The Sixth Nik

by Daniel Kraus

Perfectly aligned for readers of Ian M. Banks The Culture series and Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”, The Sixth Nik is a galaxy spanning adventure from the New York Times-bestselling author of Whalefall and Angel Down. Deep into space, far past the triworld outposts, beyond range of the lethal trollbot internet, soars The a ship woven from biomatter and capable of reacting to every need of its human crew. Sisilla, a 9-year-old cultist with a brain enhanced by arcane tech known as “niks,” has boarded to investigate the enigma of Fém—a plague-riddled planet that has abruptly gone rogue. The mysterious crew includes a faceless assassin, a beautiful engineer jigsawed by plastic surgery, a peyote-addicted medic, and—most lethal of all—a rugged, NonModded captain with a score to settle with Sisilla. Other dangers abound. A hacked robot begins to believe Sisilla is its daughter. The Sickness itself is mutating, possibly even pregnant. And the secret of Fém is more horrific than anyone could have imagined. To survive, Sisilla will need to forsake her predetermined fate and embrace the unknown.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy

504 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

“Kraus brings the rigor of a scientist and the sensibility of a poet.” – The New York Times

DANIEL KRAUS is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. WHALEFALL received a front-cover rave in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more.

With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored THE SHAPE OF WATER, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored TROLLHUNTERS, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote THE LIVING DEAD and PAY THE PIPER with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero.

Kraus’s THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both ROTTERS and SCOWLER), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.

Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. Visit him at danielkraus.com.

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.

I am going to start by saying I don't read much sci-fi. But I am an avid Kraus fan and knew I couldn't miss his next novel.

This is a bizarre story set in a futuristic world filled with characters best described as unique and haunted, many having undergone mutations and enhancements. Kraus is an excellent world-builder, and this story is no different. I could visualize the ship and the horrors to the tiniest detail, accomplished with my own imagination, prompted by Kraus's prose. And please believe when I say "horror" I mean it. Some of the most visceral and gruesome scenes that I've ever read from DK, or from many authors, for that matter. Stomach-churning at times.

I will say there were times I got lost, more my own fault than the author, but the last quarter of the book was a whirlwind of action. I was captivated. A truly original story that I believe fans of sci-fi and body horror will dig.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two things about a Daniel Kraus novel. You never know the genre of his next story, and it's going to be one hell of a book. This is evident in his latest tale, The Sixth Nik , a fantastic blend of science-fiction and body horror. Kraus's first foray into the world of sci-fi is one that will stick with you long after you close the book.

Deep into space, far past the triworld outposts, beyond range of the lethal trollbot internet, soars The Sickness: a ship woven from biomatter and capable of reacting to every need of its human crew. Sisilla, a nine-year-old cultist with a brain enhanced by arcane tech known as “niks,” has boarded to investigate the enigma of Fém—a plague-riddled planet that has abruptly gone rogue.

The mysterious crew includes a faceless assassin, a beautiful engineer jigsawed by plastic surgery, a peyote-addicted medic, and—most lethal of all—a rugged, NonModded captain with a score to settle with Sisilla. Other dangers abound. A hacked robot begins to believe Sisilla is its daughter. The Sickness itself is mutating, possibly even pregnant. And the secret of Fém is more horrific than anyone could have imagined. To survive, Sisilla will need to forsake her predetermined fate and embrace the unknown.

Typically my science-fiction quota is met by reading stories based "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...", so taking time to read a sci-fi story not involving Star Wars was something I don't typically do. However, when it comes to books written by Kraus, they are must-read from the start. My favorite of Kraus's stories tend to steer towards the horror genre, that is likely why this unique science-fiction tale hit home for me.

The Sixth Nik is through and through a sci-fi novel, a story built around many different locations, futuristic technology, and unique characters. This is evident from the very beginning and plays well throughout the story. However, it's a great blend of sci-fi and horror, which is exactly the sweet spot I was hoping for. So anyone deciding to grab this book thinking its a straight forward space romp, there is some pretty brutal moments that might surprise you.

Beyond the gruesome horror moments, The Sixth Nik is a story full of action, adventure, and an extremely compelling and meaningful main character in Sisilla. The blend of sci-fi, horror, action, adventure, and a fantastic main characters gives the novel a truly rounded feel and propels you through the pages with ease. Without giving too much away, The Sixth Nik has some amazing storylines that makes each and every page turn worthwhile, landing with an ending that feels fitting but also may leave just enough questions to keep you thinking.

The Sixth Nik is a gripping science-fiction debut for bestseller Daniel Kraus. With a beautiful blend of sci-fi and body horror, this story is just the hybrid of a book that you'd hope for when entering the mind of Kraus.

The Sixth Nik hits bookstores everywhere on June 23, 2026 from Saga Press. The audiobook is available for preorder at Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of The Sixth Nik from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

[Rex Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thank you to #NetGalley and Simon & Schuster/Saga Press for the ARC.

This guy. This wild, yet calculating guy. One day Daniel Kraus wakes up and decides to give science fiction a go. People are impressed! In this science fiction, there is an entire future imagined, ambitious in size and scope, with intricate details in cultures, industry, tech, planets… THE SIXTH NIK is a satisfying cornucopia of science fiction’s tastiest elements, with plenty of ingenuity and impressive ideas to last the reader from the first page to the last.

But this is not just science fiction, is it?

Imagine going up a roller coaster and the higher you go up you see the horror below you, that you’re about to plunge into. But you keep going up and up and up and eventually you’re going into that horror, but it’s looking scarier and scarier because, good grief when are you going to drop? Finally when you reach the tippy top of that coaster, we’ll call it The Snarl, you’ll be thrown into some of the wackiest, gonzo, deranged space horror ever read in some time. Jeezus, THE SIXTH NIK is devastatingly shocking and brutal.

In the near future, children are chosen for being embedded with neural implants to help better humanity. The catch? A) The are trained and talk like Vulcans on Star Trek and B) When their ‘Chore’ is complete, they die horribly. The neural implants, or ‘Niks,’ are collected and then brought back to Greenland to continue the tradition But Sisilla, the fifty-fifth and current Niffakoq Nik holder, plucks one out before the start of her journey, giving her emotions. Our Spock-like Morituri then begins a wild and dark adventure in space to fulfill her destiny.

THE SIXTH NIK is vast in scope and vision. My little synopsis only touches the plot of a major storyline spread across two acts. And as incredible and moving the novel is front to back, I have to forewarn that the ending to the first act is so gonzo and over-the-top horrific and shocking, that it may leave you affected and thinking about it throughout the second. If you ever had the thought that the author of WHALEFALL let his foot up on the gas on his horror, THE SIXTH NIK will show you the pedal is right to the metal as this is probably the most horrific stuff Daniel Kraus has ever written. You just might need a smoke, a glass of wine, a walk on a beach or just anything for your soul after reading it.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 6 stars!

The Sixth Nik fuses bio-organic horror, high-concept sci-fi, and psychological complexity into a narrative that’s as unsettling as it is intellectually engaging. Be prepared because it’s a dense, demanding read. Kraus’s meticulous, often grotesque descriptions can be long-winded, and casual sci-fi readers may struggle to picture some of the extreme bio-organic concepts. Yet for me, the real standout is the world-building. Kraus constructs a universe that feels uniquely alive. Planets, spaceships, and technology are not just mechanical, but biologically integrated in ways that are both fascinating and terrifying.

The cast of characters is diverse, including altered humans, robots, and even a sentient ship that is itself a living organism. Kraus imbues many of them with considerable depth, though some secondary figures like the faceless assassin or the medic, feel less fully realized compared to the richly drawn protagonist, Sisilla. There’s a great deal unfolding both internally and externally among the cast. Physical transformations, whether bioengineered or mutated, mirror inner struggles, exploring themes of identity, control, and adaptation. Relationships are fragile and constantly tested, making character growth relational rather than solitary. Each character evolves primarily through crises (moral, physical, or existential) whether moral, physical, or existential.

Overall, a thrilling, unsettling, and deeply imaginative sci-fi adventure. Blending genres of sci-fi, horror, and psychological thriller that keeps readers engaged and sets the novel apart from typical space operas. It thrives on original world-building, from the sentient, mutating ship (The Sickness) to the plague-wracked rogue planet Fém, and a galaxy where technology and biology merge in disturbing, fascinating ways.

The reread was just as good BTW.

[Jennifer Farris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sixth Nik, by author Daniel Kraus, is an operatic blend of sci-fi, bio-horror, and splatterpunk, with a dash of eco-horror mixed in for sheer madness. As with any novel by Kraus, the book's overarching themes are deep and multifaceted.

The book tells the story of Sisilla, a young girl with a surgically enhanced brain, who was raised to sacrifice herself to some unknown great chore. Her journey involves a bioengineered spaceship, an unlikely crew, and unexpected turns into dark and gruesome places.

Kraus's descriptions of the ship are gloriously disturbing. His prose is rich, textured, and full of enough gruesome detail to make the story feel alive around you. In comparison, some of the story work around the crew feels a bit spare. If you'll excuse the weird pun, I would have appreciated the stories behind the crew members being a bit more fleshed out. The story's political themes are deeply tied to some of the crew members, and having a bit more of their backstories would have been great. That being said, it doesn't detract from the story as a whole and allows it to exist more fully around Sisilla.

As we follow along in this intense journey, we find ourselves deeply mired in the political. More than anything, this is a book about forced birth, trans rights, and government overreach. It's gritty and uncomfortable. But it's equally beautiful and bold.

This book isn't for the faint-hearted. It's demanding and dark. There's nothing fluffy or easy about this book; it requires deep, comprehensive reading. But, for those who stick with it, this is a compelling and intricate story of resistance, strength, and acceptance. It's sticky and memorable. This is Kraus at his fullest, and I enjoyed every minute of this read.

[Emma Bussolotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sixth Nik is a sci-fi novel following Sisilla, a "Niffakoq" whose sole purpose is to complete and unknown task with a randomly chosen crew. She is genetically enhanced with "niks" which make her android-like...however, only she knows that she surgically removed one nik from the six she is supposed to have.

It's a Daniel Kraus book, so it's inherently crazy, epic in scope, and written by a seemingly non-human mind. Yes, that was a compliment. The story itself is anti-AI and pro-choice, with an emphasis on humanity. This is the type of book that disgusts you to your core, but also radiates humanity in a way that keeps you reading.

The Sixth Nik comes with an abundance of trigger warnings. Some include: general body horror depicting graphic violence, mutilation, surgery/medical procedures/amputation, human experimentation. Sexual assault, forced pregnancy/pregnancy horror, incest, graphic sexual content (consensual, non consensual, and human/droid), and abortion. These are the notable TWs, but it is a very gruesome book.

The only reason this is four stars and not five is because I found the opening 15% to be very slow and messy compared to the rest of the novel. However, that might just warrant a reread.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Daniel Kraus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The folks at Saga Press very kindly sent me an early copy of Daniel Kraus's upcoming scifi novel, The Sixth Nik, and I read it while I was on holiday this past week and a half. Daniel continues to be one of my most favorite authors writing today; he takes big swings with his ambitious storytelling and I absolutely love his unapologetic commitment to writing across genres to tell compelling, propulsive, deeply engaging stories about characters in impossible situations.

This book is without a doubt one of the most visceral novels I've ever read. If you are squeamish, be forewarned, but if you can get past the wet, squelchy, grotesque descriptions (these are all positives; it's truly disgusting in the best way), you will be rewarded with some absolutely gorgeous character work and beautifully realized worldbuilding. Both bleak and hopeful, mysterious and intimate, the story of Sisilla, her mission, and her crew is going to stick with me for a long time. Highly enjoyable and remarkably profound.

[Josh Escandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free e-copy of The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus for review. I must say that after reading last year's incredible Angel Down, I was terribly excited for what Kraus was going to write next. I want to start off by stating The Sixth Nik does not disappoint and delivers on that expectation. A horrifying sci-fi adventure, the novel revolves around Sisilla, an amazing child imbued with remarkable abilities, sent on a suicide mission. The ragtag group Sisilla is assigned with becomes endearing, which makes the horror that befalls them even more emotional. I will say the first quarter of the novel is a little slow as it builds the world and sets up Sisilla and the other characters; however, after that it becomes absolutely riveting and becomes such an easy read. The ending is pretty perfect and leaves the reader to grapple with notions the book plays with during its entire length.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sixth Nik is horror science fiction, with emphasis on horror. There is quite a bit of biological horror, though not necessarily chainsaw massacre gore, it may still be disturbing to someone who does not expect it. Looking past the mutilations and grotesquery, there is a deeper story and a number of action scenes that carry the plot in addition to the shock and awe. Sisilla, the central character is compelling and I found her story interesting enough to pull me through parts of the book that were not necessarily to my preference. (3.5/5)
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Saga Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5 rounded up.

I wanted to like this. I think the cover is cool and the concept is interesting, but it didn't quite work for me. I think it was the storytelling.

This is a sci-fi, body horror, tech-y kind of story with interesting characters. But something about the writing style didn't let that really shine.

The storytelling just separated me from connecting a bit. And I did find the tech/sci-fi part to be so interesting. I just wish I cared more about the characters in these crazy intense situations.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to publisher and Netgalley for this eARC!

This is scifi meets extreme body horror meets litfic. Kraus intersperses a good scifi plot (with multiple locations and action scenes) with extreme body horror (John Carpenter would vomit) with an interesting character who is wise beyond her years (due to training and tech). There's no likely sequel but the consequences of the actions of the novel would be fascinating to uncover. What a weird, good book.

[Venneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feels like a blend of splatterpunk and the horrors of the internet mixed in with a neat sci-fi premise. I'm admittedly holding back on reaction to some parts of this, because I'm not entirely sure if they were written just to provoke a reaction or because Kraus thought they were genuinely important to the plot, but I'm interested to see others' reviews of it. Comes out this summer.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bizarre I don’t think they’re any other words for it but bizarre science fiction morphed into body horror. Probably some trigger warnings are needed but Daniel’s writing just flows so well you can’t put it down. The man is truly a savant in writing any genre that he feels like. Not my favorite of his but definitely deserves props for creativity and originality.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, gross, unexpected, and unpredictable.

[John Mark King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has Daniel Kraus become one of my favorite authors of genre fiction? The first book of his I read was the masterfully dark The Living Dead (with George Romero). I loved it. More recently, I finished Angel Down, and was startled by how different it was in tone and style from what I had expected. Now The Sixth Nik, and another incredibly unique fusion of science fiction and horror. This book is moving, thrilling and full of wonderful prose. Highly recommended.

[Amanda Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into when I started The Sixth Nik. It definitely wasn’t something I would normally have chosen to read, but I figured I would try something new.

I am so glad I did! This was such an excellent sci-fi/horror/action - almost too many genres to name. The main character was written with such great detail and the entire cast of characters was wildly diverse.

The storyline was strong and the book overall was an unsettling, roller coaster of a ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!