The Ashes of Humanity

Lacuna #4

by David Adams

Humans thought that they could stand amongst the older races. They believed, in their hubris, that the perils of interstellar travel could be mastered within a single generation. That they would be spared the wrath of the Toralii.

Now humanity lies in ashes. The cradle of our civilization, Earth, is nothing more than a charred husk, a dead world in an empty solar system in an unremarkable corner of the galaxy.

The war is over.

We lost.

Captain Melissa Liao and the remaining band of Humans, numbering barely in the tens of thousands, hold the future of their entire species in their hands. They must settle a new world, encounter friends and enemies new and old, and plant the seeds of hope in the ashes of humanity.

Book four of the Lacuna series.

- Lacuna
- Lacuna: The Sands of Karathi
- Lacuna: The Spectre of Oblivion
- Lacuna: The Ashes of Humanity (new release!)
- Lacuna: The Prelude to Eternity (coming 2014!)

Don't miss these short stories set in the Lacuna universe:


- Magnet
- Magnet: Special Mission
- Magnet: Marauder
- Imperfect
- Faith

Genres: Science Fiction

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2013

About the author

I've always been writing in my mind. I have way, way, way too many stories to tell and far too little time to tell them.

I've been involved in Star Trek roleplay-by-emails for a few years, where basically I learned my craft, but it's only last year that I actually started putting these thoughts to paper.

By day I'm a software engineer. But by night I write a little science fiction, a little fantasy, a little humour and comedy, and a little erotica under pen names.

Reviews

[Amelia Storck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lacuna: The Ashes of Humanity is a powerful and sobering entry in the Lacuna series, delivering large-scale science fiction with emotional weight and existential stakes. In the aftermath of a catastrophic interstellar war, humanity has lost everything Earth is destroyed, civilization reduced to scattered survivors clinging to hope in an indifferent galaxy.

Adams excels at portraying the quiet devastation that follows defeat. Rather than focusing solely on battles, this installment centers on survival, rebuilding, and the moral weight of carrying an entire species’ future forward. Captain Melissa Liao emerges as a steady, compelling leader, guiding the last remnants of humanity as they attempt to settle a new world while navigating old enemies, fragile alliances, and the lingering trauma of loss.

The novel balances sweeping space opera elements with deeply human questions: What does it mean to start over after annihilation? How do you preserve identity, culture, and hope when history itself has been nearly erased? Adams’ world-building remains immersive and expansive, while the narrative maintains a sense of urgency and quiet resilience.

Fans of thoughtful science fiction, post-apocalyptic space opera, and character-driven survival stories will find The Ashes of Humanity a rewarding and emotionally resonant read. It’s a testament to endurance in the face of extinction and a fitting continuation of the Lacuna saga.

[Holly Cochran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

[Mike Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Melissa Liao has done her best to protect humanity. She's scored tremendous victories beyond her capabilities, discovered new technologies, forged alliances with alien species and become known throughout space as a berserker and butcher for her conquests. Yet despite it all, she lost humanity. Earth was turned to a cinder by an advanced race of cat people called to Toralii. Her daughter is dead and she attempted to save as many humans as possible to avert extinction. But at what cost. That's how author David Adams starts "The Ashes of Humanity," the fourth in the Lacuna series. Liao hauls the ragtag group of humans and ships to a planet where she caused one of her greatest follies, the death of 50,000 peaceful allies because of her insistence that Ben, the construct, could be trusted. But they are not safe. Humans need allies. And they are in short supply. The Alliance is on the move. The cat people want to finish what they started. Humans are a threat that must be extinguished. Somehow Liao and her fellow captains must figure out a way to restart civilization and protect it from constant bombardment from a ruthless threat.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't checked this series out, you must. The first Lacuna: Demons of the Void, is usually free on all platforms.

Each book has been better than the last and although the many plot lines felt a little disjointed as this one got going the ending was huge and I swear, left me feeling like space dust. I was even cursing Rowe to push the damed button while my kindle read to me on the way home.

[Dennis E. Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read but not the end yet.

She wins loses,wins and loses....can they keep going or not ?
So many twists and battles to be fought but they keep going trying to survive.

[David H Arrowood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

One more step in the story. On to the next installment! It is a good read for serial fans. Onward