Science fiction and fantasy novels are great vehicles
for those who want to escape into immersive
new worlds. Whether they introduce mythical creatures and
extraterrestrial beings to our reality, or take place
in fictional universes where various races are locked
in an intergalactic war, these books have the
ability to keep readers coming back for more.
In no particular order, here are some authors
writing captivating stories that span several novels.
First up, at # 1 we have Vera
Nazarian, who immigrated to the USA from the
former USSR as a child and sold her
first story at the age of seventeen. She
is best known for The Atlantis Grail, a
dystopian science fiction series that revolves around sixteen-year-old
Gwenevere Lark, who must rescue her entire family
by participating in a deadly competition.
Nazarian is also the author of the Cobweb
Bride Trilogy, a romantic retelling of the Persephone
myth set in an alternate Renaissance world Additionally,
she created the Supernatural Jane Austen Series, which
is a collection of parodies of the eponymous
author's classic novels, including Pride and Platypus and
Mansfield Park and Mummies.
Taking the # 2 spot is M.G Herron,
a freelance content strategist and independent science fiction
and fantasy author based in Austin Texas. In
2015, he published his first novel, The Auriga
Project, a thriller about a freak teleportation accident
and a lost Mayan tribe. It is the
first book of the Translocator series, which revolves
around archaeologist Eliana Fisk, who finds herself stranded
in a strange new world.
His other series, The Gunn Files, is a
sci-fi mystery set in the weird heart of
Texas. It centers on a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter
named Anderson Gunn who, after tracking down a
man named Cameron Kovak, discovers that there are
aliens living among us.
Next, at # 3 we have M.D Neu.
Living in the heart of Silicon Valley, he
is an award-winning gay fiction writer whose novels
feature diverse, strong queer characters. His debut novel,
The Calling, is about a man named Duncan
Alexander, a seemingly regular guy who gets thrust
into the world of Immortals.
Neu is also known for his sci-fi series,
A New World. Set in modern times, the
story is about a race of aliens coming
to Earth in need of help, and how
humans deal with this new reality when it
throws everything they believe into question.
Next up, at # 4 is Leslye Penelope,
an independent filmmaker and award-winning author of fantasy
and paranormal romance. She studied film at Howard
University and minored in computer science, which led
to a graduate degree in multimedia and a
career in website development. Penelope also runs a
podcast called My Imaginary Friends, where she shares
her perspectives on writing creativity, and inspiration.
She is best known for writing the Earthsinger
Chronicles, an epic fantasy series centered on an
orphan named Jasminda, who possesses a magical ability
feared by her own people. When war threatens
her homeland, Jasminda's Earthsong may be the only
thing that can prevent the bloodshed and heal
the hearts of two nations.
Coming in at # 5 is Amy J.
Murphy. She graduated from the University of New
Orleans with a B.A. in Communications and worked
in marketing for nearly fifteen years. Murphy is
an active member of the Science Fiction and
Fantasy Writers of America, and her work has
appeared in sci-fi anthologies such as Call of
Courage and At The Helm.
Murphy's space opera series, Allies and Enemies, starts
off with Fallen, which introduces readers to Commander
Sela Tyron. She is a purpose-bred soldier of
the vast and far-reaching Regime who's on a
mission to quell an insurrection. Things take a
turn for the worse when Sela and her
team are abandoned on a planet full of
insurrectionists.
Finally, at # 6 we have Kayelle Allen.
She is a member of RomVets, a group
of current and former military women who write
romance. Allen also founded Marketing for Romance Writers,
which is a peer-oriented mentoring group where authors
can learn how to create a professional image
as well as ask for opportunities to join
others in promotional efforts.
In her Bringer of Chaos series, a race
known as the Ultras were designed by humans
to serve mankind, until a scientist accidentally discovered
how to free himself and others from slavery.
The saga begins with the Origin of Pietas,
which revolves around the eponymous Ultra leader, who
must find a way to escape after he's
imprisoned and banished to the planet Sempervia by
a traitor and his human allies.