Inheritance

by Lou Iovino

“Iovino does a marvelous job setting up his Rare Earth trilogy with this mesmerizing opener. A strong cast and a well-designed setting fuel this entertaining space opera.”
–Kirkus Reviews

“INHERITANCE is a gripping read, a moving portrayal of labor, and a promising start to the Rare Earth Trilogy.”
–IndieReader

Rare earth elements have been called ‘the seeds of technology.’ Their unique magnetic, phosphorescent, and catalytic properties make them irreplaceable in our 21st century world.

And we ran out of them.

Humanity, it seemed, was doomed to technological stagnation until a new industry emerged that provided hope.

Astromining is a high-stakes venture that propels crews into uncharted territories of space where asteroids hold the key to our technological salvation.

At the forefront of this extraterrestrial gold rush is Watts Astromining, an underdog team led by the enigmatic Thea Watts. With a mismatched crew of determined misfits and her father's antiquated ship, Watts Astromining must navigate not only the harsh vacuum of space but also the treacherous landscape of human ambition.

Genres: Science Fiction

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Lou Iovino is a speculative fiction author whose work blends high-concept science fiction with deeply human questions. His debut novel SKYBOUND was named a Kirkus Reviews Indie Book of the Year in 2021 and praised for its emotional resonance and cinematic scope. His follow-up, the sci-fi thriller DATA MINE, dives into the darker corners of digital surveillance, political power, and the choices that shape identity. He recently completed the Rare Earth Trilogy, a character-driven space opera centered on astromining, found families, and generational legacy.

In addition to novels, Lou has written extensively in visual media. He co-authored the original graphic novel THE LAST WEST and has contributed to several comic book titles for Zenescope Entertainment. His hour-long television pilot COASTLINERS won the 2016 Set in Philadelphia TV Prime Time Award, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal.

Outside of fiction, Lou has spent over two decades working in advertising and currently serves as an executive at one of the world’s largest global agencies. He teaches advertising at Villanova University and has also taught writing and literature at Rutgers and Temple Universities, bringing a deep understanding of narrative craft and audience connection to his work. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two grown sons.

Reviews

[Andy Venn]

I discovered this sitting in my 'to be read' pile on my Kindle and decided to give it a go. It's not a particularly deep storyline. It's a run of the mill sci-fi story that we've all read many times before. But that doesn't mean it's bad. Dad does and daughter takes over his asteroid mining ship, fights against the conglomerates and sabotage.
It is a well written book that I found very entertaining and easy to read. Good enough to make me look for more of this authors work.

[Frank Kelso]

Amazing world-building

The story weaves friendship, honor., and duty into an exciting story of a girl trying to save her father's old mining spaceship while building trust, friendship and love for her rag-tag ship and crew.

[Steve Mepham]

Book is OK, readable and I did finish it eventually but it didn't really hold my attention (hence the 3 month reading span) and I doubt I will read the sequels that it is obviously set up for.

[Marie]

Good read for a lazy day. I'm looking forward to continuing the journey in book 2.
The book was good enough that it really doesn't need the excess profanity.

[Bruce Bello]

wow

What a great beginning to a new series! Can’t wait for the next episode, excellent writing and story line. Brilliant

[Bruce]

English Literature majors should not write Science fiction without a good science editor. The story telling is good, as I would expect. The science is so bad I had to stop.

[Scott Shjefte]

Borrowed using Kindle unlimited. A young woman goes into space to sell her father's mining spaceship but finds a hidden desire to give the profession of asteroid mining a try. Competition is ruthless... Ends on a cliffhanger, so far no book 2 in series ...

Apparently book 2 and 3 now available. July 2026.