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Void Station One
A man resolves to commit suicide by throwing his spacecraft into a black hole.
Simon Cole is a salvager operating out of Marsport, mankind's colony on the red planet. He travels the black road between planets and stars, retrieving material from distant abandoned space stations before they drift beyond man's reach.
Alone and unfulfilled, and in a future world which offers great technological innovation but allows too many individuals to be crushed under the gears, Cole resolves to commit suicide. And now he has his chance: his latest mission is to salvage from a void station before it passes the event horizon of a black hole.
With its everyman protagonist struggling to find his place in a society that has become literally unmoored from humanity's roots, Void Station One deals with powerful themes of suicide, perception and mankind's place in the universe. A universe which seems to end at an open door…
Simon Cole is a salvager operating out of Marsport, mankind's colony on the red planet. He travels the black road between planets and stars, retrieving material from distant abandoned space stations before they drift beyond man's reach.
Alone and unfulfilled, and in a future world which offers great technological innovation but allows too many individuals to be crushed under the gears, Cole resolves to commit suicide. And now he has his chance: his latest mission is to salvage from a void station before it passes the event horizon of a black hole.
With its everyman protagonist struggling to find his place in a society that has become literally unmoored from humanity's roots, Void Station One deals with powerful themes of suicide, perception and mankind's place in the universe. A universe which seems to end at an open door…
- GenresScience Fiction
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2023
12 people want to read
About the author
Mike Futcher
2 books40 followersI am the author of the literary science-fiction novel Void Station One. It follows a man who resolves to commit suicide by piloting his spacecraft into a black hole. It is available to order here.
I am also the author of the literary science-fiction novelette Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, available on Amazon, Gumroad, Smashwords, Apple Books, Kobo, Scribd and Barnes & Noble.
I am also the author of the literary science-fiction novelette Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, available on Amazon, Gumroad, Smashwords, Apple Books, Kobo, Scribd and Barnes & Noble.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 28, 2023
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book to review in advance!
Void Station One is a melancholic exploration of one's self and self worth set in an interesting, far future where humans have stretched throughout the galaxy. Despite some stumbles and being largely introspective, there was enough story to keep me intrigued, and even had some small twists along that way that made this an easy read.
We follow Cole, a deeply sad man who is struggling to find purpose in life after his beloved wife left him. He works basically as a deep space trucker, collecting salvage from wherever his agency sends him, but lately he's been taking the farthest deep space jobs located at the Void Stations, or stations that were initially set up during humanity's initial traversal into space. These stations have long been abandoned, and they take a long time to get to. Even though very fast space travel exist, it still takes many many years to travel to these places, thus preservation drugs and cryo sleep is used to preserve the traveler, but that doesn't stop time for when they return home and many years have passed since they departed. This adds to Cole's sense of meaninglessness, and he decides to take on the Void Station One assignment, a station that is about to fall into a black hole so the window for recovering salvage is tight. He resolves to go to the station and stay on it, allowing the black hole to kill him. However, upon arrival, he encounters the last thing he expected.
The first thing that you need to know about this is, as I mentioned before, it is extremely introspective. There are moments of dialogue, and there are moments of exposition and world building, but the majority of the book is a narration of Cole's spiraling depression and bleak outlook on life, with a healthy dose of philosophical existentialism. This is a science fiction novel, and there are beats that advance the plot but it feels that this is really supposed to challenge you to confront your own sense of self worth, and where you draw meaning in your life. So if you're looking for an action packed adventure, this isn't it.
While I do enjoy introspective stories, particularly science fiction based, there were moments of this where I felt the pacing was severely limping along. There was a lot of repetition during these parts in particular that had me skimming to get to the next conversation or something.
With regard to structure, the story was fine. There was a lot of set up to get Cole to where he was going, but I didn't mind it. Characters were interesting. Without spoilers, Cole as a character did have development, but it didn't feel fully deserved in my opinion. He had epiphanies and revelations that changed him, but they seemed rushed and contradictory to what felt like his stagnant nature, but with so few characters to begin with and the short length of the book, I suppose it makes sense that the character development felt rushed. Also the ending chapters of the book felt drawn out at times. Several chapters ended with language that I felt would be fitting for the end of the book, only for me to turn the page and realize it was still going.
Overall, I enjoyed this. There was some tightening up that could have been done, but I thought it was good. If you like the way Becky Chambers approaches themes of character and self mixed with sci fi, you'll like this (but not necessarily if you like the hopepunk themes because this isn't the book for you). If you like a quiet narrative where you get to sit with the thoughts of a character, pick this up.
Void Station One is a melancholic exploration of one's self and self worth set in an interesting, far future where humans have stretched throughout the galaxy. Despite some stumbles and being largely introspective, there was enough story to keep me intrigued, and even had some small twists along that way that made this an easy read.
We follow Cole, a deeply sad man who is struggling to find purpose in life after his beloved wife left him. He works basically as a deep space trucker, collecting salvage from wherever his agency sends him, but lately he's been taking the farthest deep space jobs located at the Void Stations, or stations that were initially set up during humanity's initial traversal into space. These stations have long been abandoned, and they take a long time to get to. Even though very fast space travel exist, it still takes many many years to travel to these places, thus preservation drugs and cryo sleep is used to preserve the traveler, but that doesn't stop time for when they return home and many years have passed since they departed. This adds to Cole's sense of meaninglessness, and he decides to take on the Void Station One assignment, a station that is about to fall into a black hole so the window for recovering salvage is tight. He resolves to go to the station and stay on it, allowing the black hole to kill him. However, upon arrival, he encounters the last thing he expected.
The first thing that you need to know about this is, as I mentioned before, it is extremely introspective. There are moments of dialogue, and there are moments of exposition and world building, but the majority of the book is a narration of Cole's spiraling depression and bleak outlook on life, with a healthy dose of philosophical existentialism. This is a science fiction novel, and there are beats that advance the plot but it feels that this is really supposed to challenge you to confront your own sense of self worth, and where you draw meaning in your life. So if you're looking for an action packed adventure, this isn't it.
While I do enjoy introspective stories, particularly science fiction based, there were moments of this where I felt the pacing was severely limping along. There was a lot of repetition during these parts in particular that had me skimming to get to the next conversation or something.
With regard to structure, the story was fine. There was a lot of set up to get Cole to where he was going, but I didn't mind it. Characters were interesting. Without spoilers, Cole as a character did have development, but it didn't feel fully deserved in my opinion. He had epiphanies and revelations that changed him, but they seemed rushed and contradictory to what felt like his stagnant nature, but with so few characters to begin with and the short length of the book, I suppose it makes sense that the character development felt rushed. Also the ending chapters of the book felt drawn out at times. Several chapters ended with language that I felt would be fitting for the end of the book, only for me to turn the page and realize it was still going.
Overall, I enjoyed this. There was some tightening up that could have been done, but I thought it was good. If you like the way Becky Chambers approaches themes of character and self mixed with sci fi, you'll like this (but not necessarily if you like the hopepunk themes because this isn't the book for you). If you like a quiet narrative where you get to sit with the thoughts of a character, pick this up.
December 8, 2023
Void Station One is a captivating journey into self-discovery and the exploration of one's worth within a mesmerizing, far-future galaxy expanded by humanity. Despite occasional hiccups and its predominantly introspective nature, the narrative remains engaging, sprinkled with subtle twists that enhance the overall reading experience.
The protagonist, Cole, navigates a profound emotional struggle following the departure of his beloved wife. Working as a deep space trucker, he undertakes salvage missions in the farthest reaches, particularly at Void Stations—abandoned relics of humanity's early forays into space. These remote stations, situated near black holes, require long journeys, adding to the sense of existentialism that permeates Cole's life. As he contemplates the void within himself, he decides to embrace the challenge of Void Station One, a station teetering on the edge of a black hole, ready to accept whatever fate awaits him.
It's important to note that Void Station One predominantly takes an introspective approach. While there are dialogues, expositions, and world-building moments, the narrative focuses heavily on Cole's internal struggles, blending a healthy dose of philosophical existentialism into the science fiction framework. This novel invites readers to confront their own sense of self-worth and the sources of meaning in their lives rather than delivering an action-packed adventure.
Structurally, the story unfolds effectively, establishing the groundwork to bring Cole to his destination. The characters are intriguing, and while Cole undergoes development, some shifts felt abrupt and perhaps not fully earned. The limited cast and the book's brevity may contribute to this rushed feeling of character growth. Towards the end, certain chapters seemed to linger, giving the impression of an impending conclusion which doesn’t quite arrive.
Overall, Void Station One was enjoyable. Despite areas that could benefit from tightening, the novel is a satisfying read. Fans of Becky Chambers' approach to character and self-exploration within a science fiction context will likely find this book appealing. However, those seeking hopepunk themes may want to explore other options. If you appreciate a contemplative narrative that allows you to delve into a character's thoughts, Void Station One is worth picking up.
The protagonist, Cole, navigates a profound emotional struggle following the departure of his beloved wife. Working as a deep space trucker, he undertakes salvage missions in the farthest reaches, particularly at Void Stations—abandoned relics of humanity's early forays into space. These remote stations, situated near black holes, require long journeys, adding to the sense of existentialism that permeates Cole's life. As he contemplates the void within himself, he decides to embrace the challenge of Void Station One, a station teetering on the edge of a black hole, ready to accept whatever fate awaits him.
It's important to note that Void Station One predominantly takes an introspective approach. While there are dialogues, expositions, and world-building moments, the narrative focuses heavily on Cole's internal struggles, blending a healthy dose of philosophical existentialism into the science fiction framework. This novel invites readers to confront their own sense of self-worth and the sources of meaning in their lives rather than delivering an action-packed adventure.
Structurally, the story unfolds effectively, establishing the groundwork to bring Cole to his destination. The characters are intriguing, and while Cole undergoes development, some shifts felt abrupt and perhaps not fully earned. The limited cast and the book's brevity may contribute to this rushed feeling of character growth. Towards the end, certain chapters seemed to linger, giving the impression of an impending conclusion which doesn’t quite arrive.
Overall, Void Station One was enjoyable. Despite areas that could benefit from tightening, the novel is a satisfying read. Fans of Becky Chambers' approach to character and self-exploration within a science fiction context will likely find this book appealing. However, those seeking hopepunk themes may want to explore other options. If you appreciate a contemplative narrative that allows you to delve into a character's thoughts, Void Station One is worth picking up.
November 5, 2023
Void Station One feels like a throwback to a simpler pulp age. The story is not without emotional complexity, our protagonist is a lonely salvage operator with an unfulfilled life. A little time slipped, and with no close friends or relationships, the long periods in space have numbed him to the extent that he has decided that on his next job, once the salvage has been sent, he will stay with the station and drift into a black hole with it. So it is a story of a man contemplating suicide.
Of course, things are never as easy as that and there are two revelations he comes across that bring this out of the relatably interior contemplation of self-destruction, into the realm of pulp. First, Void Station One (a sort of intergalactic Watford Gap Services) is not actually empty of life, and he meets someone even more damaged and alone than he is. So comparative depression! The second revelation I won't spoil but is one of those things that push this to the edge of a science fiction you can believe in the science of (relativistic effects of a black hole notwithstanding) and into almost a fable. Its sweet and almost a bit profound.
Void Station One isn't great science fiction, even when Mike Futcher slips in the odd space station fight and discussions of aliens. But it is quite a good book about redemption, and about finding a purpose - an almost religious conversion in places without the actual religion. It took me a while to get into its headspace, which as suggested starts rather depressive. But for all the tragedy in the book, it does end up in a hopeful space, which I rather liked.
Of course, things are never as easy as that and there are two revelations he comes across that bring this out of the relatably interior contemplation of self-destruction, into the realm of pulp. First, Void Station One (a sort of intergalactic Watford Gap Services) is not actually empty of life, and he meets someone even more damaged and alone than he is. So comparative depression! The second revelation I won't spoil but is one of those things that push this to the edge of a science fiction you can believe in the science of (relativistic effects of a black hole notwithstanding) and into almost a fable. Its sweet and almost a bit profound.
Void Station One isn't great science fiction, even when Mike Futcher slips in the odd space station fight and discussions of aliens. But it is quite a good book about redemption, and about finding a purpose - an almost religious conversion in places without the actual religion. It took me a while to get into its headspace, which as suggested starts rather depressive. But for all the tragedy in the book, it does end up in a hopeful space, which I rather liked.
May 5, 2025
This was a really good debut novel, especially one that’s very obscure! While the plot lagged at times, the author has a real talent for description and imagery.
Void Station One is a book about space, sure, but it’s ultimately a book about suicide. The sci-fi setting is just a backdrop for the main story to take place. I thought that it did a great job at depicting a taboo subject, and understanding people’s reasoning for killing themselves, without romanticizing it or demonizing it. I greatly enjoyed how, at the end,
For fans of: Very introspective books, especially classic lit
Themes: death, suicide, depression, right to die, capitalism, moral ambiguity, perspective, the passage of time
Characters: I thought that Cole’s characterization was good. I also liked , I thought she was a well-fleshed-out morally ambiguous character, and the reader was left debating until the end whether she was a good or bad person.
I wasn’t as huge on the characterization of , I just felt that she felt almost stereotypically feminine. She wasn’t really well-developed quite enough to make the resolution work as well as it could have.
Plot: The plot was good, albeit a bit slow at times. The story could have possibly cut down on a little bit of the introspection between the time he leaves Marsport and the time he gets to the black hole, and the introspection at the end could have probably been reduced to a single chapter. But I thought the storyline on the actual base was really interesting.
Writing style: Probably the biggest strength of this book. The author definitely has a way with words - the prose felt detailed and interesting without feeling purple or pseudointellectual. As mentioned before, I especially liked the use of imagery to
Overall, really solid debut! To the author: if you read this, I encourage you to keep writing!
Void Station One is a book about space, sure, but it’s ultimately a book about suicide. The sci-fi setting is just a backdrop for the main story to take place. I thought that it did a great job at depicting a taboo subject, and understanding people’s reasoning for killing themselves, without romanticizing it or demonizing it. I greatly enjoyed how, at the end,
For fans of: Very introspective books, especially classic lit
Themes: death, suicide, depression, right to die, capitalism, moral ambiguity, perspective, the passage of time
Characters: I thought that Cole’s characterization was good. I also liked , I thought she was a well-fleshed-out morally ambiguous character, and the reader was left debating until the end whether she was a good or bad person.
I wasn’t as huge on the characterization of , I just felt that she felt almost stereotypically feminine. She wasn’t really well-developed quite enough to make the resolution work as well as it could have.
Plot: The plot was good, albeit a bit slow at times. The story could have possibly cut down on a little bit of the introspection between the time he leaves Marsport and the time he gets to the black hole, and the introspection at the end could have probably been reduced to a single chapter. But I thought the storyline on the actual base was really interesting.
Writing style: Probably the biggest strength of this book. The author definitely has a way with words - the prose felt detailed and interesting without feeling purple or pseudointellectual. As mentioned before, I especially liked the use of imagery to
Overall, really solid debut! To the author: if you read this, I encourage you to keep writing!
May 12, 2024
Void Station One is a very different beast from most of the usual Sci-fi fare. Sci-fi can be all muscle and no brain but this is a thinking person's sci-fi, with not much in the way of action. The blurb is slightly misleading is that, while it is 100% accurate to the contents of the book, I don't think that is fully captures the essence of the book. I went in expecting something different to what I got. I'm not saying that is bad (I have been delighted by the unexpected directions books have taken in the past) but it is very present here.
How to describe Void Station One without giving too much away? Well, I said it was a thinking person's book and that is true but in a very specific way. This isn't a philosophical tract on the meaning of life in the the universe and what happens when the Big Crunch comes. No, it is much more personal than it. It is very intimate, almost private book with a very small cast of characters. It is about feelings and wants and relationships in people as individuals, focussing on the main character. We spend a lot of time in the head of Simon Cole, our POV and, at times, this can get almost suffocating, as there is a great deal of negative thoughts here Large warning that mental health and suicide are central themes here and are frequently mentioned. The intimate atmosphere and the small cast give it almost a cosy feeling but it is a bit too depressing to be called cosy sci-fi. Claustrophobic sci-fi? Is that a thing?
As most of the plot takes place in a space station without an atmosphere, there is little sound except for the sound of breathing. Here, silence has weight! This helps with that claustrophobic atmosphere, as does the constant need for a spacesuit. At times, even when nothing much was happening, I could feel my heartrate quicken as the silence starts to get to you! I don't think I have ever been so stressed with nothing happening! There are a few jump scares, which are probably more effective than they have right to be due to the nothingness that surrounds them. What is clear, especially from the end of the blackhole subplot, is that this is not about action. The subplot ends with a "blink and you'll miss it" (twice), which was not what I was expecting at all. I'm not 100% sure on the science of it either but it kind of makes sense. I was a bit disappointed with it and was expecting a bit more drama (or even some drama) what with it being, you know, a blackhole but this is not that type of book. If you are expecting the blackhole to the the star of the show, you are not going to like this!
This is very much an introverted character study of one man, his struggles and what led him to want to commit suicide by blackhole. The plot is well thought out, it is well written and the prose is tight but, at the end, it is all about that character study. While I do think there are some very well worth things in this book, I felt it was a bit too depressing for me to fully enjoy it. And although they say Misery looks company, I think I prefer my muscles over mental wrangling in this genre. It was just a bit too introspective for me. However, I imagine other folk will love this.
I received an advance review copy from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
How to describe Void Station One without giving too much away? Well, I said it was a thinking person's book and that is true but in a very specific way. This isn't a philosophical tract on the meaning of life in the the universe and what happens when the Big Crunch comes. No, it is much more personal than it. It is very intimate, almost private book with a very small cast of characters. It is about feelings and wants and relationships in people as individuals, focussing on the main character. We spend a lot of time in the head of Simon Cole, our POV and, at times, this can get almost suffocating, as there is a great deal of negative thoughts here Large warning that mental health and suicide are central themes here and are frequently mentioned. The intimate atmosphere and the small cast give it almost a cosy feeling but it is a bit too depressing to be called cosy sci-fi. Claustrophobic sci-fi? Is that a thing?
As most of the plot takes place in a space station without an atmosphere, there is little sound except for the sound of breathing. Here, silence has weight! This helps with that claustrophobic atmosphere, as does the constant need for a spacesuit. At times, even when nothing much was happening, I could feel my heartrate quicken as the silence starts to get to you! I don't think I have ever been so stressed with nothing happening! There are a few jump scares, which are probably more effective than they have right to be due to the nothingness that surrounds them. What is clear, especially from the end of the blackhole subplot, is that this is not about action. The subplot ends with a "blink and you'll miss it" (twice), which was not what I was expecting at all. I'm not 100% sure on the science of it either but it kind of makes sense. I was a bit disappointed with it and was expecting a bit more drama (or even some drama) what with it being, you know, a blackhole but this is not that type of book. If you are expecting the blackhole to the the star of the show, you are not going to like this!
This is very much an introverted character study of one man, his struggles and what led him to want to commit suicide by blackhole. The plot is well thought out, it is well written and the prose is tight but, at the end, it is all about that character study. While I do think there are some very well worth things in this book, I felt it was a bit too depressing for me to fully enjoy it. And although they say Misery looks company, I think I prefer my muscles over mental wrangling in this genre. It was just a bit too introspective for me. However, I imagine other folk will love this.
I received an advance review copy from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
October 16, 2023
Existentialist (even nihilist for the most part), defiant and introspective; what more do you want from a novel such as this? Void Station One chronicles the loneliness of Simon Cole, who simply survives rather than lives in a world where humanity has achieved interstellar travel. The buildup of Cole's arc is gradual but justified. It gets much more philosophical near the end but that's to be expected. Literary sci-fi is a good genre for tackling existentialism, and it's done to an enjoyable extent in this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Mike Futcher for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Mike Futcher for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2024
Twenty-seven year-old Simon Cole struggles with being a little cynical. Is his cynicism warranted? He complains about the "regulation smiles" and the "eradication of freedom." This cynicism doesn't sound too far-fetched to me.
He also found other people often to be "looking at things that didn't matter."
The science fiction was pretty convincing. It was better than I expected.
Five stars.
He also found other people often to be "looking at things that didn't matter."
The science fiction was pretty convincing. It was better than I expected.
Five stars.
April 13, 2024
there were parts of this book I enjoyed, especially the earlier sections with more exposition about the world, but the navel gazing introspective philosophy (which I didn’t mind at first) seemed to take up more words per page as the book went on. all of this rambling bogs down the pacing and is not very interesting, so near the end I was skipping over whole pages just to get to the plot.
October 24, 2023
Thank you to Mike Futcher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
★★★½ Rounded to 3.5 stars.
Content Warning: This book deals extensively with themes of suicide and may be triggering to certain people.
As someone who has directly experienced the tremendous loss that comes with a death by suicide I was hesistant at first to dive into this book. However, Mike writes about depression and suicide in a way that smacks of someone who has experienced these feelings first hand. There's no romanticism here although in the latter half the discussion turns more philosophical.
I enjoyed Mike's take on interstellar travel and the mental toll that it would take on it's users. At it's core this is a work of science fiction but it weaves interpersonal relationships and technology together in a way that humanizes the future. It is not hard to believe that the future depicted in the book is possible.
Some of the philosophical elements of the book do ramble somewhat - there was one point where I expected the book to be finished but it contiued on for another few chapters. The ending itself could be conceived of being a little trite but one that is not wholly unexpected.
★★★½ Rounded to 3.5 stars.
Content Warning: This book deals extensively with themes of suicide and may be triggering to certain people.
As someone who has directly experienced the tremendous loss that comes with a death by suicide I was hesistant at first to dive into this book. However, Mike writes about depression and suicide in a way that smacks of someone who has experienced these feelings first hand. There's no romanticism here although in the latter half the discussion turns more philosophical.
I enjoyed Mike's take on interstellar travel and the mental toll that it would take on it's users. At it's core this is a work of science fiction but it weaves interpersonal relationships and technology together in a way that humanizes the future. It is not hard to believe that the future depicted in the book is possible.
Some of the philosophical elements of the book do ramble somewhat - there was one point where I expected the book to be finished but it contiued on for another few chapters. The ending itself could be conceived of being a little trite but one that is not wholly unexpected.
November 2, 2023
5 stars, Adventurous
VOID STATION ONE
by Mike Futcher
Simon Cole feels like he is at a dead-end. He thinks the only thing left for him is suicide by a black hole. Little does he realize, his future is about to change.
Simon gets assigned to Void Station One, to scavenge all that he can from the abandoned station and then destroy it. Things don't go as planned. Do they ever?
Has everyone known the utter hopelessness of being lonely? My husband and I have experienced it. I didn't realize that the future could be grand and that it was simply waiting until the right time to expand.
I will be rereading this book, several times per year. There is some phrasing that might be considered a trigger to readers.
I am grateful for the complimentary copy of #VoidStationOne that was #SelfPublished I was under no obligation to post a review.
#ScienceFiction #Fantasy #Space #TriggerWarning #Adventurous #Diverse
VOID STATION ONE
by Mike Futcher
Simon Cole feels like he is at a dead-end. He thinks the only thing left for him is suicide by a black hole. Little does he realize, his future is about to change.
Simon gets assigned to Void Station One, to scavenge all that he can from the abandoned station and then destroy it. Things don't go as planned. Do they ever?
Has everyone known the utter hopelessness of being lonely? My husband and I have experienced it. I didn't realize that the future could be grand and that it was simply waiting until the right time to expand.
I will be rereading this book, several times per year. There is some phrasing that might be considered a trigger to readers.
I am grateful for the complimentary copy of #VoidStationOne that was #SelfPublished I was under no obligation to post a review.
#ScienceFiction #Fantasy #Space #TriggerWarning #Adventurous #Diverse
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews