot of readers tell me they appreciate that I tell my stories without swearing or sex. That means a lot to me because it’s an important part of my writing and my brand, so it’s great to see readers respond so positively to it.

Alex: Now that book six is out, what’s next for the series? Do you have plans for more books, spin-offs, or other projects set in the same universe?

SR: I’ve already started writing book seven. I’m also about to release another short story, Siege of Jalisco, which is part of The Brad Mendoza Chronicles and ties in directly to the plot of book six.

I have two spinoff series already in the same universe. The first is The Brad Mendoza Chronicles, which is a collection of short stories that give Brad’s backstory. The second is A Star Nation in Peril, which is the story of Heather Kilgore, a very influential side character, that ties in directly with the events of Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes. Both are a lot of fun and showcase different storytelling patterns.

I’m also planning at least one other spin-off series about two characters in book six, Sam and Tina DeJong, which will be aimed at a YA audience. Sam and Tina are teenagers that Brad and Jessica save from pirates; they become part of the crew and play critical roles in the plot of book six. My plan is for a series that focuses on the two of them and their future exploits as they set off on their own. They’re really fun characters!

Alex: Are there any new projects or genres you're excited to explore in the future, outside of the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series?

SR: Yes! I have my first series I wrote, The Four Worlds, which is more of an epic space opera with genetic engineering. I’m working on book three of that series now and will release that later this year. It’s a very different flavor of sci-fi from Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes, but it’s also character-driven, and I’m excited to show readers where that series goes.

I also have a mostly finished near-future sci-fi thriller that I’m looking to release in the next year. I won’t share too many details on that yet, but it should be a run ride.

Finally, I’m working with a few other great sci-fi authors on a short story anthology we plan to release later this year. More details on that to come.

Alex: What inspired you to start writing the  Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes  series in the first place?

SR: I was taking a break from writing The Four Worlds series. Those books are long and have POVs of a lot of different characters in them. I decided I wanted to try something different, so I wrote The Worst Ship in the Fleet as a short comedic military sci-fi with a single character’s POV. To my surprise and delight, the book gained a fast following of readers, and I’ve devoted most of the last year to that series.

Alex: Can you share a bit about your personal journey as a writer? How did you get started, and what motivates you to keep writing?

SR: I’ve always been a voracious reader and always knew I wanted to write. But it was probably my first reading of Ender’s Game that really made me decide it was time to start. I began writing my first novel, The Four Worlds – The Truth, while flying back and forth to Europe on business trips. I wrote it off and on for about ten years before COVID and a break between jobs finally allowed me to sit down and finish it. And I guess from there, you could say that I caught the bug. I’ve been writing a ton ever since.

What motivates me to keep going is hearing from readers about how much they like the books and the characters. I enjoy doing something that brings joy to others. On top of that, writing is my stress reliever and I think I’d do it even if my books didn’t sell.

Alex: What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are looking to write their own series or break into the sci-fi genre?

SR: Just write. If you enjoy it, then do it. Not all books make money, but if you get a kick out of sharing your stories, then it almost doesn’t matter how many people read them. Don’t be afraid to put your story out there.

For those who really want to turn it into a career, make sure you’re writing to market. Your work shouldn’t be derivative, but there are some tried and true formulas that work for a reason. Put your own unique spin on things, create some unique and interesting characters, but write something that you know readers will enjoy.

Alex: Are there any resources or tips you found particularly helpful in your writing career that you would recommend to others?

SR: There are a lot of Facebook groups for indie authors to gather and share ideas, ask each other for help, etc. I also strongly recommend Bryan Cohen’s ad school for anyone who wants to learn how to market their books on Amazon.

Alex: What other books or series would you recommend to fans of the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series who enjoy a blend of humor and heroism?

SR: My friend Andrew Moriarty has some great stories in his Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire series as well as his Adventures of a Jump Space Accountant series. I also recommend anything by Clive Cussler—not sci-fi, obviously, but a great mix of heroic story and witty banter.

Alex: Can you share a few books that you’ve recently read and loved? What did you enjoy about them?

SR: There are so many of them, but I’ll share a few.

• Forsaken Mercenary by Jonathan Yanez: a great example of imperfect people rising to the challenge of heroism.
• The Adventures of a Xeno-Archaeologist series by Jenny Schwartz: a gripping story of reluctant heroes.
• The Carbon Chronicles series from Chloe Garner: an action-packed misfit crew story.
• I’ve also started reading Sunken Spaceship by Anthony J. Melchiorri and, Night Owls by Stephen Gay and am enjoying both.

Alex: What classic sci-fi novels do you believe every fan of the genre should read at least once?

SR: For sure, Ender’s Game. I’ve reread it several times and enjoy it each and every time I do. Then, Timothy Zahn’s original Thrawn Trilogy. Whether or not you’re a Star Wars fan, those books are masterful as character-driven narratives. I also love the Honor Harrington stories from David Weber and think they represent the pinnacle of military sci-fi. And, of course, anything from Hugh Howey. His books are just refreshingly different and hard to put down.

Alex: Are there any modern sci-fi books that you think are redefining the genre?

SR: Hugh Howey. His books are unique and fun to read. They focus on people first and are very character-driven. His world-building is masterful. Who else could write an entire series taking place in a missile silo and keep us all on the edge of our seats the entire time?

No surprise, but I also think that Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere stories are redefining the genre and really blurring the lines between fantasy and sci-fi.

Alex: Do you listen to audiobooks? If so, are there any narrators or audiobook versions of books that you would recommend?

SR: At any given time I’m reading at least one book on Kindle and listening to at least one on Audible. I will listen to just about anything narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. They are incredible, especially when narrating Brandon Sanderson’s amazing books. I’m also partial to stories told by the two narrators who have brought Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes to life on audiobook, Michael Murphy and Madeleine Brolly. They’re both really good at what they do. At this point, I hear their voices in my head as I’m writing dialogue for Brad Mendoza and Jessica Lin.

Alex: You write clean sci-fi. Tell us why you chose to omit swearing and sex from your books.

SR: I’ve written whole narratives on why I choose to only write clean fiction. First, I believe it’s more challenging to write something clean that doesn’t lean on explicit sex scenes and a lot of profanity for shock or entertainment. Second, even though I write for adults, I tell my stories with my teenage children in mind. I don’t ever want them to get embarrassed or uncomfortable about something their dad wrote. And third, I’m a very religious guy and choose to let that come out in my writing; even though I don’t explicitly talk about religion much at all in ‘Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes’, I try to write with the same values that I live by.

I’ve had a lot of readers reach out or leave Amazon reviews telling me how much they appreciate the cleanliness of my books, so there’s a market for it and people who prefer it that way. I love giving them something they can read, enjoy, and feel good about.

Check out the latest release in the series: The Worst Traitors in the Confederacy

And there you have it, folks! A fascinating dive into the world of Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes and the mind behind its creation. It's clear that this series is more than just a space opera; it's a journey of redemption, growth, and the human spirit's resilience, all wrapped in thrilling adventures and a good dose of humor. Our author has not only built a compelling universe but also crafted characters who feel real and relatable, facing challenges that resonate with all of us.

Stay tuned for more updates, and if you haven’t already, dive into the Dumb Luck and Dead Heroes series. It’s a ride you won’t want to miss. Until next time, keep reading and keep dreaming!

Whether driven by a sense of adventure or that of eventual necessity, we humans — at least some of us — are fascinated by the idea of terraforming. What would it take to modify a moon or another planet in order to make it habitable to humans and the other life forms that support us? If successful, how would society take shape there? If not... Perfect fodder for exploration via sci-fi, right? 

As is so often the case when we find ourselves unable to stop thinking about a particular science fiction theme, we recently turned to the Discover Sci-Fi Facebook community for recommendations of books that centred on terraforming.

There were a number of great titles put forth in our poll, and even more mentioned in the comments section. The list that follows combines those that ranked highest among our readers; compelling titles that were mentioned in the comments, but not added to the poll; and, a few of our own picks! 

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Who will inherit this new Earth?

The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age -- a world terraformed and prepared for human life.

But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, the work of its architects has borne disastrous fruit. The planet is not waiting for them, pristine and unoccupied. New masters have turned it from a refuge into mankind's worst nightmare.

Now two civilizations are on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, who are the true heirs of this new Earth? Span

Read Children of Time here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of Paul Atreides—who would become known as Muad'Dib—and of a great family's ambition to bring to fruition mankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.

Read Dune  here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

For centuries, the barren, desolate landscape of the red planet has beckoned to humankind. Now a group of one hundred colonists begins a mission whose ultimate goal is to transform Mars into a more Earthlike planet. They will place giant satellite mirrors in Martian orbit to reflect light onto its surface. Black dust sprinkled on the polar caps will capture warmth and melt the ice. And massive tunnels drilled into the mantle will create stupendous vents of hot gases. But despite these ambitious goals, there are some who would fight to the death to prevent Mars from ever being changed.

Get your copy of Red Mars here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein

Read Farmer in the Sky here on Amazon.  Also available on audiobook.

Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson

One man—visionary billionaire restaurant chain magnate T. R. Schmidt, Ph.D.—has a Big Idea for reversing global warming, a master plan perhaps best described as “elemental.” But will it work? And just as important, what are the consequences for the planet and all of humanity should it be applied?

Ranging from the Texas heartland to the Dutch royal palace in the Hague, from the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the sunbaked Chihuahuan Desert, Termination Shock brings together a disparate group of characters from different cultures and continents who grapple with the real-life repercussions of global warming. Ultimately, it asks the question: Might the cure be worse than the disease?

Epic in scope while heartbreakingly human in perspective, Termination Shock sounds a clarion alarm, ponders potential solutions and dire risks, and wraps it all together in an exhilarating, witty, mind-expanding speculative adventure.

 Grab Termination Shock here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living.

Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.

On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, Mickey7’s fate has been sealed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties. The idea of duplicate Expendables is universally loathed, and if caught, they will likely be thrown into the recycler for protein.

Mickey7 must keep his double a secret from the rest of the colony. Meanwhile, life on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.

That is, if he can just keep from dying for good.

Get your copy of Mickey 7
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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If you're enjoying this list of recommendations for terraforming reads, why not join the DSF community for more awesome content? You'll get to be notified whenever a top 10 list or any other articles of interest go up on our site. It's free to sign up and you'll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

From science fiction visionary Annalee Newitz comes The Terraformers, a sweeping, uplifting, and illuminating exploration of the future.

Destry's life is dedicated to terraforming Sask-E. As part of the Environmental Rescue Team, she cares for the planet and its burgeoning eco-systems as her parents and their parents did before her.

But the bright, clean future they're building comes under threat when Destry discovers a city full of people that shouldn’t exist, hidden inside a massive volcano.

As she uncovers more about their past, Destry begins to question the mission she's devoted her life to, and must make a choice that will reverberate through Sask-E's future for generations to come.

Grab The Terraformers
 here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Komarr by Lois Mcmaster Bujold

Komarr could be a garden - with a thousand more years work. Or an uninhabitable wasteland, if the terraforming fails. Now the solar mirror vital to the terraforming of the conquered planet has been shattered by a ship hurtling off course. The Emperor of Barrayar sends his newest Imperial Auditor, Lord Miles Vorkosigan, to find out why.

In the political and physical claustrophobia of the domed cities, are the Komarrans surrounding Miles loyal subjects, potential hostages, innocent victims, or rebels bidding for revenge? Miles is caught in a race against time to stop a plot that could exile him from Barrayar forever. His hope lies in an unexpected ally, one with wounds as deep and honor as beleaguered as his own.

Dive into Komarr here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Isle of the Dead by Roger Zelazny

Centuries in the future, Francis Sandow is the only man alive who was born as long ago as the 20th century. His body is kept young and in perfect health by advanced scientific methods; he has amassed such a fortune that he can own entire planets; and he has become a god. No, not a god of Earth, but one of the panetheon of the alien Pei'ans: he is Shimbo of Darktree, Shrugger of Thunders. Yet he doesn't believe that his personality has merged with the ancient consciousness of Shimbo, that he really can call down the skies upon his enemies. The time comes, however, when Francis Sandow must use these powers against the most dangerous antagonist in the universe: another Pei'an god -- Shimbo's own enemy, Belion. And Belion has no doubt whatever of his own powers....

Get your copy of Isle of the Dead
here on Amazon. 

Strata by Terry Pratchett

The Company builds planets. Kin Arad is a high-ranking official of the Company. After 21 decades of living, and with the help of memory surgery, she is at the top of her profession. Discovering two of her employees have placed a fossilised plesiosaur in the wrong stratum, not to mention the fact it is holding a placard that reads "End Nuclear Testing Now", doesn't dismay the woman who built a mountain range in the shape of her initials during her own high-spirited youth. But then came a discovery of something that did intrigue Kin Arad. A flat earth was something new...

Start reading Strata here on Amazon. 

Destiny's Road by Larry Niven

2730 A.D., planet Destiny

Wide and smooth, the Road was seared into planet Destiny’s rocky surface by the fusion drive of the powered landing craft, Cavorite. The Cavorite deserted the original interstellar colonists, stranding them without hope of contacting Earth.

Now, descendants of those pioneers have many questions about the Road, but no settler who has gone down it has ever returned. For Jemmy Bloocher, a young farm boy, the questions burn too hot―and he sets out to uncover the many mysteries of Destiny’s Road.

Grab Destiny's Road here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Have you read any of the books we highlighted today? Any you previously missed that will now make their way into your (e)bookshelf or into your ears? Have a personal favorite from the sub-genre that didn't appear on our list? Give it a shout out in the comments here, 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.