Venthralli: The Last Colony in the Universe

by Travis Stecher

Eons after the last stars have died, inhabitants of the universe’s lone civilization, Venthralli, scour the lightless expanse in search of frozen remnants from those ancient supernovae in order to heat their colony ship.

Tasked with physically retrieving these icy chunks fuel, a young citizen named Salem sets out on a historic journey through unexplored space, guided by his childhood friend, and ship’s new navigator, Ank. Salem traverses the ruins of their dead universe, gaining glimpses into the strange phenomena of the cosmos, all while evading its many dangers, including a mysterious, space-faring species of omnivorous predators.

Set in a bleak, distant future, Venthralli is a suspenseful tale of hope amidst desolation, blending cosmic horror, adventure, and dystopian science fiction. Fans of Dilation will love Venthralli’s scientific backdrop, thrilling action, and grand-scale storytelling.

Content Warning: contains strong language and depictions of gore.

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2025

About the author

Travis Stecher is an author, musician, and screenwriter in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in mathematics, later leaving related careers to pursue creative efforts. His first book, Dilation, was received well by critics, and was awarded as one of Independent Book Review's Best Books of 2022. He's also an operatic singer of six octaves, a multi-disciplined martial artist, and an award-winning collegiate mascot.