March 2025

Total Eclipse by John Brunner

0

The novel “Total Eclipse” by John Brunner was published for the first time in 1974.

In 2020, in the Sigma Draconis system, the remains of an ancient civilization are discovered that had built a colossal telescope in a crater on the third planet’s moon. There’s only one interstellar spaceship and traveling from Earth is extremely expensive, but a scientific expedition starts studying the remains and the mystery of the disappearance of the native civilization.

In 2028, Ian Macauley arrives on the planet Sigma Draconis III to become part of the scientific expedition, which hasn’t yet found the reason for the extinction of the natives. However, the priority for the scientists becomes to bring General José Maria Ordoňez-Vico on their side, as he was sent to verify that the remains weren’t created by humans and if there’s something among them that can be used as a weapon.

Saint Death by Mark Dawson

0

The novel “Saint Death” by Mark Dawson was published for the first time in 2014. It’s the second book in the John Milton series and follows “The Cleaner”.

John Milton has spent months moving around South America without staying in one place for long as he tries to avoid being found by his former boss. When he arrives in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, he gets a job as a cook in a restaurant, but his search for quiet doesn’t last long.

Lieutenant Jesus Plato is one of the few honest cops in Ciudad Juárez, but there’s little he can do about the drug cartel that controls the city. Criminal activities include kidnapping girls for sex, and two bloggers are looking for a survivor to go public with the story. They end up in the crosshairs of the cartel and its most ruthless assassin, known as the Saint Death.

Rocannon's World by Ursula Le Guin

0

The novel “Rocannon’s World” by Ursula Le Guin was published for the first time in 1966.

The ethnologist Gaverel Rocannon has returned to the planet Fomalhaut II after many years due to the long time required by interstellar travel. His goal is to continue his studies of the natives together with his colleagues. However, a rebel faction attacks the group and Rocannon is the only survivor.

Rocannon’s only hope is to warn the League of All Worlds of the attack, but this is only possible with an ansible. The rebels have an ansible in the area they use as a base camp, but it’s very far away and Rocannon has no vehicles to use to do it quickly. He can only ask the natives for help and travel on the windsteeds normally used on the planet to travel.

Exodus Code by John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman

0

The novel “Exodus Code” by John Barrowman and Carole E. Barrowman was published for the first time in 2013.

1930. Jack Harkness is flying over an area of ​​Peru where there’s volcanic activity. Suddenly, a problem with the aircraft causes him and his pilot to crash, causing his death, which is followed by yet another return to life. He’s rescued by locals and ends up involved in a situation in which he struggles to distinguish reality from hallucinations.

Gwen Cooper is very stressed by what seems to be endless problems. The situation gets worse to the point of worrying Rhys, even more so when Gwen becomes violent. She’s not the only woman in the world to have what appear to be nervous breakdowns that include acts of self-harm.

The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal

0

The novel “The Relentless Moon” by Mary Robinette Kowal was published for the first time in 2020. It’s the third novel in the Lady Astronaut series and follows “The Fated Sky”.

While an expedition is on its way to Mars, the situation on Earth continues to worsen. The ongoing ecological catastrophe is causing increasingly extreme weather events and many people are afraid of being abandoned to their fate, adding to the social and political chaos.

The space program continues to be developed by the International Aerospace Coalition but the increase in accidents leads to suspicions of sabotage. Nicole Wargin is sent to the Artemis Moon base but she and the rest of the spaceship’s crew barely manage to get to the Moon alive. Her situation is more complex because her husband Kenneth is the Governor of Kansas and this puts her under even more scrutiny than her fellow astronauts.