The Callista Alignment

The Natural Human Saga #1

by Steve Gay

‘No one remembers the moment they were born, but I do… the second time at least’.

Abducted and thrust into a bewildering alien world, Kali has no idea that she’s the only Earth-born 'natural' in a population of enslaved humans scattered across the stars. She'll push the limits of her captivity, turn her owner’s life upside down, and challenge everything he believes about her species. Then, when the public spotlight suddenly turns to her, she’ll drag him into a revolution.

The Callista Alignment is the first instalment in a new science fiction series, an epic saga of prejudice, redemption, and human courage in all its forms. Join a new kind of heroine, for an extraordinary adventure in an alien civilisation.

If you enjoyed reading ‘Divergent’ or ‘Silo’ you’ll be captured by The Callista Alignment and swept into a world you’ll never forget.

Meet the cast:

The Professor:
Yan Feyrsten is worried that he’s made a big mistake. The human he’s bought is upending his quiet academic life. Kali won’t settle, won’t eat, won’t comply. She can’t even grasp that here on Antares, she’s nothing more than an animal.

The Naturalist:
Henik Varkesen understands why. He’s imagined meeting an Earth-born ‘natural’ his entire professional life. But he realises the trouble Kali could bring, that she’s either a wonderous scientific discovery or the most dangerous human on the planet.

The Bounty Hunter:
Torsta Jai knows an opportunity when she sees one. Reduced to hunting feral humans in the Derelict Zone, the disgraced police chief is looking for a way to restore her position. She realises Yan’s human could give her the political leverage she needs, and will stop at nothing to possess her.

The Human:
Kali is just trying to get by in a baffling alien world. She’ll start with Yan, use her gift with language to confound his expectations, force him to reassess everything he believes. But when she’s stolen from him and thrust into the public spotlight, she’ll discover the truth, that a restive human population has been waiting for a sign, waiting for their moment. They’ve been waiting for her.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

423 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Steve Gay is a writer of science fiction, historical fiction and short stories. He grew up in central England, and in Connecticut, and gained his first degree in History and Politics from the University of Southampton. It wasn’t until relatively late in life that he wrote his first novel, completing it on the train as he commuted to London. He left his career to focus on his writing, and completed a masters degree in writing at the University of Warwick. His first published novel, The Birds that do not Sing was the product of those studies, a historical novel set during the Second World War. The Callista Alignment is Steve’s first science fiction novel, the beginning of an ongoing series. Steve lives in the Midlands and is never happier than when he is ski-ing with his wife and adult children, or touring in his campervan. His laptop is a constant companion.

Reviews

[Gayle Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was unputdownable for me. I really enjoyed the story. As an animal lover myself, I found myself thinking about the parallel with animal rights in our own world. Our treatment of non humans is not exactly flawless, so this book is a big "How would you like it?" Giant aliens keep humans as working animals and pets. Communication between them is complicated by the fact that their language is not only words but clicks and rumblings inside their big heads, so the average human has no hope of being understood. Kali/Emily is not an average human, though. She's from Earth and has a natural knack for languages, having learned quite a few Earth languages before she was abducted. With her abilities and her uncanny resemblance to a goddess worshipped by the human slaves, she has the tools to bridge the gap. There's a definite element of destiny and fate in this story. It's sci-fi, and most of the "magic" is in the advanced technology, but it has that hint of prophecy and things happening as they should that you sometimes find in fantasy novels. Even the main character is amazed at how uncanny it is that she fits into the prophecy of a human redeemer so perfectly.
I look forward to the story continuing in the next books.


My first ARC from BookSirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lora Poucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this favorite book of my daughter's because she (practically) begged me to! She knows I don't readily reach for sci-fi and thought this might change my mind. Tbh, it took me a while to get into it and get the characters straight; their futuristic planet, lifestyle, and people were so unfamiliar. Eventually, I began to see the approaching climax and steeled myself for the ending I predicted. However, I was surprised! As I came to care and root for the characters, that made reading the book enjoyable, and I anticipated returning to reading it. A win for me!

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the planet Antaris, parts of society have collapsed: humanoids in suits and overalls are wandering around the shopping malls, and they have formed themselves into clans. They steal attributes from the malls (bats, javelins, etc.) and hunt in troops for their food. They have lost their ability to speak. They are being bred for the benefit of the aliens who live on the planet.
The other inhabitants of Antaris are giant, 8-foot tall, ethereal creatures with yellow irises who communicate by producing a clicking sound in their crane. When they become emotional, their skin changes colour.
They keep humanoids as 'pets' to work in their gardens and homes. They are seen as a species that needs 'guidance and supervision - a backward race'; when they are too old to do work, they are euthanised.
Also, behavioural units are placed in their brains if they do not do what they are asked to do, and there is a lively trade in human flesh on the planet.

Emily is abducted and ends up on the planet owned by Yan; he initially fails to understand now ‘'Kali' and seeks Henik's help, who is studying these humanoids in their natural habitat. Henik made me remind me of Shevik from The Dispossessed each time his name popped up. (yes, livelong fan :))
And just think about what it means to name someone, to identify them. Emily ends up being Kali, and there is a Jocasta as well… (and many more, but that is for the reader to find out.)

The novel explores themes of society, social status, behaviour, our role in relation to old age, animals/pets, the importance of language, cooperation, connecting and understanding, culture, dependence on "gadgets" (mind, the aliens are no longer self-sufficient) whereas the ‘wild, feral humanoids can take care of themselves), nature vs nurture & intelligence, adding to that famous Ursula L. Guin vibe found throughout the novel, and adding themes from the Planet of the Apes and Klara & the Sun as well.

But I am curious as to why this society seems to have collapsed? Perhaps this will be dealt with in the sequel. I read the novel in a single sitting. I wasn't very interested in the elections, but that may well be something personal, I am not interested in politics, and how to gain power. That this plays an important role on Antaris is obvious of course.

Fascinating read, looking forward to part II.!
4.5 stars.

[Rachel Verrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic SiFi book that is a good story you can enjoy for itself or ponder what it implies about what it means to be human. Ingenuity, bravery, resilience and a capacity for compassion are all exemplified by the main human character in this first book of a new series by author Steve Gay.

The characters are well crafted so accompanying them in their growing understanding of their circumstances and the challenge it presents to their previous assumptions makes this thoughtful read yet still a page turner. I will definitely read the second one when it comes out.

[Luke Shiras · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading The Callista Alignment, it's very tempting to compare it to Planet of the Apes, and for obvious reasons. But I encourage you to ignore the similarities and read it as a separate piece of fiction. After all, not every story of a colonizer falling in love with a native is Pocahontas (OK, bad example) but the point remains.

What kept my interest was the realistic reactions the characters had in the various situations that came up. The "villain" was not one-dimensional, the hero was not overconfident, the situations were not contrived or easily avoided, and the dialogue felt authentic, not cheesy.

Another aspect I enjoyed was that while this was sci-fi, it didn't fall into the mystical tropes of stories. There were no superpowers or incredible feats of skill. It focused on what was achievable by real characters. And their motivations were driven by compassion, fear, anger, etc. not by simply being "good" or "bad"

And finally, even though this is part of a series, it ends with enough closure to feel satisfied when you finish it. I look forward to reading the next book and think you will too. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jack Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC of this via BookSirens - so thanks to them and the publisher and author for the opportunity to read it.

This is a very nicely written and pacey sci-fi novel, set on a world (Antaris) where humans are considered to essentially be on a level with animals. They do unpleasant or difficult tasks or work as domestic servants. Or pets. Essentially they're slaves but the 'people' they work for - Antarians - don't see it that way because they think humans are pretty stupid. There's some good world-building, which is done effectively, and the usual politics you get in sci-fi. (Sci-fi is almost always about politics, isn't it, even when it pretends not to be. This does not pretend not to be.)

There's just been an election, and the new government is promising that 'feral' humans - those without owners - will be 'removed' from society and the rest will have to have implants that will control their behaviour. Kali is a 'natural' - a human who's actually from Earth - which is extremely rare. Her language abilities make it very hard for the people she comes into contact with to carry on believing that humans are less intelligent. This causes all kinds of shenanigans as you might imagine.

I enjoyed this, I'd read the next one. Gay's writing has a really pleasing clarity and straightforward feel that is ideal for a book like this. The characters are convincing, and I'd like to learn more about Kali's history.

[Jo - Cup of Toast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Steve Gay’s brilliant debut historical novel, ‘The Birds That Do Not Sing’, I wasn’t sure what to expect from his first science fiction book. Steve moves flawlessly between the genres, however.

‘The Callista Alignment’ brings together life on an alien planet underpinned by familiar moral judgements, bureaucracy and social layers. Steve’s central protagonist, Emily, who is more commonly referred to as Kali throughout, is an intelligent human woman born on Earth. Finding herself in a pet shop on Antaris, Kali is purchased as a companion by Yan Feyrsten. The initial interaction between the pair is challenging, so Yan engages his friend Henik Varkesen to help. Kali brings a new level of understanding to Henik, a native on planet Antaris who studies wild humans and campaigns for human rights. Henik knows that Kali’s status as a ‘natural’ (meaning she was born on Earth) makes her unique. After their first meeting, he persuades his friend Yan Feyrsten, Kali’s owner, to let him study her, having recognised her independent cognitive ability.

So starts a story that observes feral and domestic humans and how they are perceived by the people of Antaris. Are they a nuisance when on the streets or a pet when kept in a home? Can they learn to co-exist or do the people need to enforce behaviour expectations and standards upon the humans? Could social evolution even take steps towards a symbiotic relationship between the two species or is that a hope too far?

There is a whole cast of characters in ‘The Callista Agreement’ which are beautifully created. They are consistent, relevant to moving the narrative forwards, all with their own unique voices. The humans who are waiting for their goddess Callista to show them the way to return to Earth, and the people who want to exert control across their homeland.

Twists and turns take readers through the pages of the novel. Whilst you hope for a peaceful resolution it is never guaranteed. All of this is set against political change and a city with its zones brought alive through careful descriptions.

I would recommend ‘The Callista Alignment’ to all science fiction fans, especially those who enjoy the writing of authors such as Pierre Boulle. It will also appeal to anyone who likes to be challenged on views of the world and societal structures.

[Gordon Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a serious Science Fiction story about social change, dealt with at all levels of society. The cast of characters includes members from the lowest feral human to the highest ruling alien, and we see fragments of the story from the points of view of all of them. This presents a problem in the early chapters, as we cannot tell which we are supposed to sympathize with. Given this difficulty, I question the wisdom of using the first few, important pages for a vignette from the POV of a character who then disappears and is never seen again.

After all these disparate characters have played their parts for a while and we get the cast list and the alliances straight we begin to enjoy the read.

Although “enjoy” may not be the best word. The book is about a basic problem of social change; it’s never quick enough for some people, while others don’t want change at all This novel uses the uncomfortable subject of human slavery (by an alien race), and sometimes we view the action from inside the head of some unpleasant people.

The world building is competent and creative, with a complex and believable social and political structure, and beautifully portrayed setting descriptions (placed only at appropriate moments) to put us in the picture.

Once we get straight who we’re supposed to be cheering for, the emotional content builds. The conflicts are heartfelt and believable, and our sympathies are strongly aroused. Kali, the main human character, is fully developed, often by contrast to the aliens who try to understand her. Henek and Santi, the two main aliens, are likewise fully rounded characters realistically conflicted at several levels. Unfortunately, Santi makes her appearance further into the book, and it’s a while before we realize how important she is. The next level of supporting personalities is also interesting and sympathetic. Except for the antagonists, who remind us of certain people in modern political life.

The format and objectives of the novel create fragmentation of the various plotlines and there are quite a few characters to keep track of. If you’re a good enough mental juggler to keep all these stories in the air, you’re going to love this book.

This review was originally published on Reedsy Discovery.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Callista Alignment is a well written political, sci-fi novel that makes one think about what is going on in the here and now as well as the past.
Callista/Kali was bought recently and brought home to be a pet for Yan Feyrsten. Imagine his surprise when he realizes how smart his 'pet' is. She is not submissive, wants to wear clothes, wants to sit at his table and eat like a real person, not on the floor like an animal. She is very intelligent, learns their language quickly and begins to learn about their culture as well. Kali isn't really an animal; she is a human from Earth who has been taken from her world to be a 'pet' in this society. This society, the Antarins, believe they are supreme to almost all other races. They want their pets to be completely submissive/slaves. In circumstances beyond Kali's control, she is kidnapped, blamed for an explosion she had nothing to do with, and held high by other feral humans who thinks she is a goddess that has come to save their race and return them to their home world.
I can see themes of prejudice, hope, perseverance, acceptance, violence, love, friendship, and reverence. I can see parallels between the plot of this novel and real modern life as well as our past life. Society doesn't want to think about their slaves as being real, live people with real feelings.
The characters are well written.and the story is fast paced. Kali is only with Yan for a few days before she is kidnapped.
The story is definitely thought provoking. I hate that there are so many in this alien world that are so determined to call these humans, animals. The humans demonstrated over and over again that they are sentient beings with thoughts and feelings and are capable of learning all about their alien world and their alien language. Callista/Kali gives the humans hope and gives the Antarins something to think about as far as giving the humans more rights. I like the way the book ended, even how Jocasta got what was coming to her. Looking forward to book 2, The Callista Ascendancy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion:

This story takes place in Antaris, a world where humans are considered feral, enslaved, and are looked upon as no better than wild animals. When Kali, a human woman from Earth is kidnapped and taken to Antaris, she is the first of what is considered a “natural human” in that part of the universe in a long time and sets off a chain of events that revolve around themes of both political and philosophical topics.

I will admit that I went into this a bit blind but as a lover of science fiction, I was excited to read it and it did not disappoint. I thought this was an excellently written story that takes a deeper look at some difficult subjects such as slavery and prejudices from a science fiction perspective.

At times, Kali reminded me of Leeloo from The Fifth Element and at other times, some plot points in this reminded me of Cloud Atlas, both of which I am huge fans of and, despite the reminders to those stories, Gay still managed to create a world and a story that is uniquely his own. I found this to be captivating, creative, and quite frankly, refreshing.

While I really enjoyed the creative world building in this story, I also enjoyed the character writing and the fact that the characters were not written as one-dimensional beings; I would say that there isn’t one character in this story that is simply black and white. Despite not being human themselves, a majority of the characters still had very relatable, very human traits and motivations, which I found added to the authenticity of the story and drove home some of the overarching points being made in the writing.

While this was my first book by Gay, it certainly won’t be my last. This story wraps up quite nicely at the end and I felt like I had pretty sufficient closure. However, I know that this is going to be a series so I am excited to see where Gay takes it next.

Find my full review here: https://likelystory.blog/2024/11/01/r...

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Themes of prejudice, overcoming adversity, hope, redemption and acceptance ensure the reader keeps turning the pages and quickly becomes invested in Steve Gay’s well-rounded, sympathetically written characters. Each character plays their role in enticing us into the world of natural human, Kali and her battle to survive on Antares after being abducted from Earth.

A well-paced narrative delivers surprises and keeps the reader guessing in this well-crafted book that delivers. Relationships and dialogue are believable and heart-warming when realisation dawns in Antarian minds that humans are not animals but sentient beings. Intelligently delivered political themes run throughout but don't dominate or dictate. Descriptions of Antarian landscapes and lifestyle do not disappoint.

The Callista Alignment is an easy read due to the clarity and accessibility of the prose. The resolution leaves the reader satisfied but also wanting to know more about the future of Kali and humankind.

You may never look at your pets in the same way after reading Steve Gay’s first instalment in the Natural Human Saga, but you will want to read books two and three!

[Daryl P Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, epic science fiction with rounded characters.

The title is where the cleverness starts as the Callista alignment refers to physical, social and psychological changes all bound into an almost unique event.

The main character is Kali (not her birth name, but it works well in the story) who comes from Earth. Steve Gay builds a world where humans are numerous, but treated as pets or slaves ruled by other, larger or more "developed" species. Kali is unique in that she has not been bred for docility or cowed into subservience, but she is faced with mortal perils and dilemmas as a result of culture clashes.

There are political intrigues and power dynamics in the mix as well as allies and adversaries. Quite a few plot twists and dramas which kept me involved and eager to read on. The other characters are fleshed out and have flaws and strengths which are used credibly in the tale. I felt the resolution was satisfying and see how it leaves openings for more stories from this world. I will be looking out for the next book as this is an excellent start to a series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Graham Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy in return for an honest review, arguably a hard ask since my house is littered with half read and discarded books! So I was surprised that this one hooked me so well that I read it in under a week. I'm not familiar with sci-fi literature - it’s not my usual read, however I found the multiple threads and character development, especially and unexpectedly of the aliens, such that it became compelling.

There are parallels with earth based political philosophies and the way they could, and do, interact, and attitudes to slavery are similarly diverse, although the worship of idols/gods seems to remain a purely human trait. One area which left me wanting to know more about was a deeper historical context, especially the “why now”, given the relative ease with which humans now seem able to rebel against a far superior species. Of course this may become clearer as the story develops, and I for one am looking forward to the next chapter.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read. This. One.

I sort of went into this book blind, without much knowledge of it nor had I ever read anything by this author before and wow was I impressed! This totally held my attention and had me invested in the story fairly early on. I went through my work days itching to get back into this book wondering what will happen.

I loved how much this book makes you feel, how much it makes you think, how much it makes you reflect back on our own current humanity. The pacing was great, the depth of character and world building well done (but I always would love more) and the dialogue was not wasted. Loved that ending line!

I can already sense that this story will linger - thinking of it long after today. I definitely want to snag a physical copy of this one for my bookshelves. I already cannot wait for the next installment.

Thank you to BookSirens, Steve Gay, & Rook Abbey Press for the free digital ARC copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Adria Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find the book intriguing, engaging, and well-written by Steve Gay. The action is built steadily with each chapter, and the tension rises as you progress. The story itself is captivating. However, you may interpret the book in two ways: one as a pure science fiction story about non-terrestrial futuristic societies and the human condition within these worlds, or you can view the story as a metaphor for our earthly struggles and the realities of our world.

Indeed, I am filled with anticipation for the next book in the series.I must admit, I felt a bit frustrated after finishing the last sentence because I was overtaken by the subject. Well done!

[Kate Jessup Humphries · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Callista Alignment is a great combination of a quick-moving story that is also very thought-provoking. The more I got into this book the more it made think about race, poverty, animal rights, and more. The characters are engaging and well-written, and I felt that I began to get to know them. I will be interested to read the next book in the series when it is available. This book sets up everything well but there is definitely more that I want to know.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A political science fiction story that keeps your attention.

Intricate worldbuilding and characterbuilding with lots of figurative language.

In the beginning I needed to get into the story because the story is told from different perspectives.

It takes a while to get to know the characters and their incentives.

I liked the different political and personal views of the characters and and their ability to adapt. Loved the last paragraph, some role switching!

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. The idea of humans being the lesser individual is not uncommon in science fiction but can be overlooked. Politics play a role in this story, and it makes you think about how the political climate is in today’s society. There is plenty of action throughout the story with decent world building. The characters are likable, and it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[joshua williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept as this story is quite thought provoking. I enjoyed the world building and the character development. My only critique is that the chapters were much longer than I personally would have liked. There's a lot of information to unpack and it felt arduous at points to keep reading. Overall though I really enjoyed the story and the uniqueness of the plot. Would definitely read more in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wayne Woodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read and incredible when I found out it is the author's first SF novel. The premise is a little unusual but it really works, at least for me. Basically he takes the Western world of slavery and turns it around where humans are slaves/pets/animals to a much more technologically advanced society of human-like people. Humans have been there for centuries as animals until a new human from Earth is discovered and brought there which then throws a wench into society.
I am really looking forward to book 2.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the character arc for Kali. The political rivalries felt authentic. The story itself was compelling and while there will probably be a follow-on book it didn't feel like a cliffhanger. The writing was tight, and the pacing was good. I will definitely read other works by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Trippentigger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s definitely an interesting read. There wasn’t a real hook to get me into the storyline. Just enough interesting moments to keep me reading. Maybe more time with the female MC, and flesh out the drama and characters for a bit more depth. This is a voluntary review of an arc.

[DMA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a unique, complex and compelling read. The world building is outstanding in its detail and depth and there are many unique characters whose personalities keep you glued to the story.

Highly recommended.

[Helen Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a sci-fi reader normally, but this soft sci-fi book ticked all the boxes with great characters and storytelling. Can't wait to read the next book in the saga.