Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion
Science Fiction
>
Welcome Sci-Fi Authors and Readers!


Amazon kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Unforeseen-Con...
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...

My name is Regina Sage. I'm an indie author and avid reader. Primarily fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, but I have a hungry brain so I'm often reading nonfiction, too.
To date, I've published one novella and one novel. My second novel is available for pre-order and will be officially released Sept. 19, 2023. If you'd like to learn more about me or my books, check out Ocean's Embrace:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Thanks for reading my post, looking forward to seeing your work/recommendations!

Synopsis/blurb
2044: The world is steeped in a planet-annihilating global war. The only way to save it is to travel backward in time. Bewildered maths teacher Murdo Ironside is recruited to join the League of Kairos, a secret agency for those few who possess the Time Gene, which confers the ability to turn back time.
But only four people alive have an active Time Gene. And their powers are limited. They can go back only a matter of hours. To save the doomed planet, they must join forces with other Time Travellers from the past, whom they must beam forward to their time using a perilous method known as chronoportation. As they prepare to change the past, the League must build a network of chronomotives - trains running through time – and search for a super-powerful time-traveller from the 1990s, known as the Anchor.
But the Anchor is frightened schoolgirl Roxy Malone, who loves but fears the power she can neither understand nor control, and which she is losing through lack of proper schooling. To save the League's ailing mission, Roxy must first achieve mastery of her powers in her own time. Can the League find her before the Time Gene itself kills her?
Or before she falls prey to Dark Forces from across time who want her dead?
www.lelacaille.com
https://www.amazon.com/Time.../dp/B0C......
I would be very happy to meet other authors as friends and to follow other indie authors, regardless of genre.


Vonnegut could spend an entire chapter describing a wet towel and I'd probably laugh the whole way through. Hamilton could weave ponderous worlds and since his series were sol long, I could stay immersed in them for ages.
My first book, The eom Expression: Beautiful Chaos - A Satirical Science Fiction Adventure, was my attempt at creating something I wanted most from both authors. I wanted a long science fiction story with plenty of interesting ideas to explore and enough satirical commentary to keep me entertained and laughing.
Let me know your thoughts.
BLURB:
Jeron Hayden yearns to explore and discover strange new worlds, but he’s just a shuttle pilot for hire.
Diverted by Enforcers, Jeron ends up on the wrong side of a dumpy orbital community over Saturn. He’s given a book he’s not supposed to have, granting him access to the rebellious tech black market.
Jeron becomes a smuggler, working with an illegal sentient AI.
Enforcers never stop enforcing, so Jeron and thousands of other rebels set out for Rieva, a beautiful world of endless potential. There, they form a new civilization based on freedom. Beer flows freely, and life is good.
The Enforcers have a mandate to stop the tech revolution underway on Rieva and an unlimited budget. War is the only possible outcome of such mandates.
With planet-ending weapons in play, monumental distractions can lead to mass death. The echoverse—a realm of entangled thoughts, emotions, and ideas, is a monumental distraction for Jeron.
Eom, an alien philosophy, holds the potential to reshape Jeron’s mind, allowing him to navigate the echoverse and possibly end the war. His guide to eom is a beautiful alien woman named Calira.
Your guide to eom is a sentient AI entity with no name. He was born amidst war. Along the way, he figured out how to get free beer, which would have been nice if he could drink it, so he’s got that going for him.
"The eom Expression" is a satirical science fiction adventure about the nature of existence, the mind, and individuality. It explores finding joy even amidst the uncertainty of a technological singularity. Enjoy the journey!
The eom Expression: Beautiful Chaos - A Satirical Science Fiction Adventure



I’m glad I didn’t, because I came to enjoy the story.
Now to the many things I liked. It started in the perfect place, which isn’t always easy for a writer to do. The main character is a thief, so the action begins with a theft. I began catching on to what the unusual names and terms stood for as they were used in context to what was happening. Same for the world the story takes place in. What the writer was doing, which I really liked once I caught on, was describe places and things in this world on the fly, without a lot of description or blocks of backstory. The descriptions were brief, which I like. I don’t want to read three pages about how a rose looks or smells. I like brevity. Just keep the story going. Same goes for the history of this world the story is set in. You learn about it as the story progresses, as you need to know. You don’t get chapters on what happened in the world before the story begins. You learn about that in little snippets that are peppered in as the story goes along. It was a little confusing at first, but I came to appreciate the style the further I got in the book.
Also, the characters are rich and likeable. Once again, you don’t get a lot of backstory, the author lets you know only the bare bones details of their histories when you need to know, and then only when these details are relevant to the story. The world the story is set in seems mundane at first, but you slowly learn how richly detailed and unusual it is. As I said, the pace was a little off-putting at first, but the story gathers steam as it goes. By the end it was racing along at a breakneck speed. By then I was totally enthralled with this unusual world and the quirky people in it. It ended with me definitely wanting more, and it ended in a way that makes me feel certain that a lot more is coming.
I have to comment on the romance. I’ve never read any novel where the main character is gay, and a gay romance figures prominently. It isn’t off-putting for me, merely something I am not used to. The fact that the thief is gay has no real bearing on the action, it’s just another detail of his character. The author doesn’t belabor the issue, just like he doesn’t pile on the backstory or waste time on lavish unnecessary descriptions.
I highly recommend this fantasy/science fiction book. A good beginning to what could be a great series.



I'm Nicholas Dufresne, author of A Planet to Nowhere. The book was recently published and is now on Goodreads and Amazon! The genre is science fiction. I've included the blurb for those interested.
Synopsis
Adrian thought his time as a human experiment was over, that he was done suffering and had finally died. Never did he expect to wake up somewhere new, somewhere alien and far different than he could've ever imagined.
Has he found salvation, or is a test subject all he's destined to be?
***
When a scouting mission brings Reya and her team to a star sector that doesn't support life, they stumble into far more than they first bargained for. The planet they thought was deserted contains secrets with far-reaching consequences.
Thank you for reading!

I am really intrigued by the synopsis of your book. I also write science fiction and recently published a time-travel novel.
I might not get round to reading it for a while, but it sounds really interesting.
All the best with your book,
Louise

Best wishes,
Louise

Well done!

I am really intrigued by the synopsis of your book. I also write science fiction and recently published a time-travel novel.
I might not get round to reading it for a while, but it s..."
Hi Louise, thank you for taking an interest in my work! I'd love to hear what you have to say about it when you read it! I've actually already written three other books in the series and I'm working on my fifth! If the story takes off, I'd like to publish the entire story.

I completely understand the long book problem. I decided to write what I thought needed to be written in its fullest possible form. I cut the exposition down to the necessities, but the voice of the narrator himself required me to allow space for his humorous/satirical jaunts.
Editing was not fun, but I found that after I fixed all of the "holy crap, I cannot believe I wrote this entire chapter" stuff, it got easier.
I'm working on a second book to follow along from the first. The premise of the first gives me a fairly open ended field of potential.
Did you do any free or discounted book promos? Did it help people get over their page number fears?

My book has only been out a few weeks - so not yet. I'm certainly considering Kindle Unlimited, but I don't have much business acumen or technical know-how.
Did you self-edit your book, or have someone else edit it? Trouble is, it would work out very expensive to have a book with a long word count professionally edited, and I could not afford to do this.
Did you join any read and review groups? If so, did they complain about reading such a long book? I'd like to join a read and review group, but am worried it might be deemed unfair as my book is comparatively long at 211,000 words.
Thanks for the follow!

Editing would have been unaffordable. I wrote this book with the intention of spending as little money as possible. So far, total spend has been ~$45 for Scrivener. Scrivener helped me keep the chapters and scenes organized, so it helped considerably with the editing process.
I'm not a perfect or experienced editor, but I know what bad looks like when I see it.
My editing process: A study in literary chaos.
First draft. Written completely in first person perspective of one of the MCs Jeron Hayden. My wife read the first half and told me she wants to know more about the other characters. So, I tried to write them from first person as well. It was a disaster.
Second draft. I wrote from the perspective of the the virtual sentient/sapient AI entity that emerged into the echoverse. He is semi-omniscient (as established on page 1) so I could write freely about other characters and maintain a consistent narrative tone. Since the first draft was practically a complete novel, I didn't have to work out much of an outline for the second draft.
First pass was me crying into a pillow for months. I fixed plot holes and obviously horrible paragraphs. Big stuff. I intentionally did not get into small problems so as not to get drawn into the grammatical quicksand.
Second pass was just detail touch-ups, continuity and spelling/grammar issues. I also embellished some of the scenes that I thought needed some spice.
Third pass was a read through on my iPad Books app. I did this to ensure I could focus on actually reading the story to see how it read without having to think about fixing small things along the way. I would just highlight the things I found and then I would go into Scrivener and fix them later. This was a good process because it forced me to keep reading through as a normal reader might without having to figure out how to fix the more complicated snags there and then.
Pass four was mostly formatting and loose ends. No crying was involved unless you count the various sad parts of the story.
I do know that there are a few typos. One of the typos is actually quite interesting. I accidentally (via a sloppy replace) capitalized the "o" in the word frozen. So there are a couple of times where you'll see "frOzen" because there is an alien word "Ozen," which was not properly capitalized throughout the book. The word refers to a time when the aliens were lost in a dark and empty expanse of space for decades, so the word frOzen evokes some sense of that experience even though it was just a typo caused by excessive trust in the search and replace function.
I am in one of the review groups here on Goodreads, but I have no idea what I'm trying to do in them. If there are others outside of Goodreads, I'd look into it.
As far as length is concerned, I think there are many readers that don't mind a long read. I used to rip through entire Peter F. Hamilton series. I love a long read. My biggest problem with a long read is that I get busy with other work. My wife and I are both realtors and we also own a travel agency, so I only have time in the early morning or just before dinner to get any reading in.

My book has only been out a few weeks - so not yet. I'm certainly considering Kindle Unlimited, but I don't have much business acumen or technical know-how.
Did you self-edit your book, ..."
I replied below... I wrote my reply, hit post and then realized I didn't write it as a reply.

There are plenty of long and chunky books on the shelves of your average bookstore.
But these are by "established" and traditionally published authors. I didn't realise that most new and indie authors write books of about 80 000 words. Until I wrote "The Time Gene" which is around 211,000 words. But it was nearly twice that, until I split it. It just would make no sense to split it any further, though.
I was wondering if you know of any read/review groups on Goodreads aimed at authors with a longer word count? Or perhaps know of other authors who might have a longer novel that might be introducing in forming a review syndicate, like the groups on here? Because if you have a long novel, it's difficult to get people to review it,
Best wishes
Louise

There are plenty of long and chunky books on the shelves of your average bookstore.
But these are by "established" and traditionally published authors. I didn't realise that most new and ..."
I don't know of any. I wouldn't mind having one, though I'm barely capable of navigating this site myself. I think we could find a few other self-published authors with long reads to see if they would join.
I thought about splitting my book into two books, but the problem was that the whole book has a very specific pace. The action builds alongside the technological advancement so as to mimic as closely as possible the exponential timeframe of the technological singularity event depicted in the story. If I split it up, I suppose there would be something like a complete story in the first book, but I just don't know that it would make much sense.
I'll look into a "long reads and reviews" type of community.
I do have a reddit group for readers and writers alike. You can post whatever you want there, but I also go into a lot of writer forums on Reddit. They helped tremendously with my blurb edits. I still hate my blurb, but it is at least marketable.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_...
Thanks for reaching out!



I'm a newly published indie sci-fi/dystopian author. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? This is my first book and I'm quite overwhelmed by how big everything feels during this process.
Imitari

Hi Jenna, Great to meet you. I published a new time-travel sci-fi book at the beginning of last month. I don't have many tips, but I will say there are a lot of read-and-review groups on Goodreads that are a safe way to get reviews without upsetting Amazon.
I read your blurb and your book "Imitari" sounds brilliant. I'd like to read it, but I've committed to reading and reviewing a few other people, but I've shelved it and I plan to get to it.
Good luck with your book!
Love Louise

Hi Jenna, Great to meet you. I published a new time-travel sci-fi book at the beginning of last month. I don't have many tips, but I will say there are a lot of read-and-revie..."
Hi Louise!
Thank you for replying and for mentioning the read/review groups. I will definitely check them out. I read your book's blurb as well and it sounds awesome. I can't wait to read it!

A distant future. A world transformed.
Remnants of a shattered moon traverse the skies, memorials to an ancient and nearly-forgotten conflict. In an isolated northern land, society is overseen by the reclusive, all-female, Guild of Dawnsingers, which holds a monopoly on advanced learning. Life seems peaceful and well-ordered; but are the Dawnsingers as benevolent as they seem? What secrets are they hiding?
And what really lies beyond the mountains in the East?
Orphan Jerya unexpectedly finds a home in the Dawnsingers' Guild, but her new life turns sour. Soon she finds herself struggling to reconcile the exhilaration of learning with her growing doubts about the very basis of the Guild's rule. Ultimately she faces an agonising choice which could utterly change her life, and the lives of her two most trusted friends.
Award-winning outdoor writer Jon Sparks turns to speculative fiction in the first book of the genre-stretching Shattered Moon series.
https://www.jonsparksauthor.com/the-s...

Título: El Quebrantamiento
Sinopsis:
¿Cuánto puede soportar el ser humano hasta ceder a su propia oscuridad?
La misteriosa Junta, desde lo más alto de la cúspide del poder, moldea las vidas de una civilización fragmentada, donde Cristofer, Héctor y Luca, se entrelazan en una espiral de secretos sepultados, traiciones mortales, y relatos desgarradores.
El Páramo Hispano, territorio de escasez, radiación y delincuencia, les espera.
¿Serán capaces de confrontar la sombra que se cierne sobre ellos?
Una historia cautivadora de lucha, revelaciones y redención, en un mundo donde la humanidad se aferra a su último suspiro.
¿Dónde encontrarla?: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0CGY4P4GT
También tengo publicado un libro de 27 relatos cortos que os podrían gustar. Hay de todo tipo de géneros.
Título: Relatos Trocados
¿Dónde encontrarlo?: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0CH5QH5GR
Muchas gracias y disfruten de un buen día.

I'm excited to announce the completion of my first sci-fi book. Well, It’s been out for weeks but I can give it away for honest feedback now. My writing may not be professional level but I wrote it word for word, with some writing tools to fix sentence structure, punctuation, etc.
Regardless of my experience, I had a blast writing it, and am already well into the second book. The third installment is outlined, potentially forming a trilogy, but I'm open to continuing the series based on interest.
I’ll give a brief description. The story unfolds a millennium from today, where society has reached utopian heights. The opening chapter lays the groundwork for the new human civilization. But, as the main character and crew set out on an assignment beyond our system, the narrative takes a chilling turn. What they find on Tau is both unusual and terrifying, plunging the book into sci-fi horror.
My goal is to provide a free book to as many readers as I can, without any promotional intentions. If this post violates a rule, I understand its removal.
You can find the full description on amazon or I have a science fiction section on my website.
https://a.co/d/bdFKssO
Echoes of Eden: Tau's Awakening

https://a.co/d/6BxBxm5
"Progeria: Science Fiction Thriller" is a captivating science fiction thriller featuring Dr. David Fischer, a brilliant genetic engineer, that is at the center of a clandestine lineage of hybrids who walk among us, concealing their extraordinary genetic origins.
These hybrids, born from an otherworldly collaboration between aliens and humans, harbor advanced intelligence and a unique sense of purpose, thanks to the infusion of alien DNA that encapsulates an evolved intellect and groundbreaking technology. Simultaneously, their human DNA provides the solution to a long-standing problem for the alien race – sterility.
Despite outwardly appearing as ordinary humans, these hybrids possess not only exceptional intelligence but also a flair for creativity and innovation. Their influence on the world triggers a remarkable transformation, slowing the relentless advance of global warming and instilling a temporary calm within humanity. However, beneath the surface, age-old tensions and the pursuit of lethal weapons persist.
Dr. Fischer finds himself entangled with a shadowy organization driven by malevolent intentions. Forced to develop a potentially catastrophic virus as a biological weapon, he is left with no choice but to comply. The lives of his wife and children hang in the balance, kidnapped by this sinister organization.
"Progeria" takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world where the boundaries between science and fiction blur. As David Fischer grapples with the moral dilemmas surrounding his work, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, and the true power of the hybrid lineage becomes a force to reckon with. This gripping tale explores the consequences of genetic manipulation, the complexities of human-alien collaboration, and the unyielding fight for survival in a world on the brink of change.
This is also a side story of the chapter "The Hybrids" from the book "The Alien Stabilizer Series".
I would be more than happy if you review it.
Thanks
PROGERIA: SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER

The full book description is below.
Thank you!
Larry Haley
In the year 2092, Destiny's father is arrested for treason, turning her world upside down. Destiny and her servant, Savannah, are forced to flee their home, embarking on a journey across a desolate, dystopian landscape. Uncertain of what awaits them on the other side due to the false propaganda they've been fed, they encounter Vincent and Magnus, who are fleeing economic devastation and starvation. At the border, will they be welcomed or compelled to return to a life of hardship and struggle?
These characters face unexpected challenges, pushing them to learn new ways of thinking about the world and their roles within it. As they navigate the contrasting societies of Zondus and Cadrius, the story underscores the importance of courage to challenge societal norms and the imperative of building a better world for all.
Transport your imagination to the year 2092. The world has been reshaped by artificial intelligence and robots. While some nations have descended into economic and social ruin, characterized by widespread unemployment and societal upheaval, a few have discovered paths to prosperity. This novella offers a thought-provoking exploration of social and ethical systems and their profound influence on our long-term future. Can courage, equality, and justice truly make a difference in a dystopian society?
Readers will undoubtedly find themselves captivated by the story's exploration of ethical values, social inequalities, and the potential for positive change. The narrative delves into themes that resonate with readers of all ages, igniting introspection and discussions about justice, equality, and the significance of critical thinking.

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin...
Your opinion is appreciated.
Thanks
Ernesto

I'm a newbie on this platform and have two published books on 'parental understanding of their children's emotional needs,' broken into four different ages and stages of development. I'm working on the older age 12-17 years and young adults 18-23 years afterward. In addition to my writing, I also enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction books. I'm glad to be part of this community and look forward to learning from you all.
Please find the book links below:
0-4 years
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-...
5-11 years
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-...
Your views, opinions and suggestions will be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Vera

The ebook edition of Escape to Cadrius is now discounted on Amazon for $0.99! The promotion ends Friday, Nov. 24.
It is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Here is the book description...
In the year 2092, Destiny's father is arrested for treason, turning her world upside down. Destiny and her servant, Savannah, are forced to flee their home, embarking on a journey across a desolate, dystopian landscape. Uncertain of what awaits them on the other side due to the false propaganda they've been fed, they encounter Vincent and Magnus, who are fleeing economic devastation and starvation. At the border, will they be welcomed or compelled to return to a life of hardship and struggle?
These characters face unexpected challenges, pushing them to learn new ways of thinking about the world and their roles within it. As they navigate the contrasting societies of Zondus and Cadrius, the story underscores the importance of courage to challenge societal norms and the imperative of building a better world for all.
Transport your imagination to the year 2092. The world has been reshaped by artificial intelligence and robots. While some nations have descended into economic and social ruin, characterized by widespread unemployment and societal upheaval, a few have discovered paths to prosperity. This novella offers a thought-provoking exploration of social and ethical systems and their profound influence on our long-term future. Can courage, equality, and justice truly make a difference in a dystopian society?
Readers will undoubtedly find themselves captivated by the story's exploration of ethical values, social inequalities, and the potential for positive change. The narrative delves into themes that resonate with readers of all ages, igniting introspection and discussions about justice, equality, and the significance of critical thinking.

Black Friday (November 24) Giveaway.
Free download of the Alien Stabilizer Series!
https://a.co/d/8llk729
Be the first to review it!
ThanksThe Alien Stabilizer Series

My website is: http://thetempestverse.com
Thanks to all who express an interest!

Enjoy!


Just letting you know my publisher is running a Goodreads giveaway for my debut novel JUBILEE here:
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
Got to be in it to win it!
Stephen
x

My book:
Alien Ambition and the Human Condition
https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Ambition...
Takes a look a big look at.... What if?
Free on Amazon this weekend!

A gripping story of exploration, mystery, and psychological transformation as a team of four people embarks on an unprecedented journey to the center of the Earth. The narrative unfolds aboard The Pioneer, an advanced underwater drilling ship equipped for a groundbreaking geological research mission.
The team comprises three men and a woman, each possessing unique skills and backgrounds, united by their shared passion for unlocking the secrets hidden beneath the Earth's crust. As The Pioneer descends into uncharted depths, the crew faces the challenges of navigating treacherous underwater landscapes, unknown geological phenomena, and the ever-present pressure of the unknown.
As they delve deeper, the crew begins to uncover astonishing facts that defy conventional scientific understanding. The Earth's core holds enigmatic secrets, ancient mysteries, and a geological history that challenges everything they thought they knew.
Strange vibrations and unexplained noises from the depths create an eerie backdrop, inducing a sense of time disturbance and deep psychological changes. The crew must confront their fears, question their understanding of the world, and navigate the thin line between scientific curiosity and the potential consequences of tampering with the Earth's most profound mysteries.
https://a.co/d/96q31yn
REGRESSION: A PRODUCT OF YOUR IMAGINATION
Books mentioned in this topic
Shadows of the Forgotten (other topics)Falling Up (other topics)
Ghosts of the Scattered Kingdoms (other topics)
The Eden Succession: Stories and Essays on Memory, Machine, and What Survives (other topics)
The Tox Shot: The 'Z' Word --- A Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Survival Thriller (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert P. Edwards (other topics)David E Graham (other topics)
John D. Clay (other topics)
Stephen B. Anthony (other topics)
Bern B. Hughes (other topics)
More...
The second edition is: The Descent From Anvil and can be found on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9qxdYk9
The new novel: Tilt Time can be found on Amazon:
https://a.co/d/cbJQv9I
There is also a Goodreads giveaway for this work from Aug 12th through Aug 28th.
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
Thank you for your time and interest in these works.