Motherland: 3696 A.D.

by Jonathan Korbecki

MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.): The last of the human race is evacuated to a manmade steel world following the Vahlcolm War in 2092 A.D. Sixteen hundred years later, the Ark Project (now formally referred to as Motherland) is beginning to fail. With no materials to mend what breaks, and without enough food to feed what’s left of the dwindling population, the space station is on the brink of collapse. With only days left, a handful of citizens mount a daring escape in an attempt to return home to Earth.

501 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2024

Reviews

[Ken K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a remarkable leap forward from the other books that I have read by Jonathan Korbecki. His other books were well-written, but their subject matter did not catch my particular interest as much as this one did. I am a retired mainframe programmer and amateur scientist. I grew up reading science fiction by Asimov and Bradbury, as well as many other lesser writers, so I know what I enjoy reading.
This new series, Dead Monarch Chronicles, could be excellent. Motherland: 3696 A.D. is the first book released in the series. It has plenty of action and good character development. I didn't like all the characters, but they were all largely believable. I have some unanswered questions about Caleb in particular, thinking about the story even after completing the book. Parts of the story are dark, but are in character for the scenario. [Spoiler alert for : What was the received message? C8C5D3D3D6?]
When I started reading Motherland: 3696 A.D., I thought it was the first chronologically in the Dead Monarch Chronicles, so I was a little confused about the backstory of the society. When I got to the end, I saw that this book is number 6 of 8 books in the series. Hopefully, there will be a more complete picture when I read the other books. (For the record, I didn’t like “The Empire Strikes Back” when I first watched it, but appreciated it more after “Return of the Jedi” was released four years later.)
I am definitely looking forward to learning more about these characters and about this author’s vision of the future. If this book is any indication, it should be a good series.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as a opening chapter in the Dead Monarch Chronicles series, it had that element that I was looking for from the description. I was hooked from the first page and thought the overall feel worked in this universe. I enjoyed this as a scifi novel and how everything worked together to tell the story. Jonathan Korbecki has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this and look forward to more.

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

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.) delivers a chilling but utterly believable vision of a future where humanity has abandoned Earth and begins to realize it was a terrible mistake. The decaying space station is rendered in such gritty, believable detail, it feels like you're trapped in it with the characters. What really impressed me was how personal it all felt the desperation, the fear, and that tiny thread of hope that keeps everyone pushing forward. If you like sci-fi with emotional depth and moral complexity, this is absolutely for you. Highly recommended.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

MOTHERLAND is a masterclass in post-apocalyptic sci-fi. The most powerful part is the escape mission humanity's last gasp, trying to get back to a ruined Earth after centuries in cold metal exile. It’s haunting, emotional, and feels deeply personal despite the scale. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intelligent, emotionally grounded science fiction.
To the creator: I’d love to see a trailer for this, it sounds made for the screen. Can’t wait to watch it!

[Amelia Belmont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a high-budget sci-fi thriller! MOTHERLAND throws you into a collapsing space station where every second matters. The desperation is real, the tech is believable, and the characters are flawed but brave. The return-to-Earth storyline was my favorite part—tense and full of surprises. Sci-fi fans, don’t sleep on this.
Please drop that trailer, I’m seriously hyped to see this come to life!

[Lyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Dead Monarch Chronicles, MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.) stands out for its emotional gravity. Humanity’s last survivors facing starvation, mechanical failure, and the unknown, it’s deeply human. The choice to risk everything for Earth is as powerful as it is terrifying.
I highly recommend this to readers who want depth in their sci-fi. And I’m waiting (not so patiently) for the trailer. Bring it on!

[Delphine Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hauntingly realistic look at the end of human endurance in space. MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.) blends sharp worldbuilding with raw, emotional storytelling. What starts as a desperate escape becomes a spiritual journey back to Earth, a place most of these characters only know through stories. The writing is confident and immersive, and the moral dilemmas are handled with maturity and nuance. Definitely one of the stronger post-apocalyptic books I’ve read in recent years.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like the final chapter of humanity’s story, but also the beginning of something new. MOTHERLAND is set in a future that’s cold and mechanical, yet filled with human warmth in unexpected places. The survivors aren’t trying to save the galaxy, they’re just trying to find home again. And that simple goal makes for one of the most powerful sci-fi stories I’ve read in a long time. I recommend it to anyone who thinks science fiction should make you feel as much as it makes yo

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.) is more than just a sci-fi adventure it’s a meditation on hope, extinction, and our relationship to the place we call home. The pacing is slow in the best way: you feel the urgency build, chapter by chapter, until the moment the plan to return to Earth finally kicks off. And when it does? It’s worth the wait. Anyone who enjoys science fiction with emotional stakes and worldbuilding that makes you feel the weight of history will find something special here.

[Emliy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. I expected a typical space-based survival story, but MOTHERLAND went deeper. It explores legacy, human failure, and our longing for home in a beautifully bleak way. The characters aren’t superheroes they’re tired, hungry, flawed people who make hard choices in impossible circumstances. The writing is immersive and full of quiet intensity. Readers who enjoy thoughtful dystopian fiction like The Road or Children of Time will find a lot to love here.

[McFadden Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gripping Exploration of Hope and Desperation
MOTHERLAND is a rare gem in the sci-fi genre. The desperation of its characters, facing the collapse of their home in space, is felt deeply. The writing is rich and evocative, and by the end, I felt like I was living alongside these survivors. An unforgettable read.

[Williams Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Haunting Tale of Survival
The slow, inevitable decline of the space station in MOTHERLAND creates a tense atmosphere that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The characters' emotional struggles feel real, though the plot sometimes lags. Still, a poignant reflection on humanity’s need for connection.

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOTHERLAND is a quiet powerhouse in the Dead Monarch Chronicles. It explores the fragility of hope in a dying environment and the lengths people go to reclaim a sense of home. The emotional weight of returning to a long-lost Earth stays with you long after you finish. Perfect for readers who crave character-driven sci-fi.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.) is a fresh, fearless addition to the Dead Monarch Chronicles. Its premise—a return to Earth after over a millennium in orbit, is handled with stunning originality and tension. It's a story about endings and beginnings, about what humanity chooses to save when everything is falling apart. A bold, unforgettable sci-fi experience.

[Cilo Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and Poignant
MOTHERLAND moved me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not just about a failing space station it’s about memory, loss, and the longing for home. The emotional depth, especially in the quiet, human moments, was stunning. A deeply affecting and beautifully written story.

[James Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric and Thought-Provoking
The slow decay of the Motherland space station mirrors the emotional toll on its people. This isn’t a typical sci-fi thriller it’s more reflective, even poetic at times. Some characters could’ve been explored more, but the themes of survival and identity hit hard.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely does a story capture desperation so convincingly. MOTHERLAND (3696 A.D.) traps you inside the walls of a dying space station, where time is running out and options are vanishing. The escape mission is less a plan and more a last breath and it’s incredible to watch unfold.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of what makes MOTHERLAND shine is its connection to the larger Dead Monarch Chronicles universe. You can feel the centuries of history behind every broken panel and every decision. The tension isn’t just physical, it’s generational.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy dark, no-holds-barred sci-fi where the stakes are the survival of the human spirit itself, MOTHERLAND is your book. It's unforgiving, raw, and brilliant. The future here isn’t clean—it’s rusted, tired, and absolutely compelling.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life on the steel world is claustrophobic in the best literary sense. You can feel the tight corridors, the failing lights, the hunger creeping in. It’s sci-fi horror without the monsters just time, decay, and regret. And that makes it terrifyingly real.