Reach For The Galaxy: A Space Opera of Alien Invasion and Human Resistance

by BA Gillies

Reach for the GalaxyBook 2 of the Multi-Award-Winning Return to the Galaxy series

An Ancient Federation Dies
Recently, Commodore Velal Farn patrolled the frontier commanding a single frigate. Now, she leads a ragtag fleet of overcrowded refugee ships. As her people flee her dying world, Velal must hold the line against relentless alien monsters and rally her fractured Space Marines to defend her new colony or watch millions perish.

Earth Burns
GCHQ analyst Darya Clarke was bored until a flash of intelligence plunged her into a nightmare. Inserted behind enemy lines and fighting beside the SAS in the UK, she races to stop terrorists before nuclear fire consumes Britain. One mistake could doom humanity before the aliens even arrive.

Interstellar War Is Coming
Former SAS captain Ewan Scott has a plan. Reborn by alien tech, he’s building a secret megacorp to arm Earth for the stars. As assassins close in, his next discovery will shake the foundations of human history. The Federation is dying. Earth is next.

Thousands of readers gave Return to the Galaxy a 4.5-star rating, calling it “better than Scalzi” and “the best book since Heinlein died.” Grab Reach for the Galaxy today and discover why this award-winning series is taking the sci-fi world by storm.

Genres: Science Fiction

653 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2025

About the author

About the Author


Harry Potter Had It So Easy!

BA Gillies didn’t start life in a huge cupboard under the stairs like Harry Potter.

He had it tougher, he began life in a kitchen drawer. Literally.

With the only cot his family could afford claimed by his older sister, newborn Brian spent his first few weeks tucked inside a repurposed cutlery drawer. Occasionally, someone remembered to open it and feed him, though he prefers not to talk about the mess.

Growing up with four siblings taught him to fight for space. Perhaps that’s why he now writes about bigger battlefields. His stories are fast-paced, strategy-driven Military Sci-Fi and Space Opera, where elite soldiers, cunning commanders, and alien warlords clash across the galaxy.

Since escaping the cutlery drawer, BA Gillies has lived in four countries and travelled to over 80. A highlight was hitchhiking solo for months across America in his kilt aged 22. This earned him strange looks, good friends and great stories.

A lifelong student of history, he’s fascinated by how empires rise and fall. Whether it’s ancient Rome, Napoleon, or a star-spanning federation, one thing holds true. Good strategy wins.

Fans of David Weber’s tactical genius, Rick Partlow’s explosive action, or John Scalzi’s sharp wit will feel right at home in his universe.

He looks forward to seeing you there.

His books and stories have won multiple sci-fi awards.

The London Book Festival 2025 Winner
The Los Angeles Book Awards 2025 First Runner Up
The New England Book Festival 2024 Winner
Literary Titan Gold Award
Pinnacle Books Gold Award
Literary Global Gold Award
Literary Titan Silver Award
Firebird Book Award

Reviews

[Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillies has done it again! Reach for the Galaxy is the sequel to Return to the Galaxy, and is even better. Through memory recordings of people who lived through it, we learn more galactic history. In Return, Velal was a space cruiser captain at the beginning of the mutiny of the alien Ranid, a reptilian species which had been part of the Foundation 250 years. The Ranids’ plan is the genocide of all humans. Now Velal is a fleet admiral, responsible for millions of refugees.

In Return, Ewan Scott partnered with an avatar, Jera, to prepare Earth to defend against the Ranid, who are on their way. In Reach to the Galaxy, more people join Ewan in this effort, and some are excited to explore the neighborhood (our solar system). Ewan’s plan to prepare Earth technologically faces challenges.

Like Return, this ebook appears to be professionally edited; I noticed only one typo. Some people might be offended by some characters’ personal relationships and their sexual behavior. However, while sex is part of the story, it is never explicit but behind closed doors.

Also, Reach for the Galaxy ends with a cliffhanger. Frankly, I despise them, but even Heinlein wrote an occasional cliffhanger, and I have to admit, this ending is incredibly effective. I am SO eager to read the next book! The problem is waiting for it; I’m not known for my patience. 😊 (Yes, I still believe Gillies will reach Heinlein’s stature someday.)

Even if I removed a star because of the cliffhanger, Reach is so good, by rights it would have plenty to spare. You know, ten so extra stars. Unfortunately, I can’t give it that many stars (Amazon can be so unreasonable!) 🙂 so I give Reach to the Galaxy by BA Gillies ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Booklover
July 30 2025

[Langui Sébastien · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I devoured the first two books in the series "Return to the Galaxy". Exactly the kind of theme I like : ex soldier finds some advanced tech and builds a mega corporation from scratch to go back in space and fight bad guys.. (just missing the "killing the earth terrorist / bad guys, but I understand it is coming in the 3rd volume).

Only for that : excellent.

Then, why am I writing a review? Because the way the author managed 3 timelines into one book is excellent. At first, I was "ohh, again an author who will end up splashing", but to my surprise, BA Gillies made it elegantly. There is action, "romance", and character development in all timelines.
Plus it adds a lot and builds the suspense.. Is Vellal still alive? Is the Jora a good AI, or will it turn bad (like a subroutine activated in a specific context.. and I am waiting for the other shoe to fall).
IMO, the title in each scene helps a lot to switch the brain from one timeline to the other.

So for that: doubly excellent!

If you like megacorp building, space adventure, battle scenes (earth based and space based), bling-bling, nanites...: that's the book for you.
It reminded me partially of The Troy series from John Ringo as well of Expeditionnary Force from Craig Allanson

[Sean P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book one in this series in a day, I have just done the same with book 2. The world building is exceptional and the action starts on the first page and doesn’t relent until the last.

Gillies’ narrative is thought provoking and expertly combines thrilling action and intelligent reflections on what it is to be human. The characters are incredibly relatable and the combination of wit and gravitas adds real depth and resonance .
I can’t wait for book three. I would recommend this book to any fan of military sci-fi or space opera.

[Robin Schild · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Hard to follow at times. The memory playback from Admiral Vela helps and hurts the story line. The author is trying to be all things to all prospective readers by including LGBTQ+ aspects in the story which aren't mentioned in the synopsis and nearly made me lose interest. I have read a number of different books by a number of different authors recently and the editors seem to be steering the content toward the LGBTQ+ agenda.

[Stephen Elwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It keeps getting better and better

I finished the second book. Loved the story. At the pace of the story I think it will take at least ten books to completely finish the story. So much background story in this universe. Not that I’m complaining. I read so much science fiction that by the time the next book is available I have a hard time catching up to the current story. Sometimes I need to reread the last book to catch up. That what happens when you read 200 books a year.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had problems with the way the author constructed a story with the first book, this one is even worse, it’s so disjointed. He is trying to tell several different stories at the same time, I know there is going to be connection between the stories at some point, but they just keep interrupting each other and to be honest I lost interest in most of them. Especially as Ewan’s major contribution to the story was how many times he could have sex.
If possible I would have given 1.5 stars

[Vladimir Tsurkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Threesome - the most discussed theme of this book

The book is obviously written for a rather young audience, but every few pages returns to mention threesome (2 girls + android or 2 girls + 1 man) . It doesn't bother me by itself, but I have a hard time figuring out why is that relevant to other events or how the younger audience will benefit from it? Otherwise, the book was OK, but nothing earth shattering.

[David E. Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Spoilers

Earth faces extinction, far away and not yet identified. There is hope, but humanity isn't in space. Yet. The author guides us through the unique adventure. Honestly, I don't know how you can unite Earths nations and cultures. But it must happen to survive. I HIGHLY recommemd.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creatively Writen!
This is the second book in the series. It is a great follow-up as to what took place historically from the first book and on into the current situation with Ewan and the rest of his crew. It also has a timeline that coincides with the saret people who helped start the phenomenal technological work that Ewan and Jera are all working with.

[howard lester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sure the first book the second book seemed to drag on a bit too much time spent on character development. I’m not enough time on the actual story. I still don’t think having so many chapters in a book is worthwhile too many interruptions. Overall a decent rate I’m waiting for the next book in the series

[William B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read👍🏻

Always looking for a good space story and this fit the bill. Really looking forward to the third volume. Unique way of spacing all chapters with new chapters with different space stories all along a different continuum. Highly recommend.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battles and preps

At different galactic times Captain Camel continues exploring for a new home for Saret culture and population. Ewan Scot and avatar Jera continue to build companies to prepare earth to return to the Galaxy. And an analyst gets the shaft for being right.

[Phil X. Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really good work!

There are many things here that remind me of D. J. Holmes' Empire Rising series, but the premise and technologies are all different.

I love the writing style, the characters, and an outstanding story line.

Can't wait to read the next one!

[Ryan Kehoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

slightly better than Book 1

So this was a bit better than book one. Writing was slightly better but way to much sex involved when the story should be focused on the tech and forward progress.

[Kent A Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series so far! I never write reviews but these books ruined several days because I didn’t get anything else done but read!

[Bonnie Rudolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

so engaging marvelous!

I was a bit skeptical at first but by 50 pages in I was engrossed and stayed up late reading two nights.

[Linda Joy Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reach For The Galaxy

It has been a very long time since I have liked a series
of books as much as these 2 books books

[Matthew Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written fun to read book. anyone who is a fan of sci-fi should check this out. very worth the read! I look forward to the next installment.

[David Rumptz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean it is an OK book but it seems to relay to heavily on cliché and troupes.

[Bob Willis]

A very good SiFi read.

[Emoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. Interesting story line, interesting and nicely developed characters, and good blending of sub-plots and timelines. These books have heart, and that is a high compliment. As a science fiction reader since childhood, this series is the kind of stuff I love. It has everything, as trite as that sounds. I am looking forward to the release of the next book., Recommended.