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Onyx
VIVID, IMMERSIVE, GROUNDBREAKING. A WEB OF INTERPLANETARY POLITICAL INTRIGUE BOUND UP IN A CAPTIVATING, TERRIFYING DREAMSCAPE. INCEPTION, BUT MAKE IT SPACE FANTASY.
In the far away city of New Monaco on a giant gas planet colony, Lanya finds a strange black stone that almost kills her on contact. First responders put her in stasis, and the retired thanatologist, Ashvin Shergill, is ordered to try to salvage her subconscious.
Deep in the dream world of her fading consciousness, a sentient spider-shaped onyx stone appears over and over again.
Demon, alien, or something else?
Time is running out as Ashvin struggles to save Lanya without losing both her life and his own.
In the far away city of New Monaco on a giant gas planet colony, Lanya finds a strange black stone that almost kills her on contact. First responders put her in stasis, and the retired thanatologist, Ashvin Shergill, is ordered to try to salvage her subconscious.
Deep in the dream world of her fading consciousness, a sentient spider-shaped onyx stone appears over and over again.
Demon, alien, or something else?
Time is running out as Ashvin struggles to save Lanya without losing both her life and his own.
318 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2025
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2025
Onyx is an immersive and atmospheric science-fiction novel that lingers more as an experience than a straightforward thriller. Set against the haunting backdrop of New Monaco on a gas-giant colony, Stephen M. Wither crafts a world that feels dense, unfamiliar, and quietly oppressive in the best possible way.
At its heart, the story follows Dr. Ashvin Shergill, a retired thanatologist burdened by failure, addiction, and a deep sense of lost purpose. When he is tasked with entering the fading subconscious of Lanya Nemirova, he’s offered what feels like a final chance to matter—to step into something dangerous, meaningful, and deeply unsettling. That emotional weight grounds the narrative, giving the surreal dreamscapes and strange onyx symbolism real human stakes.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its ideas and worldbuilding. The comascape is vivid and unsettling, with the recurring spider-shaped onyx stone creating an eerie throughline that raises questions about memory, identity, and whether the threat Ashvin encounters is psychological, alien, or something else entirely. The political and technological backdrop adds further texture without overpowering the core story.
Rather than rushing toward answers, Onyx allows space for reflection. Ashvin’s internal struggle—his desire for more while feeling trapped by his past—mirrors the slow, deliberate unravelling of the mystery itself. The result is a story that feels introspective and sinister, rewarding readers who enjoy atmosphere, character, and concept-driven science fiction.
For those drawn to immersive settings, morally worn protagonists, and speculative ideas that linger well after the final page, Onyx is a compelling and memorable journey into both an alien future and a fractured human mind.
At its heart, the story follows Dr. Ashvin Shergill, a retired thanatologist burdened by failure, addiction, and a deep sense of lost purpose. When he is tasked with entering the fading subconscious of Lanya Nemirova, he’s offered what feels like a final chance to matter—to step into something dangerous, meaningful, and deeply unsettling. That emotional weight grounds the narrative, giving the surreal dreamscapes and strange onyx symbolism real human stakes.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its ideas and worldbuilding. The comascape is vivid and unsettling, with the recurring spider-shaped onyx stone creating an eerie throughline that raises questions about memory, identity, and whether the threat Ashvin encounters is psychological, alien, or something else entirely. The political and technological backdrop adds further texture without overpowering the core story.
Rather than rushing toward answers, Onyx allows space for reflection. Ashvin’s internal struggle—his desire for more while feeling trapped by his past—mirrors the slow, deliberate unravelling of the mystery itself. The result is a story that feels introspective and sinister, rewarding readers who enjoy atmosphere, character, and concept-driven science fiction.
For those drawn to immersive settings, morally worn protagonists, and speculative ideas that linger well after the final page, Onyx is a compelling and memorable journey into both an alien future and a fractured human mind.
December 5, 2025
Onyx, a dystopian science fiction novel by Stephen M. Wither, follows the life of Dr.Ashvin Shergill, a washed-up ‘Salvager’ who is given an opportunity for redemption by accepting a contract to recover the subconscious knowledge of Lanya Nemirova, who died while collecting strange pieces of an onyx figurine.
The chapters are set chronologically in both the real world and the subconscious world, whether Lanya’s or his own. Some books are character-focused and some are plot-focused, but this novel is setting-focused, letting the reader experience Shergill’s strange, but believable, worlds in his fated quest to ‘save the girl’ through the author’s concise, yet poetic descriptions.
One peculiarity is the appearance and disappearance of a minor character Alek within and between scenes. The protagonist has little agency, except when he resists his extraction from Lanya’s subconscious to save his own life. The book was a pleasure to read for its inventive worlds and picturesque scenes.
The chapters are set chronologically in both the real world and the subconscious world, whether Lanya’s or his own. Some books are character-focused and some are plot-focused, but this novel is setting-focused, letting the reader experience Shergill’s strange, but believable, worlds in his fated quest to ‘save the girl’ through the author’s concise, yet poetic descriptions.
One peculiarity is the appearance and disappearance of a minor character Alek within and between scenes. The protagonist has little agency, except when he resists his extraction from Lanya’s subconscious to save his own life. The book was a pleasure to read for its inventive worlds and picturesque scenes.
November 23, 2025
Beautiful Sci-Fi.
This book was such a lovely read. It uses unexpectedly elegant and descriptive language to describe impossible strata in worlds, both internal and external... to great effect.
I loved the character's journey and the aura of uncertainty that shrouds events as they unfold. The book includes sci-fi staples, if course (with amazing technology throughout), but also goes beyond that, introducing historical/legendary and even spiritual story elements. This depth grounds the story and makes it all the more real.
This book was such a lovely read. It uses unexpectedly elegant and descriptive language to describe impossible strata in worlds, both internal and external... to great effect.
I loved the character's journey and the aura of uncertainty that shrouds events as they unfold. The book includes sci-fi staples, if course (with amazing technology throughout), but also goes beyond that, introducing historical/legendary and even spiritual story elements. This depth grounds the story and makes it all the more real.
December 7, 2025
The premise of the book was quite interesting. It has multiple threads to follow and wanting to see how they all finally connected kept me invested. I really enjoyed the world building of both the futuristic real world and the dreamscape they travel through.
Unfortunately I found the writing style to be very awkward and it would pull me right out of the story.
Overall, I give it a 3.5/5 stars
Unfortunately I found the writing style to be very awkward and it would pull me right out of the story.
Overall, I give it a 3.5/5 stars
December 17, 2025
A futuristic mystery that tries to do a number of creative things; if Inception has a book, then Onyx would go on the shelf next to it.
It was quite slow, and felt like there could be a good story, but it was buried under all the words. The main character felt emotionally distant, even though it’s written from his perspective, and Onyx ultimately had an unsatisfying ending without resolution for a number of questions.
It was quite slow, and felt like there could be a good story, but it was buried under all the words. The main character felt emotionally distant, even though it’s written from his perspective, and Onyx ultimately had an unsatisfying ending without resolution for a number of questions.
November 14, 2025
Thank you to Elle Wither for the advanced copy! The thing I love the most about sci-fi is seeing the author's imagination on the page, and "Onyx" certainly did not disappoint in that respect, but Stephen Wither's command of language held me enraptured.
Fans of Blade Runner, Inception, and Logan's Run will love this sci-fi detective novel published by the daughter of the late author.
Fans of Blade Runner, Inception, and Logan's Run will love this sci-fi detective novel published by the daughter of the late author.
November 12, 2025
Very great Sci-Fi book, one of my favorite and a must read that I will re-read many times. The characters felt real and easy to connect to. Amazing writing talent, I think it has the potential to be a classic.
December 4, 2025
Loved this book a lot!! It was beautifully written!! I can’t wait for a hopefully second book to this amazing book!!!! Thank you Elle for the chance to read this book!! You are an amazing author and story teller as well as Stephen Wither!!!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews