C Gockel Writes

Featured Sci-fi: Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

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Featured Sci-fi: Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

$1.99 as of June 8, 2026
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HUGO AWARD FINALIST FOR BEST NOVEL

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets the joy and glamour of Eurovision in bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente’s wildly funny space opera spectacle, where sentient races compete for glory in a galactic song competition…and the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth.

A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented—something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding.

Once every cycle, the great galactic civilizations gather for the Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Species far and wide compete in feats of song, dance and/or whatever facsimile of these can be performed by various creatures who may or may not possess, in the traditional sense, feet, mouths, larynxes, or faces. And if a new species should wish to be counted among the high and the mighty, if a new planet has produced some savage group of animals, machines, or algae that claim to be, against all odds, sentient? Well, then they will have to compete. And if they fail? Sudden extermination for their entire species.

This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny—they must sing.

Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes have been chosen to represent their planet on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of Earth lies in their ability to rock.

Featured Sci-fi: A World Apart Complete Series Books 1 – 4 by Robert D. Armstrong

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Featured Sci-fi: A World Apart Books 1 - 4 by Robert D. Armstrong

99¢ as of June 7, 2026
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From USA Today bestselling author Robert D. Armstrong comes the complete series, A World Apart.
 
She crossed the stars to put the war behind her.

For veteran fighter pilot Captain Victoria Belic, the Kelton Wars on Earth were over. She had earned the callsign Lioness in humanity’s last stand against the machines. By the end, the enemy knew her name.

But victory left scars. Victoria tried to bury the Lioness with the ghosts of everyone she could not save.

Then came the chance to colonize a new world. A chance to leave the wreckage of Earth behind and help build something better. 

When Victoria woke, she was on a world she did not recognize, and her reputation had beaten her there. And now, the machines that destroyed Earth were coming for them next.

But the machines made one critical error:
They came for the last pride of humanity.
And woke its Lioness.

Featured Science Fiction: The Galactic Mage by John Daulton

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Featured Science Fiction: The Galactic Mage by John Daulton

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Altin Meade is a sorcerer with a curse. Seeking to avoid a looming doom, he sets his magical sights on the stars—a quest that will likely bring about the very consequence he’s seeking to escape.

Far across the galaxy, Ensign Orli Pewter of planet Earth has a looming doom of her own—one of loneliness, depression and, worse, a race of genocidal aliens known as “Hostiles” seeking to destroy humanity. Trapped aboard a spaceship she never asked to be upon, Orli is in a fight for both her life and her sanity.

Worlds apart, Altin and Orli share a destiny, but neither knows the other is alive. The Hostiles know. And they have other plans.

Featured Sci-fi: Omega Taskforce by GJ Ogden

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Featured Sci-fi: Omega Taskforce by GJ Ogden

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(Book 2 & Book 3 only 99¢ Each in US & UK)
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An action-packed military sci-fi space opera for fans of Battlestar Galactica, Galaxy’s Edge, and Star Trek: Section 31.

The Sa’Nerra were close to defeat — then everything changed. Armed with a neural weapon, the alien warriors turned humanity’s own Fleet against itself. Entire warships went rogue. Suspicion and fear spread like wildfire.

Surrender seemed like the only option.

Captain Lucas Sterling knows the truth. In the fight against the Sa’Nerra, there’s only victory or death.

Sterling is an Omega Captain, forged in a brutal trial of grit and sacrifice. Backed by an AI-powered warship and an elite crew, he’ll stop at nothing to prevent the fall of Earth — even if it means sacrificing the people he loves.

To save everything he swore to protect, he must risk his ship, his crew, and his very soul. Because against an enemy that despises mankind, only a commander as ruthless as the foe he faces can be victorious.

From Kindle Storyteller Award Winner G J Ogden, The Emissary is Book 1 of 12 in the Omega Taskforce series — a high-octane, galaxy-spanning space opera full of elite special ops, high-stakes alien warfare, devastating fleet battles, and mystery-fueled military drama.

If you love fleet warfare, ruthless alien invaders, AI warships, and high-tech combat, you’ll binge read this epic sci-fi saga.

Click ‘Buy Now’ to begin your mission into the Sa’Nerra Universe.

Featured Sci-fi: The Jovian Universe by Kim Catanzarite

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Featured Sci-fi: The Jovian Universe by Kim Catanzarite

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They Will Be Coming for Us. In this gripping sci-fi drama, Svetlana Peterman has met her soul mate in Andrew Jovian, a young astronomer who works for Starbright International, the aerospace company his wealthy parents own. Once married, they make a home in Kirksberg, Pennsylvania, a small town famous for a UFO sighting that occurred in the 1960s. Svetlana is, for once, truly happy, except that Andrew’s family is strange, and not in a normal-strange kind of way.

Preoccupied with only two things—the night sky and carrying on their family lineage—the Jovians lack social skills and often pry into Svetlana’s personal life. Her intimidating mother-in-law demands she get busy fulfilling her reproductive duty to the family, and Andrew’s eccentric uncle seems to be able to read her mind.

Feeling bullied and wanting a career before motherhood, Svetlana takes precautions but ends up pregnant anyway. But that’s the least of her worries when she discovers the Jovians have a monumental secret that will change her fate (and that of her child’s) forever—a secret so powerful, it could alter the course of mankind.

They Will Be Coming for Us is a BlueInk Notable Book and a five-star Readers’ Favorite contest winner. It is the first book in The Jovian Universe series.

Featured Sci-fi: Terradox Series By Craig A. Falconer

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Featured Sci-fi: Terradox Series By Craig A. Falconer

FREE as of May 31, 2026
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A planet that shouldn’t exist. An adventure you’ll never forget.

With Earth in turmoil under the iron fist of a despotic Global Union, a small group of exiles flees for the safety of a distant research station.

They were heading for Venus. Somewhere else found them first. Crash-landing on an uncharted world full of wonders wasn’t what anyone had in mind, and the irresistible temptation to explore and conquer the incredible landscape reveals new dangers hiding around every corner. Everything rests on the survivors’ ability to unravel the mystery of their increasingly hostile new world, but Terradox will not give up its secrets without a fight…

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** This Fifth Anniversary Edition of Terradox includes the full novel, the full prequel (Terradox Zero: Before The Crash), plus some great never-before-seen content — created especially for this new edition — such as a reader Q&A and an author retrospective. **