C Gockel Writes

Featured Science Fiction: The Disappeared: A Retrieval Artist Novel (Retrieval Artist Series Book 1) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

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Free in US as of June 20, 2023
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Winner of the Endeavor Award

“…one of the top science fiction sagas in recent years.”—Midwest Book Reviews

Whose rules does Detective Miles Flint live by?

Humans and aliens have formed a loose government called the Earth Alliance, with treaties that guarantee humans are subject to alien laws when on alien soil. But alien laws often seem senseless, and minor violations draw outrageous punishments—from death to the loss of a first-born child.

Miles Flint grapples with three cases that have collided: a stolen space-yacht filled with dead bodies, two kidnapped human children, and a human woman on the run to avoid alien prosecution, trying to become one of the Disappeared. Flint must enforce the law—giving the children to aliens, solving the murders, and arresting the woman for running from the legal system. But how can he enforce laws that are unjust? How can he sacrifice innocents to a system he’s not sure he believes in? How can Miles Flint do the right thing in a universe where the right thing is very, very wrong?

This is Flint’s first adventure in the 15-book series, the story that turns him from a police detective in the Armstrong Dome on the Moon into a Retrieval Artist.

“Part CSI, part Blade Runner, and part hard-boiled gumshoe, [Retrieval Artist] Miles Flint would be as at home on a foggy San Francisco street in the 1940s as he is in the domed lunar colony of Armstrong City.”—The Edge Boston

“Rusch has created an entertaining blend of mystery and sf, a solid police drama that asks hard questions about what justice between cultures, and even species, really is.”—Booklist

“It feels like a popular TV series crossed with a Spielberg film-engaging.”—Locus

“The Disappeared is a very readable, very thought-provoking novel that lives up to every expectation we have of Rusch and her considerable talents. Buy and enjoy.”—Analog

Featured Science Fiction: Forsaken Commander (The Aternien Wars Book 1) by G. J. Ogden

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99¢ in USA as of June 19, 2023
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Humanity’s only hope is the commander they spurned.

Once, Master Commander Carter Rose was the Union’s secret weapon. An augmented, bio-engineered officer in command of the most powerful warship ever devised by human minds, Rose brought them victory against the post-human Aternien Empire.

Then they cast him aside.

A century later, living alone on a distant forest moon, feared and forsaken by the people he fought to save, Rose has grown bitter and resentful, while his superhuman body refuses to age.

When Major Carina Larsen seeks his help to save Earth from becoming the last frontier of humanity, Rose is reluctant to return to duty. Until Larsen reveals the real peril: the Aterniens are on the rise again, hell-bent on revenge.

And after a century of peace, the Union has forgotten how to fight.

But even if Rose can recover his marooned warship and assemble a crew, his allegiance is now a valuable commodity — and a secret weapon is only ever as dangerous as those who wield it…

Forsaken Commander is book #1 of the Aternien Wars series, an epic blend of space opera and militaristic sci-fi. Follow an elite crew of augmented officers as they fight a post-human enemy styled on the myths of ancient Egypt.

Featured Science Fiction: The Armageddon Seeds (Dekker’s Dozen Book 1) by Christopher D. Schmitz

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Dekker's Dozen

$4.99 in USA as of June 18, 2023
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Dekker Knight has a secret past.
Vivian “Vesuvius” Briggs has a sword and a chip on her shoulder.
Together they run a crew of sanctioned space mercenaries: the Dozen.

During an operation gone wrong, an alien spy steals a seemingly insignificant item: a benign seed found on Ganymede. A secret cult believes it has immense power, perhaps coming from the Garden of Eden itself. If it falls into enemy hands, it could wreak unspeakable evil across the galaxy.

The Dozen fight to keep their debts settled, fuel in their ship, and some equilibrance to their moral ledger. They are more than mercenaries: they are part of a family they’ve chosen—and this seed threatens to tear it apart.

Between a corrupt government, and forces in league with the notorious villain, Prognon Austicon, threats squeeze them from every side. Dekker and Austicon have a vendetta. Vivian’s family and Austicon have a history. Austicon has powerful friends and a superweapon. With the fate of the universe hanging in the balance, can the Dozen swing the pendulum back?

Featured Science Fiction: Against All Odds (Grimm’s War Book 1) by Jeffery H. Haskell

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Featured Science Fiction: Against All Odds (Grimm's War Book 1) by Jeffery H. Haskell

FREE as of June 10, 2023
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The wrong crew. The wrong ship. The right Captain.

Idealistic navy lieutenant Jacob Grimm just wanted to honor his mother’s sacrifice in the last great war. When he’s forced to return fire and destroy a squadron of ships to save his own, he thinks he’s the hero…

Until they discover the ships are full of children.

Disgraced and denied promotion, Jacob’s career is over. That is until the head of ONI needs a disposable officer to command a battered destroyer on the rim.

There’s just one problem, Interceptor hasn’t had a CO in months and the ship is a mess. Worse, the system he’s assigned to is corrupt and on the verge of all-out civil war with the Alliance.

However, no one told Jacob he was disposable.

Pirates, smugglers, and Caliphate spies complicate the situation and one captain with an old ship can’t enforce the law, let alone stop anyone.

The single greatest discovery of all time is about to change intergalactic politics forever. If Jacob doesn’t find a way to succeed, then it won’t just be the end of the Alliance, it will be the end of freedom for humanity.

From USA Today bestselling author Jeffery H. Haskell comes a military science fiction epic in the tradition of Honor Harrington and Star Trek. If you love heroes and starships, you will love to stand with Commander Jacob T. Grimm Against all Odds. You’re in the Navy now!

“Against All Odds is classic space fleet military science fiction in the tradition of David Weber, with memorable characters and thrilling action. Haskell is a new shining star in the genre.” –Rick Partlow, author of Contact Front

Featured Science Fiction: Embers of The Empire by Robert D. Armstrong

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Featured Science Fiction: Embers of The Empire by Robert D. Armstrong

99¢ New Release as of June 7, 2023
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NEW RELEASE

From USA Today Bestseller Robert D. Armstrong comes the military sci-fi thriller, Embers of the Empire.

By the end of his first combat tour on Narpal, Rivan was a decorated imperial tank commander.

But he and his artificial intelligence companion returned to an empire facing a new threat. Support for a mysterious faction known as the fourth legion has spread throughout the galaxy at an alarming rate. There were reports of instability at mining colonies and violent incursions. Regional governors have been attacked as the empire scrambled to regain control.

The death dealers.

Rivan is recruited by the elite Hexes squadron, a shadowy imperial faction known for its cutting-edge hardware. Hexes is led by Commander JT Zess and Admiral Vissers. They devise an aggressive preemptive strike to uphold the empire’s claim to a strategic planet named Jupa.

The EXO.

Hexes assigns Rivan to pilot a new EXO walker called the Nemesis. It is perhaps the most advanced military machine ever conceived. The empire is confident this EXO can prevent or turn the tide of any conflict and send a clear message to all those that oppose the imperial rule.

But are they prepared for the threat they don’t see coming?

Fans of military sci-fi action and futuristic colonization stories might like this book.

Featured Science Fiction: Starstruck (Starstruck Saga Book 1) by S.E. Anderson

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Featured Science Fiction: Starstruck (Starstruck Saga Book 1) by S.E. Anderson

99¢ in USA and free audiobook as of June 6, 2023
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She could barely look after herself. Now, she’s looking after the entire planet.

After an incident with a hot-air balloon causes college-dropout Sally Webber to lose her job, she sets off to find direction in her life. Crashing into a teleporting alien, however, is not on her to-do list. Now she’s on the run from TV-drama-loving aliens, and things are just getting started. Zander won’t stop reeling her into life-or-death situations to save her planet, as he waits for his laser-wielding sister to search the universe for him. Though Sally isn’t quite sure if he wants to save Earth from annihilation, or just quell his curiosity of all things human. Sally has to find lost alien emissaries, as well as a job, and stop the planet from getting incinerated in the process. But with Zander as her roommate, what could possibly go wrong?