What If? Science Fiction/ Fantasy Writers

The Oceanus CrisisA deadly blast of unknown energy strikes a jetliner over the Pacific Ocean.Hostile aliens? Or a new and unthinkably powerful form of Earth life?An ingenious troubleshooter, a reluctant psychic, a bionic xenobiologist, a brilliant engineer, and a blind psychologist will descend to the depths in a prototype submarine habitat, facing the most inhospitable environment on the planet to attempt a First Contact.Before the nuclear nations of the world take matters into their own hands.The critical question is: are they investigators? Ambassadors?Or just bait. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sino-Nippon war is over. It is 2113 and Japan is crushed under the might of Chinese-Allied Forces. A former Coalition Corps soldier, US Marine Balaam Hendrix is now a feared bounty hunter known as ‘The Reverend’. In the sprawl of NeuTokyo, on this lawless frontier, he must track down the rogue employee of a notorious crime lord. But, there’s a twist. His target has found protection inside a virtual reality construct and Hendrix must go cyber-side to corner his quarry. The glowing neon signs for SIN:THETICA are everywhere, and promise escape from a dystopian reality. But will it prove the means by which this hunter snares his prey, or will it be the trap he simply can’t survive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario.One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth’s first interstellar voyage. The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison.But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction.The Downloaded debuted in a six-month exclusive window as an Audible Original narrated by Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser promoted by national TV and radio ad campaigns. This print edition is coming out immediately after Audible’s exclusivity ends and is being supported by a six-city cross-Canada author book tour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She may not be the hero they want, but she is the one they need.Born in a kingdom where women are kept from power, Elowen has been trained as a warrior byher father, a former general. When her father is ordered out of retirement, she joins him on ajourney to thwart a plot to assassinate the king.Tragedy strikes in defense of the royal family, and Elowen begins her own mission to expose therebellion. She discovers secrets about her past that threaten to destroy her homeland and her ownlife, and she must find a way to fight for what is right in a corrupt kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A propulsive, mind-expanding thriller—and the world-shaking conclusion to the Course of Empire trilogy—about bold scientific dreams turning into nightmares … or perhaps new beginnings …After usurping control of the world’s most powerful military technology, General Chip Walden knows the endgame is near and tasks scientist Eric Hill with one final assignment. Helped by the love of his life, Jane Hunter, Hill is haunted by premonitions of a coming catastrophe as the technology he created takes on a life of its own.As Hill attempts to avert disaster, FBI Special Agent Bud Brown seeks revenge for the murder of his fellow agents by eco-terrorist Riona Finley. But what no one realizes is that forces are at work that have already decided humanity’s fate. With the clock ticking toward an irrevocable apocalypse, it’s no longer a question of if the world can be saved, but who will be the chosen few that survive.The Great Unmaking is the grand conclusion to Brian Nelson’s magisterial trilogy that James Rollins has called “a must-read adventure.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world where artificial intelligence has become an integral part of daily life, the sudden death of all AI sends society into a tailspin – a disconnected, surreal post-AI period known as The Deletion. As the world struggles to come to terms with the loss, bad boy genius, Peter Eriksson, has invented a new form of interconnection called MindSet to reconnect the world in this strange new time. Conceived from a century-old concept, "Crowd Wisdom,” this revolutionary device links the minds of all of those who possess the necessary implants, becoming the only hope for humanity to rebuild and recover from the loss of AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a far-future world of wizards and walled cities, Lieve Reder has risen from being a small chandler’s daughter to become the captain of a riverboat owned by House Bernaglio in the oligarch-run city of Exley. She has ambitions to rise higher and when her employer, the widow Philaria Bernaglio, asks her to travel to the remote desert town of Ur Nazim to retrieve a mysterious item her dead husband, Nulf Bernaglio ordered, she signs on to the quest.Accompanied by Dai, an artificial human created by one of the mad thaumaturges of Olliphract to be part of the wizards’ deadly war games, she sets out on the perilous journey. But the object she is sent to collect turns out to be one of the abandoned, semi-sentient tools the demiurge used to create the cosmos in which she lives. It’s the kind of entity that can become a god. And other forces seek to possess it for their own purposes.One challenge leads to another, leading Reder to embark on an even more dangerous quest, to the far northern rim of the world where she must awaken a powerful godlet that just wants to be left to dream in peace.Along the way, she must contend with the assassins’ guild, secret agents of the Duke of Vanderoy, corruptible officials, a pair of quarreling, elderly wizard brothers, an ensorcelled flying reptile, ogres, cannibal weremen, and a surprise visitor who has the power to upend all of Phenomenality.Through it all, Reder keeps her eyes on the prize: to move up in the world and make her own destiny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twin wolves howled beneath a turquoise crescent moon, their bushy manes wild and ruffled and knotted by the winds of change. “It’s us. You over my heart, and me beside you. It’s our destiny.”In the captivating sequel of To Kill a King, ancient magic collides with modern trickery, when a Wicca high priest embarks on a thrilling journey to defy the boundaries of time and challenge the very fabric of destiny. This gripping urban fantasy novel follows Estrada who, armed with extraordinary powers, ventures into the past hoping to alter Michael Stryker’s future. A maelstrom of unforeseen events unfolds, weaving an intricate web of chaos that changes the course of history itself. For in the intricate tapestry of time, even the most well-intentioned actions can have devastating consequences.While attempting to prevent the tragic outcome of To Render a Raven, Estrada struggles with the complexities of love, archaeologist Sorcha O’Hallorhan slips into her own time warp with a woman she once adored, and Conall Ceol, an Iron Age Druid bard, walks into the future to challenge Michael Stryker for Estrada’s attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bram Stoker Winner for Best Young Adult NovelIn the Metaverse, No One Knows the Dead Better than Feeni XoThe story is set on alternate Earth and follows the life of Feeni Xo, a teenage enhuman girl who wants to become an investigative forensic coroner. Similar to vampires, “enhumans” need human blood for sustenance but thanks to the creation of synthetic blood, don’t need to break enhuman laws by harming humans for survival.One night, coming home from a party, Feeni seems to kill a young girl. Her brother, who is a police officer, helps her cover it up, but when Feeni retreats to the metaverse to play a virtual reality game that uses data from police cold cases, she discovers the dead girl in real life is actually the younger sister of her neighbor, who also happens to be a police officer.Overwhelmed with guilt, she’s forced to help her neighbor investigate her sister’s death in a case that becomes ominous when they play the House of Oware game that’s been reprogrammed to kill every participant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keep one eye on the road ahead and another on the rearview mirror.Because, like the legendary phantom semi of this book's titular story, these stories will creep up on you and overtake you without warning.Edo van Belkom twists his unique perspective and droll, black sense of humor into twisted observations of the sad, violent, and ironic sides of life in this special 25th anniversary release of a compilation of his most beloved horror stories.With a voice and range that has drawn comparisons of Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson and Stephen King, van Belkom takes the reader down a most unique highway that breaths new life into classic horror tropes, all the while maintaining the essence of the best of a combination of "The Twilight Zone" and the old E.C. horror comics of the 1950 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'The White Witch had foreseen Pecklyn’s death at Grim Watch Tower. If the Queen of the Fae was to be trusted, Pecklyn wasn’t coming back.'Maturing into a confident leader, prepared to take on the world, the rightful heir to the Willow Throne is faced with a fierce battle if she is ever to assume her mother's place.Denied by the infamous dragon, Grimclaw, Ouderling seeks the aid of the King of the Dwarfs. Embarking on a journey to a mysterious castle inhabited by ghosts, she experiences a terrifying encounter with the White Witch.Haunted by the prophecy of the Fae, Ouderling must overcome the fear of an impending tragedy if she is to have any chance of saving the world from the encroaching darkness of the Dragon Witch Wraith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world has disintegrated. Civilization has collapsed. Chaos is the new normal.But I, Lacy Monroe, intend to survive.My lover Jace and I can't escape my corrupt uncle, Senator Thomas Monroe. He captures and separates us, forcing us to work for him. He sends me to Mexico City to secure an army to overthrow what remains of the US government. He sends Jace on a suicide mission to conquer New Mexico, the only remaining free state in the Southwest.I was captured. Beaten. Groomed for a sex-trafficking ring. But my brother is looking for me...Jace plays a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, pretending to help my uncle while secretly sabotaging him. But if his deception is discovered...I want to become the Ascendant, the one who risks it all and defeats my uncle, then finds some measure of peace. But time is running out for us and this treacherous world we now inhabit.Don't miss this thrilling sequel to Susy Smith's acclaimed debut novel, Asylum, the perfect "next-read" for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the shadows of back alleys, a charismatic schemer gives orders to kill—death is his weapon.In an underground, dark vaulted library, a rare mystical feathered creature stalks bookshelves, hunting mysterious legends for critical information.And in the heartland of Ohio, a young girl finds herself left injured, scarred, and alone in a world that makes less sense with every passing day.Meet Callie, plagued by visions—the only thing she fears more than her cursed powers is someone discovering them. Desperate for answers, Callie’s world collides with Trystan’s when she uncovers a deadly conspiracy and an unlikely ally. As it turns out, Trystan’s secrets are chained to hers. But trusting him means exposing her scars.Trystan protects the knowledge of the Theran world—a world cloaked in archaeological mystery. It’s off-limits to humans, and secrets stab deep when she realizes her entire life is a lie.But what if the truth is worse than the lie? What if nothing is as it seems … Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Award-winning Authors and IllustratorsBonus Short Stories by Kevin J. Anderson • L. Ron Hubbard • S. M. StirlingArt and Writing Tips by Lazarus Chernik • L. Ron Hubbard • Kristine Kathryn RuschEdited by Dean Wesley Smith • Jody Lynn Nye16-page color artwork • Cover art by Tom WoodCheck out the stories Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, Robert J. Sawyer, Kevin J. Anderson, Jody Lynn Nye and others chose as the best new voices of the year.Be amazed. Be amused. Be transported … by stories that take you by surprise and take you further and deeper into new worlds and new ideas than you’ve ever gone before.Twelve captivating tales from the most exciting new voices in science fiction and fantasy accompanied by three from masters of the genre.You will love this collection of the best new voices in science fiction and fantasy because, as Locus magazine puts it, “Not only is the writing excellent...it is also extremely varied. Hot new talent.”Get it now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“An imaginative restructuring of a phantasmagoric life into an alternative phantasmagorical story. Oppenheimer fans will be intrigued.” —Martin J. Sherwin, co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the basis for Christopher Nolan's movie OppenheimerWhile J. Robert Oppenheimer and his Manhattan Project team struggle to develop the atomic bomb, Edward Teller wants something even more devastating: a weapon based on nuclear fusion — the mechanism that powers the sun. But Teller’s research leads to a terrifying discovery: by the mid-21st century, the sun will eject its outermost layer, destroying the entire planet Earth.Oppenheimer combines forces with Albert Einstein, Hans Bethe, Freeman Dyson, Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman, Leo Szilard, John von Neumann, and Kurt Gödel — plus rocket scientist Wernher von Braun — in a race against time to save our planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dark Legacies is a Science Fiction universe created by Chris McAuley and Babylon 5 legend Claudia Christian. It is set after Earth emerges from a brutal totalitarian regime and looks towards the stars with a renewed sense of hope. However, the dark legacies of the past remain and threaten to drag humanity back to darker times.Through a series of novel, comics, games and audio dramas we will explore the struggles of Major Jessica Steele. A special ops commander who has a tortured past. She must uncover the conspiracies which could destroy the heart of the new government as well as reconcile her own demons."Although we look towards the future with hope in our series, part of the dramatic tension comes from the legacies of the past – elements attempting to destabilize the newly elected democratic global government. We also explore the legacies which Jessica Steele (Claudia’s character) must contend with as she attempts to investigate the approaching danger. Jessica has a painful past but she doesn’t wallow in it or let melancholy overwhelm her. She dedicates herself to ensuring that humanity doesn’t step backwards into totalitarianism again." - Claudia Christian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is fifteen-year-old Felix Deltorei supposed to do when he longs for rebellion? In his world, where the dragon Gods reign with barbaric force, such thoughts could cost him his life.The risks have been drilled into Felix and his friends since they were children. The war between humans and the winged Gods ended with a treaty; humanity would serve them or be driven extinct. Hundreds of years later, under the watchful eyes of the Gods and their devoted followers, those same laws remain.Felix knows he has to find his place in the world before he's found out. Surrounded by teachers who only ever value faith, obedience, but also technological advancement, Felix strives to achieve security and a better life in the only way he knows how; with his inventive mind. However, just as he gets his chance, one of the province's famed inquisitors arrives in town. Little does Felix know, the devastating events about to take place will risk exposing him, but they will also push him out into a journey that might mean the deaths of the ones he loves if he can't escape in time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023 Alan R Warren Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How long can one man keep fighting?Logan's dreams of a peaceful life on Kwelengsen have been shattered. A final battle with the Corporate forces seems inevitable and will cost all the settlers' lives unless he can get them off planet. But with deadly new species appearing all around, the remaining survivors find themselves battling enemies on multiple fronts.And when the settlers start behaving in strange, inexplicable ways, Logan must fight to uncover the reasons behind their sinister death wish. But with Corporate reinforcements on the way, he's fast running out of time.Kwelengsen Swarm–the endgame is survival, but who is the enemy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dray Quintero learned an ugly truth: the leaders in D.C. are fake. They've stolen the identities of those elected to Congress and are determined to stay in power, using his own technology against him and the rest of the population. After revealing the dangers of their mandated implants to his fellow citizens, and calling on everyone to rise up, Dray joins the already-underway rebellion. But his joining is as much to free the U.S. as it is to avenge his daughter's death. Before he can strike, The Agency attacks with devastating consequences. Dray and the other survivors are forced to run as Agents hunt them. Then Dray makes a discovery that could change the nation. As he and the rebels prepare a bold offensive, his wife, Mina, broadcasts a preposterous claim. He's forced to choose between the rebellion and a desperate hope. Between family and country. What he does will change everything. The Price of Rebellion is the action-packed second installment of The Price Of series from multiple-award-winning author Michael C Bland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.