Indie Spotlight is my effort to help Indie authors with the daunting task of promoting their books. You can help too by sharing this post far and wide. Below is a book description, author bio, and book links for The Human Countermove by Logan Sidwell. I will post the book review in November. The Human Countermove is a science fiction novel about a world where AI has taken over. That used to be a farfetched idea, but now it seems plausible.
In a nation ruled by AI Minds, productivity is everything—even play.
Once a legend in the world of strategy games, Zouk Solinsen is now just another burnout in a society obsessed with efficiency. But when the Minds announce a high-stakes tournament—with a seat on the ruling council as the prize—Zouk is drawn back into the fray, determined to reshape the future.
With help from the enigmatic Torrez Institute, Zouk racks up early victories against the Minds. But when Maya Torrez reveals the cost of her support—a violent coup against the Minds—he rejects it and strikes out alone.
Now, with no allies, dwindling resources, and a nation on the brink, Zouk faces the biggest game of his life—and a final, impossible choice: reform the system from within, or burn it all down.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Logan Sidwell is a science fiction and fantasy author based in Utah. He got his start simulating makeshift Star Trek missions and voicing quirky aliens over the mic—a passion that evolved into building immersive educational simulations. With a background in computer science and a lifelong love of storytelling, he writes speculative fiction that explores the boundaries of technology and human ingenuity.
BOOK LINK
*Click on the cover below to view this book on Amazon
** Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read The Human Countermove for free.
BEFORE YOU GO
If you decide to read this book, make sure and leave a review. It helps authors so much. And thank you for also sharing this post with your social media followers.
Indie Spotlight is my effort to help Indie authors with their most daunting task–marketing. If I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do it. You can help as well by sharing this post with all your social media followers. Together, we can help Indie books succeed.
Below is a book description, author bio, and buy link for Imperiled by the late Alexander Hans Schmitt. There is also a guest post by his mother, Vonnie Schmitt, about her journey to publish his book after his death. I am currently reading Imperiled and will provide a review later.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
When the unthinkable happens, what would you do to save yourself? In debut novelist Alexander Hans Schmitt’s epic space opera, readers embark on a gripping journey with its heroine, Junior Commander Anaiya Sonra.
In the far future, an unexpected betrayal throws Commander Sonra’s life into chaos and ends her career as the emergency coordinator of a habitat-based space patrol force. Falsely accused of smuggling, Anaiya faces certain conviction, and a soul-destroying future, unless she takes immediate action. She commandeers a starship, battles her way to the nearest rift transit fold zone, and sets out on a perilous quest for the truth.
As Anaiya’s voyage progresses, she melds a dependable and resourceful crew from an unlikely bunch of castaways. Together they investigate the source of Anaiya’s undoing: the unprovoked attack and destruction of an ancient freight hauler, and they uncover the mystery of the cargo that the hauler carried on that final voyage. But as Anaiya and her team delve deeper, they discover that answers come with a devastating cost, and none of them realize the reach of the situation in which they have become enmeshed.
Packed with action, Imperiled is a must-read for fans of space opera adventure science fiction seeking an unforgettable tale of resilience and discovery.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexander Hans Schmitt was born in Houston, Texas in 1981. His father was a computer programmer, and his mother was a homemaker. Alex loved books; he loved time spent with his mother and father as they read to him. During his kindergarten year his mother read all seven of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia to him. But Alex struggled in school. After being tested by an educational psychologist, he was found to have a high IQ. The disparity between his IQ and his negligible progress in learning to read led the school to conclude that he had a learning disability. Alex was placed in a self-contained classroom with a small group of learning-disabled children. More one-on-one time with the teacher and/or her aide was promised. But after two years, Alex still could not read. It was then that his mother took matters into her own hands. Using a phonics-based approach, she taught him to read during the summer before third grade. By the end of the third grade, he read and enjoyed adult novels.. In fourth grade, he was placed in his school’s gifted program.
Alex suffered a seizure just as his fifth-grade year began. It occurred while he was sitting at his desk in school. After years of being thought retarded by his classmates and some teachers in the school, he had finally overcome the stigma of the learning-disabled label. Now he bore the stigma of epilepsy. Hard-won friendships evaporated. It was too much. His parents considered options other than public school. They decided to homeschool Alex and became welcome fixtures in the Washington Metro area home schooling community. Alex had a fresh start.
When Alex was fourteen, he expressed an interest in learning the piano. Lessons were arranged and, after a few years, he was able to play a wide variety of advanced pieces by Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Mozart, and Grieg.
In 2001, Alex enrolled in Northern Virginia Community College and in 2003 he transferred to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2007. He was awarded the prize for Outstanding Graduate in Philosophy that year among other academic honors.Alex was then accepted at Pace Law School. He earned a law degree with an emphasis in environmental law in 2010.
Time passed, and Alex decided that he was more suited to the life of a writer than that of an environmental lawyer. He studied books on the craft of writing and worked on the first draft of Imperiled. Chapter by chapter, the book took form. He shared his work with his mother. She edited his chapters, focusing on demonstrating how he could make his writing more concise. Slowly he became a better writer. Through eight years and four drafts, Alex worked steadily on Imperiled.
Alex took antiseizure medication from the time of his first seizure throughout his teenage years and had no more seizures until the spring of 2020, when he had a seizure at home. He was prescribed an antiseizure drug, but even with medication, he continued to suffer four or more seizures each year. He became depressed. His writing stalled, but rereading his favorite books remained a comfort. The last books he read were J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series. In June 2023, Alex died suddenly following a seizure. He was 42 years old.
THOUGHTS FROM ALEX’S MOM, VONNIE SCHMITT
Alex’s sudden death following a seizure was a great shock, and I was sunk in grief for the following year. Beginning about a year after Alex died, I began to work on Imperiled. I had been Alex’s beta reader, and he and I had great fun talking about his writing. He had so many great ideas about other books that he planned to write. And, during the eight years he worked on Imperiled, he also worked on a fantasy novel. He planned for Imperiled to be the first of a series of five science fiction novels, and he had included chapters in Imperiled that introduced characters that would play a big part in the story in the subsequent books. The first thing I did was to edit out those chapters. Then I edited the entire book, mainly making the writing more concise.
My daughter is a professional proofreader and she proofed Imperiled. My husband, Tony, meticulously went over the book and made further edits. Then my daughter proofed the final version. I felt that we were ready to self-publish, and I was fortunate to find Booklocker—a publishing company that provides services to those who want to self-publish. My husband and I struggled with learning about doing things online, but we managed in the end (with a great deal of help and patience from the folks at Booklocker).
All of us are so happy that Alex’s book was published as a paperback on his birthday! We are all very proud of Alex and the world that he created. I also set up a website that includes world-building material. It is alexhansschmitt.com.
PURCHASE LINK
*Click on the cover below for a link to Amazon. The book is also on Kindle Unlimited, so subscribers can read it for free.
BEFORE YOU GO
If you read the book, be sure to leave a review on Amazon. The review does not have to be long, or a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will help it succeed. As mentioned above, please share this post with others who might enjoy the book.
Award winning author Michael Gorton masterfully describes advanced scientific concepts intertwined in a deeply human narrative. The story follows Paula, a molecular biologist on the cusp of receiving a Nobel Prize, whose life is abruptly cut short by a tragic accident. Her close friend, Alex, has been developing groundbreaking technology capable of tunneling through spacetime. Driven by grief and determination, Alex embarks on a daring journey using this technology, leading then to a planet in Cassiopeia where they confront unforeseen challenges and emotions. Gorton’s narrative seamlessly blends elements of adventure, romance, and science fiction, inviting readers to explore profound questions about time, loss, and the lengths one might go to alter destiny. “Tachyon Tunnel” is a thought-provoking tale that challenges our understanding of reality and the human spirit.
TACHYON TUNNEL 2: THE DAKLIN EMPIRE
What if Time travel were possible, and Science Fiction is real? Time travel where humans have changed something has implications on the laws of physics. The ripple effect from inertia always catches up. Alex and the Tranquility team are aware of this when they discover the Daklin Empire that has ruled the Galaxy with an iron fist for over 50 million years without suffering a single defeat. As the Daklin take notice of Earth, the team must navigate the challenges of time’s inertia and the unintended consequences of altering history.
Tachyon Tunnel 2 explores how time travel might actually work within the laws of physics, and the implications of changing events in the past. The book combines science, adventure, romance, and the complexities of human decision-making in high-stakes situations. Part two of bestselling author Michael Gorton’s award-winning Tachyon Tunnel series will keep readers on the edge of their seats and is sure to become one of the best science fiction works of the year!
BOOK REVIEWS
Tachyon Tunnel 1
Alex is a genius who has invented a way to tunnel through time and space, with the help of a ship and his trusty AI, Emily. But when he learns his best friend Paula has died, he drops everything and uses this technology to rescue her. What happens next will strand them on another world and affect many people and civilizations.
This is a clever and science-forward novel with a genius method of time travel—tunneling through time. The author does a good job explaining the physics of it. In addition to the method, every author should also set rules of time travel that must be followed. In this book, the rules seem to be whatever science allows. However, there are actions that create paradoxes or have deadly consequences, so it could be that certain rules will be assigned as the series unfolds in order to avoid those situations.
There are also circumstances involving the use of DNA technology that are questionable and a bit unbelievable. Another situation occurred that I completely disagreed with, but it involves sacrificing individual rights for the possible safety of a civilization. These are the kind of choices one ends up making when manipulating time and changing events on entire worlds. The main characters, Alex and Paula, are easy to connect with, but the AI, Emily, steals the show. There is a twist at the end that I absolutely loved. I enjoyed this novel and was sometimes reminded of one of the masters of science fiction, Robert Heinlein. I look forward to Book 2.
Although I received a print copy from the author, I also downloaded the ebook on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
TACHYON TUNNEL 2: THE DAKLIN EMPIRE
There is a fresh start in this second book of the series, and it goes in a new direction. New characters are introduced, as well as a new enemy, the Daklin, who will wipe out any civilization that opposes their total domination. But they haven’t found Earth yet. The race to stop the Daklin from finding Earth has Alex seeking out a reclusive group who may be able to help them.
In the first book, the rules of time travel were not necessarily made clear. I would say new rules have been introduced by the author in this book, as previous mistakes are discussed and not repeated. The new characters are strong and compelling, and the evil Daklin Empire lurks as a frightening spectre to avoid. The science of time travel provided is intriguing, and the author manages to make technical discussions entertaining. The book takes a dip into the paranormal as well as science fiction, but I hope it stays science-forward as the series progresses. There is some “telling” instead of “showing” early in this book, but I found it worked and helped the reader adjust to the new direction this series is heading.
The relationship between Alex and Paula is the deepest and most meaningful in the series, and I would like to see the series delve deeper into some of the other relationships as well.
The attempts to evade and stop the Daklin kept me glued to the story, and the addition of an evil empire adds new layers to the novel. Overall, Tachyon Tunnel 2 comes in strong. Having learned lessons from the events of the past, it charges forward in a new and interesting way.
Although I received a print copy from the author, I also purchased the ebook on Amazon. It is only 99 cents at present! See link below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(Excerpts from his website) Michael Gorton grew up as the “poor kid next door.” Because of great influence from his parents and four siblings, Michael reached for the stars. With virtually no money in his pocket, he went off to college and earned degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law—all while working full-time.
He is now best known as being a serial entrepreneur, but that title does not do him justice. With degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law, there is no limit to his curiosity. After working ten years as an engineer in corporate America, he founded 15 different companies, including Internet Global, Palo Duro Records, and Teladoc, now one of the world’s largest telemedicine companies. His forward-facing vision and expertise led him to being one of the pioneers of telemedicine and digital health, which is becoming a half-TRILLION-dollar industry. In 2022 he joined with Jay Sanders, “The Father of Telemedicine,” to write Digital Medical Home which details the harrowing tales of the history of telemedicine, something we all now take for granted. He is now working with several companies and medical doctors to develop pathways for integration of AI into medicine, with a goal of lowering costs of care and increasing access, all resulting in longer healthier lives.
An accomplished author, Michael has dabbled in both fiction and nonfiction, recently writing Tachyon Tunnel, a science fiction book series, and Calamistunity, The Secret to Success, a book on how to turn calamity and mistakes into opportunity. His first business book was Broken Handoff, an amalgamation of three decades as an entrepreneur developing companies. His novel, Forefathers & Founding Fathers, is based on the forgotten historical figures who ensured the triumph of democracy in the country that would become America.
Michael is now an in-demand speaker on the topics of innovation and entrepreneurial disruption and has delivered over 100 keynotes in the past two years alone. He has also won the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, was named a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, and a Future 50 Disruptor and more.
In his “spare” time, Michael is a runner, Second Degree Black Belt in Kenpo, and a mountain climber who has so far scaled the highest point of elevation in 43 states.
First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I am a Mom too, and a Granny, and I know how challenging and rewarding it can be.
We just had an earthquake here yesterday! The folks in California will not even blink, but for us, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, it was very unusual. It was 4.1 on the Richter Scale, so mild in comparison, but if you don’t usually get one in your area, it’s eyebrow-raising. It shook the whole house, but there was no damage.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
I participated in Top Ten Tuesday, listing authors who have lived in North Carolina.
I will be reviewing the Tachyon Tunnel series by Michael Gorton on Monday. This is science-forward time travel, and as many of you know, I love time travel fiction.
On Tuesday, I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday, time permitting.
On Wednesday, I will be posting a review of The Miniaturist’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford, as well as providing a Q&A with the author. This is another time travel book this week, but it’s more historical than science fiction.
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
I updated my Review Requests page yesterday, so anyone interested in a review, please read the updated guidelines.
I’m changing the name of Indie Weekend to Indie Spotlight. Indie Spotlights used to be book promotion without a review, but now Indie Spotlight will focus on anything Indie, including book reviews. Since I’m retired now, I really don’t need to wait until the weekend to post Indie reviews. Click on the covers to see the books on Amazon.
BOOK HAUL
I got this widget from Tyndale House. Imagine Pride and Prejudice retold in an Appalachian setting! I can’t wait to read it.
An ARC from Shadow Mountain: This is historical fiction inspired by the life of Julia Child, including her time in the OSS, the precursor to the CIA.
Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie authors with marketing. It’s a daunting task, but if I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do it. You can help too by sharing this review with your social media followers. Below see a book review and purchase links for Hayden’s World Volume 1. It is written by S.D. Falchetti. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Shamaan Casey. You can see a full book description in this previous Indie Spotlight.
BOOK REVIEW
Like Andy Weir, S.D. Falchetti has the ability to create fiction that keeps me interested in science, and that’s no easy feat because I have always leaned toward the “fiction” in science fiction. But this collection of stories, set in and around “Hayden’s World,” is packed with science and technology, and then fiction takes over and transports us to the future. The characters are easy to root for, and the stories are compelling. My favorites were 43 seconds and Erebus, but all of the stories are excellent. There is a chapter at the end of the book explaining the science, and I appreciated that as I am not an expert in that area.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator Shamaan Casey has a captivating voice. He did an amazing job of portraying all of the characters, regardless of gender or culture. This includes AI voices too! I was captivated by his performance and will seek out his work again.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of the audiobook. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (IN HIS OWN WORDS)
S.D. Falchetti
I wrote my first story at the age of eighteen. I had a work/study job at the college computer lab, and, after completing all of my tasks of refilling the printer paper and testing the mice, I sat down and slipped a five-and-a-quarter inch disk into the drive. The Word Perfect screen greeted me with a blinking cursor. Each day I typed out a few more paragraphs, maybe a scene. I’d been reading R.A. Salvatore at the time, and, not surprisingly, wove a tale of elves, wars, and magic swords. I printed the three-hundred-page manuscript on a dot matrix printer, three-hole punched it, and slid it into a black binder.
The story rode along with me and five friends in a sixteen-hour road trip to St. Louis, giving me the perfect captive audience for reading my first draft. I remember waking abruptly at a midnight gas stop, a pop, and firelight flickering from the seams of the car’s hood. The Monte Carlo’s doors opened and I tumbled out onto the asphalt with my friends. Flames shot behind us from the engine. As we scattered, someone yelled for the keys. The driver, panicked, threw them too high and they clinked onto the overhead canopy. The more courageous fetched extinguishers from the mini-mart and sprayed the car fire. It was like spritzing an inferno. Fire trucks wheeled in and firefighters laid down water streams. The engine’s flames burst into the cabin and, with a whoosh like something from the movies, a fireball plumed and billowed out of the windows, the car’s tires popping and rollicking the vehicle. When the firefighters dropped their hoses and ran, we also picked our escape routes. One of the firefighters climbed in the truck, revved the engine, and rammed the Monte Carlo, pushing it clear of the gas pumps in a vortex of sparks and smoke. Our car was left to die in the farthest corner of the parking lot, out of harm’s way. A cavalcade of red and white flashing lights filled the station’s road as the cavalry arrived. When the last tongues of flame faded, our car had been reduced to metal bones. We blinked in disbelief as paramedics interviewed us. Three hundred miles. We were stranded three hundred miles from home. No one was hurt, but there was one casualty. My story sat in the backseat.
I tried not to think of this as a sign.
But there was still the computer lab, and the blinking white cursor, and stories to be written. They weren’t very good, but I had fun writing them. I submitted a few to magazines, and like most starting writers, got the polite rejection notes. I completed my degree in mechanical engineering and went on to become an engineer, a husband, and a father. The stories took a back seat as life churned on.
One of the perks of being a dad is that you get to tell many stories. Not just stories that you read, but stories you create. Each night when I tuck my daughter into bed, I say, “What should our story be tonight?”. She gives me the setting, “A little girl and a cupcake factory that’s gone crazy.” It’s a little like a Whose Line is it Anyway sketch, creating the scene on the spot.
And it made me think of that blinking cursor, and all of those stories I wanted to tell.
So, I opened up my laptop and started pecking away. Technology has changed since those five-and-a-quarter-inch disk days, and now I can independently publish. I’m stepping up to the plate, taking a swing at the ball, and seeing how far I can run.
I was born in 1996 and raised in Converse, TX. Growing up, I always watched a lot of animation, which gave me a deep appreciation for voice acting, which only grew as the years went on. Even from a young age, I had a voice that commanded the attention of others. Though not an attention seeker, I always noticed how heads would turn when I spoke, and I was often compared to James Earl Jones and Morgan Freeman, even in middle school. When I chose to pursue a career in culinary arts and work as a food salesman, everyday people would tell me that I should be in radio. With years of public speaking experience thanks to my religious ministry, I finally yielded to all of the advice I had received over the years and finally embraced getting into the world of voice-over by making audiobooks.
Now, I combine my vocal talents with my love of reading to help bring stories to life. When I’m not reading, I’m cooking, baking, or gaming. Whatever I’m doing, I’ve got a story to tell.
*If you read the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the WordPress “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter (X), Facebook, and/or WordPress followers. A little bit of assistance from all of us will help Indie authors go a long way!
When scientists in Moscow decided to resurrect the Mammoth, they soon realize they will have to teach them HOW to be mammoths. They call on Dr. Damira Khismatullina, the top expert in elephant behavior. The only problem is that she was murdered by poachers long before. But they have her consciousness in digital form. Will what remains of Dr. Khismatullina’s conscience agree to be uploaded into a mammoth?
This is a fascinating premise. The idea of putting a human conscience into a mammoth’s brain brings up so many questions and possibilities. The author does a great job of explaining the modern plight of the elephant and the ruthlessness of the poachers. The idea of a human inhabiting the body of a mammoth is so intriguing that I wish it was explored a little more. The fact that a mammoth’s senses are greater than a human’s, and how that impacts Damira, is definitely related to the reader, but Damira’s experiences of first inhabiting the mammoth and actually learning to move around, maneuver, and take leadership of a herd were not fully explored. The book is very short and should have been a lot more fleshed out. I realize it’s a novella but the topic deserves a full-length novel. This idea has movie potential, but the book is not long enough to support that.
I listened to the audiobook, and it was well narrated by Stefan Rudnicki and Gabrielle de Cuir, who handled the tough task of portraying a unique character, Damira, who is a digitized human turned mammoth. They also related the plight of animals hunted by poachers in a truthful way so the reader can realize the brutality that is going on.
Anyone interested in protecting endangered species with a little science fiction added to the story will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from Spotify Audiobooks. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(Excerpt from the bio on the author’s website) Born in Quebec and raised in California, Ray Nayler lived and worked abroad for two decades in Russia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, and Kosovo. A Russian speaker, he has also learned Turkmen, Albanian, Azerbaijani, and Vietnamese. Ray is a Foreign Service Officer. He previously worked in international educational development, as well as serving in the Peace Corps in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. In Vietnam he was Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer at the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Ray also served as the international advisor to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He is currently Diplomatic Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the Institute for International Science and Technology Policy at The George Washington University. He holds an MA in Global Diplomacy from the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS, the University of London.
Ray began publishing speculative fiction in 2015 in the pages of Asimov’s with the short story “Mutability“. Since then, his critically acclaimed stories have seen print in Clarkesworld, Analog, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Lightspeed, Vice (Terraform),and Nightmare, as well as in several Locus Recommended Reading lists and many “Best of the Year” anthologies. Ray currently lives in Washington, DC with his wife Anna, their daughter Lydia, and two rescued cats – one Tajik, one American. His novella The Tusks of Extinction will be published in January 2024 by Tor.
Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help indie/self-published authors with the huge task of marketing their books. Self-published authors have to do it all, and if I can help even a little, I’m happy to do so. Below is my review of Cathedral of Silver, a Sci-Fi space adventure.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
The beautiful snow-capped mountains of Kanchi are places of nightmares. Paul Tarseus, a ruthless Lord of the Tuyet Voi, seeks to uncover the secrets of this unknown darkness. But when twisted into the company of young Ramona and her mother, Paul’s goals and brutal views of the galaxy are flipped on end.
Never has Paul imposed the service of underworld mercenaries, sided with arch-rivals, or been swept into family dramas, and he certainly has never been told to apologize to a drone. But he’ll do whatever it takes to protect those around him and to drag the evils lurking in the shadows of the galaxy into the light.
BOOK REVIEW
What a gem! Every once in a while, I add a diamond because five stars is not enough. This is one of those times.
Wow. I can’t heap enough praise on this young, first-time author. Cathedral of Silver has a compelling plot, lots of action, and well-developed characters. The space adventure does not quit. And most importantly of all, it’s fresh and original, but somehow still has that “classic science fiction” vibe. Wall has a rare ability to make his characters memorable and make the reader care about them. That takes true talent. Now I need to rave about the world-building. It’s fantastic! I’m impressed with the author’s creativity. And the writing easily transports me to every stop on this adventure. This is unique, special, addictive science fiction. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Although I was offered a free copy, I purchased a copy of this book because the author’s writing talent blew me away and I know I’ll be hearing his name again. Watch out for Ian Wall, writing world!
My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ian Wall
(In his own words) I’m a debut author who loves science fiction and deep characters. But wouldn’t you rather be reading a fun sci-fi adventure with a dark underbelly of spooky nightmares? *Cough cough* Cathedral of Silver, Book 1 of The Galaxies Saga?
No? Well, if you insist. I’ve more or less been writing my whole life. Well, since 4th grade anyway. I come from a family of writers, so I like to think my love for the art is somehow genetic. Penciling short stories and poetry was a hallmark of my adolescence, but I never had the courage to try publishing anything until recently. Cathedral of Silver is my first real attempt at writing a novel, and I’ve spent the last three years pouring my blood, sweat, tears, and soul into making it as great as it can be.
If you’d like to back my silly endeavors, check out a couple of free chapters of Cathedral of Silver on Amazon. Your support means more to me than you might know!
*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!
Ryland Grace wakes up to find himself hurtling through space, his crewmates dead. He is the only one left who can save humanity from extinction. But right now he cannot remember his name or his mission. Will he be able to save Earth alone? Will he have to?
This is a very well written, riveting story by Andy Weir. I was captivated immediately, even during complicated scientific explanations that somehow became an intriguing part of the story. The gravity of the situation doesn’t hit you at first, but slowly Weir draws you in as Ryland gains more and more awareness. The addition of another character leaves you on the edge of your seat as the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. The conclusion is satisfying in itself, but makes you wonder if there is more to come.
I truly feel that Andy Weir is becoming an absolute Science Fiction genius for the 21st Century, much like Heinlein and Asimov were for the 20th Century. With successes like The Martian, Artemis, and now Project Hail Mary, he is well on his way.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Weir built a two-decade career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, The Martian, allowed him to live out his dream of writing full-time. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of such subjects as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail. He lives in California.
Welcome to the book tour for time-travelling, sci-fi, TimeRipper by D.E. McCluskey! Read on for more details and a chance to win an amazing giveaway– A copy of the book AND a $20 or £20 Amazon gift card!
TimeRipper
Publication Date: February 25th, 2021
Genre: Time Travel/ Thriller/ Historical Fiction/ Sci-Fi
Publisher: Dammaged Productions
It is the year 2288, and Earth is reeling from the most horrific terrorist attack it has ever endured.The Quest, a pseudo-religious splinter group, have taken a stance against the Earth Alliance’s authority of the planet.It is down to Youssef Haseem, now the highest-ranking official left in the EA, to build a team to face the threat of total inhalation if he doesn’t stand down and bow to The Quest’s demands. Then the leaders of The Quest disappear, and a legend emerges in the year 1888. But just who is the mysterious stranger stalking and viciously killing women on the streets of Whitechapel, London?A mission is launched! A battle of wits against time itself. A fight to be played out in the present and the past, with the fate of humanity at stake.Legends can happen anytime…
My name is David McCluskey, I am an author from Liverpool in the UK. I have written seven novels so far. TimeRipper is my latest. I started writing about 15 years ago, beginning with short horror stories for children that were written in rhyme. I enlisted the services of an artist and created my very first comic from them. Interesting Tymes is a great seller at comic conventions around the UK, as it offered something that a lot of comics these days don’t, something for the children to get their teeth into (so to speak).
I then began to create more comics, some for children, some for adults, before creating my own graphic novels. Doppelgänger is a dark psychological horror, Olf is a children’s graphic novel about Father Christmas and his reindeer, A Christmas Carol is a rewriting of the original tale, but in rhyme, and DeathDay Presents is an adult comedy based in Hell.
From there I moved on to writing novels. My debut novel The Twelve is still my best seller on Amazon.
I write under the name of D E McCluskey for my adult fiction, and I will be launching a children’s range of novels this year under the name Dave McCluskey (I don’t want children buying some of the other horror based stuff by accident).
I still live in Liverpool with my partner, Lauren, and our children, Grace and Sian. We have a sausage dog called Ted, who likes to leave little sausages around the house, just to remind us why he is a sausage dog.
This is a time traveling thriller that fans of science fiction will enjoy. Time travel novels are near and dear to my heart, and I’ve read a lot of them. The means of travel is very important in time travel fiction and to me as a reader. This book leans heavily on the scientific rather than fantasy approach to time travel, and the author makes it work. The Higgs Boson particle plays a big part. The timeline splits between 2288 and 1888 in Whitechapel, East London, as Jack the Ripper make an appearance. There is a completely new theory as to who Jack might be, but that is just part of the story, as there is a battle for the future of Earth between the Earth Alliance in 2288 and a strange movement called The Quest, who are in Whitechapel 1888 trying to change the future.
Fans of science fiction, murder mysteries, and thrillers should check out this gripping, time-traveling mashup.
I received a free copy of this book via R&R Book Tours. My review is voluntary.
I am writing this review of Doing Time, which came out last year, because the second book in this series, Hard Time, is winging its way to me in the mail as we speak. My review of Hard Time will be along soon. I must preface this review by saying Jodi Taylor has become my favorite author. Her St. Mary’s Chronicles is an absolute must for Time Travel (Sorry Dr. Bairstow) Fiction Readers. I would be remiss if I didn’t advise you to drop whatever you are doing and buy the first book in the St. Mary’s Chronicles, entitled Just One Damn Thing After Another. You will not be sorry, and I envy you the experience of reading it for the first time.
Doing Time is a spinoff of the St. Mary’s series and revolves around Matthew, son of two St. Mary’s main characters. Now that I’ve set this up and advised you to check out everything the brilliant Jodi Taylor has ever written, on to the review!
EDIT: My copy of Hard Time (Book 2 in the series) has been received. The review will be posted on 10/13//20. Hard Time will be released on 10/15/20.
Jodi Taylor has done it again. A spinoff of her wonderful St. Mary’s Chronicles, Doing Time is the story of Matthew, Jane, and Luke, trainees in the Time Police. Matthew is of course the son of Max and Leon from the St. Mary’s Chronicles. There is mystery, laughter, and intrigue all rolled up in one story as the trio (Team Weird) become Time Police cadets, and are faced with opposition from the Albayans. The Albayans are leftover followers of the late Colonel Albay, the former Time Police leader and unapologetic fascist, who killed first and asked questions later.
Beloved characters from St. Mary’s make an appearance and provide a lot of hilarity during some stressful times, and we learn a tiny bit about what is going on in Matthew’s head. I hope more will be revealed in subsequent books.
If you love Time Travel, history, and well written characters, you will LOVE these books.
TimeRipper
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