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Space Trucker Jess
Jessian Urania Darger is a kick-ass take-no-shit foul-mouthed too-smart-for-her-own-good sixteen-year-old girl with a chip on her shoulder. She and her daddy have been grifting their way across the verse for years. But when her daddy gets arrested for running crypto-credit scams, Jess is forced to get a job on Chadeisson Station as a roachrunner, fixing starships to survive.
She dreams of a better life, away from her corrupt daddy, so she's been saving up to buy a Spark Megahauler, a huge cargo ship, ever since she saw one in a printer catalog. She wants to run the long hauls, to sail alone into the black and never look back.
But when her daddy goes missing from prison, Jess realizes she just can't let him go, and she makes it her life's mission to find out where he's gone. In an odyssey that takes her across the galaxy, Jess encounters vanished planets, strange societies, inscrutable alien gods, and mind-bending secrets that may change humanity's path forever.
She dreams of a better life, away from her corrupt daddy, so she's been saving up to buy a Spark Megahauler, a huge cargo ship, ever since she saw one in a printer catalog. She wants to run the long hauls, to sail alone into the black and never look back.
But when her daddy goes missing from prison, Jess realizes she just can't let him go, and she makes it her life's mission to find out where he's gone. In an odyssey that takes her across the galaxy, Jess encounters vanished planets, strange societies, inscrutable alien gods, and mind-bending secrets that may change humanity's path forever.
- GenresScience Fiction
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
8 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Kressel
66 books59 followers The short:
I’m a software developer and speculative fiction writer with three Nebula Award nominations, a World Fantasy Award nomination, and a Eugie Award nomination. I am the co-host of the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series in New York City. And I created the Moksha submissions system, in use by some of the largest publishers in speculative fiction today.
The long:
I’m a software developer and writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My fiction has been nominated three times for a Nebula Award and once for a Eugie Foster Memorial Award. And I’ve also been nominated for a World Fantasy Award for my former editorial and publishing work. My fiction has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Polish, and Farsi.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved hearing and telling stories. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, and I would entertain myself by creating entire worlds in my head and inhabiting them fully (sometimes to the chagrin of my parents and teachers). This world-building continued well into my adulthood, when, after a particularly vivid dream, I decided to write my stories down. Once I began writing seriously, I’ve never stopped.
My fiction tends to explore themes of loss, death, mourning and rebirth, but also hope and possibility. I consider myself a mindful optimist, even though my fiction can sometimes be very dark. I believe humanity is capable of great feats, but what we often lack is will, imagination, or foresight. Sometimes I tend my fiction to inspire. Sometimes I write cautionary tales. Sometimes I just follow my dream-id where it leads. I’m always surprised by what my subconscious brings up.
I work incredibly hard at my writing, and my only wish is that you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy creating it.
My short story “The Last Novelist” was a 2017 Nebula Award finalist as well a 2018 Eugie Award finalist. My short story “The Meeker and the All-Seeing Eye” was a 2014 Nebula Award finalist. And my short story “The Sounds of Old Earth” was a 2013 Nebula Award finalist. My work has also appeared in several year’s best anthologies and received numerous honorable mentions.
My many short stories have appeared in such publications as Lightspeed, Nightmare, Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Analog, io9.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Interzone, Electric Velocipede, Apex Magazine, and the anthologies Mad Hatters and March Hares, Cyber World, After,The People of the Book, and many other places.
My debut novel, King of Shards, was hailed as “Majestic, resonant, reality-twisting madness,” from NPR Books. I have a novella forthcoming in 2026 from Tordotcom / Reactor titled The Rainseekers. And a novel, Space Trucker Jess, coming in 2025 from Fairwood Press.
Every second Wednesday, I co-host the Fantastic Fiction reading series at the famous KGB Bar alongside veteran speculative-fiction editor Ellen Datlow.
In 2011 I was nominated for World Fantasy Award in the category of Special Award, Non-Professional for my work editing Sybil’s Garage. The magazine’s website has been archived here.
In 2003 I started the speculative fiction magazine Sybil’s Garage, and the stories and poetry therein have received multiple honorable mentions in the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. Under the rubric of Senses Five Press, I published Paper Cities, which won the 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.
I have been a long-time member of Altered Fluid, a Manhattan-based writing group which has many successful past and present members, including N.K. Jemisin, Sam J. Miller, Alaya Dawn Johnson, E.C. Myers, Mercurio D. Rivera, and many others. I am also obsessed with Blade Runner (both films).
When I’m not writing, I design websites and write software. I am probably best known for the Moksha submissions system, which I created, and which is currently used by some of the largest SF markets including The Magazine of Fantasy
I’m a software developer and speculative fiction writer with three Nebula Award nominations, a World Fantasy Award nomination, and a Eugie Award nomination. I am the co-host of the Fantastic Fiction at KGB reading series in New York City. And I created the Moksha submissions system, in use by some of the largest publishers in speculative fiction today.
The long:
I’m a software developer and writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My fiction has been nominated three times for a Nebula Award and once for a Eugie Foster Memorial Award. And I’ve also been nominated for a World Fantasy Award for my former editorial and publishing work. My fiction has been translated into many languages, including Japanese, Spanish, French, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Polish, and Farsi.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved hearing and telling stories. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, and I would entertain myself by creating entire worlds in my head and inhabiting them fully (sometimes to the chagrin of my parents and teachers). This world-building continued well into my adulthood, when, after a particularly vivid dream, I decided to write my stories down. Once I began writing seriously, I’ve never stopped.
My fiction tends to explore themes of loss, death, mourning and rebirth, but also hope and possibility. I consider myself a mindful optimist, even though my fiction can sometimes be very dark. I believe humanity is capable of great feats, but what we often lack is will, imagination, or foresight. Sometimes I tend my fiction to inspire. Sometimes I write cautionary tales. Sometimes I just follow my dream-id where it leads. I’m always surprised by what my subconscious brings up.
I work incredibly hard at my writing, and my only wish is that you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy creating it.
My short story “The Last Novelist” was a 2017 Nebula Award finalist as well a 2018 Eugie Award finalist. My short story “The Meeker and the All-Seeing Eye” was a 2014 Nebula Award finalist. And my short story “The Sounds of Old Earth” was a 2013 Nebula Award finalist. My work has also appeared in several year’s best anthologies and received numerous honorable mentions.
My many short stories have appeared in such publications as Lightspeed, Nightmare, Tor.com, Clarkesworld, Analog, io9.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Interzone, Electric Velocipede, Apex Magazine, and the anthologies Mad Hatters and March Hares, Cyber World, After,The People of the Book, and many other places.
My debut novel, King of Shards, was hailed as “Majestic, resonant, reality-twisting madness,” from NPR Books. I have a novella forthcoming in 2026 from Tordotcom / Reactor titled The Rainseekers. And a novel, Space Trucker Jess, coming in 2025 from Fairwood Press.
Every second Wednesday, I co-host the Fantastic Fiction reading series at the famous KGB Bar alongside veteran speculative-fiction editor Ellen Datlow.
In 2011 I was nominated for World Fantasy Award in the category of Special Award, Non-Professional for my work editing Sybil’s Garage. The magazine’s website has been archived here.
In 2003 I started the speculative fiction magazine Sybil’s Garage, and the stories and poetry therein have received multiple honorable mentions in the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror. Under the rubric of Senses Five Press, I published Paper Cities, which won the 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.
I have been a long-time member of Altered Fluid, a Manhattan-based writing group which has many successful past and present members, including N.K. Jemisin, Sam J. Miller, Alaya Dawn Johnson, E.C. Myers, Mercurio D. Rivera, and many others. I am also obsessed with Blade Runner (both films).
When I’m not writing, I design websites and write software. I am probably best known for the Moksha submissions system, which I created, and which is currently used by some of the largest SF markets including The Magazine of Fantasy
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 18, 2025
Excellent, engrossing far-future sci-fi. I found myself lost in its pages, so caught up in the plight of the titular protag, Jess. The narrative is quite expansive, filled with great twists and turns. I loved how often the scenery changed, and the sense of constant adventure. Simply brilliantly written!
February 12, 2026
This engrossing space adventure novel tells the story of Jess, who, as the title says, is a space trucker. Jess is just trying to get by in the galaxy, and her biggest dream is to one day have her own Spark Megahauler to cruise the galaxy in style. Part of the fun of the novel is that Jess is much more working class and relatable than many space opera protagonists. The voice is amazing - told first-person by Jess in a vernacular dialect from centuries in the future, with subtle influences of Spanish, Mandarin, and other languages. This unique language immediately makes the world feel lived-in and real but is also intuitive and easy to read.
Much of the novel is episodic, particularly the first half, with Jess getting flung from one perilous situation to another as she searches the galaxy for her missing father. The physics of the world are intricately imagined; while FTL travel is possible, it is not easy and comes with many dangers, which makes this world feel more realistic than space operas where you just turn on the hyperdrive to leap across the galaxy. I particularly enjoyed some of the unexpected spiritual aspects of the story, which includes psychedelic drugs that allow for communication with advanced alien beings that exist outside of space-time as humans understand it. The novel comes to a satisfying and unpredictable conclusion, with a climax that involves both galactic politics and Jess's more personal journey discovering her own potential and coming to terms with the complicated legacy her parents have left her. Highly recommended!
Much of the novel is episodic, particularly the first half, with Jess getting flung from one perilous situation to another as she searches the galaxy for her missing father. The physics of the world are intricately imagined; while FTL travel is possible, it is not easy and comes with many dangers, which makes this world feel more realistic than space operas where you just turn on the hyperdrive to leap across the galaxy. I particularly enjoyed some of the unexpected spiritual aspects of the story, which includes psychedelic drugs that allow for communication with advanced alien beings that exist outside of space-time as humans understand it. The novel comes to a satisfying and unpredictable conclusion, with a climax that involves both galactic politics and Jess's more personal journey discovering her own potential and coming to terms with the complicated legacy her parents have left her. Highly recommended!
February 9, 2026
What a weird book. I've offered split star reviews in the past. Space Trucker Jess definitely qualifies. I give it 5 stars for technical merit, and 2 stars for the story content.
Here's why:
Merit- Kressel writes a relatable main character with a compelling plot arc. Sometime in the distant future, 16 year old Jess ekes out an uncomfortable life as a spaceship repair tech at a remote space station. Her father is incarcerated in the station's prison. Her mother abandoned her years before. Jess learns that her father's been taken off station, most probably against his will. Jess decides to find him and rescue him from his captors.
Compelling, right?
Content- the story opens with 16 year old Jess getting high with a 12 y.o. and a 15 y.o. She drinks heavily throughout the novel. I'm a substance abuse counselor. This is an issue for me. Midway through the novel, the plot twists a bit. Jess smokes a psychoactive drug on a planet that's the equivalent of space-Israel and meets the gods. So now we've got substance abuse being an essential component of religion. I'm also a former priest of the Episcopal Church. You can see why this second plot element is offensive to me. And then there's the conclusion. Oh, and the book doesn't end when the plot does. There's an additional chapter or three for why? If it was for feels, then bring back the characters that were involved. But that's not what happens. Three chapters for nothing and then the books ends, leaving the feel-good resolutions off-page. Go figure.
My reaction to the content is on me, since it's mostly from my own weird convergences of backgrounds. I figure I'll split the difference and give Space Trucker Jess three stars.
Here's why:
Merit- Kressel writes a relatable main character with a compelling plot arc. Sometime in the distant future, 16 year old Jess ekes out an uncomfortable life as a spaceship repair tech at a remote space station. Her father is incarcerated in the station's prison. Her mother abandoned her years before. Jess learns that her father's been taken off station, most probably against his will. Jess decides to find him and rescue him from his captors.
Compelling, right?
Content- the story opens with 16 year old Jess getting high with a 12 y.o. and a 15 y.o. She drinks heavily throughout the novel. I'm a substance abuse counselor. This is an issue for me. Midway through the novel, the plot twists a bit. Jess smokes a psychoactive drug on a planet that's the equivalent of space-Israel and meets the gods. So now we've got substance abuse being an essential component of religion. I'm also a former priest of the Episcopal Church. You can see why this second plot element is offensive to me. And then there's the conclusion. Oh, and the book doesn't end when the plot does. There's an additional chapter or three for why? If it was for feels, then bring back the characters that were involved. But that's not what happens. Three chapters for nothing and then the books ends, leaving the feel-good resolutions off-page. Go figure.
My reaction to the content is on me, since it's mostly from my own weird convergences of backgrounds. I figure I'll split the difference and give Space Trucker Jess three stars.
July 5, 2025
I couldn't get more than 10 paragraphs in due to the writing style which purposely uses bad grammar. It just wasn't readable for me.
I was able to read and enjoy the Expanse series which had the Belter lingo in it and it was only used for some of the dialogue. The narrative there was proper grammar and easy to read.
I was able to read and enjoy the Expanse series which had the Belter lingo in it and it was only used for some of the dialogue. The narrative there was proper grammar and easy to read.
July 25, 2025
Splendid Blend of Post-Cyberpunk and Space Opera Science Fiction
It’s difficult to imagine a more intoxicating blend of post-cyberpunk science fiction with space opera space opera science fiction, yet Matthew Kressel shows he’s a master of both in his riveting, quite engrossing, debut novel “Space Trucker Jess”. This is a wonderful mess of a novel, with Matthew relying on slang and introducing us to a character, Jessian Urania Darger, who is one of the most compelling protagonists I have encountered in recent speculative fiction. She reminds me a lot of the female protagonists featured in William Gibson’s classic “Cyberspace” trilogy, especially Molly, the mercenary protagonist in his debut novel “Neuromancer”, but here, in “Space Trucker Jess”, readers are hit from the onset with the dreams, hopes and fears of a compelling protagonist who is both the youngest spaceship captain in humanity’s merchant fleet and a computer and technology wizard who could have easily stepped out of the pages of William Gibson’s “Cyberspace” trilogy.
Kressel sends readers on a compelling trek to much of the vast space occupied by humanity in a distant, somewhat dystopian, future. Having been reared primarily by her daddy, a notorious scam artist imprisoned for his crime, Jess embarks on a seemingly hopeless quest looking for her daddy, who has suddenly, quite mysteriously, disappeared from his prison. Along the way we are treated to visions with alien gods and other, more mortal, aliens, as this sixteen-year-old with a serious chip on her shoulder, Jess, tries almost every conceivable angle in her epic, almost quixotic, quest to find her daddy, and be reunited with him. Kressel devotes ample prose to showing just how skilled Jess is as both a starship captain and mechanic, giving readers numerous descriptions of the interiors of many different kinds of starships. Yet not once does he lose sight of his main protagonist, making her a most compelling, often inspirational, character.
On a more personal note, I have known Matthew Kressel as the co-curator of New York City’s finest speculative fiction reading series, KGB Fantastic Fiction, for many years and I am only vaguely aware of his talents as a writer, all of which are on display in “Space Trucker Jess”. It is one of the most memorable recent works of post-cyberpunk and space opera speculative fiction that I have been fortunate to read, showing that Kressel is a master of form and style with regards to both speculative fiction subgenres. While I won’t say whether “Space Trucker Jess” is destined to be remembered as well as William Gibson’s justly celebrated “Cyberspace” trilogy, “Space Trucker Jess” is a remarkable debut novel from someone who should be viewed as an important voice in contemporary American speculative fiction. Run, don’t walk, to get a copy of Matthew Kressel’s fine novel and start reading; you’ll be richly rewarded.
It’s difficult to imagine a more intoxicating blend of post-cyberpunk science fiction with space opera space opera science fiction, yet Matthew Kressel shows he’s a master of both in his riveting, quite engrossing, debut novel “Space Trucker Jess”. This is a wonderful mess of a novel, with Matthew relying on slang and introducing us to a character, Jessian Urania Darger, who is one of the most compelling protagonists I have encountered in recent speculative fiction. She reminds me a lot of the female protagonists featured in William Gibson’s classic “Cyberspace” trilogy, especially Molly, the mercenary protagonist in his debut novel “Neuromancer”, but here, in “Space Trucker Jess”, readers are hit from the onset with the dreams, hopes and fears of a compelling protagonist who is both the youngest spaceship captain in humanity’s merchant fleet and a computer and technology wizard who could have easily stepped out of the pages of William Gibson’s “Cyberspace” trilogy.
Kressel sends readers on a compelling trek to much of the vast space occupied by humanity in a distant, somewhat dystopian, future. Having been reared primarily by her daddy, a notorious scam artist imprisoned for his crime, Jess embarks on a seemingly hopeless quest looking for her daddy, who has suddenly, quite mysteriously, disappeared from his prison. Along the way we are treated to visions with alien gods and other, more mortal, aliens, as this sixteen-year-old with a serious chip on her shoulder, Jess, tries almost every conceivable angle in her epic, almost quixotic, quest to find her daddy, and be reunited with him. Kressel devotes ample prose to showing just how skilled Jess is as both a starship captain and mechanic, giving readers numerous descriptions of the interiors of many different kinds of starships. Yet not once does he lose sight of his main protagonist, making her a most compelling, often inspirational, character.
On a more personal note, I have known Matthew Kressel as the co-curator of New York City’s finest speculative fiction reading series, KGB Fantastic Fiction, for many years and I am only vaguely aware of his talents as a writer, all of which are on display in “Space Trucker Jess”. It is one of the most memorable recent works of post-cyberpunk and space opera speculative fiction that I have been fortunate to read, showing that Kressel is a master of form and style with regards to both speculative fiction subgenres. While I won’t say whether “Space Trucker Jess” is destined to be remembered as well as William Gibson’s justly celebrated “Cyberspace” trilogy, “Space Trucker Jess” is a remarkable debut novel from someone who should be viewed as an important voice in contemporary American speculative fiction. Run, don’t walk, to get a copy of Matthew Kressel’s fine novel and start reading; you’ll be richly rewarded.
Did not finish
December 23, 2025dnf within a couple pages, couldn't deal with the over-stylization to be in the MC's voice
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews