The books I’ve written so far take place in the same fictional universe (or universes). However, each series after the first one advances a different part of the universe. Also, the characters usually appear in one series or another.
All of the stories share the same DNA — themes tend to reward team work (I don’t want to use the term competency porn, but it actually kind of fits) and they tend to emphasize strategic as opposed to tactical conflicts. They have a similar tone to the works of Marko Kloos and Elizabeth Moon.
Each series stands alone. You don’t need to read the others. But they all fit together. This page tries to show you how so you can enjoy them as much as possible.
What follows is a Quick Overview, then a Detailed Review, starting with Evolution’s Hand.
Note: Most of the links below take you to Amazon.
Quick Overview
| 2170 Common Era (CE) | 2175 CE | 2178 CE |
| Sirius: The Sword of Sirius | Sirius: Wayland’s Hammer | |
| Foundation: Evolution’s Hand | ||
| Earth: Dreams of Deucalion | Earth: The Fissure Kings (coming in 2027 or thereabouts) |
In case it’s not clear:
- The Sword of Sirius is a standalone sequel to Evolution’s Hand that takes place in the Sirius story line
- Wayland’s Hammer is a standalone sequel to The Sword of Sirius, also in the Sirius story line
- Dreams of Deucalion is a standalone sequel to Evolution’s Hand in the Earth story line
- The Fissure Kings (not yet released) is a standalone sequel to Dreams of Deucalion
Foundational Series: Evolution’s Hand
I wrote Evolution’s Hand first, and it takes place first in the world’s timeline, which is 2170 Common Era (CE). Here’re the books, in order, along with their main characters.
Note: You can buy these individually or in two collections:
- Evolution’s Hand Collection 1: Earthbound (contains Executive Action, Dying Breath, and Primary Target)
- Evolution’s Hand Collection 2: Sirius Rising (contains Blind Exodus, Split Infinities, and Unnatural Crypsis)
Focus: Sol system and its connected Fissures, especially 61 Cygni.
Book 1: Executive Action
This chronicles the struggles of the good guys’ corporation, TransStell’s, as it goes public with news of the Fissures. It’s told from seven points of view:
- Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad: TranStell’s reluctant CEO
- Clifton Tadlock: Cardinal and Secretary of State for the American Catholic Church
- Jack Booth: Newly elected British Member of Parliament to the EU
- Atticus Porter: Terran Consolidated Products’ (TCP’s) CEO
- Liam Martin: Secretary of the Sol System Defense Protectorate for the United Nations
- Quaid Adair: Doctor Professional serving on board the spaceship Indiana
- Linda Southfield: TransStell’s Director of Exploratory Services
Book 2: Dying Breath
This book presents the aftermath of what happens with small corporations and government bodies cross TCP. It’s told from six points of view:
- Ira Malhotra: Supervisor of TransStell’s spaceship Indiana
- Helmine Stein: New CEO of TCP following the events of the previous book
- Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad: Still TranStell’s reluctant CEO
- Atticus Porter: TransStell’s newly hired VP of Special Projects in South America
- Liam Martin: The now embattled Secretary of the Sol System Defense Protectorate for the United Nations
- Jack Booth: One of the British MPs to EU Parliament (as well as other duties as assigned)
Book 3: Primary Target
In this book, TransStell learns a valuable lesson about how not to interact with TCP. Primary Target portrays the rise of Epsilon Eridani. It is also told from six points of view:
- Ira Malhotra: Supervisor of TransStell’s spaceship Indiana
- Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad: Still TranStell’s reluctant CEO
- Jadwiga Janczak: TCP’s VP of Mergers and Acquisitions, which was Atticus Porter’s job before he ascended to the position of TCP’s CEO
- Matsushita Sachi: TransStell’s VP of Security
- Jack Booth: One of the British MPs to EU Parliament (who’s really leaning into the “other duties as assigned” part of his job)
- Atticus Porter: Ex-TCP CEO, still VP of Special Projects in Argentina (for now)
Book 4: Blind Exodus
In this book, several key cast members have moved to Sirius. That opens a new front that the series The Sword of Sirius will explore later. But for now, here’re the main players in Blind Exodus:
- Henry Duncan: Recruiter for TransStell Earth
- Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad: Now CEO of TransStell Sirius (and still reluctant)
- Ira Malhotra: Newly promoted Director of Exploratory Services at Sirius
- James Butler: Newly promoted Supervisor of the Indiana
- Owen Payne: A machinist from Wooster, Ohio, who’s in TCP’s crosshairs
- Matsushita Sachi: Still VP of Security for TransStell Sirius
Book 5: Split Infinities
The situations in both the Sol system and Sirius system heat up — not to mention what’s going on in the Epsilon Eridani system! This book follows these main characaters:
- Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad: Still CEO of TransStell Sirius and a key participant in dives into the perpendicular universes
- Matsushita Sachi: Still VP of Security for TransStell Sirius and also a key participant in dives into the perpendicular universes
- Atticus Porter: As the new CEO of TransStell, he’s trying his best to play a losing hand
- Jadwiga Janczak: As VP of TCP’s Mergers and Acquisitions, she’s more than happy to help Atticus Porter with that losing hand
- Mariam Al Katib: A Professor at UC Berkeley, she’s studying high energy propulsion for space ships — and failing rather spectacularly
- Leon Weber: High commander of the space fleets in Epsilon Eridani
Book 6: Unnatural Crypsis
The situation on Earth gets ugly in South America. The situation at Sirius isn’t much better as the stakes for dives into the perpendicular universes grow more dire. Here’re the main characters:
- Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad: CEO of TransStill Sirius, he’s having even more serious doubts about his position as a leader
- Mariam Al Katib: Newly hired as TransStell Sirius’s Director of Continuum Security, she’s having doubts about her position as a human being
- Matsushita Sachi: Still VP of Security for TransStill Sirius, she’s used to having doubts about Conrad; but this Al Katib person’s on a whole new level
- Catalina Ojeda: Having gone from Atticus Porter’s head maid to VP Of Security for South American Operations, she’s adjusting to her new circumstances by confronting a TCP-backed disaster in South America
- Noam Katz: As VP of R&D for Advanced Defense Solutions (a TCP subsidiary), he’s also looking into the TCP-backed disaster in South America
- Magali Suarez: A Domestic Engineer (maid) working for Catalina Ojeda, she had to go under cover and isn’t going to enjoy the experience
Sirius Story Line: The Sword of Sirius
Starting in June 2175 CE, The Sword of Sirius begins with the realization within TransStell Sirius that Epsilon Eridani’s government is going to be a problem. A problem that have to deal with sooner than later.
Focus: Sirius, its colonies, and Epsilon Eridani.
Book 1: Red Flag Warning
TransStell Sirius learns that Epsilon Eridani’s government has kicked off war preparations. If they obtain interstellar drive, the situation for TransStell Sirius is going to go from bad to worse. The problem is, Sirius has a solution. It just involves genocide. Needless to say, TransStell would like to find a different way. Here’re main characters in this book:
- Ira Malhotra: Director of TransStell Sirius’s fleets, she bears the responsibility to sort out their options
- Luisa Brunner: Commander of the fleets of Epsilon Eridani, she’s tasked with pushing her government’s influence through the Fissure to Sol
- Owen Payne: Newly hired as part of the mining team, Owen Payne accidentally comes up with a great idea — and receives the typical punishment for such things
Book 2: Collapse Zone
After the stunning success from the previous book (read that sarcastically), the TransStell Sirius team has to mount a second offensive. This one involves boots on the ground. Here’re featured characters:
- Ira Malhotra: Director of TransStell Sirius’s fleets, she regretting her position and hatches a desperate plan to avoid sterilizing Epsilon Eridani of all human life
- Luisa Brunner: Commander of the fleets of Epsilon Eridani, she counters Malhotra’s plans, all the while wondering what they’re really up to
- Owen Payne: Now on loan to Exploratory Services, he’s drafted onto the ground assault team as a mission specialist since he’s the AI Whisperer
Book 3: Firebreak
The battle around Epsilon Eridani II went badly, and then it got worse. TransStell Sirius still might have to pull the trigger on a moral atrocity. And they’re not cool with it. Here’re the players this time around:
- Ira Malhotra: Director of TransStell Sirius’s fleets, Malhotra tries to regroup with what’s left of her fleets, knowing the deadline for the sterilization decision is getting awfully close
- Luisa Brunner: Commander of the fleets of Epsilon Eridani, she thinks she’s beaten back the threat, but she still has no idea of their objectives
- Owen Payne: Trapped on the surface with the mobile AI named Amaterasu, Payne tries to salvage the mission in spite of the odds
Sirius Story Line: Wayland’s Hammer
Owen Payne hated how things ended up in The Sword of Sirius. Not the part where he lived — the part where he left Gerhard Wimmer, a prisoner, behind. Wayland’s Hammer is about Payne’s attempt to fix that. The story begins in 2178 CE.
Focus: Sirius, its colonies, and Epsilon Eridani.
Book 1: Duty of Prisoners
Owen Payne comes up with a plan to rescue Gerhard Wimmer, with the help of the now-even-more-mobile AI named Amaterasu. The trouble is, the colonies at Sirius are coming apart, and the window for Payne to act is closing. Here are the main characters:
- Owen Payne: Recently promoted (much to Payne’s shock) to Director of Fleet Operations, Payne comes up with a plan and tries to execute the plan with a little help from his friends
- Gerhard Wimmer: Left behind as a prisoner in a concentration camp on Epsilon Eridani, Wimmer tries to stay alive and believe in a better future
- Moritz Lehner: As a Lieutenant Colonel in the ruling regime, he is dying (and killing) to find out what happened during The Sword of Sirius — and he’s convinced Wimmer knows the truth
Book 2: Resistance Movement
Wimmer tries to stay alive while Lehner fights his own ruling party. Of course, Lehner still has the time and energy to pursue Wimmer’s secrets. Meanwhile, Payne’s fighting a losing diplomatic battle, primarily because he has no diplomatic skills. Here are the main characters:
- Owen Payne: With the window now closed and a colony voting on full rebellion, Payne and Amaterasu try to stop the revolt
- Gerhard Wimmer: Wimmer finds himself kidnapped and taken to a frozen mountain-top castle by the forces opposing Moritz Lehner because they think Lehner is too soft
- Moritz Lehner: Struggles to regain control of his investigation and his key witness against genetically modified members of his own division
Book 3: Lines of Operation
Payne lost the battle to stop the revolt. But he’s thinks he’s not done yet. Amaterasu admires his unfounded optimism. Meanwhile, Lehner abducts Wimmer and takes him someplace safe — one of the fleet’s carriers in orbit, away from any possible support (for Wimmer) or interference (for Lehner). Here are the main players:
- Owen Payne: Is absolutely committed to winning an already lost battle for the fate of the colonies, all so he can go rescue Wimmer
- Gerhard Wimmer: Is about out of options except one: take as many of the enemy with him as he can
- Moritz Lehner: Armed with his absolute faith in his leadership and his own infinite patience, Lehner takes another run at cracking Wimmer
Earth Story Front: Dreams of Deucalion
Atticus Porter is desperate to keep TransStell Earth alive. It’s not easy, given Jadwiga Janczak’s all-consuming hatred of all things Porter. Dreams of Deucalion begins around 2175 CE.
Focus: Sol system and its connected Fissures.
Book 1: Special Recon
Trent Raven receives orders to take a badly trained team into the nuclear wasteland that was Pyongyang. Meanwhile, Jadwiga Janczak wants badly to eliminate TCP’s reliance on TransStell’s intelligence network. All the while, Porter scrambles to find an alternative to that intelligence. Here are the main players:
- Trent Raven: A special operator who tries to play the hand he’s dealt, which was bad enough before his landing craft were attacked and he was stranded in Pyongyang without support
- Atticus Porter: Still CEO of TransStell Earth, he tries to rally his team to come up with an new way to defend against TCP, though the best option is probably the most dangerous one
- Jadwiga Janczak: Freshly mentored by an amazing VP of Security, Janczak works with the EU and German fleets to confront the forces of Epsilon Eridani so she can finally do away with Porter (it’s a roundabout plan, but it’s solid)
Book 2: Flanking Maneuver
Janczak hatches a daring, gutsy, high-reward plan against the Investment Houses. Because for her, no ambition is too great! But actions have consequences, and sometimes those consequences are dire. Which is a lesson all involved should take to heart! Here are the main players:
- Trent Raven: After surviving Pyongyang, he gets hired on as a VP of Special Projects in TransStell, thereby learning that there is, in fact, a place more dangerous than Pyongyang
- Atticus Porter: Starts making progress towards the highest risk goal, and the effort is not without its detractors
- Jadwiga Janczak: Tries to press her advantage with the Investment Houses and learns the meaning of the word “overreach”
Book 3: Bait and Bleed
Janczak finds she was playing poker, but the Investment Houses were playing Global Thermal Nuclear War. Porter gets an inkling of that, too, at the worst possible time. Meanwhile, Trent Raven takes a trip to a grounded submarine in Cleveland, Ohio. Here’re the main characters:
- Trent Raven: As VP of Special Projects, Raven tracks down a clue to the nature of his Board of Directors in the nuclear remains of Cleveland Ohio, especially a steampunk library under the city
- Atticus Porter: Sensing the walls closing in, he accelerates his mission to the California Republic as things unravel in orbit
- Jadwiga Janczak: Consumed by grief and rage, which is never a good combination for someone commanding a battle assault group with multiple carriers, Janczak plans to take revenge on everyone on Earth, but particularly Porter