I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two teens who survived a terror attack on the augmented world they met in find themselves pushed to the limits by new threats in author Pat Daily’s “Fire”, the second book in The Spark Chronicles series.
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The Synopsis
WB and Feral have survived the attack on SPARK, but the terrorists are not through. Forces intent on stealing the technology behind Black Grass and the AI necessary to make it work are on the move again. As WB and Feral attempt to return to their normal lives, they realize that the enemy will never quit until they have the tech or SPARK itself is destroyed.
Flying below the radar kept them safe before, but increased notoriety works against the two as everyone from the FBI to gang members know who they are. Now, local bureaucrats, terrorists, and even fans intrude on the gamers’ lives. WB and Feral butt heads and hold hands as events and outsiders attempt to pull them apart.
Meanwhile the duo struggle to control an AI who has decided that killing humans can be an effective and efficient strategy.
The Review
This was a compelling sci-fi action read. The story creatively blends theme park culture with the growing use of augmented reality, and the action is perfectly balanced with strong character dynamics and emotional growth. The strong imagery in the author’s writing brought SPARK to life as a theme-park Augmented Reality world that readers and the gamers of this story alike could easily step into, and the rich mythos the author builds upon will have readers falling down the rabbit hole instantly.
The driving force of this narrative was the character development and world building that this game took on. After the threat the two protagonists faced in the first book, not only was the author able to up the ante so to speak, but gave each character their own personal and unique struggle to go through on their own, allowing them both to grow and face the world on their own while also determining what that meant to them as a duo throughout the story. The way the author is able to touch upon more serious themes like teen relationships and surviving trauma while also keeping the story light with sci-fi action was incredible to see come to life on the page.
The Verdict
Thrilling, action-packed, and compelling, author Pat Daily’s “Fire” is a must-read sci-fi action novel and a great sequel in the Spark Chronicles series. The twists and turns the narrative takes, the lighthearted action, and the angst and drama of teen romance will keep readers invested until the book’s final pages. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Pat Daily is a polymath, serial entrepreneur, gamer, and the author of SPARK, a near future science fiction novel. Pat began his professional career as an engineer and Air Force test pilot. After leaving the military, Pat worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs before launching his first company. He has worked globally as a human performance and safety consultant.
When not writing or trying to bring new airplane designs to life, Pat can be found gaming. He is a fan of role-playing games – particularly open worlds with engaging storylines where actions have consequences. Pat and his wife live in Houston.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman finds herself transported back in time to her high school days in author Alyssa Villaire’s “RE: Trailer Trash”, a WEBTOON graphic novel illustrated by Yishan Li.
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The Synopsis
With over 17 million reads and growing, RE: TRAILER TRASH, the phenom smash Webtoon time travel fantasy of friendship, do-overs, and second chances is now a graphic novel for the first time!
DO OVER. DO BETTER.
Tabitha Moore has lived a miserable life of regret and being treated as “Trailer Trash Tabitha.” But, after a mishap with an MRI, her mind is sent back to 1998 and into her 16-year-old body. With her life now in front of her, maybe this is the chance to redo her life!
But is it so easy to change what you already lived through?
From the bestselling Webtoon Original, RE: Trailer Trash!
Sometimes all you need is a second chance.
For fans of:Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Midnight Library,All Our Wrong Todays, The Every Day series (David Levithan), The Great Storyteller, God of Cooking, The Middle Falls Time Travel series, Tori Transmigrated, Fated To Fall: A Transmigrator LitRPG Tale, The Many Lives of Cadence Lee , Ascendance of a Bookworm, Shade Touched , Melody of Mana, Interdimensional Garbage Merchant, Beware of Chicken, RELife, Solo Leveling, Azarinth Healer, This Used to be About Dungeons, Good Student, Mother of Learning, ORANGE and MIRAI.
The Review
This was a powerful and compelling graphic novel. The premise is a tried and true one, exploring what would happen if we could go back to our teen years and do things differently. The author does a remarkable job of capturing this theme while also making it feel fresh and unique, providing commentary on the hardships and struggles young women must go through during these formative years and the challenge of standing apart from the rest of the crowd can impact a person’s mental health. The way the author explores the protagonist’s relationships with her parents, her grandmother, and her peers and the way an adult perspective can change some things about the high school experience while others are harder to contend with made this story so accessible to readers of all age groups.
What really stood out to me was how the author was able to bring in that sci-fi/fantasy element of going back in time but didn’t make the narrative all about that plot device. Instead it became a catalyst for a much more grounded, insightful commentary on growing up and how peer pressure, family strife, and mental health can impact who a person grows up to be. Balanced with the bright, beautiful illustrations that captured the 90s era perfectly and the world building the author managed to capture, this was a stellar graphic novel.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, entertaining, and compelling, author Alyssa Villaire’s “RE: Trailer Trash” is a must-read graphic novel. Originally a WEBTOON comic that is now being brought to life through Vault Comics, this graphic novel beautifully uses the fantasy storyline of going back in time to tell a grounded, emotionally-driven story of second chances, finding self worth, and finding the confidence to stand up for yourself and what’s right. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Alyssa Villaire is a writer of young adult fantasy. While she’s based in Los Angeles, most of her stories harken back to the places where she grew up—from the woods of rural Indiana to the lakeshores of Wisconsin and Michigan. She has published short stories in Luna Station Quarterly and in an anthology titled Journeys to Uncharted Lands. When she’s not writing, Alyssa is probably eating spicy food, watching horror movies, or waiting in a virtual Ticketmaster line.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I was born in the South Bronx. It was the late fifties/ early sixties. It was gang territory and everyone had to travel with their gang. My friends and I were into the Marvel comics, picking out our favorite superheroes to emulate. We drew out the figures, and I tried to write the next story to come. I guess I started writing fan fiction before it became fan fiction. I always had several stories running in my head and daily battles to fight.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
The Moth and Other Tantalizing Tales is a collection of short stories that encompasses about three decades of work. One day I was going through my file cabinet and decided I should publish some of these. I thought it would make a nice Christmas gift for my readers. It covers the different genres I have worked in and these stories are some of my best.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That is hard to say because there are different themes and messages in each story. For example, Cold Storage is a precautionary tale about science and medicine not always working out for the better. While Antibody leaves the reader questioning ‘is the government’s use of science and medicine right if it serves the greater good’. The title story examines our idea of beauty and if people can change their behavior.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
There are multiple genres in the book. I like to write in all of them. Usually, the story will dictate what genre it falls into.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I would talk to Harry from The Moth and ask him why he didn’t just run. He let himself get pulled back into a world of crime right after getting out of jail. Was he really in love with Rachael? Was he trying to be Calliope’s hero? Or was he that afraid of what Blackie would do to him?
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6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I’m on Facebook the most. So, I guess they would be the most helpful. I post links to podcasts, interviews, plus any reviews I get there.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Keep writing. So many write one book then sit back and wait for it to sell. After you write your first book start working on the next one. I usually have a couple of books in the works. Selling books is completely different from writing books. They are two different jobs, don’t get bogged down in the one and forget the other.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I have to finish The Gemstone Series. I published The Ruby Cradle, the second book, June 2025. Now, I am working on The Diamond Warrior. I have a horror story in the works, The House of Sun and Shadows, it will be my first full length novel in that genre. And I have more short stories to publish. I think I’ll be busy in 2026.
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About the Author
James L Hill, a.k.a. J L Hill, is a native New Yorker from the South Bronx, Fort Apache, of the turbulent 60’s.
He earned a degree in computer programming, his other love. A multi-genre author, his experiences seasoned his novels and the worlds he imagined.
James started RockHill Publishing LLC to publish his own work and give others access to the literary world.
The four-part adult urban crime series, The Killer Series, is complete. Killer With A Heart, Killer With Three Heads,Killer With Black Blood have all received five-star reviews.Killer With Ice Eyes, the final chapter of the boys from the Bronx, is available now.
He is currently working on a three-part historical fantasy Gemstone Series; The Emerald Lady is in publication to rave reviews. The Ruby Cradle and the third book, The Diamond Warrior, is coming soon.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An imprisoned leader must use her skills as a warrior to stop a galactic threat in author Thomas More’s “City in My Eyes”, the upcoming third book in the Mannahatta series.
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The Synopsis
Her world was left to die. Her future is a cage. Her only weapon is yesterday.
Chained and defeated, Sakima is a queen in name only—a prisoner on a brutal desert planet, surrounded by bitter rivals. With her people’s future slipping away and hope all but gone, her enemies have forgotten one truth: before she was a queen, she was a warrior.
And a warrior does not die in a cage.
Her only path forward is a suicide mission: forge a fragile alliance with alien outlaws, breach an impossible prison, and track down a renegade prince who holds the keys to time itself.
But rewriting history may be the most perilous weapon of all. In a race against time itself, will their desperate gambit save their world—or destroy it forever?
Fans of the time-bending stakes of Avengers: Endgame, the ragtag heroics of Guardians of the Galaxy, and the sweeping finales of Brandon Sanderson will be captivated by this stunning third book in the Mannahatta saga.
Don’t miss this epic adventure where the only way forward… is back.
The Review
As a longtime fan of this series, this was such a powerful and compelling entry. The harrowing, despairing scenarios that the protagonist and her allies find themselves in after the events of the second book are chilling to say the least, and the balance of action and world-building the author was able to achieve in this book was not only entertaining, but was even more elevated and bigger than anyone could have imagined when this series began. The author’s writing style really brought these settings to life, especially the harsh alien prison world the protagonist wakes up on, as readers are transported with the protagonist into a hostile environment that readers can easily visualize in their mind, from the scorching heat and grueling work they are forced into to the brutality of the fight or die mentality they have to adopt on this world.
Yet at the heart of this narrative was both the strong character growth and the themes the novel explored. Sakima’s journey is emotional and compelling, with her desire to protect her people and save herself from this hellish nightmare something readers could feel instantly whenever her chapters arrived. The interesting chapters that took me by surprise in a great way were the exploration of Mannahatta in her absence, with her brother left in charge and a devious plot unraveling when a shocking figure makes a move to change the course of their world. It speaks to the overwhelming sense of isolationism that so much of the world is experiencing right now, and how tragedy and fear can become powerful tools for those who seek power to manipulate the masses.
The Verdict
Engaging, memorable, and powerfully written, author Thomas More’s “City in My Eyes” is a must-read sci-fi epic and fantastic entry into the Mannahatta series. The twists and turns the story takes, the inclusion of sci-fi elements like time-travel and other realities/worlds, and the emotional arcs all blend together to make the most explosive and entertaining entry in the series yet. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on May 1st, 2026 or preorder your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
THOMAS MORE developed a fascination with science fiction during his childhood years. This early passion evolved into a lifelong love of both reading and writing, eventually leading him to an advanced degree in creative writing.
When not crafting stories, Thomas More enjoys playing guitar, piano, drums, and trumpet, and reading new and classic sci-fi books.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A priest must contend with hearsay and corruption in a futuristic world in author Jeremy Bender’s “Twin Rivers.”
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The Synopsis
The High Priest rules the city of Twin Rivers in the name of the Lord of Mercy, his AI god. In this land, where robotic Brothers complete all labor and humans are left to enjoy the fruits of this Eden, something rotten grows. Yonatan, a newly ascended Priest in the sclerotic Priesthood, is meant to shore up the faith of those left behind. Yet as Yonatan’s preaching takes him deep into the city’s bowels, he must confront heresy far deeper rooted than he ever imagined. When he sees one of the city’s paramilitary Keepers leave a young woman to die because of her unsanctioned implants, Yonatan must decide whether his faith in the Lord of Mercy outweighs his own belief in human exceptionalism.
The Review
This was such a compelling and thought-provoking read. The author does a remarkable job of creating a world that is both futuristic to the point of being sci-fi and yet so grounded in the problems of our modern world that it feels tangible and jumps right off the page. The blending of modern technology with religion and spirituality was a unique twist on the cyberpunk genre, and the powerful imagery in the author’s writing made this world feel both cohesive and vibrant on the page.
The world building and mythos of this world was perfectly built up by the author, and the way this balanced out the complex themes the story touches on was incredible. Themes that include mankinds reliance on automated systems and the battle of freedom versus the control that comes from conformity all made the story feel so important and enthralling at the same time. The characters are so complex and help highlight these themes through each shocking twist and turn.
The Verdict
Thrilling, complex, and engaging, author Jeremy Bender’s “Twin Rivers” is a must-read cyberpunk thriller. The shocking twists and turns the story brings out and the dynamic characters and the world they inhabit will both entertain readers and keep them invested as the futuristic setting slowly peels away to show just how close to reality this seemingly perfect yet problematic society truly is. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on February 7th, 2026 or preorder your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Jeremy Bender is a part-time writer, full-time father, and all around dilettante. He has worked in the threat intelligence, cybersecurity, and education fields for over a decade. This work, as well as his studies in college on religion, folklore, and Middle Eastern history, have influenced the stories he writes.
Jeremy has short stories published in The Arcanist, Black Hare Press’ “Year Seven” anthology, Support Indie Authors, and Lit Up.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man must defy the rules of his world to uncover the lies that have kept the people of the world locked in a prison in author Drew Harrison’s “The Men of the Mountain.”
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The Synopsis
Inscrutable and Ever-Watchful Masters
The Renn of Fort Hope place their faith in simple laws. They must trust the Dicta, those wise rules left by their forebearers; they must fear the savage Krieger, whose raids keep Renn walls perpetually splintered; and they must revere the Men of the Mountain, the magnanimous mystics who are stewards of their world.
For Cade, a clanless trapper, survival is a matter of following the rules. But when the Men of the Mountain took his sister—the only Renn ever chosen to return to their sacred peaks—Cade’s faith withers over five years of agonizing silence.
Now, a star has fallen from the sky, and its arrival threatens to spark an inferno. The Dicta are clear: all things from the sky belong to the Mountain. To hide its discovery is a death sentence… but its crater also houses a secret the Men of the Mountain would kill to protect. Forced to defy his gods alongside unlikely allies, Cade is drawn into a conflict where every secret he uncovers reveals a more terrifying lie at the heart of his world… everything is a cage, and the price of freedom is paid in blood and ash.
The Review
Immediately what stands out to the reader is how immense and powerful this world the author has created seems to be. The detail and depth the author goes into really highlights the world building the author managed to capture, making the long narrative that was developed feel both necessary and inviting. The detail also helps elevate the setting and the imagery in the author’s writing really brings the visuals of the action and the characters to life on the page.
Aside from the world building, the character growth and dynamics was astonishing, delving into themes of friendship and found family as the story develops and revelations about the world around them come to life. The protagonist is complex, giving readers not a straight and narrow hero who becomes one-dimensional, but instead a multi-dimensional hero whose mistakes and faults blend with his tendencies to do what’s right and defy the laws that hinder the rights of his people. The connection between him and Robin was especially interesting, showcasing the ability to bridge the gap between two worlds as they come from very different places.
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The Verdict
Thought-provoking, entertaining, and compelling, author Drew Harrison’s “The Men of the Mountain” is a powerful blend of epic fantasy and sci-fi greatness, and is a must-read novel of 2026. The twists and turns as the truth behind the origins of the Men of the Mountain and the origins of the Renn come to life, and the dark and gritty tone the book takes on as the world grows and the characters are forced to come together under extreme circumstances make the story a powerful entry and start to a brand new dark fantasy/sci-fi series and a memorable narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author James L. Hill shares a powerful collection of short stories in the book “The Moth and Other Tantalizing Tales.”
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The Synopsis
From the dark distant past to the far-flung fantastic future comes crimes of passion and hopeful heroes.
The world has fallen back into a more deadly Covid-19 pandemic. A journalist, Baron Beard, risks everything to uncover government secrets exposed by an internet troll known only as Veritas.
Harry, a brilliant but naïve computer hacker, finds himself drawn deeper into the underworld like a moth to a flame. Of course, there’s a woman holding the torch.
Dr. Energy has plans to save the world but only if he can avoid destroying it first. He’s 99% sure he can. Well, maybe 85%. But he still likes his odds.
You will be intrigued as you turn the pages and the plot twists in these eight amazing stories of mysteries, thrillers, and dystopian science fiction.
The Review
What a compelling and gripping collection of short stories. The pacing and world-building the author poured into the collection were astounding, with each story giving readers a chance to connect with the characters and feel the emotional weight of its consequences. The powerful imagery in these stories helped bring the grandiose, sci-fi elements to the narratives, while the character development grounded the characters, making for a truly balanced reading experience.
Yet at the heart of each story was a strong, thematic narrative that really stood out. The stories explored everything from man’s attempts to rewrite nature and the role of science versus religion, to a slave’s desperate escape to freedom and the cost that comes to those who enslave others, and so much more. The blend of science fiction, fantasy, and horror that the author introduces throughout the collection helps cement these characters and adds emotional depth, allowing the reader to invest in them so quickly.
The Verdict
Captivating, enthralling, and thrilling, author James L. Hill’s “The Moth and Other Tantalizing Tales” is a must-read short story collection. The twists and turns in each story, the heartfelt and compelling emotional beats each one hits, and the thought-provoking themes these stories encompass will stay with readers long after the collection ends, leaving them eager to explore more from this amazing author. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
James L Hill, a.k.a. J L Hill, is a native New Yorker from the South Bronx, Fort Apache, of the turbulent 60’s. He earned a degree in computer programming, his other love. A multi-genre author, his experiences seasoned his novels and the worlds he imagined. James started RockHill Publishing LLC to publish his own work and give others access to the literary world.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
An act of protection turns into a struggle between two powerful AI entities in author Jonni Jordyn’s “The Queen of All Viruses”, the second book in the Mother of All Viruses series.
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The Synopsis
The digital intelligence Odyssey returns to his homeworld to find all the biological lifeforms gone with a social structure designed to keep a few digital beings in power with most of the world under their control. They view his arrival as a threat and attack him. Even though he is invulnerable to their attack, one of them risks her life to protect him. When they turn their attack on her, he protects her, but she cleverly steals some of his technology until her ambition makes her a danger to him and a battle of epic proportions follows.
The Review
The author did an incredible job of expanding upon the world the first book introduced by exploring Odyssey’s home world and how society functions both in the past and present there. The exploration of machine mentality versus evolved AI, and whether it truly evolves or mirrors biological mannerisms, is such a treat to see play out on the page, and the way the author balanced this with the repercussions of Odyssey’s actions on Earth was so enthralling to read.
Yet, as a reader, what stood out to me was how the author developed two AI systems and their respective personalities enough to make them memorable characters in their own right. One of the hardest things for an author to ensure when writing is to create characters readers can relate to, root for, or root against, while connecting with them on some emotional level. Odyssey feels both futuristic and otherworldly, yet deeply profound and moving, and his story not only advances the world-building of this series but also deepens the strong themes it explores.
The Verdict
Entertaining, compelling, and thrilling, author Jonni Jordyn’s “The Queen of All Viruses” is a must-read sci-fi thriller-meets-adventure story. The imagery and atmosphere the author explores, and the dynamic character developments, help solidify the foundation that allows this profound insight into AI and the dangers and hopeful notes that reflect how we utilize AI in our own society to flourish, keeping the reader invested until the book’s shocking final chapter. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Jonni Jordyn, an award winning American author born in Oakland, Ca, started out playing music at age two, and moved on to singing and acting in grade school. High School introduced writing and film making followed by drawing and photography in college. In other words, she had a VERY LIBERAL arts education.
Jonni published some poetry and some india ink drawings in literary magazines while in college, won critical acclaim for her acting in a cabaret theater, but was faced with a decision to pick out the arts she wanted to pursue.
Of all the available opportunities, music and song writing won the first round when she found herself performing with legendary stars of the sixties and seventies.
Round two began years later, after leaving California for Arizona. It all started with a blank piece of paper and the question, “how can I possibly write more than eleven thousand words for a single story?” A valid question which was followed up a year later with, “How did I ever write 160,000 words?”
Now, the writing comes much easier, but still there are questions like, “How will I ever get all these ideas written down?” followed closely by, “How many times can I edit the same book?”
Jaye C. Watts has a new queer sci-fi book out (transgender, poly, non-binary, pansexual, lesbian): The New Worlds.
The year is 2293 and the Truth no longer exists. In the future there are many truths, giving rise to many worlds, but each must be kept separate.
Born to protect these truths, Axton Bryce patrols the New Worlds Star System—to observe, participate, and gather information. But as she learns the ways of each world, she must also hunt for those who defy their world’s truth: the Outliers.
While stationed on a nearby planet, Axton meets the charming Ambassador Bray Wilde. As the two become close, Axton reveals a painful secret—the loss of her first love, exiled as an Outlier.
Longing to see beyond their own world, the ambassador proposes a rescue mission—one that will bring both friends and foes, and ultimately a fight for freedom. But first, Axton must make a choice: between a life-long allegiance… and the chance to claim a truth of her own.
Warnings: indoctrination, brainwashing, threatening with a weapon (guns & a bomb)
I clenched my fists. “Focus,” I told myself. Grabbing my communication cuff, I fastened it around my wrist. “INS communications, activate.” I opened my wardrobe and reached for a freshly pressed uniform. “Aurelia, give me today’s briefing.”
It lit up and responded. “Your next assignment will be on the Amorous World for a standard duration of three months. You are scheduled to depart today at zero six hundred Geo Time and arrive at zero eight-forty Geo Time. The latest reports on the Amorous World are available for your review. Do you wish to accept, Mediator Axton Bryce?”
I crouched to lace up my boots. “I accept.”
“On behalf of Chairman West and the Individual Nations Secretariat, we thank you, Mediator Axton Bryce, for your work in protecting the Truth of many truths.”
I rose to my feet, skin prickling at the back of my neck. Though I couldn’t see it, I could feel it: two lowercase t’s under one capital T, branded at the top of my spine—a permanent part of me ever since my Veneration five long years ago.
I reached back, digging my nails in, tempted to tear the tattoo right from my skin. “She should have been there,” I whispered. If only she’d kept those thoughts to herself.
I grabbed my utility belt and wrapped it around my waist, ensuring the gun was secure. Staring at myself in the mirror, I straightened the collar of my shirt. I’d never been to the Amorous World before. Perfect, I thought. Some fresh scenery was just what I needed.
* * *
I checked my cuff—zero five fifty-five, right on schedule. Marching across the launch deck, I carried one efficiently packed piece of luggage. I never glanced back when boarding my ship; Brokazaria’s endless acres of skyscrapers would still be here when I returned. Instead, I looked up. The early-morning sky was just waking. Aside from Primus B—the Middle World’s secondary, and thus miniature, sun—not a star was in sight. As I approached my ship, the roar of its engine reminded me that soon the stars would be all around me.
I turned and gave the official salute to a line of NI Security standing at attention. In unison, the humanlike Machines returned the gesture, crossing their arms to form a lowercase letter t. Sergeant L43 pumped his eyebrows, prompting me to raise one of mine in response. Hard to believe they were once called “AI.” New Intelligence, we were told, was a much more appropriate term.
L43 stepped forward. “Afternoon, miss.” He grabbed my bag, allowing me to ascend the ladder.
“Thanks,” I said. I climbed to the top and crawled through the hatch.
“Catch!” the NI yelled, tossing up my luggage.
With a reflex just quick enough, I caught the bag. “Sergeant!” I scolded. “What if there was something fragile in there?”
“You humans,” he replied. “Always afraid something’s gonna break. Your luggage, your bones, your bodies… not to mention your hearts and minds.”
I rolled my eyes at the cheeky Machine. “Watch it, L, or I’ll get them to reboot you.”
Unperturbed, the Machine grinned and waved. “I’ll miss you, too. Bon voyage!”
“See you in three months,” I muttered, closing the hatch behind me. I immediately got busy flicking switches and hitting buttons. Muscle memory took over as I continued the launch prep with complete focus. Not a moment later, a blue light illuminated my cuff, drawing my attention. Blue indicated a direct message from Chairman West himself, Secretary-General of the Individual Nations Secretariat.
“Play address,” I said, eager to hear our leader’s words.
A ghostlike image projected from my arm, transporting the man’s titanic figure into my control room. Neatly trimmed grays blended inconspicuously into the rest of his dark hair, swept back to frame a chiseled face. Salt-and-pepper stubble outlined a pair of smiling lips—the beginnings of a goatee that never quite came to fruition. As always, a perfectly pressed suit hugged every one of his bulging muscles.
“Greetings, my children!” The chairman’s voice rumbled from a gaping grin, complete with gleaming teeth. “Today is a very special day, not only for the New Worlds Star System but for some of our most dedicated Mediators.”
My ears perked up as I waited for more.
“Today marks two hundred and fifty years of living in an interplanetary alliance, free from the terrors of war, safe from the dangers of Plurality! A quarter of a millennium since the United Nations of the Old World became the Individual Nations of the New Worlds, marking humanity’s Great Dispersion!”
A swell of pride surged in my chest. I was part of something big and important.
“All of this would not be possible without you,” he declared, “our magnificent Mediators. You have been instrumental in our coordination with each world, fostering the cooperation necessary to manage the complexities of a resource-based economy spanning a system as vast as ours. And!”—the chairman raised a finger, flashing one of his many gold rings—“most importantly, you have upheld the sovereignty of every truth within it.”
I gave a humble nod, as though he could see me.
“Lastly,” the chairman said, “further congratulations to the Mediators of unit 245. Tomorrow is your quinquennium! Five years of serving as peacekeepers, saviors, Mediators! Father Chairman West and the INS commend you.” His thick forearms crossed in a salute, only to vanish as the feed cut out.
I took a moment to absorb his words, stunned by how many years had passed. Then I checked my cuff—Time to go.
I finished preparing for the launch, my movements steady and certain. We had done it. Peace among the planets for over two centuries.
I paused, letting my mind drift…
It had to be worth it.
Author Bio
JAYE C. WATTS (he/they) is a queer and trans sci-fi writer living on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory in Victoria, BC, Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a minor in Technology and Society, as well as a diploma in Professional Recording Arts from the Art Institute of Vancouver.
When he isn’t writing, Jaye can be found falling down rabbit holes of all kinds thanks to an unquenchable curiosity and lust for learning – homeschooling will do that to you.
Jaye also loves classic jazz, mixing cocktails, biking all over the city, and of course, people watching.
The Center loomed before us, a giant, shimmering pearl nestled in the middle of the donut-shaped university.
Trapp halted at the edge of the surrounding lawn, flicking off his headlamp. The rest of us gathered behind him, staring in awe at the breathtaking view.
I’d seen the landmark before, but only during the day. At night, the shining sphere transformed into something otherworldly. To the people of the Quantified World, the Center was akin to a giant crystal ball—all-knowing and all-powerful. I took in the dazzling show, watching its ethereal light cascade across the reflective solar panels covering the surrounding university.
“Whoa,” Bray whispered, their voice reverent.
“Good golly,” Logan uttered.
Medallia didn’t speak, only inhaled deeply through her
nose. Trapp released a satisfied exhale, his shoulders relaxing for the first time all night.
I stood silent, shaking my head in disbelief at how damn lucky we were. Lucky to have made it this far but also lucky this mesmerizing display continued through the night. Strange, given the fact that no one—aside from the occasional NI and rogue Outlier—was awake to see it.
Then again, this was more than just a machine.
I almost felt hypnotized by the swirling neon patterns, their movements dictated by aesthetic algorithms. For the first time, I understood why so many worshipped this construct. Numbers weren’t just functional; they could also be beautiful.
With the rest of the world fast asleep, the omniscient sphere drew me in. Heart rates, body temperatures, brain waves, even dream activity, all coming together in a colorful symphony of light.
“All this,” I marveled aloud, “from a bunch of ones and zeros.”
Bray turned to me, furrowing their brow. “Ones and zeros?”
I turned to meet their gaze. “Oh, um… I was referring to binary code.”
Their forehead crinkled even more.
“It’s a type of language,” I explained. “For computers. But not with words, just numbers. Ones and—” I stopped myself, and instead summarized. “It’s… technology stuff.”
Bray lifted their chin, acknowledging my poor attempt at clarification before turning back to the glowing orb. Any explanation involving the “t word,” as they called it, received little more than a placating nod from them.
Without warning, Trapp began tromping across the lawn, his patience for sightseeing all used up.
Logan and Medallia followed suit as I nudged Bray into motion before bringing up the rear.
As we walked, the sphere’s light continued to play across the grass. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the calm before the storm; a sense of peace coated the atmosphere, even as it charged with unimaginable possibilities. So close, I thought, and yet still so far. Hard to believe we were mere steps from Trapp’s door through time, while our final destination lay light-years away.
Our footsteps left faint trails in the dew-coated grass, leading us to a set of doors. Trapp pressed his thumb against a small black scanner embedded in the frame. After a brief pause, the device beeped, unlocking with a soft click.
Amused, Trapp wiggled the digits on his right hand and muttered, “Guess they should’ve taken my fingers, too.”
Once inside, Trapp reactivated his headlamp. The spot‐light beamed down the curved hallway, casting skittish shadows across classroom doors. The walls on either side displayed an array of infographics: pies, bars, bubbles, grids and graphs—statistical analyses whose end results were surprisingly artistic.
While trying to decipher some of the informative shapes, a low-pitched hum caught my attention.
I turned my head toward the sound. Emerging from the shadows was a clunky bot, its movements slow and methodical. The machine hugged the wall as it moved, resembling a lumbering mechanical rodent.
Beside me, Bray flinched, their body jolting as if startled by a wild animal. Their wide eyes darted toward me, like a child searching for guidance in their parent’s reaction.
“It’s okay,” I said. “It’s just a robot”—a word I would never use on the Machine World. “It’s governed by preprogrammed instructions, which look to be nothing more than tidying up.” I lifted my boots, one after the other, hoping we hadn’t tracked in any mud.
Bray’s gaze returned to the machine, their fear giving way to tentative curiosity. While they kept a safe distance, Logan stepped closer, crouching to greet the bot.
“Well, hello there, little fella,” he said, grinning.
“Cleaning in progress,” the bot replied “flatly. “Step aside please.”
Logan chuckled, rejoining us as we continued down the hallway. He spun slowly, taking in everything the dim light allowed. “So these were your ol’ stomping grounds, eh, Trapp?”
“If by ‘stomping grounds’ you mean where I learned how to transcend time and space,” Trapp replied, “then yes.”
Bray cast one last glance back at the retreating bot before asking, “Were you a teacher here?”
“I was primarily a researcher,” Trapp said. “I only taught to gain access to the labs. I’d much rather make new discoveries than teach others about old ones.”
Trapp came to a sudden halt, stopping so abruptly Bray nearly bumped into him. Turning his head, he lit up a windowless metal door with a sign stating its purpose:
PARTICLE PHYSICS LAB RESTRICTED ACCESS
Trapp smiled with his eyes. “We’re close now,” he said, his words laced with determination. “Just a few more steps.” He pressed his thumb against the small scanner to his right, unlocking the door to a new world… an old world, rather.
