Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp, and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

The Last Battleship – Joshua T. Calvert

Humanity’s endless war and a crew of outcasts on a decommissioned warship who could change the future.

First contact with the alien “Clicks” led to a generations’ long war. The Terran Federation still knows very little about the enemy.

Captain Konrad Bradley commands the decommissioned battleship Oberon, the last remaining Titan of the fleet. Mocked as a flying museum – too expensive, too cumbersome, too old – Bradley and his crew of outcasts from a long-vanished colony lead a dull life on the farthest edge of human hegemony.

Bradley’s hope to go quietly into the night ends with the arrival of the legendary Strike Group 2 and the delivery of a secret so great it could end the war. That’s why Lagunia was chosen for its construction.

Getting the system operational doesn’t go as expected leaving Bradley and the Oberon to clean up the mess that has drawn the attention of those they hoped would never find them.

Light Unto Another World #8 – Yakov Merkin

In war, there will always be things that go wrong. How one acts when that happens will decide the outcome.

Information, and the ability to gather intelligence, is more important than many realize

But what do you do when the enemy is always one step ahead?

While Uriel and his team have made it through another tough scrape against the enemy Swords and the archmage Sienzai, things aren’t getting any easier.

They didn’t escape unscathed this time, and now another member of his team has to live in the shadow of something terrifying.

In a more immediate concern, the enemy seems almost resurgent now, and, crucially, seems to hold an intelligence edge that is making the difference.

Tasked with holding a key city, Uriel and his friends must piece together what’s going on in time to foil the enemy’s plans, or risk seeing everything they’ve fought for completely undone.

Prince Liberator (The Prince of Britannia Saga #6) – Fred Hughes

Alone and unafraid…

The former Earth colony of Serenity is safe from the Mordorian Horde… for the moment. Hazard King’s expeditionary force, battered and bruised, stands guard, protecting the system. But to complete his original mission—to get to Earth and obtain the Black Dragon information he needs to save the kingdom—Hazard will need reinforcements. His mother, Empress Elizabeth, is willing to organize that help, but it will take time.

For the moment, Hazard is on his own.

When Imperial scouts discover a major enemy base in the MT Pegasi System, Hazard’s plans change. The former colony, 90 light years from Earth, is home to a large Mordorian Fleet, a fleet that Hazard must defeat. They not only block the way forward but have enslaved two million humans.

With the majority of reinforcements yet to arrive, and against the advice of his commanders, Hazard attacks the system to open the way to Earth and free the subjugated colony. He is the man the colony needs.

He is… Prince Liberator. Read More

Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp, and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

12 Miles Below: The Frozen Realm – Mark Arrows

Icy death above. Monster-filled dungeons below. He must fight or freeze.

Extreme sub-zero temperatures suffocate the surface. Frozen structures of bygone eras span across massive ice-wastes. And the survivors closely guard any technology rediscovered within them.

The only escape from the deadly climate is beneath the surface, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe…

Monstrous machines lurk in the depths. Unhinged demigods war against them, dying over and over, treating it all like a game. The depths themselves shift over time, more contraption than rock.

When an expedition into the far uncharted north goes terribly wrong, Keith Winterscar and his father get trapped together in a desperate fight for survival. Stumbling upon an ancient war of titanic scale, the two will need to set their differences aside while they struggle against gods, legends, and the secrets of the realm that lies below.

The Crystal Conspiracy (The Adventures of Baron Von Monocle #6) – Jon Del Arroz

Death rains from a foreign continent…

…only ancient technology can save them.

Zaira von Monocle finds herself in an unlikely alliance with Ivan, the Iron Emperor, as the evil Nightmen flood both of their people’s western shores. With the airship Liliana broken beyond repair, The Wyranth’s engineers have made a new airship, one designed as a weapon of war to stave off this threat.

But even with their air power, both countries find themselves overwhelmed. The Nightmen seem to have an ultimate advantage over our heroes, able to level cities with swift efficiency. Zaira and her new airship are helpless against such a foe. Or so she thinks.

Ivan has discovered the secret of ancient crystals which powered wonderous and miraculous deeds in the ancient past. All they have to go on are mythological texts which speak of an ultra-crystal somewhere on the Dragonmist Isles, an area left unexplored for centuries. Desperate, Zaira and her crew fly for the Isles to try to find some kind of hope to save her home from destruction and her people from slavery.

The Exile of Zanzibar – Daniel Maidman

Claire built a device to fold space and time.

It had a flaw…

When the smoke clears, she finds herself halfway across the world, thousands of years in the past, and no device in sight.

In bronze-age Florence, war has lasted for generations. All Claire wants to do is get home, but she’ll need help from the locals. She wins an ally in Marcus Diophantus, a pickpocket turned soldier turned general, who hopes to turn into something more than just her champion. Together, they broker peace between Florence and its enemy.

If Marcus is going to help Claire, he’ll have to survive. Peace has upset the balance of power in the capital city. The king stands increasingly alone against: the Constantines, a commercial enterprise as much as a clan, who aim to profit from peace as they have from war – the warrior nobles, descended from the founders of Florence and quick to turn against a weak throne – and Reburrus, the high priest of Florence, convinced Claire answers to hostile foreign gods. As the city comes to a boil, Claire and Marcus – and Marcus’s formidable army – will have to decide where their allegiance lies.

Claire becomes a reluctant participant in a savage campaign. While Marcus leads the battles, she tries to gain control of the unimaginably powerful Ctesiphôn – a ghost tower in the heart of Florence, shrouded in magic and myth.

March of the Dinosaurs (Mintari #3) – Daniel Arenson

Dinosaurs. Majestic beasts. For millions of years, they ruled the Earth. Today they live again on planet Mintari.

Risen from the past, these beautiful animals inspire all who see them. The titanic sauropods roam the land, devouring forests. Ceratopsians herd across the plains like living tanks. Pterosaurs fill the skies, some as large as planes. Ruling them all, the mighty T.rex reigns as king.

But powerful as they are, the dinosaurs are facing another extinction.

An army of poachers sweeps across Mintari. Killing. Burning. Even the greatest dinosaurs cannot survive their modern weapons.

Against this army stands Joe Triplehorn. A Mintari Ranger. A man broken and forged in the wilderness. Joe and his fellow Rangers are outnumbered. Outgunned. But this is war. And Joe will fight. He will defend his home, his family, and Mintari’s magnificent dinosaurs. Read More

Peter Tsouras’ Disaster at D-Day is a recent library sale pick up for me. I looked at his Rising Sun Victorious here at the Castalia House blog. This book is sub-titled “The Germans Defeat the Allies, June 1944.”

Tsouras has written or edited anthologies on alternate histories including Stalingrad, Napoleon, WW1, the Cold War, Third Reich Victorious, Dixie Victorious, Gettysburg, Assassinations, Battle of the Bulge. These all appear to be in print also.

Disaster at D-Day is from 1994, hardback, 238 pages, Greenhill Press. Read More

Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp, and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

Dawn of the Black Sun (The Silver Empire #1) – Timo Burnham

A fisherman’s son who has lost everything.

A wandering master haunted by regret.

An exile wielding a sword that speaks.

Ryushu lives the quiet and boring life of a fisherman’s son until a single day rips his world apart.

Now he must make the journey to the top of the titanic Mount Gharun to learn from the hyo masters–martial artists with the powers of demigods. Can he survive the brutal climb? Does he have the strength, not just of body, but of mind and spirit?

Meanwhile an exile wonders the barrenlands, holding a sword that speaks. He slowly gathers a following as he prepares to take the emperors throne for himself.

Dawn approaches. A Dawn of death and destruction. The Dawn of the Black Sun.

Double-Cross Bounty (Space Hunter War #5) – Rick Partlow and Pacey Holden

When losing the game isn’t an option, it’s time to rewrite the rules.

Tired of the Fleet Intelligence game, Jack signs up for a routine bounty hunting mission. A simple bag and tag is turned on its head when he uncovers evidence that links criminal activity with a company his family is heavily invested in… a company ran by his ex-fiancee and her husband.

To run this lead to ground, Jack is forced to put his scheming skills to the test, threading the needle between family, friend, and foe. The simple investigation devolves into a brutal war between the genetically-augmented Predecessor Cult and the advanced bionics of the Evolutionists—with Jack caught in the middle. Rival factions slaughter one another with impunity as the investigation turns into a race against time; a race Jack has no hope of winning… unless he is willing to do the unthinkable.

One thing’s for sure; a bounty hunter that doesn’t plan for a double-cross will fail every time.

Dungeon Core Online #4 – Jonathan Smidt

With Cyb3Ru5 defeated, James is ready to get back to some good old-fashioned dungeon shenanigans. The experience left him shaken – but luckily, he now has friends to lean on.

Speaking of DCO, while James might feel like the main character at times, the game itself, and the developers behind it, think otherwise. During his stint as a pawn helping bring down the dangerous hacker group, a lot of upgrades to DCO were implemented without him. Now James is diving headfirst into all of it!

New floors, new levels, and so much more, including a rematch against a certain winged lizard cult that Rue, ahem, the White Beast of Chaos, is chomping at the bit to take part in.

James is back where he is supposed to be, running his dungeon, hanging out with Rue, and sipping digitally rendered cocktails served by cybernetic penguins. He’s trying to forget his own unpleasant memories – and he’s not the only one.

But DCO is full of distractions – and one new game mode, in particular, is set to keep James occupied for quite a while. In more ways than he could ever imagine.

Now, for the first time since its debut, James can finally run the dungeon himself.

Everything (Full Murderhobo #3) – Dakota Krout

The Dynasty is sending troops. Potentia is plentiful. Everything is up for grabs.

Luke has found a great way to move directly from combat to combat. While his team is working hard to increase their knowledge, train their skills, and grow a paradise, the Murderhobo steps into a Descender portal for five minutes, pops out, jumping straight into Murder World—fists leading the way. Life is good.

After years of work Andre the Druid makes a grievous error: he completes his job perfectly. By healing the Scarroco Desert, the supermassive Dynasty that neighbors the Hollow Kingdom suddenly has renewed interest in their resources. No longer content to leave The Four in exile, the King recalls them to the Palace. Before their new orders are given, the Dynasty steals something precious from the King. Going after it is a fool’s errand.

That works perfectly for the King: he knows exactly four disposable Ascenders. Being promised freedom, luxuries, and cushy jobs if they are successful—and death upon failure—Luke’s team leaves immediately. As they begin their adventure through the front lines of the invasion, Luke the Murderhobo knows it’s his moment to shine. Monsters, Ascenders, and Assassins are the least of their worries.

All he needs to do is survive Everything. Read More

In the final volume of Will Wight’s Cradle series, Waybound, Lindon and his friends prepare themselves for the daunting challenge of killing not just the three remaining kaiju Dreadgods rampaging across the world of Cradle, but the Monarchs that keep the kaiju in check. It’s a race against time, as each death empowers the monsters and pushes Lindon ever closer to become a kaiju himself. But only killing the Dreadgods and forcing the Monarchs to ascend to the heavens–or die–will save Cradle from endless waves of destruction. Even if it means that Lindon himself must leave Cradle behind.

The royal road comes to completion in Waybound as Lindon tries to correct a world where the endless ambitions and sentimentality of the powerful Monarchs has caused Cradle itself to create monsters to force the Monarchs to take their rightful place in the heavens and leave. Endless treasures and even lives are poured into magical cultivation circuits to empower a select few to fight over Cradle. It is as if entire Smithsonians are emptied to fuel Superman in the vain hope of containing the damage caused by Monarchs, Lindon, or the Dreadgods. But Lindon is the only one on Cradle willing to end the menace of the Dreadgods forever–and the only one using the gift of cultivation to protect others. In some ways it makes sense that such waste is needed to restore Cradle from the selfishness of its powerful, as the price of a fall is always steep.

The die has been cast in the previous book, so what remains is a breakneck spree of world-shattering combat, training, and an occasional revelation. But, just like Cradle itself, the reader is not given time to breathe. However, Wight does what Hollywood and very few epic fantasy writers cannot: he creates a satisfying ending. Lindon and friends go on to their just reward, all the loose ends are tied up, and there are hints of future challenges and adventures without the need for a sequel hook. The heroic progression known as the royal road, started in a remote village by a powerless, imperiled, and shunned Lindon, is now complete. Read More

Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp, and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

Birth of an Empire (The Frontiers Saga: Fringe Worlds #7) – Ryk Brown

Getting to know old friends again…
Getting their hands on improved tech…
Unchaining the limits of their ability to protect…
A chance at a pair of assets that could change things forever…

The Free Fleet now has a powerful partner in the Ghatazhak. Together, they will finally be able to bring peace and prosperity to the fringe, and beyond.

“Rise of an Empire” is the 7th episode in Part 3 of the Frontiers Saga: Fringe Worlds.

Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense #15 – edited by P. Alexander

Conrock and the others track the Black Star Reavers to the base of the mysterious Five-Thousand Fingered Hand in the hunt for the abducted Philean women!

On Earth to complete his training, Arrul Voruum learns of the discovery of an artifact of immeasurable worth and power from the days when the empire fell!

On his way to sell his services to the Earl Ryker, Burke Fletcher, the mercenary marooned on Rigel IV, is attacked by a strange and monstrous creature out of time! Stranded, Burke comes upon a beautiful Rigelian being pursued by White Giants!

In earth’s twilight, mankind’s numbers dwindle amongst the ruins! Can a lone ptero knight rescue two young women who might bear the next generation?!

…and more!

Forsaken Colony (The Afterwar Saga #3) – Jaime McFarlane

On the distant edge of humanity, Far Post Colony suddenly loses contact with civilization. The lives of thousands hang in the balance as one small crew takes a stand against an alien menace.

Immoral and illegal doesn’t begin to describe the genetic engineering dreamed up by the Carashock corporation. Experimenting with a hostile alien seed, humanity might just have discovered a new way to usher in its own ruin. Horrified by video captured at the highest cost, Quinn Hoffen and his crew have a tough decision to make. Should they run toward danger or away. As a Hoffen, Quinn knows there’s only one choice.

Paying with their own blood, Quinn’s small crew will quickly learn the meaning of the word sacrifice. The problem is, will sacrifice and unyielding bravery in the face of overwhelming odds be enough to stop the invasion of Far Post Colony from spreading to the rest of civilized space?

Forsaken Commander – G. J. Ogden

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…

Read More