Science Fiction Books

Reviews and sales of science fiction books and series.

Unveiling Sabina Staley: The Enigmatic Leader of the Rifters #fantasy #steampunk #booklover

Sabina Staley is the indomitable head of the Rifters, the well-loved guardian entrusted with the safety of Earth.

the popular fantasy steampunk series, the Rifters

Sabina’s is the county commissioner of Caslow County. That’s how most of the residents know her. The county building is located in Settler, Oregon, where the veil between universes thins each year, revealing a portal traversing 42 realms, including our own. As the liaison between Earth and the mysterious Governors who rule the rift, Sabina embodies both the sophistication of a seasoned diplomat and the resilience of a seasoned warrior.

In her late 60s, Sabina’s countenance tells tales of experiences etched into the very fabric of her being. Tall and possessing stern, well-defined facial features, her captivating emerald eyes harbor a depth that belies her prim and proper exterior. Adorned with a crown of curly white hair and oversized, bubble-framed eyeglasses, her appearance seems a symphony of timeless grace intertwined with a touch of the 1970s.

Yet, it’s her spirit that truly captivates. Despite the years, her essence radiates with an undying youthfulness, an unquenchable flame that has weathered trials and remains unyielding. Behind the guise of her dignified demeanor lies a history steeped in valor and unexpected passions—a tale once whispered of an affair with a centaur that crossed through the rift, a fleeting moment from a past brimming with untold stories.

Within the Rifters, Sabina stands as the beacon of reliability and confidence. Her unwavering leadership has shielded her team, ensuring no losses under her watch. While she seldom joins the fray, her tactical prowess and strategic mind guide her team’s actions, and her meticulous planning is often the key to their victories.

But it’s not just her tactical genius that commands respect; it’s her unwavering dedication to her comrades. A tough but caring leader, she instills confidence in every Rifter. Her presence is a source of reassurance among the chaos of defending Earth from otherworldly threats.

Sabina Staley is a conundrum of contradictions—an epitome of grace and strength, of sophistication and wild pasts, of leadership and a warrior’s heart. She embodies the essence of the Rifters, standing as a testament to resilience, integrity, and the unyielding spirit required to safeguard Earth from the mysteries that spill forth from the rift.

Want to meet her? Start with a free book! The first novel in the Rifters series is free everywhere!

Shopping direct from me really helps me make a living as an author, so thank you. You can also find my books  at your favorite online bookstore.

Rifters              BUY DIRECT

Audiobook: Not of this Earth Bookshop / GooglePlay

Listen to an Audio Sample

The Gold Rush trickles to a fool’s quest and a string of stagecoach heists. In 1888, Earl Blacke decides to make a new start and become a better man. He escapes into the mountains, heading north. In the wilds of Oregon, a rift inside an ancient volcano opens and sends him into the future, into the present day. It also shaves forty years off his age, forty years to live over again and atone for what he’s done.

Starting over is hard to do. In current day New York, Daelin Long’s dream job at a publishing house goes the way of the dinosaurs her sister chases. With no money and nowhere else to go, Daelin accepts the librarian position in her sister’s dinky town in the middle of Oregon. Nestled inside ancient volcanic peaks, the town of Settler holds onto many secrets. Residents roam the streets with weirdly fashioned devices, and odd lights pulse in the night skies. People whisper of a phantom outlaw and start dying, murdered and missing their heads. On top of it all, Daelin’s sister is missing, and Daelin doesn’t know who to trust.

Earl knows more than he’s saying. He shares a notorious history with the phantom, one he’ll see remains buried. Keeping Daelin’s sister’s secrets is his only chance at redemption, and the only way to keep this world safe.

 

Reviews

“The world Pax creates here is like the Wild West meets Ghostbusters with some Stargate and a bit of Steampunk thrown in. Even though everything seems a bit familiar, it’s not, which is what makes it compelling.”CHOOSE YOUR OWN END

“This book catapults the reader right in mid-events and, like Daelin, one is forever trying to figure out the ins and outs of the situation. Though readers have one advantage in that we are prepared to believe. However, what in some books can be annoying, becomes an enjoyable ride, where you are constantly excited to see where the plot will take you next. I really enjoyed the slightly wacky and off center world of Settler.” AMAZON

 

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Science Fiction Worth Reading: Project Hail Mary #BookReview #scifi #sciencefiction

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is an engrossing read. He has a real flare for writing hard science fiction and making it exciting and readable. I liked it as much as The Martian.

It was full of adventure and problems and solutions through science. One surviving scientist wakes from an induced coma with no memory and has to solve humanity’s biggest dilemma. Then he discovers he’s not alone.

What started as a bleak mission – a suicide mission to hopefully save Earth and humanity – ended up being inspiring and full of hope. Weir shows us how humans can be low and how we can be at our best. Why can’t we always be so amazing, question? (You’ll get that when you read the book)

If you loved The Martian, you’ll love this book, too. We spend most of the story in space and discover new life and new worlds. Discovery of new life and worlds is my favorite part of sci-fi, so I was glad to see those two things in this story. Usually, I find a lot of award-winning books don’t stand up to the hype, but this one does.

Here’s the official blurb:

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

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

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

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

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

Or does he?

 

2 for 1 #SciFi Sale! #scifibooks #ebook #sciencefiction #booklover

Have a stellar new year with two great science fiction books! Put Spaceberg and Semper Audacia in your cart and get Semper Audacia for FREE!

The Not of this Earth Bookshop is starting a new year with a great sale! Use coupon code SempBerg2023 at checkout!

2 for 1 SCIFI

Spaceberg Orbital Rescue Squad 51 is first on the scene with the most decorated first responder in the Sol. Nikili Echols battles the mega disaster to save her family, everyone in trouble, and entire worlds. With time running short, she’s forced to team up with her ex-husband in order to rescue their daughter and save what remains of the solar system. His superstitions irk her like gas, but luck and organic plastic are what her plan needs to prevail.

Semper Audacia The last soldier’s last stand. War took everyone Leda knew, leaving her in the company of ghosts. Or is it madness? The siren blares. The enemy is coming. In an aging flyer, Leda ventures out to meet her world’s fate.

 

#MPaxDimension Report: Sorrow and What to Look forward to in 2023 #scifi

With great sorrow, I had to say goodbye to Sarge right before the holiday. His pain was short-lived, and he went with love and a smile. He lived a happy life with us. Because he came to us as a stray in desperate need, he’s extra special. I’ll miss talking to him (he always answered back and had different meows, so you could have a whole conversation) and his hugs. He was so sweet and gentle and had a million expressions. Despite the world being so cruel to him, he was always smiling and always happy (except when we didn’t get him a snack fast enough). I’ll miss him in a million different ways. Love you, Sargie Boy!

 

In author news, I played around with the Ai artist some and added new artwork to the Backworlds and Rifters series pages.

I’m working on turning Worlds on Edge, Backworlds Book 5 into an audiobook. I intend to finish the Backworlds series in audio in 2023. I’ll also be getting more titles back into print.

I finished the first round of edits in The Afterworlds and have started the second read-through. If life doesn’t get in my way too much, I plan to release The Afterworlds in 2023. Then it will be on to finishing the Rifters series!

Wishing you the best in 2023!

 

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy I Read in 2022 #scifibooks #scifi #fantasy #BookLover

A few of these popular and best-selling science fiction and fantasy books came out this year, but what matters for this list is what I read. These were my favorite reads

10.  Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. Giant monsters, adventure, and a unique setting. Pass the popcorn! Full review HERE

 

09.  Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Thought-provoking and haunting. I still mull over this story. Full review HERE

 

 

08.   Midnight Library. A little bit sci-fi, a little bit fantasy. Inspiring story to warm the heart. Full review HERE

 

 

07.  Space Murder by Nikki Haverstock. Adventure and laughs in space. A very fun read. Full review HERE

 

 

06.  A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. The prose is like an aching poem. Lovely. Full review HERE

 

 

05.  Revenge of the Revenants by Christine Rains. If you love immersing yourself in a fantasy world, this series is the ticket. Adventure and a great story! Full review HERE

 

04.  A Shudder of Specters by Christine Rains. This was my first foray into LitRPG. This book made me a fan. What a treat! Full review HERE

 

03.  Dark Nebula: Isolation by Sean Willson. This is a juicy and engaging space opera. Can’t wait to start on the next book. Full review HERE

 

02.  House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. I didn’t want this one to end. Full review HERE

 

 

 

01.  The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. I’ve read 5 out of 6 so far, and I hope there will be more. Robot stories aren’t usually my thing, but I love this one. Full review HERE

 

 

 

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