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Welcome & Goodbye, Earth
PLEASE NOTE: WELCOME AND GOODBYE, EARTH IS A CONTINUOUS SERIAL RATHER THAN A SERIES OF STANDALONE NOVELS.
Earth lies in the Forbidden Zone - but they have been watching
The galaxy is far more crowded, and stranger, than we know. Earth is off limits and protected. But not for much longer.
A young man named Sam Jacobs receives a strange image on his phone - a picture of a telescope-like dark cylinder with neon glyphs in an alien language. Shortly after, he has another telekinetic episode which results in the death of his entire family. These two seemingly unrelated events lead him on a search for answers about who and what he truly is.
Sam thinks he’s going mad, but he has a critical role to play in the future of a Galaxy on the brink of resource collapse.
This is the story of Earth’s grand galactic entrance – and what happens next
This is only the beginning, for the people of Earth, and for Sam. He meets an enigmatic figure named Tharo who guides him through his curious destiny, and with whom he shares an intense psychic bond.
But this is not just about Earth’s perspective - the Zan Galaxy is looking back at us as well: other voices from around the Milky Way interweave with Sam’s foray into space.
Our galactic premiere is a moment of great gladness and joy - or so we have been told
This is not your standard space opera. It is a story told through varying perspectives via articles and transcripts that speak to events happening in the wider galaxy
Welcome & Goodbye, Earth: Chapters 1 - 6
Book one: Welcome & Goodbye, Earth > Chapters 1 - 6
Book two: The Unsustainable Systems > Chapters 7 - 17
Book three: The Volgarian Promise > Chapters 18 - 33
Book four: The Masters of Yesteryear > Chapters 34 - 42
Earth lies in the Forbidden Zone - but they have been watching
The galaxy is far more crowded, and stranger, than we know. Earth is off limits and protected. But not for much longer.
A young man named Sam Jacobs receives a strange image on his phone - a picture of a telescope-like dark cylinder with neon glyphs in an alien language. Shortly after, he has another telekinetic episode which results in the death of his entire family. These two seemingly unrelated events lead him on a search for answers about who and what he truly is.
Sam thinks he’s going mad, but he has a critical role to play in the future of a Galaxy on the brink of resource collapse.
This is the story of Earth’s grand galactic entrance – and what happens next
This is only the beginning, for the people of Earth, and for Sam. He meets an enigmatic figure named Tharo who guides him through his curious destiny, and with whom he shares an intense psychic bond.
But this is not just about Earth’s perspective - the Zan Galaxy is looking back at us as well: other voices from around the Milky Way interweave with Sam’s foray into space.
Our galactic premiere is a moment of great gladness and joy - or so we have been told
This is not your standard space opera. It is a story told through varying perspectives via articles and transcripts that speak to events happening in the wider galaxy
Welcome & Goodbye, Earth: Chapters 1 - 6
Book one: Welcome & Goodbye, Earth > Chapters 1 - 6
Book two: The Unsustainable Systems > Chapters 7 - 17
Book three: The Volgarian Promise > Chapters 18 - 33
Book four: The Masters of Yesteryear > Chapters 34 - 42
- GenresAmazon
133 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2025
About the author
Benjamin Wuyts
4 books3 followersBenjamin Wuyts is a Belgian science fiction writer whose work blends space opera, serialised storytelling and a love of the nostalgia and pop culture of his upbringing. He currently writes and publishes Welcome & Goodbye, Earth, an ongoing science fiction serial that combines traditional storytelling with messages, reports, comics, blog entries, audio diaries and other in-universe media. Set in a galaxy struggling with overpopulation and a resource crisis, the series explores kinetic powers, immortality, aliens and a galactic civilisation over 800 million years old. Readers can follow the continuation of this story, along with other tales by Benjamin, on his Patreon.
Born and raised in Ghent, Belgium, Benjamin grew up in a lively household with brothers and a sister. He now lives in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with his wife and Luna, the family dog, who, in Benjamin’s words, often treats him like the hired help with no apparent right to the bed, the couch or, well, anywhere else.
Before becoming a writer, Benjamin trained as a baker and pastry chef. In what he considers a lifetime ago, he left that life behind in search of something that truly sparked his passion. That search led him, quite randomly, to scribbling on a bench one day with nothing but a pen and paper. His handwriting was so illegible that even months later he sometimes needed to squint to decipher it. From those humble, messy beginnings, the Welcome & Goodbye, Earth series was born.
Born and raised in Ghent, Belgium, Benjamin grew up in a lively household with brothers and a sister. He now lives in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with his wife and Luna, the family dog, who, in Benjamin’s words, often treats him like the hired help with no apparent right to the bed, the couch or, well, anywhere else.
Before becoming a writer, Benjamin trained as a baker and pastry chef. In what he considers a lifetime ago, he left that life behind in search of something that truly sparked his passion. That search led him, quite randomly, to scribbling on a bench one day with nothing but a pen and paper. His handwriting was so illegible that even months later he sometimes needed to squint to decipher it. From those humble, messy beginnings, the Welcome & Goodbye, Earth series was born.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 10, 2025
Imagine being at your favorite coffee place, sipping your coffee of choice, when two powerful space aliens run in through the door and a fight to the death breaks out. That's the story of Sam Jacobs’ life — and it'll never be the same again. Because this short but punchy first book sets the scene for a series of adventures far from the Earth that we and Sam knew and loved. Here, we — humans together with Sam — are introduced to the Universe as it has always been. It was just hidden from us all this time.
The story is very engaging. It’s full of mysteries and new worlds to discover (no spoilers!) — I just couldn’t put the book down, and sadly, I was through it before I knew it. What I really enjoyed was the time and effort that clearly went into the world building — from the smallest details in the names of the life forms to the great and vast history of it all. Wuyts has clearly done his research, as his scientific explanations are factual and easy to follow without becoming heavy info-dumps. Some of it is even introduced in the style of Douglas Adams’ "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy". But dear fellow Millennials, don’t panic — it’s funny, but it’s not that "funny".
Some of the mysteries are answered in this book, but most of the Universe’s secrets are saved for the following ones. I can’t wait to read about Sam's adventures in the next book!
I was lucky to receive a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The rest of you mortals will have to wait for the official release.
The story is very engaging. It’s full of mysteries and new worlds to discover (no spoilers!) — I just couldn’t put the book down, and sadly, I was through it before I knew it. What I really enjoyed was the time and effort that clearly went into the world building — from the smallest details in the names of the life forms to the great and vast history of it all. Wuyts has clearly done his research, as his scientific explanations are factual and easy to follow without becoming heavy info-dumps. Some of it is even introduced in the style of Douglas Adams’ "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy". But dear fellow Millennials, don’t panic — it’s funny, but it’s not that "funny".
Some of the mysteries are answered in this book, but most of the Universe’s secrets are saved for the following ones. I can’t wait to read about Sam's adventures in the next book!
I was lucky to receive a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The rest of you mortals will have to wait for the official release.
March 9, 2026
Welcome & Goodbye, Earth is an intriguing opening installment to a continuous series that trades a traditional narrative arc for an exciting introduction to a new, much larger universe. The story follows Sam Jacobs, whose life unravels after a strange alien image and a violent telekinetic episode push him into a search for answers about who (and what) he really is.
The serial format uses articles, transcripts, and shifting perspectives to offer glimpses of events happening far beyond Earth. I found this structure easy to follow and a refreshing way to explore multiple viewpoints without losing momentum. Same is a relatable protagonist, and I think readers will connect with him emotionally.
The worldbuilding feels fresh, and the glimpses of the wider Zan Galaxy were both vivid and confusing in a way that felt intentional. I occasionally found myself unsure how certain pieces fit together, but I enjoyed the feeling of discovering new technologies, alien cultures, and distant political tensions alongside the characters.
The pacing is solid, leaning more towards mysterious with a touch of darkness, and I was compelled to keep reading primarily because I wanted to understand the bigger picture.
Overall, this is a strong and promising start to something much larger. Readers who enjoy expansively built sci-fi worlds, such as The Expanse and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, may find a lot to enjoy here. Those who prefer more traditional story arcs or more immediate payoff might prefer to wait for more installments, but as an opening, Welcome & Goodbye, Earth is an exciting introduction to an ambitious universe.
My thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and Benjamin Wuyts for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
The serial format uses articles, transcripts, and shifting perspectives to offer glimpses of events happening far beyond Earth. I found this structure easy to follow and a refreshing way to explore multiple viewpoints without losing momentum. Same is a relatable protagonist, and I think readers will connect with him emotionally.
The worldbuilding feels fresh, and the glimpses of the wider Zan Galaxy were both vivid and confusing in a way that felt intentional. I occasionally found myself unsure how certain pieces fit together, but I enjoyed the feeling of discovering new technologies, alien cultures, and distant political tensions alongside the characters.
The pacing is solid, leaning more towards mysterious with a touch of darkness, and I was compelled to keep reading primarily because I wanted to understand the bigger picture.
Overall, this is a strong and promising start to something much larger. Readers who enjoy expansively built sci-fi worlds, such as The Expanse and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, may find a lot to enjoy here. Those who prefer more traditional story arcs or more immediate payoff might prefer to wait for more installments, but as an opening, Welcome & Goodbye, Earth is an exciting introduction to an ambitious universe.
My thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and Benjamin Wuyts for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
November 8, 2025
I was thrilled to get an early copy of my friend's work and it did not disappoint! "Welcome & Goodbye, Earth" is a fantastic start to a new sci-fi series. The book creates an incredibly detailed universe that feels ancient and vast. I was immediately drawn into the story of Sam, a man with terrifying powers who is rescued from Earth just as it's dragged into galactic society. The ideas are huge from galactic reality shows to ancient alien prophecies and psychic bonds and they all come together seamlessly.
The narrative follows Sam Jacobs, a man haunted by destructive psychic powers he can't control, who is whisked away from Earth just as it is forcibly introduced to a galactic community that has been watching humanity for eons. The world-building is the star here; from the bureaucratic absurdity of a planetary "inauguration" to the deep lore of the Zan galaxy, the Volgarians, the mysterious First Ones, and the psychic "Cattarians," every detail feels considered and rich. The use of mixed media like in-universe articles, official reports, and journal entries brilliantly fleshes out the setting without resorting to info-dumps. A must-read for fans of complex, character-driven space operas
The narrative follows Sam Jacobs, a man haunted by destructive psychic powers he can't control, who is whisked away from Earth just as it is forcibly introduced to a galactic community that has been watching humanity for eons. The world-building is the star here; from the bureaucratic absurdity of a planetary "inauguration" to the deep lore of the Zan galaxy, the Volgarians, the mysterious First Ones, and the psychic "Cattarians," every detail feels considered and rich. The use of mixed media like in-universe articles, official reports, and journal entries brilliantly fleshes out the setting without resorting to info-dumps. A must-read for fans of complex, character-driven space operas
November 6, 2025
I had the chance to read this book before publication, and I must say, this book reads like a movie! Wuyts starts the book with altering short flashes of different timepoints and perspectives, balancing a growing list of questions with releasing constant hints of what is about to happen. He keeps you curious and triggered in a rollercoaster that perfectly fits the discovery of a universe so much bigger than what we as humans currently know of.
As the book evolves, Wuyts slowly builds up a story around the main character Sam, without letting you forget there is much more going on then only Sam's discovery what exactly is making him so different from his fellow humans.
These first chapters for sure tickled me and I am very curious about the next chapters of Welcome, Goodbye, Earth to learn more about how we, and Sam, have a place in the immense universe we did not yet know about before!
As the book evolves, Wuyts slowly builds up a story around the main character Sam, without letting you forget there is much more going on then only Sam's discovery what exactly is making him so different from his fellow humans.
These first chapters for sure tickled me and I am very curious about the next chapters of Welcome, Goodbye, Earth to learn more about how we, and Sam, have a place in the immense universe we did not yet know about before!
November 15, 2025
Very solid debut novel!
I really liked the format of the book, where information from different sources (such as recordings, blog posts etc.), POVs and timelines is presented, and it is up to the reader to put the story together. Of course, there are still a lot of questions remaining, but I'm very excited to see where Sam's story goes in the sequels.
The author clearly put a lot of thought and effort into the world building and in which order and how much information to give for the best experience for the reader. There are some very interesting concepts and you get a real feel of how vast the galaxy really is.
I would like to thank the author for providing an early copy of his book! All opinions are my own.
I really liked the format of the book, where information from different sources (such as recordings, blog posts etc.), POVs and timelines is presented, and it is up to the reader to put the story together. Of course, there are still a lot of questions remaining, but I'm very excited to see where Sam's story goes in the sequels.
The author clearly put a lot of thought and effort into the world building and in which order and how much information to give for the best experience for the reader. There are some very interesting concepts and you get a real feel of how vast the galaxy really is.
I would like to thank the author for providing an early copy of his book! All opinions are my own.
October 31, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a quick but interesting read and I’m curious to see how the story continues.
It has a lot of unique characters, new worlds to discover, a good amount of world building and it also gives you a nice bit of history about the Galaxy.
I also think the use of blog posts and audiologs at the end of the chapters is a really nice touch. This book also has a glossary at the back that explains in more detail about certain names, planets and terminology that are mentioned throughout the book and I found this very helpful, especially as I’m still quite new to sci-fi.
It has a lot of unique characters, new worlds to discover, a good amount of world building and it also gives you a nice bit of history about the Galaxy.
I also think the use of blog posts and audiologs at the end of the chapters is a really nice touch. This book also has a glossary at the back that explains in more detail about certain names, planets and terminology that are mentioned throughout the book and I found this very helpful, especially as I’m still quite new to sci-fi.
November 10, 2025
Welcome & Goodbye, Earth immediately caught me with the main character's set up and the fascinating narrative structure using seemingly disparate snippets of story weaving together into something EPIC.
As an ongoing serial, I know there's a lot more to come before all my questions are answered, but I look forward to seeing where it goes. The massive universe the author is creating has incredible depth, so if you love space epics, world building, and series like The Expanse, then get ready to sink into a new scifi that promises complex wonder ahead.
arc.
As an ongoing serial, I know there's a lot more to come before all my questions are answered, but I look forward to seeing where it goes. The massive universe the author is creating has incredible depth, so if you love space epics, world building, and series like The Expanse, then get ready to sink into a new scifi that promises complex wonder ahead.
arc.
December 10, 2025
Absolutely brilliant world building, super interesting characters and an overall very engaging piece of writing. Extremely hyped for the next books.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews