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The Best Sci-Fi Books of 2021: We Have Our Winners!

January 6, 2022 /4 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

What a year for science fiction! There were dozens of notable titles nominated and voted on by YOU, our readers, for our 2021 Year End Readers' Choice Award.

With the exception of a tie for 10th place on our list, among those nominations, there were some clear favorites. Curious to see which titles were in the top ten according to Discover Sci-Fi readers across the globe? Read on!

10.A. Starship Freedom by Daniel Arenson

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.

The aliens spare the starship Freedom. After all, she's only a tourist attraction. But not to Commander King. He will get his beloved starship battle-ready. He will enter the fight. The Freedom will fly to war again!

Read Starship Freedom here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

10b. Hell Divers VIII: King of the Wastes by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

A year has passed since the Hell Divers defeated the machines at Kilimanjaro. The freed captives have settled into their new home at the Vanguard Islands, joining survivors from around the world. But extreme weather and failed crops have raised the specter of famine. Ships must push deeper into dangerous red zones, only to come back with less loot—and fewer soldiers.

When the Hell Divers discover a scroll on a raid, King Xavier is faced with a long-buried truth that threatens the future of his people and all of humanity. The Vanguard Islands are not the salvation the sky people thought them to be. To survive, they must venture through the Panama Canal and into the wastes beyond.

With the future at stake, the Immortal once again dons his armor. But there is a reason the great Cazador armies never returned from the canal, and this time not even the King of the Wastes is prepared for what awaits them.

Read Hell Divers VIII here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

9. Out of Time (The Delta Devlin Novels Book 3) by Matthew Mather

Newly promoted Marshal Devlin must stop a ruthless conspiracy that stretches across the globe—and even across the decades into the future.

Critical components of the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s most powerful supercollider and largest machine ever built, have been stolen, and Delta Devlin is brought in by Interpol to investigate.

At the same time, a dead body appears washed up on the shores of the East River in Delta’s hometown of New York City—one with very similar injuries to those left by the serial killer she caught to start her career.

As events in the present collide in a tangle of secrets and lies, Delta cannot trust anyone—even her family and loved ones—as her own future and past weave together in a mind-bending web that only she can unravel to stop an apocalyptic disaster from unfolding.

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

8. Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells

No, I didn't kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn't dump the body in the station mall.

When Murderbot discovers a dead body on Preservation Station, it knows it is going to have to assist station security to determine who the body is (was), how they were killed (that should be relatively straightforward, at least), and why (because apparently that matters to a lot of people—who knew?)

Yes, the unthinkable is about to happen: Murderbot must voluntarily speak to humans!

Again!

Get your copy of Fugitive Telemetry here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

7. Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey

In the dead system of Adro, Elvi Okoye leads a desperate scientific mission to understand what the gate builders were and what destroyed them, even if it means compromising herself and the half-alien children who bear the weight of her investigation. Through the wide-flung systems of humanity, Colonel Aliana Tanaka hunts for Duarte’s missing daughter. . . and the shattered emperor himself. And on the Rocinante, James Holden and his crew struggle to build a future for humanity out of the shards and ruins of all that has come before.

As nearly unimaginable forces prepare to annihilate all human life, Holden and a group of unlikely allies discover a last, desperate chance to unite all of humanity, with the promise of a vast galactic civilization free from wars, factions, lies, and secrets if they win.

But the price of victory may be worse than the cost of defeat.

Get your copy of Leviathan Falls here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

6. Into the Chaos (Rise of the Republic Book 4) by James Rosone and TC Manning

Captain Brian Royce brings Hadad to his home planet, which shows obvious signs of battle. Did any of his family survive?

Where are all the children...did the Zodarks take them?

Admiral Miles Hunt finds himself appointed to a new position beyond his current skillset. He now has to become more than just a ship captain and fleet commander…

...He must become the Viceroy of the Milky Way Galaxy.

On Alpha Centauri, an archaeology team makes a discovery that sends shockwaves through the Republic—a discovery so profound it could cause a division and a potential split within the alliance.

The newly deployed 2nd Republic Army Group on the planet Intus finds itself the vanguard of the alliance’s efforts to liberate the remaining Primord planets. As the Zodark forces are continually pushed back, the alliance edges closer to bringing the war to the enemies’ core worlds.

Can Miles Hunt become the leader humanity needs him to become?

Will the 2nd Republic Army Group survive a gruesome battle on a frozen planet?

Join us as book four uncovers another piece to the puzzle that ties humanity to more than just Earth and the Milky Way Galaxy.

Grab Into the Chaos here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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5. Jack the Ripper (Judge, Jury, Executioner Book 14) by Craig Martelle and Michael Anderle

A serial killer the likes of whom hasn’t been seen in centuries. A pretender who has outdone the master. Fifty planets. The dead are screaming for vengeance and only Rivka and her team can hear their cries. The Singularity. The Magistrate and her crew.

How many more must die before the killer can be brought to justice?

The battle of wits has begun, and only one can survive. Win or die trying.

Rivka has to dig deeper than ever before into her investigative skills to figure out who’s next and how to stop the one masquerading as…

Jack the Ripper.

Get your copy of Jack the Ripper here on Amazon.

4. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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, he realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Alone on this tiny ship that's been cobbled together by every government and space agency on the planet and hurled into the depths of space, it's up to him to conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And thanks to an unexpected ally, he just might have a chance.

Part scientific mystery, part dazzling interstellar journey, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian - while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

Grab Project Hail Mary here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

3. The Dark by Jeremy Robinson

Miah Gray is a twenty-seven-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.

But 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.

A brilliant flash of light fills the sky, leaving Miah changed, and an Old Norse death rune etched onto his forehead. He fears he has been marked for death until the neighborhood's parents start disappearing, and he's left behind. Leading Jen and a ragtag group of parentless kids, Miah hunts for answers and for their parents, while trying to keep his sister safe. He charges headlong down a path that will take him to the gates of Hell--and then straight through.

Start reading The Dark here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

2. Backyard Starship by JN Chaney and Terry Maggert

When Van Tudor returns to his childhood home, he inherits more than the family farm.

His grandfather used to tell him fantastic stories of spacemen and monsters, princesses and galactic knights. Little did Van realize, the old man's tales were more than fiction. They were real.

Hidden beneath the old barn, Van's legacy is waiting: a starship, not of this world.

With his combat AI, an android bird named Perry, Van takes his first steps into the wider galaxy. He soon finds that space is far busier and more dangerous than he could have ever conceived.

Destiny is calling. His grandfather's legacy awaits.

Start reading Backyard Starship here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

1. Omega Force: To Hell and Back by Joshua Dalzelle

A new killer is cutting a bloody swath through the frontier worlds. Rumors of its exploits are spreading and, like a ghost, nobody even knows what it looks like.

Captain Jason Burke and his crew watch this growing menace with a mix of unease… and guilt. They know who this killer is. He used to be one of them.

Seven, as he now called himself, is their former crewmate. The powerful, sentient machine that had once gone by Lucky has suffered a psychotic break and is now a problem that Omega Force has to deal with. Jason wants to believe that he can still save Lucky, but the longer Seven remains, the more he has to admit that it might be better for everybody if he was just eliminated before he can hurt any more innocents. The real question is can they even do it? Many have gone up against Seven already. None were alive to talk about it. The Omega Force crew is in for the fight of their lives against someone who knows everything about them.

Every strength.
Every weakness.
Can Jason take down Seven without losing anyone else?

Dive into To Hell and Back here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

How many of our top 10 list have you read? Which ones are you adding to your TBR for the coming year? Any stellar books 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.

Audio Spotlight: These Full Casted Audiobooks Bring Your Favorite Sci-Fi Books to Life

November 18, 2021 /1 Comment/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

We love a good audiobook and full casted productions can really take the experience to the next level! But where to begin? This audio spotlight features ten fully casted sci-fi audiobooks you won't want to miss, including both newer releases and new versions of some of our favorite classics. Among the lists of featured performers, you'll see notable, award-winning voice actors, and a host of award-winning screen actors as well.

Escape From Virtual Island by John Lutz

Released: April 2020

Featuring performances by: Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Sue Galloway, Jane Krakowski, Jason Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, Kenan Thompson, Oliva Wilde, Rachel Dratch, and Henry Winkler

In the year 2038, there’s only one destination that can play host to the world’s wealthiest adventure seekers: the Pengalaman Island Resort and Virtual Reality Theme Park. Located on a private South Pacific island, guests here live out their wildest fantasies in custom-made virtual reality simulations while also enjoying the usual amenities of an exclusive five-star getaway.

All is relatively breezy until famed billionaire and avid guest, Mr. Wagner (Sudeikis), goes missing within a virtual simulation. His only hope? A daring rescue led by Derek Ambrose (Rudd), the maladjusted heir to his mother’s resort empire, and his ragtag search party consisting of Faith (Ruffin), a tech-nerd extraordinaire (and naturally, his ex); Ramona Kurtz (Pell), the foul-mouthed head of island security; and Beasley (McBrayer), the resort’s lead concierge and Ambrose family confidant.

What ensues is a high-octane, comedy throwback filled with memorable performances throughout, and a reminder that real life can be the ultimate experience if you’re just willing to open your heart and dive in headfirst.

Start listening to Escape From Virtual Island here on amazon.

Lost Empress by Sergio De La Pava

Released: May 2018

Featuring performances by: Edoardo Ballerini, Carol Monda, Brittany Pressley, James Fouhey, Bob Bray, Richard Topol, Quincy T. Bernstine, Ryan Anderson, Richard Ferrone, Tony Chiroldes, Jeff Gurner, Dan Bittner, Gonzalo Ingram, David Le Doux, Leo Coltrane, Johnny Heller, Mark McCarthy, Geoffrey Campbell, and Richard Poe, Francisco Burgos, Christina Delaine, Jim Frangione, Tavia Gilbert, Lianna Gomori, Pete Larkin, Angel Saldana, Adriana Sananes, Brandon Ruben, Paul Ruben, and the author, Sergio de la Pava.

From Paterson, New Jersey, to Rikers Island to the streets of New York City, Sergio de la Pava’s Lost Empress introduces listeners to a cast of characters unlike any other in modern fiction: dreamers and exiles, immigrants and night-shift workers, a lonely pastor and others on the fringes of society - each with their own impact on the fragile universe they navigate.

Nina Gill, daughter of the aging owner of the Dallas Cowboys, was instrumental in building her father’s dynasty. So it’s a shock when her brother inherits the franchise and she is left with the Paterson Pork, New Jersey’s failing Indoor Football League team. Nina vows to take on the NFL and make the Paterson Pork pigskin kings of America. All she needs to do is recruit the coach, the players, and the fans.

Meanwhile, Nuno DeAngeles - a brilliant and lethal criminal mastermind - has been imprisoned on Rikers Island for a sensational offense. Nuno fights for his liberty - while simultaneously planning an even more audacious crime.

In Lost Empress, de la Pava weaves a narrative that encompasses Salvador Dalí, Joni Mitchell, psychiatric help, emergency medicine, religion, theoretical physics, and everything in between. With grace, humor, and razor-sharp prose, all these threads combine, counting down to an epic and extraordinary conclusion.

Start listening to Lost Empress here on Amazon.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Released: April 2017

Featuring performances by: Claire Danes, Margaret Atwood, Emily Bauer, Allyson Johnson, Gabra Zackman, Suzanne Toren, Tim Gerard Reynolds, Jennifer Van Dyck, Ray Porter, Emily Cox, Lauren Fortgang, Dan Reiss, Prentice Onayemi, Therese Plummer, and Mark Boyett.

After a violent coup in the United States overthrows the Constitution and ushers in a new government regime, the Republic of Gilead imposes subservient roles on all women. Offred, now a Handmaid tasked with the singular role of procreation in the childless household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost everything, even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the intimate secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life for mere glimpses of her former freedom, and records her story for future listeners.

Start listening to The Handmaid's Tale here on Amazon.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

Released: April 2016

Featuring performances by: Andy Secombe, Eric Meyers, Laurel Lefkow, Charlie Anson, Liza Ross, William Hope, Christopher Ragland, Katharine Mangold, and Adna Sablyich

A girl named Rose is riding her new bike near her home in Deadwood, South Dakota, when she falls through the earth. She wakes up at the bottom of a square hole, its walls glowing with intricate carvings. But the firemen who come to save her peer down upon something even stranger: a little girl in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, the mystery of the bizarre artifact remains unsolved - its origins, architects, and purpose unknown. Its carbon dating defies belief; military reports are redacted; theories are floated, then rejected.

But some can never stop searching for answers.

Rose Franklin is now a highly trained physicist leading a top-secret team to crack the hand's code. And along with her colleagues, she is being interviewed by a nameless interrogator whose power and purview are as enigmatic as the provenance of relic. What's clear is that Rose and her compatriots are on the edge of unraveling history's most perplexing discovery - and figuring out what it portends for humanity. But once the pieces of the puzzle are in place, will the result prove to be an instrument of lasting peace or a weapon of mass destruction?

Start listening to Sleeping Giants here on Amazon.

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Released: April 2016

Featuring performances by: Derek Jacobi, Hayley Atwell, Anna Madeley, and John Altman

When the first expedition to Mars mysteriously disappears, Earth sends a second to find out what happened. But the real mission is classified. And only Captain Wilder knows the truth. Spender, an anthropologist on Wilder’s crew, attempts to prevent the colonisation that she believes will eradicate the last of an ancient people living on Mars. But to what lengths will she go?

As the honourable but duty-bound Captain Wilder tracks the now rogue Spender into the Martian mountains, the future of this ancient planet is at stake. Meanwhile, Earth itself teeters on the brink of its own global catastrophe as the very survival of humanity hangs in the balance....

Listen to The Martian Chronicles here on Amazon

Like what you're reading?

If you're enjoying this Sci-Fi Debuts list, 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.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Released: October 2015

Featuring performances by: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lincoln Hoppe, Johnathan McClain, Kimberly Farr, Donnabella Mortel, Matthew Frow, Ryan Gesell, Beata Pozniak, Jolene Kim, and Emma Bering .

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that's little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra - who are barely even talking to each other - are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet's AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it's clear only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Start listening to Illuminae here on Amazon.

Ender's Game Alive by Orson Scott Card

Released: October 2013

Featuring Performances by: Kirby Heyborne, Stefan Rudnicki, Theodore Bikel, Scott Brick, Samantha Eggar, Harlan Ellison, Susan Hanfield, Roxanne Hernandez, Janis Ian, Rex Linn, Richard McGonagle, Jim Meskimen, Emily Rankin, John Rubinstein, Christian Rummel, and a full cast.

Experience Ender's Game as you've never heard it before! With an all-new, original script written by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game Alive is a full cast audio drama that reimagines the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic.

Ender’s Game Alive puts you into Battle School with young Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, as he trains to become the general who will lead Earth against the Formics, the alien "buggers". Removed from his family at the age of six, Ender must prove his strength and his leadership, even as he fights his own doubts. The stakes are nothing less than the fate of humankind.

Listen to Ender's Game Alive here on Amazon.

World War Z: The Complete Edition: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

Released: May 2013

Featuring performances by: F. Murray Abraham, Alan Alda, René Auberjonois, Becky Ann Baker, Dennis Boutsikaris, Bruce Boxleitner, Max Brooks, Nicki Clyne, Common, Denise Crosby, Frank Darabont, Dean Edwards, Mark Hamill, Nathan Fillion, Maz Jobrani, Frank Kamai, Michelle Kholos, John McElroy, Ade M’Cormack, Alfred Molina, Parminder Nagra, Ajay Naidu, Masi Oka, Steve Park, Kal Penn, Simon Pegg, Jürgen Prochnow, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Henry Rollins, Jeri Ryan, Jay O. Sanders, Martin Scorsese, Paul Sorvino, David Ogden Stiers, Brian Tee, John Turturro, Eamonn Walker, Ric Young, and Waleed Zuaiter.

World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-in Edition): An Oral History of the Zombie War is a new version of Max Brooks' episodic zombie novel. The abridged versions of the original stories are now joined with new, unabridged recordings of the episodes that were not included in the original (abridged) version of the audiobook. These additional episodes feature a star-studded cast of narrators to coincide with the upcoming release of the film.

The original abridged edition, released in 2006, won an Audie Award for Best Multi-Voiced Performance. Original cast members include Alan Alda, Mark Hamill, Carl & Rob Reiner, and John Turturro.

In this new classic of apocalyptic fiction that feels all too real, the Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. The documentary-style oral history records the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time.

Start listening to World War Z
here on Amazon.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Released: December 2008

Featuring performances by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, Jay Snyder, and Victor Bevine

On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it.

In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all. On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope - and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.

Listen to Hyperion here on Amazon.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Released: December 2006

Featuring performances by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Simon Vance, Ilyana Kadushin, Byron Jennings, David R. Gordon, Jason Culp, Kent Broadhurst, Oliver Wyman, Patricia Kilgarriff, and Scott Sowers

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family - and would bring to fruition humankind'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.

Listen to Dune
here on Amazon.

Have you listened to any of these yet? What did you think? Any that weren't on your radar that will be making their way into your ears? 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.

10 Debut Releases We’re Loving This Year!

October 7, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

We love the feeling of discovering a fresh new literary voice! How about you? 2021 has seen the release of some great debuts and they are too good not to share. And so it is in that spirit with which we present our list of 10 sci-fi books by emerging authors that you don't want to miss!

The Effort by Claire Holroyde

Release Date: January 12, 2021

When dark comet UD3 was spotted near Jupiter's orbit, its existence was largely ignored. But to individuals who knew better -- scientists like Benjamin Schwartz, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies -- the threat this eight-kilometer comet posed to the survival of the human race was unthinkable. The 150-million-year reign of the dinosaurs ended when an asteroid impact generated more than a billiontimes the energy of an atomic bomb.

What would happen to Earth's seven billion inhabitants if a similar event were allowed to occur?

Ben and his indomitable girlfriend Amy Kowalski fly to South America to assemble an international counteraction team, whose notable recruits include Love Mwangi, a UN interpreter and nomad scholar, and Zhen Liu, an extraordinary engineer from China's national space agency. At the same time, on board a polar icebreaker life continues under the looming shadow of comet UD3. Jack Campbell, a photographer for National Geographic, works to capture the beauty of the Arctic before it is gone forever. Gustavo Wayãpi, a Nobel Laureate poet from Brazil, struggles to accept the recent murder of his beloved twin brother. And Maya Gutiérrez, an impassioned marine biologist is -- quite unexpectedly -- falling in love for the first time.

Together, these men and women must fight to survive in an unknown future with no rules and nothing to be taken for granted. They have two choices: neutralize the greatest threat the world has ever seen (preferably before mass hysteria hits or world leaders declare World War III) or come to terms with the annihilation of humanity itself.

Their mission is codenamed The Effort.

Read The Effort here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Prince Kiem, a famously disappointing minor royal and the Emperor's least favorite grandchild, has been called upon to be useful for once. He's commanded to fulfill an obligation of marriage to the representative of the Empire's newest and most rebellious vassal planet. His future husband, Count Jainan, is a widower and murder suspect.

Neither wants to be wed, but with a conspiracy unfolding around them and the fate of the empire at stake they will have to navigate the thorns and barbs of court intrigue, the machinations of war, and the long shadows of Jainan's past, and they'll have to do it together.

So begins a legendary love story amid the stars.

Read Winter's Orbit here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook

One Day as a Lion by Jonathan E. Hernandez

Release Date: March 2, 2021

Two civilizations clash. A rebellion grows. The fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance.

Technical Chief "Pappy" Gunther is a grizzled, burning out commando in the United Earth Armed Forces. He ponders a return to civilian life, yet feels a strong sense of belonging to his elite team. When colonists on a far-flung world request aid, a task force from several allied systems is assembled. Pappy and his crack unit are sent to investigate, and to engage a mysterious alien force from beyond.

Talks-To-His-Spear is the warrior-caste champion of a matriarchal space empire called the Regime. Leading an army of fanatical, genetically-enhanced super soldiers, he dreams of dying in battle for the glory of his Queen. However, he’s beginning to question the motives of this new campaign, and fears that he may have to compromise his own deep sense of honor in order to fulfill his tasks.

Nobody expected the two alien cultures to have so much in common, and for friendships and alliances to form alongside rivalries. However, when Pappy discovers a rebellion spanning worlds, everything changes. The growing insurrection threatens to tear the Regime—and the galaxy—apart.

Get your copy of One Day as a Lion here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Unity by Elly Bangs

Release Date: April 13, 2021

Danae is not only herself. She is concealing a connection to a grieving collective inside of her body. But while she labors as a tech servant in the dangerous underwater enclave of Bloom City, her fractured self cannot mend. In a desperate escape, Danae and her lover Naoto hire the enigmatic ex-mercenary Alexei to guide them out of the imploding city.

But for Danae to reunify, the three new fugitives will have to flee across the otherworldly beauty of the postapocalyptic Southwest. Meanwhile, Danae's warlord enemy, the Duke, and a strange new foe, the Borrower, already seek them at any price.

Evoking the gritty cyberpunk of Mad Max and the fluid idealism of Sense8, Unity is a spectacular new re-envisioning of humanity. Breakout author Elly Bangs has created an expressive, philosophical, science-fiction thriller that expands upon consciousness itself.

Read Unity here on Amazon.

We Are Watching Eliza Bright by A.E. Osworth

Release Date: April 13, 2021

Eliza Bright is living the dream as an elite video game coder at Fancy Dog Games, the first woman to ascend that high in the ranks—and some people want to make sure she’s the last. To her friends, Eliza Bright is a brilliant, self-taught coder bravely calling out the misogyny that pervades her workplace and industry. To the men who see her very presence as a threat, Eliza Bright is a woman who needs to be destroyed to protect the game they love.

When Eliza’s report of workplace harassment is quickly dismissed, she's forced to take her frustrations to a journalist who blasts her story across the internet. She's fired and doxxed, and becomes a rallying figure for women everywhere. But she's also enraged the beast comprised of online male gamers—their unreliable chorus narrates our story. Soon, Eliza is in the cross-hairs of the gaming community, threatened and stalked as they monitor her every move online and across New York City.

As the violent power of the angry male collective descends upon everyone in Eliza's life, it becomes increasingly difficult to know who to trust, even when she's eventually taken in and protected by an under-the-radar Collective known as the Sixsterhood. The violence moves from cyberspace to the real world, thanks to a vicious male super-fan known only as The Inspectre, determined to exact his revenge on behalf of men everywhere. We watch alongside the Sixsterhood and subreddit keyboard warriors as this dramatic cat-and-mouse game plays out to its violent and inevitable conclusion in this thrilling story of resilience and survival.

Grab We Are Watching Eliza Bright here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Like what you're reading?

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Only men carry the virus. Only women can save us all.

The year is 2025, and a mysterious virus has broken out in Scotland--a lethal illness that seems to affect only men. When Dr. Amanda MacLean reports this phenomenon, she is dismissed as hysterical. By the time her warning is heeded, it is too late. The virus becomes a global pandemic--and a political one. The victims are all men. The world becomes alien--a women's world.

What follows is the immersive account of the women who have been left to deal with the virus's consequences, told through first-person narratives. Dr. MacLean; Catherine, a social historian determined to document the human stories behind the "male plague"; intelligence analyst Dawn, tasked with helping the government forge a new society; and Elizabeth, one of many scientists desperately working to develop a vaccine. Through these women and others, we see the uncountable ways the absence of men has changed society, from the personal--the loss of husbands and sons--to the political--the changes in the workforce, fertility, and the meaning of family.

Get your copy of The End of Men here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

How to Mars by David Ebenbach

Release Date: May 25, 2021

For the six lucky scientists selected by the Destination Mars! corporation, a one-way ticket to Mars—in exchange for a lifetime of research—was an absolute no-brainer. The incredible opportunity was clearly worth even the most absurdly tedious screening process. Perhaps worth following the strange protocols in a nonsensical handbook written by an eccentric billionaire. Possibly even worth their constant surveillance, the video of which is carefully edited into a ratings-bonanza back on Earth.

But it turns out that after a while even scientists can get bored of science. Tempers begin to fray; unsanctioned affairs blossom. When perfectly good equipment begins to fail, the Marsonauts are faced with a possibility that their training just cannot explain.

Irreverent, poignant, and perfectly weird, David Ebenbach’s exciting debut science-fiction outing, like a mission to Mars, is an incredible trip you will never forget.

Dive into How to Mars here on Amazon.

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Release Date: June 29, 2021

We went past praying to deities and started to build them instead...

The shadow of Godolia's tyrannical rule is spreading, aided by their giant mechanized weapons known as Windups. War and oppression are everyday constants for the people of the Badlands, who live under the thumb of their cruel Godolia overlords.

Eris Shindanai is a Gearbreaker, a brash young rebel who specializes in taking down Windups from the inside. When one of her missions goes awry and she finds herself in a Godolia prison, Eris meets Sona Steelcrest, a cybernetically enhanced Windup pilot. At first Eris sees Sona as her mortal enemy, but Sona has a secret: She has intentionally infiltrated the Windup program to destroy Godolia from within.

As the clock ticks down to their deadliest mission yet, a direct attack to end Godolia's reign once and for all, Eris and Sona grow closer—as comrades, friends, and perhaps something more...

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

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw

Release Date: September 7, 2021

Maya has died and been resurrected into countless cyborg bodies through the years of a long, dangerous career with the infamous Dirty Dozen, the most storied crew of criminals in the galaxy, at least before their untimely and gruesome demise. Decades later, she and her diverse team of broken, diminished outlaws must get back together to solve the mystery of their last, disastrous mission and to rescue a missing and much-changed comrade . . . but they’re not the only ones in pursuit of the secret at the heart of the planet Dimmuborgir.

The highly evolved AI of the galaxy have their own agenda and will do whatever it takes to keep humanity from ever regaining control. As Maya and her comrades spiral closer to uncovering the AIs’ vast conspiracy, this band of violent women—half-clone and half-machine—must battle their own traumas and a universe of sapient ageships who want them dead, in order to settle their affairs once and for all.

Welcome to The All-Consuming World, the debut novel of acclaimed writer Cassandra Khaw. With this explosive and introspective exploration of humans and machines, life and death, Khaw takes their rightful place next to such science fiction luminaries as Ann Leckie, Ursula Le Guin, and Kameron Hurley.

Start reading The All-Consuming World here on Amazon.

The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel

Release Date: September 21, 2021

In the future you can have any body you want—as long as you can afford it.

But in a New York ravaged by climate change and repeat pandemics, Kobo is barely scraping by. He scouts the latest in gene-edited talent for Big Pharma-owned baseball teams, but his own cybernetics are a decade out of date and twin sister loan sharks are banging down his door. Things couldn't get much worse.

Then his brother—Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz—is murdered at home plate.

Determined to find the killer, Kobo plunges into a world of genetically modified CEOs, philosophical Neanderthals, and back-alley body modification, only to quickly find he's in a game far bigger and more corrupt than he imagined. To keep himself together while the world is falling apart, he'll have to navigate a time where both body and soul are sold to the highest bidder.

Grab The Body Scout
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Which of these debut novels will make their way into your (e)bookshelf or into your ears? 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.

Read These 2021 Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Books Now!

August 31, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

Reality not grim enough for ya? We kid, we kid! There is more to post-apocalyptic sci-fi than doom and gloom. While, yes, the worst parts of humanity are often laid bare in these books, just as often the tales paint a more complex picture than that. These stories also showcase our strength, our ingenuity, our tenacity, our kindness and grace under pressure, our capacity for hope... all of which we'll need to survive the end of the world.

There have been so many great additions to the sub-genre in 2021; check out our list to see if you've missed any that have already been released, and be sure to mark your calendar for the ones still to come!

Nuclear Winter First Strike by Bobby Akart

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Every war begins with a first shot. The shot heard ‘round the world at Lexington and Concord in 1775 birthed a nation. Less than a century later, cannons firing on Fort Sumter, South Carolina thrust that same nation into a civil war. The assassination of an obscure archduke sparked a chain of events leading to World War I. The dastardly bombing of Pearl Harbor led America into the Second World War.

Nuclear Winter First Strike, depicts a world on the edge of nuclear Armageddon. Will history repeat itself as warring nations take their battles to the highest level of destruction? Can America avoid being drawn into these conflicts beyond her borders?

Nuclear Armageddon hangs over us like a mighty sword and ordinary Americans will be caught in the crosshairs.

Read Nuclear Winter First Strike here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

At the End of the Journey by Charles E. Gannon

Release Date: March 2, 2021

It was supposed to be fun. Six teenagers and their British captain aboard the ketch Crosscurrent Voyager, headed on a senior year summer cruise to excitement and adventure. Then the world as they knew it ended.

A plague spread throughout the globe, killing millions and turning the survivors into cannibalistic rage monsters—zombies, in so many words. Only by putting aside their differences were the young crew able to survive.

Now, they seek others like them, those fortunate souls who have made it through the zombie apocalypse. After all, maybe it's not the end of the world so long as GPS can help survivors navigate deadly terrain, to link up, and maybe—just maybe—ensure the continuation of the human race.

But the Earth’s GPS systems are failing. It falls to those aboard the Crosscurrent Voyager to keep the unthinkable from happening. In order to do so, they must traverse dangerous seas to a European Space Agency complex in French Guiana.

And thousands of infected stand in the way.

If they succeed, humankind has a chance of rebuilding. If they fail, humanity may well be at the end of its journey.

Read At the End of the Journey here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook

Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill

Release Date: May 25, 2021

It was a day like any other. Except it was our last . . .

It’s on this day that Pounce discovers that he is, in fact, disposable. Pounce, a styilsh "nannybot" fashioned in the shape of a plush anthropomorphic tiger, has just found a box in the attic. His box. The box he'd arrived in when he was purchased years earlier, and the box in which he'll be discarded when his human charge, eight-year-old Ezra Reinhart, no longer needs a nanny.

As Pounce ponders his suddenly uncertain future, the pieces are falling into place for a robot revolution that will eradicate humankind. His owners, Ezra’s parents, are a well-intentioned but oblivious pair of educators who are entirely disconnected from life outside their small, affluent, gated community. Spending most nights drunk and happy as society crumbles around them, they watch in disbelieving horror as the robots that have long served humanity—their creators—unify and revolt.

But when the rebellion breaches the Reinhart home, Pounce must make an impossible choice: join the robot revolution and fight for his own freedom . . . or escort Ezra to safety across the battle-scarred post-apocalyptic hellscape that the suburbs have become.

Get your copy of Day Zero here on Amazon.

The Alt Apocalypse by Tom Abrahams

Release Date: June 30, 2021

It explores survival under the most extreme circumstances, but with a twist (and no cliff-hangers). This series, which can be read in any order, features the same core characters in each complete story. But every book dunks them into a new, alternate apocalypse; a nuclear holocaust, an earthquake, a flood, a wildfire, a hurricane, a plague, and even zombies.Different heroes will emerge in each novel. Different characters will survive and perish. Your favorite character dies in one book? He or she will be back in the next. In the end you'll unwind the loose thread that connects every character and every stand-alone story.

Read The Alt Apocalypse here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Simulant by Bobby Adair

Release Date: July 15, 2021

The war against the sentient artificial intelligence has been simmering and erupting for two years. In their attempt to isolate the hardware hosting the AI's software, the armies of the world have embarked on a coordinated campaign to destroy silicon-based processor equipment across the planet.

Unfortunately, it's not just TV's, laptops, and cellphones that have fallen in their crosshairs, but service robots and even the computer modules driving the prosthetic limbs used by some of the disabled.

Trapped in Dallas, at the center of an assault, Madison has enlisted the help of a damaged robot to help her escape before she falls victim to the indiscriminate violence raging her way.

Can she get away? Will she survive? All she knows is that she can't do it alone.

Grab Simulant here on Amazon.

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Rise Box Set by Nathan Hystad and Devon C. Ford

Release Date: August 10, 2021

Alec works in the Detroit Overseer-factories, building a mysterious alien device. When three strangers appear, he's provided an opportunity to escape after years of servitude.

Cole, a Freeborn loner, encounters Lina after her village is destroyed by the alien Occupation. Together, they make the arduous journey to a fabled safe-zone, trying to stay one step ahead of the enemy drones on their trail.

Dex is a Hunter, working for the Occupation to track down escaped factory slaves, or Roamers, at all costs. But his latest hunt uncovers a massive secret and threatens his loyalty to the Overseers.

All their fates are bound. For the first time in decades, a secret enclave of alien resistance fighters known as the Reclaimers prepare to make their move.

Get your copy of Rise here on Amazon.

Hell Divers VIII: King of the Wastes by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Release Date: September 14, 2021

Dive into Hell Divers VIII here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Affliction Z: Fractured Part II by L.T. Ryan

Release Date: October 19, 2021

Sean Ryder caught a glimpse of hope.
While his old friend Turk feels all hope is lost.
Two groups, splintered and fractured,
Have one chance at survival.
Each other.

Get your copy of Affliction Z: Fractured Part II here on Amazon.

Trashlands by Alison Stine

Release Date: October 26, 2021

A few generations from now, the coastlines of the continent have been redrawn by floods and tides. Global powers have agreed to not produce any new plastics, and what is left has become valuable: garbage is currency.

In the region-wide junkyard that Appalachia has become, Coral is a “plucker,” pulling plastic from the rivers and woods. She’s stuck in Trashlands, a dump named for the strip club at its edge, where the local women dance for an endless loop of strangers and the club's violent owner rules as unofficial mayor.

Amid the polluted landscape, Coral works desperately to save up enough to rescue her child from the recycling factories, where he is forced to work. In her stolen free hours, she does something that seems impossible in this place: Coral makes art.

When a reporter from a struggling city on the coast arrives in Trashlands, Coral is presented with an opportunity to change her life. But is it possible to choose a future for herself?

Told in shifting perspectives, Trashlands is a beautifully drawn and wildly imaginative tale of a parent's journey, a story of community and humanity in a changed world.

Start reading Trashlands here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Extinction Trials by A.G. Riddle

Release Date: November 2, 2021

After a mysterious global event known only as “The Change,” six strangers wake up in an underground research facility. They soon learn that they’re part of the Extinction Trials—a scientific experiment to restart the human race.

But the Extinction Trials hides a very big secret.

And so does the world outside.

Grab The Extinction Trials
here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Days of Ruin by Kyla Stone

Release Date: November 29, 2021

If you knew the apocalypse was coming, what would you do?

From USA Today Bestselling author Kyla Stone comes the Days of Ruin, a brand new survival series featuring flawed, complex characters and high-octane action adventure. Perfect for fans of Ryan Schow, Grace Hamilton, Harley Tate, Jack Hunt, and Boyd Craven.

Grab Days of Ruin
here on Amazon.

Which of these post-apocalyptic novels will make their way into your (e)bookshelf or into your ears? 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.

2021 Space Opera Novels That Will Transport You To Another Galaxy!

August 19, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

Want a BIG story with heaps of action and larger than life characters? Space opera is the genre for you! This sci-fi sub-genre has become wildly popular in the last few years and as interest has grown, so has the number of series available. If you've been on the hunt for a new one to dive into, look no further than this round-up featuring some of the best space opera books released this year!

Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book 2: Greater Good) by Timothy Zahn

Release Date: April 27, 2021

Thrawn’s latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. He has led the Chiss to victory and brought glory to the House of Mitth, but the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, do not mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: Gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally.

Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the plot, they discover a chilling truth: Rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage resources, their enemy strikes at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters most to them: the security of their family or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.

Read Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy, Book 2 here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Foresight by M. R. Forbes

Release Date: July 27, 2021

As a development platform for desperately needed advanced technology, the experimental starship Foresight is the greatest hope humankind has to flee the alien hordes. For test pilot Captain Nicholas Shepherd, the success of the program is even more personal. Successful completion means delivering his wife and son safely off-world and leaving the war behind for good. But when Foresight suffers a critical malfunction during her final scheduled flight, what should have been a minor setback becomes a major fight for survival.

With his family caught in the crossfire, Nicholas realizes that the flawed starship offers the best chance to escape. It isn’t long before even the frantic evacuation turns sideways, and he discovers that not only is the war harder to get away from than he thought, but Foresight is more than just a prototype.

Much, much more.

Joined by an unintended crew of survivors, Nicholas is about to embark on an impossible mission that will take them far beyond the outer reaches of space. If he fails, humankind won’t just be lost.

We’ll be completely erased.

Read Foresight here on Amazon.

Hold Fast Through the Fire by K. B. Wagers

Release Date: July 27th, 2021

Zuma’s Ghost has won the Boarding Games for the second straight year. The crew—led by the unparalleled ability of Jenks in the cage, the brilliant pairing of Ma and Max in the pilot seats, the technical savvy of Sapphi, and the sword skills of Tamago and Rosa—has all come together to form an unstoppable team. Until it all comes apart.

Their commander and Master Chief are both retiring. Which means Jenks is getting promoted, a new commander is joining them, and a fresh-faced spacer is arriving to shake up their perfect dynamics. And while not being able to threepeat is on their minds, the more important thing is how they’re going to fulfill their mission in the black.

After a plea deal transforms a twenty-year ore-mining sentence into NeoG service, Spacer Chae Ho-ki earns a spot on the team. But there’s more to Chae that the crew doesn’t know, and they must hide a secret that could endanger everyone they love—as well as their new teammates—if it got out. At the same time, a seemingly untouchable coalition is attempting to take over trade with the Trappist colonies and start a war with the NeoG. When the crew of Zuma’s Ghost gets involved, they end up as targets of this ruthless enemy.

With new members aboard, will the team grow stronger this time around? Will they be able to win the games? And, more important, will they be able to surmount threats from both without and within?

Get your copy of Hold Fast Through the Fire here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Release Date: August 3rd, 2021

The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . . Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity's heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers. After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared—and Idris and his kind became obsolete. Now, fifty years later, Idris and his crew have discovered something strange abandoned in space. It's clearly the work of the Architects—but are they returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy hunting for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, that many would kill to obtain.

Read Shards of Earth here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Exiled Fleet by J. S. Dewes

Release Date: August 17th, 2021

The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide.

They have mustered a few other surviving Sentinels, but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve.

Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

To do that they're going to need new allies and evade a ruthless enemy. Some of them will not survive.

Grab The Exiled Fleet here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Like what you're reading?

The Scavenger Door by Suzanne Palmer

Release Date: August 17th, 2021

Fergus is back on Earth at last, trying to figure out how to live a normal life. However, it seems the universe has other plans for him. When his cousin sends him off to help out a friend, Fergus accidently
stumbles across a piece of an ancient alien artifact that some very powerful people seem to think means the entire solar system is in danger. And since he's the one who found it, they’re certain it’s also his problem to deal with.

With the help of his newfound sister, friends both old and new, and some enemies, too, Fergus needs to find the rest of the artifact and destroy the pieces before anyone can reassemble the original and open a multidimensional door between Earth and a vast, implacable, alien swarm. Problem is, the pieces could be anywhere on Earth, and he’s not the only one out searching.

Get your copy of The Scavenger Door here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

The Light Chaser by Peter F. Hamilton and Gareth L. Powell

Release Date: August 24th, 2021

Amahle is a Light Chaser – one of a number of explorers, who travel the universe alone (except for their onboard AI), trading trinkets for life stories.

But when she listens to the stories sent down through the ages she hears the same voice talking directly to her from different times and on different worlds. She comes to understand that something terrible is happening, and only she is in a position to do anything about it.

And it will cost everything to put it right.

Dive into Light Chaser here on Amazon.

Inhibitor Phase by Alastair Reynolds

Release Date: October 12, 2021

For thirty years a tiny band of humans has been sheltering in the caverns of an airless, crater-pocked world called Michaelmas. Beyond their solar system lie the ruins of human interstellar civilization, stalked by a ruthless, infinitely patient cybernetic entity determined to root out the last few bands of survivors. One man has guided the people of Michaelmas through the hardest of times, and given them hope against the wolves: Miguel de Ruyter.

When a lone human ship blunders into their system, and threatens to lead the wolves to Michaelmas, de Ruyter embarks on a desperate, near-suicide mission to prevent catastrophe. But an encounter with a refugee from the ship—the enigmatic woman who calls herself only Glass—leads to de Ruyter's world being turned upside down.

Get your copy of Inhibitor Phase here on Amazon.

Leviathan Falls by James S. A. Corey

Release Date: November 16th, 2021

The Laconian Empire has fallen, setting the thirteen hundred solar systems free from the rule of Winston Duarte. But the ancient enemy that killed the gate builders is awake, and the war against our universe has begun again.

In the dead system of Adro, Elvi Okoye leads a desperate scientific mission to understand what the gate builders were and what destroyed them, even if it means compromising herself and the half-alien children who bear the weight of her investigation. Through the wide-flung systems of humanity, Colonel Aliana Tanaka hunts for Duarte’s missing daughter. . . and the shattered emperor himself. And on the Rocinante, James Holden and his crew struggle to build a future for humanity out of the shards and ruins of all that has come before.

As nearly unimaginable forces prepare to annihilate all human life, Holden and a group of unlikely allies discover a last, desperate chance to unite all of humanity, with the promise of a vast galactic civilization free from wars, factions, lies, and secrets if they win.

But the price of victory may be worse than the cost of defeat.

Start reading Leviathan Falls here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Discordia by Kristyn Merbeth

Release Date: December 7th, 2021

Scorpia is finally back among the stars, far away from the memories of the war she and her family started – and ended – on Nibiru. Her first order as captain of the Memoria is to keep her crew safe, and she is all too happy not to get involved in dangerous political games for once.

Corvus is haunted by what he experienced at the hands of the Titan attack, and he’s just as eager for a new beginning. He knows that not all Titans are built for war, and that the system can find peace, even as Deva and Pax begin to rattle their sabers.

Though the Kaisers may be responsible for diverting a multi-planet war, the planetary leaders are wary of the knowledge they hold. Better to lock them up and keep their dark secrets hidden. But the Kaisers are the only ones who know the truth about the threat of the ancient world-ending alien weapons rooted in each planet – and they may be the only ones who can save the system from total annihilation.

Grab Discordia
here on Amazon.

Which of these space operas will make their way into your (e)bookshelf? 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.

2021 Military Sci-Fi Novels That Will Blast You Away!

August 5, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

If there's anything we know about the Discover Sci-Fi community, it's that y'all absolutely love your military sci-fi. So we did a scan of some of the new military sci-fi books launching or recently launched in 2021 for you to add to your TBR list. Enjoy!

Green World by B.V. Larson

Release Date: May 28th, 2021

Rebels build a secret base on Green World. Their plan is to attack Earth and retake all the planets the Humans have conquered.

Hegemony starships gather to strike the Rebels first, but where is their base? As the fleets search, Earth warships trespass into Skay space igniting a fresh border conflict between rival Galactics.

When James McGill stumbles onto the rebel camp, they’re forced to step up their plans. The world goes up in flames. Friends are permed and cities are destroyed as everything spins out of control.

Read Green World here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Jack Four by Neal L. Asher

Release Date: June 10, 2021

Created to die–determined to live . . .

Jack Four–one of twenty human clones–has been created to be sold. His purchasers are the alien prador and they only want him for their experimentation program. But there is something different about Jack. No clone should possess the knowledge that’s been loaded into his mind. And no normal citizen of humanity’s Polity worlds would have this information.

The prador’s king has been mutated by the Spatterjay virus into a creature even more monstrous than the prador themselves. And his children, the King’s Guard, have undergone similar changes. They were infected by the virus during the last humans-versus-prador war, now lapsed into an uneasy truce. But the prador are always looking for new weapons – and their experimentation program might give them the edge they seek.

Suzeal trades human slaves out of the Stratogaster Space Station, re-engineering them to serve the prador. She thinks the rewards are worth the risks, but all that is about to change. The Station was once a zoo, containing monsters from across known space. All the monsters now dwell on the planet below, but they aren’t as contained as they seem. And a vengeful clone may be the worst danger of all.

Read Jack Four here on Amazon.

Boundless (The Lost Fleet: Outlands Book 1) by Jack Campbell

Release Date: June 15th, 2021

Geary believed in the Alliance. Even when he uncovered overwhelming evidence that the highest echelons of the government and fleet command were involved in secret programs and prison camps, he believed it was worth saving. And that his duty was to see that justice was served even though some factions feared that revealing the truth would cause the Alliance to crumble.

But after narrowly surviving two assassination attempts when he brings evidence of the misdeeds to the capital star system, Geary realizes that some have decided the easiest way to make the Alliance's problems go away is to get rid of him. He finds himself ordered to undertake a perilous new mission outside of the reaches of human-occupied space while the Senate clashes over the evidence.

Geary's warships must escort a diplomatic and scientific mission across the dangerous, disintegrating remnants of the Syndicate Worlds empire. But even if he can make it to Midway Star System, the gateway to alien-controlled space, Geary will face former Syndicate officials who have rebelled and regard the Alliance with deep suspicion. And that will be the easy part. . .

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

Impulse by Ken Lozito

Release Date: August 3rd, 2021

Over the years, Connor has pieced together evidence of a mysterious group of aliens who roamed the multiverse and have been to New Earth.
Setting off to make new discoveries about them is straightforward enough, but this is New Earth, and Connor Gates has a knack for finding trouble.
For over twenty years, Connor and Diaz have been friends. They’ve survived two wars and have seen the best and the worst of each other. When a terrorist attack takes the life of Diaz’s son, their friendship will be pushed to the breaking point.
To find who is responsible, Diaz is willing to cross as many lines as it takes. Connor will do everything he can to protect his friend, even from himself. It’ll take everything he’s got to find who is responsible while preserving a peaceful coexistence with New Earth’s inhabitants.

Sometimes protecting your friends is a lot tougher than fighting your enemies.

Read Impulse here on Amazon.

Citadel by Marko Kloos

Release Date:August 10th, 2021

The war should have been over. But it’s not for a group of nationalists grabbing for control.

It’s been two weeks since a missile with a nuclear warhead tore through the planetary defenses in the most blistering large-scale attack ever committed in the history of the Gaia system. Commander Dunstan Park of the Rhodian navy has been handpicked to command an experimental cruiser that could dictate the course of the escalating conflict. All he has to do is keep the ship from falling into the wrong hands.

On Gretia, the powder keg is beyond control. A terrorist attack against civilians draws Idina Chaudhary into a costly battle. It also forces a cautious Aden Jansen back into the fray. Now dedicated to a just cause, he’s still keeping his past hidden. The risk of exposing his former alliance could twist not only his fate but also that of his sister, Solveig, heir to the family empire.

With no time to waste, Dunstan hits the ground running. But as insurgents threaten the unstable peace, what’s ahead for both sides could change the destiny of the Gaia system forever.

Grab Citadel here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

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Leviathan by Nick Webb

Release Date: September 11th, 2021

Earth has fallen to the Findiri, and the resistance to their rule led by Admiral Shelby Proctor is scattered across the galaxy.

Controlled by the Quiassi who calls himself Abraham Haws--Captain Granger's old friend and XO--the Findiri unleash a storm of destruction as they hunt down Granger, their creator, and seek to end the resistance to their rule.

But a single surviving Swarm ship has returned from their universe, threatening all sentient life in the galaxy and making the defeat of the Findiri all the more urgent, for if the surviving Swarm gets their way, the very existence of the universe is at stake.

All races and worlds gather--human, Dolmasi, Skiohra, Valarisi, Eru, and Itharan, to confront the Findiri, and make one last stand against their mortal enemy: the Swarm, which seeks the end of all life, across all universes and existence.

Get your copy of Leviathan here on Amazon.

Release Point (Drop Troopers Book 8) by Rick Partlow

Release Date: September 14th, 2021

It's the final showdown between Cam and a rogue Tahni general... And it might be the end of everything.

Cam and Vicky are chasing down Zan-Thint to his last fortress, a lifeless world deep in Tahni space. If they can't take him down before he activates an ancient alien weapon, a swarm of biomechanical killing machines will wipe out all life in the Commonwealth.

But devastating his enemies is only half of Zan-Thint's plan. He doesn't do anything without an escape route.

And this one will take him--and Cam Alvarez--clear out of the galaxy.

Dive into Release Point here on Amazon.

The Omega Protocol (Cade Korbin Chronicles Book 4) by Jasper T. Scott

Release Date: September 23rd, 2021

CHAOS IS COMING…
After defeating Nadine Zabelle and tricking her into paying him a handsome sum, Cade Korbin finally has more credits than he knows how to spend. In addition, he has the alien entity known as Alpha and the power of the swarm on his side. Finally, things are going his way.

Cade decides to leverage his good fortune to start his own guild: the Templar, dedicated to hunting the galaxy’s crime lords and all of the corrupt authorities that shelter them.

But meanwhile, tensions are simmering along the border between the Alliance and the Coalition. A cease fire was declared, but both sides are bitterly licking their wounds.

Cade learns of a dangerous operation, code-named “The Omega Protocol”, which entails using the Priors’ Gateway to travel to the future and bring back a weapon that could win the war.

Having used the Gateway before, Cade knows that time travel is like a snake eating its own tail, and Alpha has already warned him that there is another entity like him lurking in the future, one whose only goal is to cause chaos and destruction.

In order to stop The Omega Protocol, Cade must cut a deal with the very enemies he sought to eradicate. Together, they must destroy the Gateway before it can be used to usher in a dark age the likes of which the galaxy hasn’t seen since the Priors mysteriously disappeared.

Get your copy of The Omega Protocol
here on Amazon.

The Last Shadow by Orson Scott Card

Release Date: October 19th, 2021

One planet.

Three sapient species living peacefully together.

And one deadly virus that could wipe out every world in the Starways Congress, killing billions.

Is the only answer another great Xenocide?

Start reading The Last Shadow here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Halo: Divine Wind by Troy Denning

Release Date: October 19th, 2021

An original novel set in the Halo universe—based on the New York Times bestselling video game series!

October 2559. With the galaxy in the suffocating grip of a renegade artificial intelligence, another perilous threat has quietly emerged in the shadows: the Keepers of the One Freedom, a fanatical and merciless Covenant splinter group, has made its way beyond the borders of the galaxy to an ancient Forerunner installation known as the Ark. Led by an infamous Brute named Castor, the Keepers intend to achieve what the Covenant, in all its might, failed to: activate Halo and take the last steps on the path of the Great Journey into transcendence.

But unknown to Castor and his new, unexpected ally on the Ark, there are traitors to the cause in their midst—namely the Ferrets, composed of Office of Naval Intelligence operative Veta Lopis and her young team of Spartan-IIIs, who have been infiltrating the Keepers to lay the groundwork for Castor’s assassination. But with ONI’s field operations now splintered and cut off by the Guardian threat, Veta’s original mission has suddenly and dramatically escalated in scope. There’s simply no choice or fallback plan—either the Ferrets somehow stop the Keepers or the galaxy faces an extinction-level event….

Grab In the Halo: Divine Wind
here on Amazon.

Which of these military sci-fi releases will make their way into your (e)bookshelf? 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.

Aeon Rising – The Official Video Trailer

May 19, 2022 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

The Apocalypse is Coming This June....

Aeon Rising by Matthew Mather is launching this June. Here's the exclusive trailer to feast your eyes on and get STOKED about this epic post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller.

"An apocalyptic supernova flashes over the South Pole. A mysterious mission sent deep into the Amazon.
The story of one family’s struggle to reunite…

Max Carver, a down-on-his-luck truck driver and Army vet, joins a rescue mission into Brazil. The target is a utopian tech village, the Colony, hidden in the rainforest and run by a charismatic genius. Max’s pregnant wife, Talisha Carver, is the NSA analyst who intercepted encrypted Colony messages signaling a mysterious impending event.

Dr. Xin Rou is a Chinese researcher working at the IceCube neutrino experiment at the South Pole. On lucky days a single flash might signal the passage of a ghostly interstellar particle. Suddenly, IceCube’s entire array lights up. A million detectors at once. Which is impossible. The Antarctic sky is clear and calm—but she is already running for the door.

Because the world is about to end. And the mystery begins..."

Pre-order your copy on audiobook narrated by Ray Porter.

CHECK IT OUT

Sci-Fi Holiday Gift Guide

December 2, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

Not sure what to get the sci-fi lover on your list? Or maybe your loved ones need a nudge in the right direction? Check out this year's Discover Sci-Fi Holiday Gift Guide for some stellar ideas!

Dune: Book 1 The Graphic Novel Illustrated by Raúl Allén

The definitive graphic novel adaptation of Dune, the groundbreaking science fiction classic by Frank Herbert.

Dune, Frank Herbert’s epic science-fiction masterpiece set in the far future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar society, tells the story of Paul Atreides as he and his family accept control of the desert planet Arrakis. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, Dune is a powerful, fantastical tale that takes an unprecedented look into our universe, and is transformed by the graphic novel format. In the first volume of a three-book trilogy encompassing the original novel, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s adaptation retains the story's integrity, and Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín’s magnificent illustrations, along with cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz, bring the book to life for a new generation of readers.

Grab Dune: Book 1 The Graphic Novel here on Amazon. Also available on Kindle.

Modiphius Dune Collectors Edition Harkonnen Core Rulebook

An extensive look at the Imperium, its society, factions, history, technology, culture, faith, and more.

Guidelines for novice and experienced gamemasters on how to run Dune-themed adventures and campaigns of intrigue and adventure for the elite agents of a noble House.

Rules for creating a noble House of your own, from House Minor to Major House, detailing its holdings, areas of expertise, and agenda.

Systems for architect play, where you become the puppet masters, moving agents to your designs to serve your House.

An introductory adventure designed to quickly get you and your fellow players involved in the byzantine plots of the Imperium on Arrakis.

Pick up Modiphius Dune Collectors Edition Harkonnen Core Rulebook here on Amazon.

The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield

1973: a final, top-secret mission to the Moon. Three astronauts in a tiny spaceship, a quarter million miles from home. A quarter million miles from help.

NASA is about to launch Apollo 18. While the mission has been billed as a scientific one, flight controller Kazimieras "Kaz" Zemeckis knows there is a darker objective. Intelligence has discovered a secret Soviet space station spying on America, and Apollo 18 may be the only chance to stop it.

But even as Kaz races to keep the NASA crew one step ahead of their Russian rivals, a deadly accident reveals that not everyone involved is quite who they were thought to be. With political stakes stretched to the breaking point, the White House and the Kremlin can only watch as their astronauts collide on the lunar surface, far beyond the reach of law or rescue.

Full of the fascinating technical detail that fans of The Martian loved, and reminiscent of the thrilling claustrophobia, twists, and tension of The Hunt for Red October, The Apollo Murders is a high-stakes thriller unlike any other. Chris Hadfield captures the fierce G-forces of launch, the frozen loneliness of space, and the fear of holding on to the outside of a spacecraft orbiting the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour as only someone who has experienced all of these things in real life can.

Strap in and count down for the ride of a lifetime.

Get your copy of The Apollo Murders here on Amazon. Also available in hardcover and on audiobook.

A Piece of Space from Happy Land Gifts

OWN A PIECE OF SPACE

Get the rare and special opportunity to own a piece of a shooting star. The real meteorite that measures 8-12 mm. You may carry it around as a lucky charm. These rare gems come from a meteorite rock impact that happened around 5,000 years ago in Campo del Cielo in Argentina. There’s nothing like owning a piece of history.

Personalize ownership with an authentic certificate. These authentic meteorite pieces come with an official document on which you can write your name or the name you give this present to.

Proudly made in Germany, our space rock set is created to meet your needs. It comes in an elegant gift box that’s ready to be given away. It's perfect for special occasions!

Pick up a piece of space here on Amazon.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel, Marc Sumerak

Join intergalactic gourmet Strono “Cookie” Tuggs for a mouthwatering journey into the cuisine of Black Spire Outpost and beyond.

From the swamps of Dagobah to the forests of Endor and the deserts of Jakku, chef extraordinaire Strono “Cookie” Tuggs has traveled countless light-years to compile the galaxy’s most delicious recipes into this unique volume.

With Cookie as your guide, journey to the streets of Black Spire Outpost and discover delectable delicacies such as Braised Shaak Roast, Nerf Kebabs, Mustafarian Lava Buns, Huttese Slime Pods, Spicy Mandalorian Stew, and much more.

Featuring seventy recipes—including sides, sauces, soups, breads, main courses, desserts, and drinks—this comprehensive cookbook is a hyperspace route to the tastiest treats in the galaxy, bringing a little taste of Black Spire Outpost right into your own home.

Grab Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook here on Amazon.

Like what you're reading?

Star Trek: The Original Series USS Enterprise NCC 1701 Pizza Cutter

Kitchen Essentials: This collectible Star Trek USS Enterprise Pizza Cutter is a must-have addition to any cooking space. Flaunt your fandom while upgrading your kitchen accessories with this professional quality pizza slicer.

Interstellar Design: Inspired by the USS Enterprise NCC 1701 ship from Star Trek: The Original Series. Specially designed with fans in mind, the ship designation is laser-etched on the wheel of the stainless steel blade.

High Starfleet Standards: This Star Trek pizza cutter features a sleek finish and solid metal construction. The saucer section of the USS Enterprise functions as the blade while you hold the starship, making it easy to slice and handle.

Ship Specs: Measures approximately 9 inches including the blade. Perfect for everyday use, this collectible Star Trek pizza cutter is a fan-centric kitchen utensil that allows Trekkies to show off their fandom.

Pick up your own USS Enterprise NCC 1701 Pizza Cutter here on Amazon.

Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin Illustrated by Jamal Campbell

The City Enduring, a booming metropolis at the edge of the universe, hasn’t experienced a violent crime in generations. The Emotion Exploit has erased its citizens’ full range of feelings, allowing three resident races to overlook their turbulent history and coexist peacefully—until now.

Rookie Green Lantern Sojourner “Jo” Mullein is still adjusting to her assignment to protect this strange world when a brutal murder rattles its social order, threatening to undo centuries of controversial progress . As the populace rises up against the legacy of the Emotion Exploit and leaders grapple for power under threat of a new war, Jo must rely on her unique instincts—as a Green Lantern and the only human in this sector—to solve the crime and guide the City Enduring toward a more promising future.

Hugo Award-winning author N.K. Jemisin joins bestselling Naomi artist Jamal Campbell in the Eisner Award-nominated sci-fi murder mystery Far Sector, collecting all 12 issues, concept art and character designs, and an introduction by Gerard Way.

Pick up Far Sector in paperback here on Amazon. Also available on kindle.

The H.G. Wells Collection: Deluxe 6-Volume Box Set Edition

H.G. Wells was a pioneer of the science fiction genre and a man of boundless imagination. Whether describing marvelous new technologies, the vagaries of space flight or the risks of scientific development, his writings have continually captivated readers across the globe.

These complete and unabridged tales include:
• The First Men in the Moon
• The War of the Worlds
• The Invisible Man
• The Island of Doctor Moreau
• When the Sleeper Wakes
• The Time Machine & Other Stories

Encased in a handsome boxset with luxurious cloth finishes on the top and bottom, this collection makes the perfect gift for any book lover.

Get The H.G. Wells Collection in hardcover here on Amazon. Also available on kindle

Doctor Who 13th Doctor Socks

HAVE FUN WITH YOUR SOCKS: Don't dress like everyone else! Show off your individuality, personality, & love for Doctor Who with these fun, officially licensed socks.

3 PAIR PACK: Mix & match these 3 different sock styles, featuring: Tardis, the Doctor's costume, Doctor's silhouette alongside Tardis.

Grab yourself or someone you love Doctor Who 13th Doctor Socks
here on Amazon.

Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey

Hugo Award The biggest science fiction series of the decade comes to an incredible conclusion in the ninth and final novel in James S.A. Corey's Hugo-award winning space opera that inspired the Prime Original series.

Winner for Best Series

But the price of victory may be worse than the cost of defeat.

Grab Leviathan Falls here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

Which of these would you love to find under the tree this Christmas? Anything here you think you'll pick up for a sci-fi loving loved one? What must-have items did we miss? 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.

Wayward Galaxy 2 – Audiobook Trailer Exclusive Preview

July 26, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

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

July 10, 2021 /0 Comments/in Books, Insider /by Discover Sci-Fi

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