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Mirrors of Humanity
Terra Secundus follows a war-weary journalist sent to Titan, where humanity’s quest for discovery collides with its oldest flaws: ambition, control, and the fragile meaning of being human. What inspired you to set Terra Secundus on Titan rather than another world or moon?
In my exploration of the world of science fiction, I often encountered situations where many famous writers with multiple awards and nominations set their novels on many planets of the solar system and seldom on any satellites of the gas giants such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Before I decided to place my protagonist in a new world, I carefully studied the science literature about the possibilities of colonizing moons and planetoids orbiting the gas giants. Saturn’s moon Titan was a very strong contender for such an endeavour, and after studying everything I could about that unique moon, I decided to send my protagonist there, since Titan is considered a good candidate for a colony. Many scientists believe it could become a smaller version of Earth, since Titan has a thick atmosphere composed of nitrogen and other gases. Add oxygen to it, and humans could theoretically breathe its air.
The novel’s tone feels both futuristic and nostalgic. Was that a conscious stylistic choice to evoke classic science fiction?
I love classic science fiction novels and my exploration into this literary genre started with many memorable books by Ben Bova, Issac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Frank Herbert, Allen Steele, and Robert Heinlein. When writing about a future removed from our time more than 1,200 years, I tried to imagine a future society of the 32nd century to develop amazing new technologies and modify its social and religious beliefs. In this novel, I tried to use a classic style of storytelling, because for most readers it is much easier to understand. I believe that every society must learn from the past experience and try to avoid repeating tragic mistakes that led to the fall of ancient civilizations and magnificent extinct cultures. The roots of the future are in the present, and I hoped to tell this story in such a way as to entertain and educate my readers about the fascinating distant worlds, new technologies that border on magic and what it means to be human.
How did you approach writing the Artborn androids like Erika, as characters, machines, or mirrors of = humanity?
Interesting question. I like robots. Even as a kid, living in a different society during the Cold War, I liked all science fiction movies that featured cyborgs and robots. Since those days, robotics and and cybernetics both made giant strides forward, and now we see many cybernetic models starting to imitate humans. We are also witnessing the radical advances in Artificial Intelligence and autonomous systems that help us to explore other places and other planets. My approach to such characters as Artborn Erika was both scientific and philosophical. In my story, Artborns are advanced synthetic humanoids that were created to assist humanity, working in most dangerous places in space and underwater. They are essential mirrors of humanity and in some ways are better than us when it comes to programmed mission parameters and sense of duty. In my novel, androids like Erka are employed as explorers, personal servants and bodyguards but they can certainly do much more than that.
If Paul Rexton were alive today, what story would he report on Earth in 2025?
If my protagonist, Paul Rexton were alive today, I believe that he would be deeply fascinated, intrigued and disturbed by the Earth in 2025. His world is certainly very different from ours in many respects, but he would be able to understand our world and form his own unbiased opinion about it. He would no doubt be pleased about the technological progress and human rights, Very concerned about environmental pollution and deeply affected by the fact that there are still powerful evil forces exist on the planet, making life difficult for their neighbors and many other countries. He would no doubt be fascinated by our means of mass entertainment and our taditionsl and electronic libraries of vast human knowledge that contain many centuries of wisdom. I would imagine Paul Rexton standing on a hotel balcony in a quiet and beautiful Japanese village, visiting the beautiful museums of Europe or enjoying a good book at home with a glass of old, smooth, wellaged brandy.
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An Uncomfortable Truth
That Dark Edge follows an exoethnologist as she investigates the culture of an alien species and faces rising tensions that result from linguistic and social differences. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been interested in anthropology, curious and fascinated by the interactions between the sophisticated cultures with those defined as less so. Two dear friends, both anthropologists, who joined the Peace Corps told me a true story that happened when such scholars were not allowed to interfere with the society they observed. The anthropologists watched as parents in a very poor community walled up a daughter so she would starve because she kept asking for food. The horror of this still makes my heart stop. The sharp difference in perspective burned an uncomfortable truth inside me, between those from abundant certainty and those living with unavoidable grim survival. I think I just wanted to “fix” this even if I couldn’t change the reality of it.
The science inserted in the fiction, I felt, was well-balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
We take our own everyday things like indoor plumbing, electricity, flying planes, etc. for granted without considering how they work (unless they break down). The humans, especially those who have gone off-planet, accept their technological advantages as part of the world they know. I also try very hard to make any advanced tech plausible from what we know or what we can extrapolate from science–I want it to be feasible rather than too fantastic, even if fantastic is more fun.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
I was always telling stories. I made little people out of paper, pipe cleaners, and ice cream sticks from as early as six years old. My mom, who was often the audience for my “stories” told me one day: “You have quite an imagination. Why don’t you write that down?” I was eleven. And that was it. Whatever else I dreamed of being, I knew from that day I wanted to be a writer. Everything I experience, bad and good, is fuel for that creative fire.
Can we look forward to a follow-up to That Dark Edge? What are you currently working on?
Yes. I’m currently working diligently on the sequel to That Dark Edge, called Unbound We Arrive. We follow Hedda Tocq and her companions through world-shaking reactions and consequences, some painful, some wondrous, some unfolding in ways we can only imagine.
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Maybe more than one.
Hedda Tocq is the manifest princess of a genetically-enhanced class on Mars, heir to the Bastet Company’s vast riches and biotechnological resources. But she rejects her legacy, especially after the perimeter planet Vyss is discovered to be inhabited by sentient humanoids. With diligent examination of every detail reported by those on the ground on Vyss, she becomes the expert on the Vyssae and wants to go to Vyss in person to study them but the Company continuously refuses permission. The civil authorities of the Unified Terran Alliance, who maintain jurisdiction over Vyss and are impressed by her scientific work, grant her official approval backed by the full power of the Office of Space Development and Xenology. After she arrives, the primary questions she has about Vyssaen reality becomes less important than learning everything about these extraordinary people and their culture. But she doesn’t know that there is more than one enemy trying to manipulate her existence and that of the Vyssae, enemies willing to do the unspeakable to accomplish their objectives.
The more she learns, the more she repudiates her inheritance to take a stand for Vyss and its people, whatever the cost.
That Dark Edge
That Dark Edge is a cerebral and vividly textured science fiction novel set in the Unified Terran Alliance universe. The story follows Hedda Tocq, a genetically enhanced Bastet and exoethnologist, as she investigates the enigmatic culture of the Vyssae—an alien species with a unique social and linguistic structure—on the planet Vyss. As tensions rise due to a fatal misunderstanding between humans and the Vyssae, Hedda is forced to navigate layers of political tension, cultural mistrust, and personal trauma. The narrative switches between action, introspective memory loops, and philosophical questions about humanity’s evolution and morality, all wrapped in the richly imagined backdrop of interstellar colonization.
I found McGarry’s writing to be both ambitious and meditative. Her prose is poetic in places, dense with meaning, but never self-indulgent. The integration of science fiction tropes such as genetic engineering, interplanetary politics, and AI technology is handled with confidence, but what really resonated with me was the emotional depth beneath the tech-heavy surface. Hedda’s memory loops, especially the ones surrounding the loss of her family, broke my heart in quiet, aching beats. McGarry doesn’t just world-build, she soul-builds. The dialogue can be cryptic at times, laced with allusions and codes, but I grew to enjoy its rhythm. The characters feel like old friends that keep you coming back.
I occasionally found myself needing to slow down and reread, especially during early chapters packed with new terminology and cultural cues. The glossary helps, but I wish some of that worldbuilding had been woven more naturally into the dialogue or action. Also, the constant memory recalls, though meaningful, can get heavy. Still, there’s a lyrical quality to how McGarry treats memory and grief. And there’s a quiet feminist thread I admired. Hedda isn’t just strong, she’s complex, vulnerable, and unapologetically driven.
This book is not your average space opera. It’s smart, layered, and patient. If you’re into character-driven sci-fi with moral gray zones, deep cultural clashes, and sharp emotional undercurrents, this one’s for you. Fans of Ursula K. Le Guin or Octavia Butler will find echoes here. It’s not for folks looking for fast-paced adventure or explosions every ten pages, but if you’ve got a taste for nuance and depth, That Dark Edge will reward you.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0D364RKGP
Humanity At Fault
Humanity At Fault is a sweeping and deeply emotional sci-fi epic set in a far-future universe where the remnants of humanity grapple with guilt, memory, and cosmic consequences. The story follows survivors of a catastrophic crash on an alien world called Symphony that eerily mirrors Earth. There, they encounter entities known as The Collective, who deem humanity responsible for unleashing a galaxy-consuming plague. Through surreal visions, temporal dislocations, and interstellar battles, the book dives into themes of redemption, loss, and the staggering cost of survival. It’s both intimate and enormous in scale, often switching from quiet, personal reflections to grand, space-faring action.
Reading this book was like tumbling down a rabbit hole of stars and memories. Hinds’ prose is rich and poetic, sometimes dizzying, but always heartfelt. His writing is thick with emotion. I found myself rereading sentences not because they were unclear, but because they were beautiful. The opening chapter—dreamlike and full of longing—hooked me right away. But then the pace suddenly exploded, hurling me into a nightmarish planetary descent that had my heart in my throat. There were moments when I felt lost in the swirl of names, timelines, and metaphysical spaces, but oddly, that sense of disorientation fit the story’s tone. This is a book about being unmoored—physically, temporally, emotionally.
What truly stayed with me, though, were the characters. Brynn and Kelsey, especially, felt real and raw in a way sci-fi often misses. Their grief, resilience, and haunted love for their pasts made me ache. And the dialogue—sometimes clipped, other times poetic—rang true even in the most fantastical situations. I did feel the narrative leaned a little heavily on exposition in the middle chapters, and the layered timelines could be hard to follow. But that chaos mirrored the existential mess they were trapped in. It felt intentional, even if it slowed the story’s rhythm now and then.
Humanity At Fault is an ambitious story, but one that was entertaining. It’s not your average space opera—it’s more like Interstellar had a baby with Arrival, raised on the emotional weight of The Leftovers. I’d recommend this book to readers who love character-driven sci-fi that isn’t afraid to get philosophical or poetic. If you’re the kind of person who stares out of windows thinking about your mistakes and the stars, this one’s for you.
Pages: 308 | ASIN : B0DZS3NKKQ
HOMELAND
What does the future hold for humanity? Some imagine journeys among the stars. Others believe artificial intelligence and its evolution will shape our destiny just as profoundly. Homeland by Joseph Love weaves these ideas into a gripping narrative, intertwining three plotlines that explore the coexistence of humans and AI. Central to this tale is the emergence of Artinians, advanced humanoid AIs designed to live alongside humans. Most Artinians embrace peaceful coexistence, but Paulon, a rebellious entity, aspires to dominate Number—a network of AI entities tasked with overseeing the Milky Way. Paulon envisions a future without Earth in his domain, defying humanity’s role in this cosmic new order.
At its core, Homeland is high-concept science fiction, drawing comparisons to the visionary works of Asimov and Philip K. Dick. The novel wrestles with familiar sci-fi themes, delving deep into the dynamics of human-AI relationships. Love poses a critical question: how will humans and sentient, self-aware machines navigate coexistence? His answer is refreshingly nuanced. AI isn’t portrayed as a monolithic force. Instead, these entities have diverse perspectives—some advocate for humanity’s welfare, while others see humans as obsolete. This complexity keeps the narrative engaging, balancing philosophical depth with page-turning intrigue. The exploration of these themes feels both familiar and fresh. Love reimagines classic tropes with an intellectual sharpness that makes his story stand out.
The distinct perspectives of the protagonists—human and AI alike—lend the book a dynamic quality. Each character’s motivations and struggles add layers to the narrative, creating a multidimensional exploration of a possible future. Love’s storytelling doesn’t shy away from big questions. What happens when the created rivals the creator? What defines humanity when intelligence no longer makes us unique? These are weighty concepts, but the author handles them with finesse, making the novel thought-provoking without becoming overly cerebral.
Homeland presents a future that feels simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. It invites readers to ponder the meaning of being human in an age where equally intelligent beings might seek to replace us. This novel is ideal for fans of thought-provoking science fiction who enjoy stories that challenge the mind and stir the imagination.
Pages: 559 | ASIN : B0DJHB1879
Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny
Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny, by Jeremy Clift, transports readers to Tucson, Arizona, in 2063, introducing the Ward family amid a society where artificial intelligence seamlessly integrates into daily life. This relatable yet futuristic setting immediately captivates, highlighting the pervasive role of AI in human existence. We learn that the children’s mother, Clara, is stationed on the Moon as a botanist, working to establish a sustainable food supply. As Earth’s conditions deteriorate, humanity seeks refuge on other planets, though these colonies also face growing unrest.
The narrative intensifies as the Ward family relocates to an orbiting space habitat, delving into profound ethical and moral dilemmas that resonate deeply. Despite its futuristic backdrop, the story remains relatable, reflecting issues not far removed from our current reality. Clift skillfully evokes emotions of remorse, pity, and sadness early in the tale, crafting a narrative that explores the essence of humanity and the potential alienation brought by technological and societal advancements. As a mother, I found myself moved to tears on multiple occasions.
The plot follows both Teagan and Hunter Ward, though Teagan’s journey particularly stands out. While Hunter’s storyline contributes to the overarching message, Teagan emerges as the central figure, her experiences deeply engaging. The antagonists in the novel are portrayed with striking malevolence, and certain scenes are intense, featuring violence and gore that may be challenging for some readers.
Born in Space: Unlocking Destiny serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of overstepping natural boundaries, especially concerning the future of AI and technology. It’s a compelling read that I highly recommend, and I look forward to adding a physical copy to my collection.
Pages: 443 | ASIN : B0D1PWPRBJ
Dissolution of the Status Quo
Cargo Hold 4 follows eight scientists exploring a dwarf planet and collecting samples who accidentally bring aboard an unseen entity that is now trying to escape the cargo hold it is trapped in. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The idea came to me one day while I was walking. In my mind’s eye, I saw, and heard, something pounding on this huge yellow metal door, making these enormous welts. Cargo Hold 4, those were the words in my head. I let it simmer, the concept refusing to leave. Eventually, I just gave in, needing to find out about this hell-raiser in Cargo Hold 4.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Not any character in particular, really, but more the entire crew. It was challenging from the standpoint of imagining scientists committing their lives to a mission that most of them would not return from. That set up a dynamic that wouldn’t be present in most situations, especially given that they could be in space for fifty years, and only ever encounter one another for the rest of their lives. I know most writers like to go to cryogenic stasis for space travel, but there was no story in that. I wanted to imagine what the crew interaction might be like if they remained awake, and the potential for conflict, intimacy, disagreements, and so on. Then, of course, the slow dissolution of the status quo they had established over the first five years when this entity makes itself known. It really was terrific fun playing with this scenario.
You flawlessly blend Science Fiction and horror in this book. How did you go about blending the two genres without disrupting the story?
Thank you! For me, I guess, the fusion was organic, inevitable. The nexus of the genres met in the same place; with the entity in Cargo Hold 4. Through the unknown idiosyncrasies of outer space, I found the potential for this life form, which leads to quite horrific events. Yet I didn’t want the usual “monster” with the unquenchable lust to kill humans for no reason. The life form had to be something incredible, unimaginable, with a complex intelligence beyond human comprehension.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I actually have several books in the works. Some are finished and in the editing stage, with others I’m still working on; a dystopian SF trilogy with a fair amount of horror, and a couple of magical realism love stories I’m also very excited about, though not sure how my SF Horror “fans” will react. That’s always a risk, I guess, changing things up when the “story” takes you in different directions.
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Love and Forgiveness
Lightning in the Collied Night follows a group of scientists who embark on a bold mission to harness the power of a newly discovered wormhole in a desperate bid to secure the survival of the human race. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The original story idea came to me several years ago. Back then, it was a simple story about a young physicist who overcomes personal and external challenges to travel to the future through a wormhole and discovers… well, I can’t get into that as it’s the crux of the story! I can say that there were multiple inspirations for the story, from literary and sci-fi sources; those are brought out in the novel. Over time, I added twists, layers, and characters to my story until I thought it might be suitable for a novel. When I retired in 2023 and had time to learn how to write fiction, I decided to share my story.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Probably the most important factor was that I wanted the characters to be relatable to readers. The story is set (mostly) about 30 years from now. I wanted readers to be able to understand and feel what these characters were going through as they overcame many challenges, both from within themselves and the outside world. One of the ways I did that was to try to make the dialogue seem “natural,” like people actually talk, and liberally use interior monologue to let readers get “into the heads” of the main characters.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Probably the most important theme was the power of love and forgiveness to transform a person… or perhaps a world. Another theme is that AI can be an extremely powerful and useful tool when used appropriately, but it’s not the best solution for every problem. There’s a difference I think between what AI could do for humankind, and what we should allow it to do. Finally, I wanted my novel to reflect our wonderfully diverse world, and thus I strove to have the characters be representative of that diversity.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
I hadn’t planned on a sequel. But I’ve fallen in love with the characters (most of them, anyway!) and believe there’s much more of their story to tell. Thus I’ve started outlining a sequel, with a planned release of Summer 2025. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I will share that the draft tagline is, “How far would you go for love?” The sequel will be more of a traditional sci-fi story than Lightning, but still approachable by people who aren’t quantum physicists. Like Lightning, it will be focused on the characters, their relationships, and their struggles. I think it will be entirely based on Earth of the future–no trips to wormholes, this time. And, like Lightning, the title will be from Shakespeare. 😉
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In the mid-21st century, a brilliant American physicist joins a secret mission to travel through the galaxy’s lone stable wormhole. When a series of challenges threaten the project, she must find another way to accomplish its objective: save the human race. With help from an unexpected ally, the young scientist races to harness the universe’s mightiest force and preserve humanity’s future.
LITERARY TITAN 