Why do indie author books never show up on “Most Anticipated” lists? It’s not about quality—it’s about how the indie world works. From short release timelines to direct-to-reader communication, indie publishing plays a different game entirely. Here’s why that’s actually a very good thing for readers who love immersive series, creative freedom, and stories that don’t wait for marketing schedules.
Galactic empires are everywhere in science fiction—ruling star systems with absolute power, ripe for rebellion or decay. I’ve written a few myself… and torn them down just as quickly. But why do we keep returning to this political model, especially when it’s always doomed to fall? From Dune to Foundation, and even John Scalzi’s surprisingly heartfelt Collapsing Empire, we seem obsessed with watching these mighty regimes unravel. I’ve got theories. But I’m also genuinely curious what draws readers back to the throneworld.
Two Cameron Cooper titles published in 2025 are eligible for nomination in the 2026 Hugo, Nebula, Aurora, and Dragon Awards. If you’re voting this year, here’s what to know.
What if Amazon collapsed tomorrow? Thousands of exclusive authors would lose their income overnight, and Kindle Unlimited readers would find their go-to content gone. In this speculative thought experiment, I explore how such a collapse would reshape the indie publishing landscape—for authors, readers, and the future of storytelling.
“Someone online called Dune ‘just epic fantasy in spacesuits’ and I resisted the urge to flame them… mostly. Here’s why Dune is firmly science fiction — space opera at its finest — and why the spice matters not for magic, but for who controls the stars.”
What if people lived out their entire lives aboard interstellar cruise ships, drifting between stars with no planetary home? Inspired by a real-world ocean liner turned permanent residence, this post explores the practicalities and story potential of life aboard a spacefaring cruiser.
In a recent conversation with Bill Gates, filmmaker James Cameron revealed a growing challenge for science fiction creators: staying ahead of real-world technological advancements. He noted that rapid innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, is outpacing the speculative futures traditionally envisioned by writers. For creators of speculative fiction, this raises a profound question: How do you imagine a future that hasn’t already arrived?
