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Shadow of the Moon follows a man as he moves from being an uncertain leader to serving as the human anchor of an ancient alien archive hidden beneath the Moon. What draws you to the science fiction genre?
I have been a fan of science fiction since my childhood. I read books about it such as Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth and From the Earth to the Moon. The original movie version of The Day the Earth Stood Still from 1951, Buck Rogers and Lost in Space. I grew up watching these with my family on the weekends. And of course, Star Trek in it’s various forms, Star Wars and all its spinoffs as well. For me it’s fun to write about this and paranormal as well.
Ian grows considerably over the course of the story, evolving from an uncertain leader into someone others depend on. How did you approach his character development?
I modeled Ian after a lot of reluctant leaders, who in the beginning really has very little to do with the idea of being a leader. After he learns about his family and his so-called aunt and uncle in the first book (The Venusians Among Us 2nd edition) he begins to take a strong approach to leading the survivors against the rebels from his own race. He had to do it or else everything else would have fallen apart and they would have lost everything. Even losing everyone’s lives who opposed Gorse.
The book explores the tension between preserving an ancient civilization and protecting humanity’s future. What interested you about that moral conflict?
It fascinates me that there were ancient cultures in the past who compared to today seemed more advanced than we are now. As a race we seem to be going backward as we seem to destroy the earth for profit and gain rather than protecting humanity. The wealthy seem to push for the exploration of space to save humanity rather than doing what’s right to preserve what we have here on this planet. But their motive seems to be profit rather than saving humanity. It reminds me of the movie Don’t Look Up.
Can you give us a glimpse inside the next book you are working on? When can we expect to see it released?
I have already released my newest book titled “The Dream Killer”, and it revolves around the lead character Jonathan Tooms. He has lost his wife and then a short time later his daughter is murdered by a career criminal. After the trial, the criminal is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. As he leaves the court room, he smiles at Jonathan as if nothing really happened. A friend points him in the direction of an ancient race of people who have dwindled in numbers but have a certain skill for finding justice that borders on the paranormal. Jonathan learns much about the ancient race and gets caught up within a feud between two different factions.
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After the daring takeover of the ancient starship hidden behind the moon, Ian and Kendra remain on Earth to protect the thousands left behind. But Howard Gorse has not surrendered. Stripped of the vessel that once guaranteed his power, he becomes more dangerous than ever, tightening his grip on governments, militaries, and the hidden network of followers still loyal to him.
Meanwhile, deep among the stars, the stolen ship races across the universe in search of the lost descendants of the original travelers. What the crew discovers will challenge everything they believed about their past—and reveal that the wormhole that brought them to Earth may not have been an accident at all.
As new worlds emerge, ancient enemies awaken, and hidden civilizations reveal themselves, Ian must prepare for a conflict far greater than the battle for Earth. The fate of multiple universes may depend on secrets buried long before humanity existed.
The adventure continues in this action-packed sequel filled with interstellar mystery, political intrigue, and the enduring hope of finding a home among the stars.
Top of Form
The Venusians Among Us
In The Venusians Among Us, Steve Zimcosky follows Ian Mercer, a NASA engineer in Cleveland whose work on mysterious lunar signals collides with recurring dreams of silver corridors, sleeping figures, and a living Venus. When Ian learns he’s connected to an ancient Venusian bloodline, he’s pulled into a hidden world of Guardians, underground facilities, Moon archives, rival factions, and a long war over whether alien technology will free a displaced people or give control of Earth to Howard Gorse and his followers.
I liked how the novel builds its premise through layers instead of dropping everything at once. The early chapters work because Ian’s confusion feels practical: he’s not instantly heroic, he’s exhausted, skeptical, angry, and trying to make sense of a life that’s been arranged around him without his consent. The Cleveland setting also gives the story a grounded texture. Secret tunnels, Lake Erie, hidden elevators, Chinatown warehouses, and old military sites keep the science fiction close to familiar streets, which makes the stranger elements easier to accept.
The book is most effective when it ties personal identity to a larger survival story. Ian isn’t just asked to believe in aliens; he has to accept false deaths, buried memories, genetic truth, political manipulation, and the possibility that his dreams are instructions. Kendra gives the story a needed counterweight because she’s protective but not blindly trusting, and Edward Case adds a useful bit of ambiguity by making betrayal feel tactical rather than decorative. The prose is direct and plot-forward, with short scenes that keep the pace moving. At times, the dialogue explains a lot, but that also fits a story built around revelation, hidden history, and assembling scattered knowledge before the enemy closes in.
This book is aimed at readers who enjoy science fiction, alien conspiracy fiction, space opera, hidden-history thrillers, first-contact fiction, and adventure science fiction with secret organizations and ancient technology. Readers who like the government-paranoia angle of The X-Files mixed with the accessible, puzzle-box momentum of Dan Brown will find a familiar rhythm here. The Venusians Among Us is a straightforward sci-fi thriller about inheritance, secrecy, and the dangerous moment when a hidden past finally wakes up.
Pages: 114 | ISBN: 9798196755156
What Would They Think
Steve Zimcosky Author Interview
I enjoyed the unique use of DNA in this story. Where did this idea come from and how did it develop as you were writing?
The idea came from my own experience with having my DNA tested. It seems like everyone is wanting to know where they came from and what their true nationality is. I have noticed some people have expected one thing and were shocked to find out that they had a different genetic makeup. So, I thought what would happen if someone had DNA not of this planet. How would they react? What would they think? As I was writing the story I thought to myself how surprised the person would be to find out that they were not alone on this planet and there were others just like him living and working here as he was.
I enjoyed Ian’s character and backstory. What were some obstacles you felt were important to his character development?
The first one was finding out that you are not of this planet, when your whole life you thought you were a human just like everyone else. The character would have to come to grips with the fact that he looked and acted human but was from a whole different universe. The second one was how does he deal with the fact that he is older than what he expects himself to be. How do you come to grips with the fact that you are thousands of years older than anyone else around you? And third, having to come to grips with the fact that you inherited a leadership role and you had thousands of people who were willing to follow you. How do you lead them on a planet that was originally not yours? And your leadership came from your parents who traveled somewhere else in the universe leaving you here alone to take over?
What is the next story that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am finishing up a story titled “The Haunting of Smock Hill” and it is a paranormal/mystery that takes place in an old coal mining town in Southwest Pennsylvania. A dark energy that used to haunt the mines returns to wreak havoc on the town. I hope to have it finished in time for Thanksgiving.
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![The Venusians Among Us by [Zimcosky, Steve]](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41k0NdKrzgL.jpg?resize=295%2C414&ssl=1)
Checking your DNA and ancestry is real popular these days and everyone is doing it. A group of co-workers who meet regularly for drinks decide to do it as a group and share their results. But what happens when one of them finds out he is not even from this planet? And he is not alone! Are they friendly or hostile to planet earth and it’s people?
The Venusians Among Us
![The Venusians Among Us by [Zimcosky, Steve]](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41%2B4lqf3ORL.jpg?resize=199%2C281&ssl=1)
The Venusians Among Us by Steve Zimcosky is a breezy, adventurous ride that is just under a hundred pages. This is a story about Ian, an employee at NASA, who has been left in the dark about his past on another planet. Through a series of strange and dangerous incidents, he discovers that his past was kept from him in order to protect him. He is also left in charge of a tremendous mission: to prevent the despicable Howard Gorse from taking over control of the universe. Alongside his friends and a council of advisers, an elaborate plan is made to defeat his nemesis and ensure the survival of his own race on the planet.
I went in expecting heavy doses of scientific and technological terms, considering that this is a science fiction thriller, with our protagonist being an employee at NASA. However, the plot is entirely approachable and engaging. All the vocabulary and plot points are explained in layman’s language, without losing any intrigue. Although I would have appreciated more fully developed characters, I couldn’t help but be sucked into the story. I enjoyed the story because it was easy to follow, but that didn’t stop me from biting my nails while reading. This is an excellent example of simple language setting up a thrilling story; much like Stephen King novels.
The storytelling was particularly refreshing because it was so matter-of-fact. It was quick-paced action, providing no space for sentimental, poetic pondering. The Venusians Among Us could be described as the perfect blend between Ben 10 and Interstellar.
pages: 96 | ASIN: B07XQLZ3H2
