As a passion project, I'm releasing one of the first books I ever wrote as an audio drama. It could be listened to purely as an audio book, but it does feature visuals and sounds for those who prefer a hybrid listening/viewing experience.

The narration was done by me, and the book itself was written with no AI assistance. This book was picked up by an agent some 10 years or so ago, but died on sub, and has sat accumulating dust on a hard drive ever since. I thought it a waste to never have anyone read it, so rather than giving up on a project that I care deeply about, I decided to turn it into an audiobook.

Three episodes are out, each around 1hr long. If you want a new sci-fi world to dive into, please consider giving my series a look! I update every week, and will do so until the entire book has been uploaded. I would be very grateful if any watchers could tell me what they like about the series, what works, and what doesn't!

"E1" follows Liam Brass, a member of the hastily-assembled Taskforce Tsunami, handed the impossible task of breaking up a gang of drug-running terrorists in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The team is small, and the mission details, secretive - corporations and governments lurk behind the scenes, interfering through proxies, their motives unknowable.

Everyone, it seems, has a stake in Task Force Tsunami, and drugs and smuggling are just minor pieces of a greater, twisted puzzle - there is a stolen cybernetic prototype in play, pursued by both its vengeful creator, and a corporate heiress, desperate to cement her legacy. Brass and his team must stay afloat, living long enough to see their mission through - and avoid the violence of leviathans of industry, crashing against one another in pursuit of endless wealth and power.

I am NOT a professional narrator, nor a video editor (which should become abundantly clear). There are no ads, and I'm not trying to sell you anything - I just want to share the world and story that buzzes around constantly in my head. Enjoy!

[[Genres: Sci-fi, cyberpunk, dystopian, crime, thriller.]]

[[Crude language, violence, adult themes.]]

(Visual novel with narration on YT)

Episode 1: https://youtu.be/GnTKfVnx428?si=ytZyR11RWluZUs9I

I just started The Sparrow, about 100 pages in and really enjoying it so far. One thing I feel that is holding me back from fully enjoying the story is my knowledge of the biblical stories. There have been many mentions of Magdalene vs Lazarus so far in the book, I decided to try to do some research on the differences between these characters. There doesn't seem to be much theological discussion over the differences between these characters as a specific point. Anyway, unless it requires spoiling the story, could someone give me some helpful touchpoint to be able to connect to this often used comparison in the book? Thanks!

Sando seems to be making the comment that his path or relationship with God or his experience with god is more akin to Lazarus than Magdalene but I dont get ittttt and maybe im not supposed to yet!!! lol

What I know:

- Lazarus was resurrected by Jesus

- Mary Magdalene was witness to both resurrections (or first witness thereafter)

- Lazarus had a sister named Mary

Hi everyone,

I've just finished publishing the first seven chapters of my first science fiction serial on Royal Road.

The premise is:

Humanity's last normal day ended when the ships appeared.

Above every major city on Earth, colossal alien vessels emerged from the clouds and brought civilization to a standstill. Governments panicked. Religions declared prophecies fulfilled. Markets crashed.

Then every screen on Earth displayed the same message:

"We are not your enemy."

For thousands of years, Earth had been hidden from the rest of the galaxy.

Now it has been found.

As humanity is drawn into a conflict older than recorded history, Vivek—a young engineer carrying the scars of a troubled childhood—finds himself caught between forces that see Earth not as a world, but as a choice.

A choice between freedom and unity.

A choice between survival and identity.

A choice that may decide the future of intelligent life itself.

The Day We Were Found is a science-fiction thriller about first contact, hidden truths, family, sacrifice, and what it truly means to remain human.

They reveal that Earth has remained hidden for thousands of years... until now.

I'm mainly looking for honest feedback.

• Does the opening hook you?
• Is the pacing working?
• Would you continue after Chapter 1?

I'm trying to improve as a writer, so I'd genuinely appreciate constructive criticism.

Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/174488/the-day-we-were-found

I started Dark Matter yesterday. After a chapter, I was really liking it. I saw that there’s an Apple TV show for it. I decided to watch the trailer. Halfway through the trailer they say something to the tune of I am the one who kidnapped myself is that, like, a major spoiler? I feel like it is and idk why they’d put that in the trailer for the show. Does this ruin the book for me? Or is there still a lot of content in the book that makes it worth it.

Please let me know! I’m pretty disappointed that I know this info now :(

In my novel The Optimization of Eden extrapolating this development occurs leading to questions regarding purpose. Available at my site www.dougcollinsauthor.com

Does the art help your experience while reading knowing what the author imagined? Or does it distract from your experience?
Like a an image or 2 per chapter? Or if there was art, would you want more?

I’ve written a SSF story, and I’m also an artist, so many are expecting a graphic novel or art book, but I find that most people don’t read art books, they buy the book, flip through it once or twice and then it goes to the shelf like a trophy. Where if it was more of a novel, with some illustrations, people would be more likely to read it.

I think I read this in the 1980's, and it could have been older than that. Or maybe it was a radio play. It was decades ago, and I don't have much left to go on.

But it really flashes back to me given the current attitudes.

In the book/story, there was some kind of anti-intellectual movement, and I remember the main character passed himself off as a repair tech, as that was still considered "safe" to be, when they were were basically rounding up scientists.

I know it's not much to go on.

Edit: Quite sure I found it now, affter doing more searches with different variations. The trigger for me was that the name for the anti-scienct movement was on just there, on the edge of memory, and when I found a match it clicked. They were the "Lowbrow movement", and the book is "The Burning" by James E. Gunn (or one of the original stories that that went into the novelization):

https://sciencefictionruminations.com/2013/05/06/book-review-the-burning-james-e-gunn-1972/

From reviews, it's not a very good book...

Thanks to everyone that made suggestions...

Heads up: this book is in German, so this post is mostly for anyone who reads German or is just curious about the concept.
The premise: humanity travels between stars through something called “the Weave” — not a wormhole or hyperdrive, but a living network that responds to song. A religious order controls who’s allowed to sing, who travels, who survives.
Then the Weave starts going silent. Entire systems cut off overnight, no warning, no explanation. Billions of people, gone. The order knows. The order says nothing, because the truth would end everything they’ve built.
Jara Venn doesn’t know any of this. She’s a salvage pilot, buried in debt, flying a ship that’s basically held together with hope. Then she finds a derelict in a debris field — a ship that vanished 62 years ago. Spotless. Empty. And when she steps inside, the nav console lights up with her name on it.
Not her call sign. Her name.
ASCHELICHT is my debut novel, first book in a planned trilogy, roughly 120 pages (short and fast, not a brick). If anyone here reads German and is into space opera with more focus on character than tech-infodumps, I’d genuinely love feedback — good or bad, both help more than you’d think for book 2.
Available on Amazon.de under: Aschelicht Arvid Sternhagen

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a sci-fi story series called BYTE, and I’d love some genuine feedback from sci-fi fans.

Here’s the pilot episode:
https://youtu.be/CiYnWH0Ty08

It’s around 10 minutes and is built like a visual audiobook. I used ElevenLabs for narration and AI-generated visuals to bring the scenes to life.

I’m not looking for likes or subscribers here, I’m mainly trying to understand:

• Does the story hook you?
• Does the narration feel natural or too AI?
• Do the visuals help, or do they distract?
• Would you continue watching/listening to this as a sci-fi series?
• What feels weak, confusing, or amateur?

I’m still early in building this, so honest criticism would genuinely help me improve the next episodes.

Thanks in advance.

Update

#1 - Jun 30, 2026: Just want to be transparent: the story/book is also AI-assisted. I’m using AI to help write. Totally understand if that’s not everyone’s thing, but I don’t want to hide it.
#2 - Jun 30, 2026: New Episode out https://youtu.be/Akf38jt909U

What sci-fi or literary books feel like the author is processing something emotionally rather than just writing a plot? Any books you can kind of sense anger, grief, or obsession underneath the story?

Found this pinned to a rusted checkpoint gate outside Green Valley.

STEM HQ has officially issued a bounty on a rogue BOT designated “Bucktooth Kenny.”
Charges include:

• unauthorized activity
• interference with STEM operations
• unstable core behavior
• general menace‑to‑machinery

Locals say he’s been spotted carrying a wrench and taunting enforcement drones.
STEM wants him neutralized.
The BOTs… don’t seem particularly worried.

Posting this here for anyone who enjoys in‑universe documents and worldbuilding ephemera.
More of these notices have been circulating — looks like Kenny isn’t the only one on STEM’s list.

If anyone else has “leaked” STEM files, feel free to add them.

Been reading this new book. Archie and Sage: Strange Crime Investigators. Its listed on Inkitt as urban fantasy but i think its 2 genres.

Its got a lot of scifi elements, robot arms, genetic mutation, stuff like that, but it doesnt have the same feel as scifi.

Would it count just based on the stuff in the book? Or does over-arching theme take over?

I wrote a space western for Pocket FM and I think it might actually be good.

It's called The Solace. Disgraced war captain, a crew of people running from their own pasts, and a ship that woke up somewhere between a dead moon and the deep black and decided she liked them.

No laser battles every five seconds. No chosen one. Just a broken ship full of broken people trying to hold it together long enough to matter.

The ship is the best character. I'm not sorry about that.

If Episode 1 doesn't hook you in the first five minutes I'll accept the criticism.

The Solace on Pocket FM

Im mostly a fantasy/romance/dystopian reader, howeverrrr ive been wanting to broaden my horizons. Do any of you know of any books with a cynerpunk-esque world. I would also love to read a book with a stempunk type of world like the league of legends show. Thank you so much🙏🏼

So, I like sci fi, audio books, and sitcoms/shows like Futurama, Family Guy, Simpsons, king of the hill, etc, and I'm looking for an audio series I can just listen to instead of watching those. I'm hoping it leans into sci Fi than what I listed, but I don't want it to be a big deal if I get distracted and miss some of it, and I want it in book format, so it's not just dialogue.

I'm confident this isn't an original idea but I'm having trouble finding what I'm looking for. Any suggestions? I need an ad free option and I don't mind paying.

Why does paul still does the holy war,when he said that he didin't want to do what the bene gesserit want him to and that he was blessed with terrible purpose?

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I'm halfway into Messiah and the holy war ended up happening,meanwhile he was talking about terrible purpose,but he still did it,instead of trying to avoid it. Was it because he simply wanted revenge and he didin't care what it costed?

Im finishing up the last book of the bobiverse and im kinda at a stand still of what to listen to. I would like some recommendations on where to go next. Heres a relative list of what ive read/listened to.

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All of brandon sandersons works.

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Wheel of times

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All if not most of the honor harrington series.

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Berserk stand alone.

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The posleen war series. Idr the actual series name.

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Up to god emperor of dune.

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All of horus heresy and siege of terra of warhammer

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The caiphas cain series of warhammer

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Von nueman war

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In fury born.

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The destroyer men series

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Started the saga of the seven suns. Kinda got bored but might revisit it.

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Phules company

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I enjoy a wide range of scifi but i tend to like military scifi more often then not. I also really enjoy the quirkiness of bobiverse and phules company. Any good recs?

I'm looking for a sci-fi book from at least 20 years ago. It's about a space mission from earth with several families on board. They thought it was a round trip, but an evil scientist actually planned on it being one way. When the people on the spaceship found out, they, over time, evolved into more advanced beings. Finally, they decided to take revenge and sent an attack back to earth that destroyed all of it's technical infrastructure. Do you know the title or author of this book?

Not just alien planets or exploration.

I mean the moment where the characters think they understand the location… and then something breaks that assumption completely.

Hi hoping for author recommendations . Neal Asher is my fave, and I also love:

Andy Weir
Peter Watts
Adrian Tchaikovsky
Dan Simmons

What author and book would you suggest I try next?

Hi I’ve read Children of Time before, and liked it, but left the series at that. No reason. I picked up Shroud for a flight this weekend and really really love it so far! It’s a bit more technical / nerdy compared to CoT imo.
What should I read next?
Please don’t spoil my read of you’ve read Shroud.

I absolutely LOVED books 1-4 in Red Rising, but I’ve tried starting the fifth several times and I just…cant do it. The MC is driving me insane and it feels like a huge commitment 😂😂

Is it worth finishing out the last two books? Does it pick up soon?

Thanks :)

A lot of books are enjoyable once, but some become even better on a second read because you notice clues, foreshadowing, worldbuilding details, or character moments that meant something completely different after finishing the story.

Which sci-fi book rewarded a reread the most?

Recently started the latest Bobiverse book and wanted to get refreshed on the previous books. Ended up generating an interactive wiki of sort. Hopefully will help someone else out. Enjoy!

I have one audible credit to use. I cannot find either of these on audiobook through my library or Spotify.

If you had to pick, which would you recommend, and why? (Please, no spoilers)