Devas

by Stuart J. Tanner

Three hundred years after a global nuclear war ended all life on Earth, the remnants of humanity have established a Federation of sixty-eight worlds. Detective Mads Jenson is sent to the Ganymede space station to investigate a series of brutal murders. He fights his way through a criminal underworld of genetic enhancement (gen-hex) dealing and discovers the murder victims were all involved with a scientist who used alien DNA in a gen-hex. The product unleashes superhuman abilities in its users, but at a dreadful cost.

Sylvia, the leader of a transhumanist cult, gets hold of the gen-hex and uses its powers to incite a rebellion among the discontented residents of the Solar One colonies. Jenson uncovers Sylvia’s involvement in the murders. He is tasked to find her and bring her in.

Sylvia proves to be highly elusive. Jenson’s only hope of finding her is taking the alien gen-hex and using its formidable power. As he hunts for Sylvia, the rebellion she started escalates into an all-out war with the Federation.

Jenson pays a terrible price to find Sylvia, and their meeting has consequences for the Federation far beyond anything he could have imagined.

498 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2023

About the author

Stuart J. Tanner is the author of The Absolute science fiction series. Before turning to fiction, he worked as an investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker for the BBC and other international broadcasters. His films covered wars, social conflict, and major global issues, often with rare access to key voices and fresh perspectives. As a war correspondent, he reported from the Middle East and was embedded with the British Royal Marines during the Iraq War—frontline experience that informs his storytelling with authenticity and realism. His international reporting also gave him a deep understanding of diverse cultures, religions, and political landscapes.

Tanner’s fiction is further shaped by his interest in advances in robotics, genetics, and artificial intelligence. Drawing on these developments, he explores a central question throughout his work: the long-term consequences of today’s global politics. In The Absolute series, he examines how human society might adapt—and coexist—alongside advanced AIs and synthetic life forms.

Through The Absolute series, Stuart J. Tanner offers a thought-provoking, fast-paced vision of the future, blending frontline reportage, cultural insight, and scientific curiosity.

Reviews

[Randy Markley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the hard Sci-fi book I’ve been looking for.
The plot is complex, the characters are deep and the sci-fi concepts are just beyond our furthest current scientific grasp.
It’s a gritty world reminiscent of the world of Thirteen (Richard K. Morgan).
It’s long but I was left hoping for more. This is the first in a series and I can’t wait for book 2.
Highly recommended.

[Cullen McHael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long, deep immersion in proper ambiance science fiction. Echoes of Bladerunner, a little bit of cyberpunk. Quite an enjoyable read.