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Funhouse Mirror
DimWitts: The Big Stupid is a genre-crossing novel with elements of fantasy, dystopian, and satire as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
I wanted to write something funny in the speculative fiction category without committing entirely to one genre. Admittedly, a few subplots emerged organically along the way, but the core story and the character arc of the protagonist remained largely consistent with my original outline.
Some events in the book were chillingly similar to real-life events. Did you take any inspiration from real life when developing this book?
My inspiration came directly from the last American election. It occurred at the same time the Canadian Parliament was being prorogued, and the rest fell into place around it.
I found this novel to be a cutting piece of satire. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your novel?
Fulfillment. Enlightenment. The best satire is a funhouse mirror; it exaggerates flaws to ridiculous proportions, allowing an audience to see what could happen if a bad idea is given too much credence. I hope to scratch that surface, at least a little, and maybe get some laughs along the way.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
This is book one of three. I am currently working on the “dark middle child” of the series and hope to have it finished by the spring of 2026. Book three is stewing nicely on the back burner and will likely be in print shortly thereafter.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Lancaster Dirk, the newly elected American president, is on a race to destroy his enemies and restore the glory of the republic. But to do it, he needs something extremely important. Something Canadian.
A dirty old smelter in a dirty old B.C. mountain town — with an even dirtier old secret.
Balanced between worlds, the past and future collide in a tale that spans the globe — and the very edges of reality itself.
Arcanoforge: Midnight Metropolis
Arcanoforge: Midnight Metropolis is a feverish plunge into the neon-choked streets of Noctara City, a dystopian sprawl where humans and husks, ghosts and hemo magicians blur into a single, strange pulse. The story follows Tattie, a blood seer who’s fled her dying homeworld, and Brax, the man who tracks her across galaxies as their shared past claws its way back into the present. Around them spin a chorus of restless lives, skaterats, dealers, dreamers, all caught in the thrumming heart of a city that feels alive and dying at once. It’s part cyberpunk, part occult noir, and part heartbreak.
The writing is gritty, poetic, and weirdly tender. Author Caroline Barnard-Smith doesn’t just describe Noctara, she burns it into your head with words. Every street and shadow has its own personality, every conversation crackles like static. I loved how the world felt handmade, patched together with old wires and bad memories. The characters stumble through it broken and fierce, never really heroes, just people trying to stay one step ahead of decay. The prose leans heavily on texture, smells, lights, and sounds, and it builds a rhythm that makes the whole book feel like a song played through busted speakers. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, but in the best way.
There’s this deep ache about survival, about what we lose when the world stops caring. I kept thinking about the husks, these half-human enforcers who’ve traded pain for obedience, and how much that says about our own craving for numbness. And Tattie, she’s messy, angry, brilliant. I believed every choice she made, even when it hurt to watch. The story toys with power, guilt, and the ghosts that cling to love long after it’s gone.
Arcanoforge: Midnight Metropolis reads like Blade Runner crashed into The City & The City with a shot of Neuromancer’s grit and the bruised heart of a Becky Chambers story. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves science fiction that’s soaked in mood and grit. Fans of Gibson and VanderMeer will feel right at home. If you like your futures dark and your magic dirty, if you want to taste the metal in the air, this book’s for you.
Pages: 278 | ASIN : B0FFH6BS5L
Will Humans Become Obsolete?
100 Years to Extinction follows two sisters and their cousin who are caught in a world of chaos where pandemics, gun violence, climate change, and political division all overlap, and they make a pact to do something to save humanity’s future.
I found the science in the novel to be well-developed and engaging. What kind of research did you conduct to ensure you got it right?
My research, combined my knowledge, books on space exploration and AI, help from a fellow physicist on speed of light space travel, advice from a physician on medical issues, use of Google search for articles and the Google AI function, and advice from a NASA expert on the magnetic field for Mars.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main theme is a world threatened by the Tyranny of Technology and dysfunctional politics. My three young Gen Z protagonists, Liz, Aster, and Milo, want a better world for everyone. The subthemes are the threats from global warming, nuclear security, unchecked AI, and misused genetic engineering. The cover image is a future that my protagonists fantasize: Genetic engineering creates a super-humanoid species that wipes out humans only to be eliminated by robots. All with the background of melting glaciers.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Yes. My three protagonists, a little older now, are living in what is called the AI Singularity, predicted to occur in 2045. It is at this point that Artificial Intelligence becomes as intelligent and as powerful as humans. What will occur then? Will humans become obsolete? My three protagonists use their skills, intelligence and experience to ensure that humans and AI live together in harmony for mutual benefit.
My new novel, 12 YEARS TO AI SINGULARITY,follows Liz, Aster and Milo as they cope with the new reality. It is coming out in the spring of 2026.
Author Links: X | Facebook | Website
When EMT Liz Arvad is shot while saving a life, her recovery sparks a deeper awakening. Maybe the world isn’t just chaotic, it’s unraveling. Alongside her genius sister, Aster, and politically charged cousin, Milo, Liz makes a vow—do something, anything, to help save humanity. It starts with a promise in a sunlit room, and becomes a mission that could change everything.
In 100 Years to Extinction, physicist and award-winning STEM author Peter Solomon, Ph.D., blends heart-pounding fiction with scientific foresight. Inspired by Hawking’s dire warning that humans may face extinction by 2117, this gripping novel explores the runaway threats we can no longer ignore: climate collapse, pandemics, war, gene editing, AI, disinformation, and more.
But this story isn’t just about what’s going wrong—it’s about what we can still do. Backed by decades of experience founding clean-tech companies, leading multimillion-dollar government research, and writing 300+ scientific papers, Solomon brings unmatched clarity and urgency to the question: Can we still save ourselves?
With characters who feel heartbreakingly real and science that hits close to home, 100 Years to Extinction is both a wake-up call and a rallying cry. It dares readers to imagine a better future … and to fight for it.
Will you join the Earthling Tribe?
Pick up your copy today—and take the first step toward making Earth great again… before it’s too late.
About the Author: Blending heart-pounding fiction with clear, accessible science, physicist and award-winning STEM author Peter Solomon, PhD, explores the runaway threats we can no longer ignore—climate collapse, pandemics, nuclear war, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, disinformation, and more. Solomon offers unmatched clarity on the question: Can we still save ourselves, and how might we do it?
Son of Osivirius
Son of Osivirius is a science fantasy novel set on the lush, dangerous planet of Osivirius, where electromagnetic “dead-zones” and rebellion complicate humanity’s survival. The story follows Jayden, a young pilot who crashes into a rebel stronghold, and Nettle, a fierce and distrustful woman who sees him as a threat. As Jayden struggles to heal and find a way back to his family, he becomes entangled in the rebels’ world of harmony with nature, flying cats called Masu, and a philosophy centered around balance. The narrative alternates between Jayden and Nettle, pulling readers into both perspectives and building a tale of survival, mistrust, slow-burning connection, and the search for peace in a world fractured by exploitation and greed.
I was hooked almost from the first page. The opening crash sequence was tense and immersive, and from there, the story barely let up. What stood out most to me was the vivid world-building. The descriptions of the valley, the rebels’ way of life, and especially the Masu, those awe-inspiring winged felines, gave me that rare feeling of stepping into a completely new world that still felt alive and believable. I loved the contrast between the sterile, suffocating colony and the lush, self-sustaining rebel enclave. It made me think hard about our own world and how we treat the natural environment, but it never felt preachy. Instead, the themes came through naturally in the characters’ choices and conflicts.
My feelings about the characters were complicated, and that made the experience all the richer. Nettle frustrated me at times with her hostility and refusal to soften, yet I understood why she was like that, and I respected her strength. Jayden, on the other hand, walked a tricky line between being sympathetic and being manipulative, and I often found myself both rooting for him and distrusting him. That tension gave the story its bite. There were also moments where I felt the romance threads were a bit predictable, but the emotional undercurrents of family loyalty, grief, and the fear of betrayal kept me engaged.
Son of Osivirius surprised me with its heart. Beneath the adventure and the danger, this is a story about belonging and trust, and how hard it is to let go of fear in order to live freely. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy science fiction that balances action with deeper themes, especially fans of Avatar or The Left Hand of Darkness. It’s also a great pick for anyone who wants an adventure with strong characters, a lush setting, and deep ideas.
Pages: 188 | ASIN : B0FMXQ3C85
100 Years to Extinction
100 Years to Extinction follows Liz and Aster Arvad, two sisters caught in a world of chaos where pandemics, gun violence, climate change, and political division all overlap. Their family’s struggles are both personal and symbolic, from Liz being shot on an EMT call to the trio of Liz, Aster, and cousin Milo making a pact to “do something” about humanity’s future. The novel braids together near-future realism, speculative science, and the raw fears of Generation Z, asking whether we are truly on the brink of extinction in a century. It’s part survival story, part social critique, and part rallying cry.
The writing is sharp, fast, and emotional. There are moments when the dialogue feels like it’s been lifted from heated dinner-table debates, with characters rattling off facts about Stephen Hawking, artificial intelligence, and climate change. I liked that unfiltered energy. It made the book feel alive, like being thrown into a storm of voices where science, politics, and family pain collide. The rawness of Liz getting shot, the rage over conspiracy theories, and the quiet tenderness of sisters holding hands in a hospital room hit me hardest. Solomon’s sincerity is impossible to ignore. The story wanted me to care, and I did.
The weaving of real-world headlines into the story sometimes felt like the characters were vehicles for commentary. Still, there were passages where the mix worked beautifully. The contrast of cosmic wonder, Aster dreaming of the stars, against the blunt horror of school shootings or anti-vax violence made me feel both awe and despair in the same breath. That tension stayed with me, unsettling but real. The prose is straightforward, almost casual, but the ideas underneath are heavy. The combination created a rhythm I found hard to put down.
By the end, I felt the book’s true purpose wasn’t just to tell a story but to challenge me to think about the world I live in. Who is responsible for fixing this mess? Can young people make the difference their parents and grandparents didn’t? 100 Years to Extinction is a call to arms disguised as fiction. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy speculative stories rooted in our very real present. It’s especially for young adults who feel overwhelmed by the crises around them and need to see their fears reflected and validated.
Pages: 438 | ASIN : B0FNX5VGY8
Falling into Shadow
Falling into Shadow follows multiple characters: Kyra, Sophie, Dante, and Renette. Each is grappling with survival, power, and the shifting balance of their world. Kyra’s desperate flight from Shadow Demons sets a brutal tone. Sophie, an Ionian Knight, carries the burden of protecting others while wrestling with betrayal and political intrigue. Dante is caught between family expectations and his own fractured past. Renette navigates the clash between ambition and the pull of her roots. The threads weave together into a sweeping tale of survival, politics, and looming war in a fragile world that feels as real as it is dangerous.
What I loved most was the immediacy of the writing. It feels cinematic, almost like watching a series unfold on screen. The pacing is relentless in places, then slows down just enough to let you breathe, and that kept me hooked. The action scenes hit hard. They’re vivid, raw, and sometimes gruesome in a way that made me flinch. Yet, they’re balanced with quieter moments that reveal doubts, guilt, and flashes of humanity. I found myself rooting for characters even when they made questionable choices. Kyra’s guilt and Sophie’s frustration, Dante’s longing for approval, Renette’s heartbreak; they all felt painfully real.
Still, there were times when the dialogue carried a little too much explanation, almost like it was doing double duty as worldbuilding. It didn’t ruin anything for me, but I noticed it. And some of the big concepts, like the Eidan’s glimpses of the future or the cloaked armies, had such massive implications that I wanted more space to sit with them. The book barrels forward, and part of me wished for more lingering in those big, head-spinning ideas. But then again, that urgency is part of what made it addictive.
Falling into Shadow is a ride worth taking. It’s brutal, imaginative, and packed with heart. I’d recommend it to readers who love fast-paced sci-fi with strong characters and aren’t afraid of a little blood and grit. Reading Falling into Shadow felt like a mix of the gritty survival of The Expanse and the mythic, character-driven drama of Dune, only with a rawer edge and a faster pulse. If you like stories that mix political intrigue with personal stakes, this one will pull you in and not let go.
Pages: 518 | ASIN : B0FB3RZ1DM
The Interchange
The Interchange imagines a future where identity, family, and power collide in a society rebuilt from catastrophe. It follows Manx Aureole Agnor, a formidable warrior and state leader, as she wrestles with her role in a rigid social order defined by “The Interchange,” a system that categorizes people not by sex but by inherent nature. Against the backdrop of political rituals, national pride, and underground resistance movements, Aureole finds herself torn between her public duty and private doubts, especially as she confronts forbidden desires for motherhood in the “Old Ways.” The story weaves battles both physical and emotional, building a world that is at once grand in scale and deeply personal.
The writing is bold, vivid, and often unflinching, painting scenes of spectacle and violence with almost cinematic flair. Yet the real tension lives in the quieter spaces, where Aureole questions her bond with her son or feels jealousy toward her brother’s easy grace. Those moments struck me harder than the boxing matches or military intrigues. At times, the prose leaned into exposition, explaining the rules and history of New America in detail, but I found myself forgiving it because the ideas were fascinating. The balance between action and introspection kept me engaged, even when I felt the narrative tugging me in too many directions at once.
Emotionally, I went back and forth. Sometimes I admired Aureole’s strength, her drive, her pride. Other times, I felt an ache for her vulnerability, her longing for something she could never fully claim. That push and pull made the book feel alive to me. The ideas here about gender, control, science, and rebellion aren’t just intellectual exercises. They play out in flesh-and-blood relationships, in a mother’s coldness, a grandmother’s pride, a child’s distance. I’ll admit, I got frustrated with the world’s rigidity, and at times even with Aureole herself, but maybe that’s the point. The book isn’t about offering comfort. It’s about showing what happens when systems try to define the deepest parts of who we are.
I’d recommend The Interchange to readers who enjoy dystopian or speculative fiction that asks hard questions rather than giving easy answers. The Interchange reminded me of the sharp social critique in The Handmaid’s Tale and the futuristic ambition of Brave New World, though it carries its own distinctive blend of raw emotion and political spectacle. If you’re drawn to stories of power, family, and identity, and you don’t mind sitting with some discomfort, this book has plenty to offer.
Pages: 238 | ASIN : B0DTZJ3SLP
The Ascent of Greed and the Audacity of Mind Stealing
The Ascent of Greed and the Audacity of Mind Stealing by Pietos Kidane follows Adam Green, a young graduate who enters the corporate world with high hopes, only to encounter greed, manipulation, and the unsettling rise of artificial intelligence. Through Adam’s eyes, we see how corporate culture feeds on deception, how AI edges toward frightening autonomy, and how society’s values collapse under the weight of unchecked ambition. It is part cautionary tale, part social critique, and part thriller. The story begins with an almost surreal outburst about AI in a New York café, then steadily escalates into explorations of job exploitation, psychological manipulation, fake news, and even mind-reading machines.
I found myself caught off guard by the rawness of the writing. At times, the prose feels unpolished, almost abrupt, yet that roughness gives the book a kind of blunt honesty. The pacing varies wildly. Some scenes linger on workplace politics while others sprint through shocking revelations about AI’s reach. It was sometimes disturbing to see how some of the characters showed no remorse in exploiting people’s fears and weaknesses. But that emotional whiplash kept me hooked. It felt like being tossed into a storm where greed is the wind and technology is the lightning.
I was fascinated by the moral questions the book raises. Do we want machines to think for us, and worse, to think about us? Can progress that tramples on dignity still be called progress? The story made me angry at the coldness of the corporations, angry at the indifference of leaders, and angry at how plausible it all felt. Yet I also admired Adam’s stubborn streak. His refusal to cave, even when threatened, gave me a spark of hope in an otherwise grim landscape. The book may not be subtle, but its ideas hit hard.
I would recommend this book to readers who want to be challenged. It is a raw and provocative story for anyone worried about where technology and greed are steering us. If you like your fiction mixed with sharp warnings about the future, and if you don’t mind rough edges in the writing, this book will make you think.
Pages: 276 | ASIN : B0DFX1F9WQ
LITERARY TITAN 