Science Fiction Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: There’s No Basketball on Mars by Craig Leener

There's No Basketball on Mars by Craig Leener

Author Craig Leener delivers an inspiring story of reaching impossible dreams, despite impossible odds, in his new YA novel There’s No Basketball on Mars, a stirring dream-fueled adventure.

Depicting a character on the autistic spectrum without falling into tropes or unfair stereotypes is challenging for some authors, but Leener approaches this protagonist with compassion, patience, grace, and humor. Lawrence Tuckerman is the sympathetic beating heart of this brilliantly told tale. Although his particular condition makes it more challenging for him to navigate a busy world of noise and people, it has made him a mathematical prodigy, a fact that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-06-15T07:04:17+02:00May 23rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Predator/Nomad by Daniel Micko

Predator/Nomad by Daniel Micko A conspiratorial novel of progress, royalty, love, and betrayal that moves at a relentless pace, Predator/Nomad by Daniel Micko is a bold and breathless read.

A doctor on the edge of a species-changing breakthrough and the twin sister of a Saudi prince are an unlikely pair, and their deviant tryst is doomed from the start. Jordan’s work in the field of genetic manipulation and cloning puts her in bed with Afghani nationalists, and when the crown prince dies under mysterious circumstances, Saleh is forced to take his place in the royal spotlight. Presenting a behind-the-scenes look at the dangerous nexus […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-11-28T14:02:02+02:00May 20th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Pike’s Progress by John J Spearman

Pike's Progress by John J Spearman

Pike’s Progress by John J Spearman is an action-splashed and cathartic installment of his innovative sci-fi military saga.

The Alliance has retaken control of some planets from HUW, but their previous power is far from restored, and the remaining Hegemony breakaway systems are a perpetual thorn for the recovering Alliance. Sandy Pike’s reputation and recent heroics have earned him a new ship – a massive dreadnought named the Audacious – and another chance at command, working within the Omega battle group.

The Alliance’s plans for a new offensive bring old comrades together again, including Monty Swift, a captain itching for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-01T04:24:58+02:00May 16th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence

The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence Whimsical, relatable, and more than a little surreal, The Hotchkiss by Pierre Lawrence is an off-kilter but witty novella that examines the petty troubles of married life, and the dark fantasies that inevitably arise.

When the laughably lost Charles and his nitpicking wife are told about a state-of-the-art GPS system to help them get around on their anniversary trip, little do they know just how cutting edge their new purchase will be. Not only does it have slick countermeasures, adults-only tricks, and clever features that would make James Bond jealous, it also has a mind of its own, a distinct […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-04-21T08:02:09+02:00April 20th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Humor, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

The Pystead Group by James Pryor

The Pystead Group by James Pryor A twisting, near-future novel about freedom, destruction, and the existential struggle for survival, The Pystead Group by James Pryor is both a chilling and thought-provoking dystopian read.

Philip’s life takes a drastic turn when he accepts a job offer to join the Pystead Group, cloistered on the secretive isle of Nevis. Resembling a contemporary cross between a cult, a corporation, a country, and a next-gen army, this shadowy colossus promises a brighter future, and the resources to build one, but there are plenty who seek to tear down this elite colony – both from within and without.

Bearing watermarks of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-24T09:15:35+02:00March 23rd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Worldender by Nick Nikolov

Worldender by Nick Nikolov

A pulse-pounding alien invasion novel, Nick Nikolov’s Worldender is a terrifying mixture of science fiction and horror.

When we first meet Lucy Castle, our unlikely hero, she’s participating in the illegal economy, dropping off some dangerous material for higher pay at her bike courier job. The drop goes south, but Lucy makes it out due to her physical prowess and exceptional combat skills. She then gets drunk and almost doesn’t make it on time to her second job, which is a fairly typical day in Lucy’s life – late nights, hiding her injuries – and she does it all for […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-03-29T02:54:05+02:00March 17th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: A Boy’s Hammer by Alex Grass

A Boy's Hammer by Alex Grass

An epic novel that combines Finnish mythology with a harrowing serial killer story, Alex Grass’ A Boy’s Hammer is a wildly creative take on the urban fantasy genre.

Fifteen-year-old Alan and his mom Lena are on their way to Helsinki when their plane crashes in the ocean. Neither are heard from again, until twenty long years later. Alan turns up in a crater in Philadelphia: naked, about seven feet tall, covered in hammer tattoos, and still with the mind of a teenager – despite the fact that he’s now a thirty-five-year-old man. So, what in the world happened?

Detective Jefferson […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-04-19T07:54:53+02:00March 16th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Amren: Life After by T. Ethan Glassel

Amren: Life After by T. Ethan Glassel

Author T. Ethan Glassel spins a visionary tale of humanity’s potential future in Amren: Life After, a philosophical thriller delving into deep questions of mortality, purpose, freedom, and justice.

Gabriel Gamont is a respected academic who has written extensively on divrils – the previously dominant species on a planet where humanity has expanded. When his own divril servant and research subject, Amren, repeatedly comes back from the dead, the Master realizes just how little he truly knows.

From the very first chapter, it is clear that this novel will be a meditation and exploration of death – both its […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-04-08T06:22:17+02:00March 14th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|