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, Horror, Fiction, Adult, Mystery, 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. His novel Angel Down was the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, a New York Times Top 10 Book of 2025 ,and a national bestseller. His novel Whalefall received a front-cover review 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. He 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, and more.

Kraus’s work has been translated into over 25 languages. He lives with his partner in Chicago. Visit him at danielkraus.com.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, What the hell was that?!!? I was not prepared for how horrifying this was. The cover makes it seem blue and serene. But there’s pus and goo and every content/trigger warning you can think of. I hope you have a strong disposition.

If I had a nickel for every time I read a book this year with screwworms I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

I could not have predicted where the plot was going at any point. Highly recommend if you are tired of predictable scifi. There were a couple plot points towards the end that didn't surprise me, but overall I was wowed by The Sixth Nik.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. All opinions are very much my own.

[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.

[Burma Turner]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book just isn't for me. I did not finish at 30%.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF did I just read? Can’t wait to see this made into a film.

[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.

[S.H. Mansouri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time to explain, or choose the miracle. I choose the miracle.

Think I’ve read three novels by Kraus: Scowler, Rotters, and Whalefall; enjoyed them all. I started Angel Down but it completely fried my brain (I’ll pick it up again one day). Although Whalefall is brilliant, I think The Sixth Nik is my favorite. Assigning stars to art is pretty meaningless, as is rehashing jacket copy and synopsis, so I’ll hit the meat and potatoes here, maybe the way it made me feel.

The Sixth Nik is a brutal journey of self-discovery, that self being a nine-year-old who isn’t built the way most nine-year-olds are. It’s science fiction, sure, and horror and fantasy and a bunch of other shelves to fit on, and yeah, it’s akin to ‘Alien’ and maybe ‘Murderbot’ but so much more. The prose is absolutely insane! I mean, even if there were no characters and no plot I probably would have read the whole thing. I got tired of writing amazing lines in my notebook. Here are a few. ‘Smart fiber optics hanging from hooks like horse whips.’ ‘The cabin’s other socket gazed out into an ebony outer space enlivened by the colorful cauliflower of a distant nebula.’ ‘I looked and felt like a Murder but moved like an eleven-year-old fresh off a clumsy abortion.’ I had to read this in ten percent bursts because the prose just had me smiling, was kinda overwhelming in some spots. And Kraus doesn’t let up, not sure how he keeps up that level of writing for so long.

The world building was really easy to absorb and visualize because I got the feeling that the story took place in the not so distant future, like it might actually exist someday, and most of the backstory was based on historical events, didn’t feel far-fetched or too abstract. The biological terms are solid, and I’m pretty sure Kraus had fun creating/combining systems for the descriptions of The Sickness. It’s a tumorous ship with a killer placenta—I mean, doesn’t get better than that. The use of color and texture and taste in the descriptions was deft as hell, some so spot-on that you just laugh about it.

Arzan, Feng, Jayne, Murder 005, Roy, Pug the Rust Man, Tuma, Talfa and Joe, all unique and rendered with a depth that slowly chips away at Sisilla’s snail shell. The Iron Sea sections were awesome: you ever flipped your bike to put that greasy chain back on its sprocket? That’s what it’s like. The Nik Six was a great way to explore the characters through Sisilla’s perspective, a great set of questions to ask yourself, really, and they resurface at a crucial point in the story.

There’s a chapter where the crew of The Sickness port in to a kind of internet analogue called the Snarl, formatted in these strange wavy columns of text, that will totally suck you into the experience.

Don’t get me wrong, none of this story is sunshine and rainbows. It’s super brutal, visceral, and horrific, and there were times when I said to myself, ‘Man, is this girl ever gonna catch a break?’ As soon as she starts to catch her breath, BAM! Another one bites the dust. Back into the meat grinder. Truth hurts, though, and kids go through hell, and sometimes found family and good memories, real or not, are the only things that get you through. The ending was apt, wonderful, artful, even, and I feel like Sisilla GA! was always going to end up GA! closest to what made her GA! feel like she was home GA!

Quote: ‘As a result, it is arguable that it does not matter if the niks work at all. The story of the niks works, and it seems like that is all the world requires.’

Big thanks to Netgalley, Saga Press, and Daniel Kraus for the opportunity to experience this.

[AlienRosey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best feelings in the world to me is getting ARC approval for one of Daniel Kraus's books. I truly think he has become my all time favorite author and this might be his magnum opus (rivalling Angel Down because wow I still cannot get over how masterful that book was).

My favorite horror movie is Alien and let me tell you, Alien fans will LOVE this book. So much biomechanical (ish?) stuff going on here and conversations about bodily autonomy, violence, the nature of humanity and sacrifice. Kraus is such a master of horror and that really shows but what I truly love is how hardcore sci-fi this feels while maintaining his signature frightening and haunting prose. There were so many concepts brought up that work so well in the sci-fi sphere and I even had a little bit of extra prep just from being besties with a big ol' science/sci-fi nerd (Hi Pete!). This book was everything I wanted and more. Probably one of the grossest books I have ever read, for sure the grossest I have read from Kraus and I say that positively. This book churned my stomach, paled my face, had me dizzy, wincing, gasping, but I could not look away. I found myself hoping this never gets a movie adaptation because seeing all that on my screen would be insane! (Though if it did get a movie, I would be there day ONE trust me. There is a character that really should be played by Freddie Wong if any movie execs see this lol) Side note, this was also everything I wished Neuromancer was so if you love that vibe but want better plots and prose, The Sixth Nik is for you!

I truly cannot wait until this book is out in the world and I hope it receives so much attention and love because wow what a novel. Please be aware that although this is a sci-fi, this is also very much a horror novel and there is quite a lot of potentially triggering material present so basically prepare for any and all gross/scary/intense scenarios and even more you don't imagine! All that said, fantastic piece of literature that has so much to say. Please please please check this out on June 23rd!

Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

TWs below, potentially spoilery stuff, beware if you want to avoid!!
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TW: blood, graphic violence, body horror, rape, pregnancy, birth, child abuse, torture, drug use, infanticide, xenophobia, surgery (eye specific), abortion, sexual content, insects, vomit, animal death

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

If Whalefall was about fathers, The Sixth Nik is about mothers. Before I start this review, I want to say that I appreciate Kraus’ ability to move thought out different genres and for his fascinating story concepts and quality of writing. However, this was a huge miss for me.

We follow Sisilla, a young girl who has been augmented by mysterious technology, ‘Niks’, in a way that gives her extraordinary abilities of logic, knowledge, and perception, but at the cost of dying by age 12. Before their death, they are sent on a ‘chore’: the one thing that will give them meaning by solving critical problems or creating much needed solutions. But on her chore, Sisilla is confronted with the unthinkable failure that may be related to a troubling secret, but which also may lead her to new freedom.

What I liked: Interesting worldbuilding, classic ‘rag-tag’ found family character development.

What some might not like: this has a lot of body horror and it is *wet* and gross.

What lowered this book’s rating for me; I’ll the small stuff: I felt like it ran out of steam with the last third, many of the more interesting questions were never answered so I felt like I invested a lot of emotional energy into the wrong things, the mother subplot was a mess and unsatisfying on any level.

The book killer for me [SOILERS]: I almost DNFed this book at about 44%. I actually had to put the book down for 2 days and it has taken me two weeks to even get the mental energy to write this review. There is a critical plot point that, essentially, involved the forced SA and impregnation of the 9-year-old MC through, essentially, Henti. There was even a line where she essentially says “Good thing I will die soon anyway so I won’t have to process this trauma”. Like, WHAT? The whole scene is treated almost as a throw away joke, further minimized by having everyone seem annoyed that they were also SAed. She then spends a substantial amount of the last part of the book trying to terminate and being thwarted, including people who want to force her to give birth. I stuck with it because I really wanted to see where this was supposed to be taking us and all I can say is: it wasn’t worth the journey. It got close to trying to justify this, but the minimizing of this literal child’s experiences for plot points that could have been arrived at differently was extremely disappointing.



Thank you to @sagapressbooks and @netgalley for this ARC for review.

[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.

[J Mazurek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. So stoked to be able to read another Kraus work before official release. Eternally grateful!

New all time favourite book alert! If I thought I was blown away by Angel Down, The Sixth Nix absolutely astonished me. I love sci-fi, though I admittedly haven’t read a lot of it, but this felt extraordinarily original—thought-provoking, intellectually beautiful, and genuinely horrifying. The body horror is extreme, featuring some of the most detailed and disturbing scenes I’ve ever read, though it never feels tasteless or overdrawn. Kraus writes with almost clinical precision; every detail of the body and environment feels smart, filthy, and alive. Flesh ships, a disease called Wollosis that fills your body with hair until you implode, brain worms, bodily mutilation, body mods.... What more could you ask for in a sci-fi novel?

What impressed me most was how difficult this book is to compare to anything else. There are shades of Alien, hints of Dune, maybe even traces of The Thing, but honestly, The Sixth Nix feels entirely its own. The worldbuilding is so dense and imaginative that the universe feels far larger than the confines of a single novel. I could have easily read an entire trilogy or series following Sisilla or another Niffakoq.

But beneath all the horror and sci-fi spectacle, the novel carries huge emotional and thematic weight: found family, sacrifice, environmentalism, identity, and self-discovery all run through its core. I was genuinely sad when the book ended; not because the ending was lacking, but because I simply didn’t want to leave the world behind.

If The Sixth Nix is any indication of where Daniel Kraus is headed next, I’m all in. The man is a god damned genius, and I genuinely cannot wait to see what he writes next.

Reviewed on Kobo.com, Indigo Chapters, Goodreads, and StoryGraph.

[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.

[Final Girl Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new hero.

The Sixth Nik tells the story of Sisilla, the 45th Niffakoq of the Nuna Navoq people. The holder of the mysterious niks, she has accepted her duty as Niffakoq and her rapidly approaching death. Proceeding on her Chore means leaving behind everyone she has ever known and traveling to the metal planet of Fem. Travel involves a biomatter nightmare of a ship with a crew that holds their own secrets and unnerving Bots that may hold their own alliances. Even the niks may not be enough to foresee the dangers awaiting Sisilla on every step of her Chore. Sisilla is different than any Niffakoq before her but just remember…
…she’s still just a 9-year-old girl.
The Sixth Nik is the kind of novel that you finish then flip back to the beginning because you can’t believe the journey you’ve just been on. And if you’re not careful, that quick re-read of the first page will turn into you reading the whole book again. It’s that good.
The Sixth Nik is a triumph of science fiction because it does what science fiction should: shows you a future which we may already be headed towards and in which no amount of technology may save us. There’s horror (the body horror of it all!) and foreboding but there’s also found family and love and beauty and agony and triumph.
Every time I read Daniel Kraus’s work, I can feel his love of writing through the pages. I had the thought while reading that this novel is the amalgam of years of cool ideas that came together and some parts are so bizarre to try to recount but it works. Brilliantly.
Kraus’ biggest triumph and the reason I will be a forever reader is his understanding of the juxtaposition of heartrending beauty and horror; in this case, the atrocities that we have done, are doing, and may continue to do to each other. 

6 out of 6 niks

[Laramie Graber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of mind-blowing ideas and vivid imagery both grotesque and beautiful, The Sixth Nik isn’t quite like anything I’ve read before. It’s an absolute must-read for fans of weird sci-fi.

It has enough ideas for three books, including a ship made of a tumor that responds to your every want; The Snarl, an internet taken over by trollbots that will drive you insane; and an ocean made of interlocking metal in constant motion. Any plot description can’t come close to containing it all.

But what truly sets The Sixth Nik apart is how vividly its ideas are rooted in its imagery and characters. Good settings are easy to visualize. Great settings make you feel as if you’re standing inside of them. The Sixth Nik almost always delivers the latter. There is a scene where the protagonist, Sisilla, enters The Snarl that is written so creatively and so disgustingly that I felt as if its madness was starting to infect me.

The characters are just as memorable. Nine-year-old Sisilla, altered by implanted niks from a young age, joins the pantheon of the great sci-fi child geniuses. She has the perfect combination of searing intellect and innocence that makes the character type so compelling. Her search for meaning and belonging is heartbreaking and inspiring. The supporting cast, distinct and boldly rendered, are just as compelling.

The Sixth Nik isn’t for everyone; Sisilla suffers a lot of graphic physical and mental abuse. The body-horror is as visceral as everything else. And the ending isn’t quite as creative as the rest of the novel. But I still find myself, weeks later, experiencing Sisilla’s wonder as a crewmate does her make-up for the first time or as she experiences the wailing of the metal ocean. It’s an early contender for my favorite novel of the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC.

[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.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this bleak future version of Earth, we've terraformed Mars and Europa, traveling through space in biologically engineered vessels that resemble human organs. A religious ritual has evolved around equipping young children with biotech and assigning them to important tasks, in this case, to travel to a mysterious planet with a skeleton crew and investigate.

The ship containing our task-designated protagonist has a uterus and a womb, as well as other oversized organs which respond to the crew's behavior. And, it turns out, the young girl in question has just had her first period. If you're thinking this sounds a bit like Doom, and a little like Alien--you're not wrong, but Kraus is imaginative with his details and you'll find the story convincing, if not compelling. He experiments with prose form as he did in Angel Down, and it's impressive, but with a less glorious result.

As the resemblances to scifi classics start to take shape, so do unnecessary scenes of Cronenbergian grotesquerie. Get ready for bodily fluids, all of 'em--John Carpenter's The Thing is a cozy fantasy next to this hellscape. The plot never manages to break free from the scaffolding of its crib notes, rolling out one predictable shock-value development after another, until we're left with the ultimately empty, nihilistic ending that the story promised from its opening.

This should really be marketed as Splatterpunk rather than scifi/fantasy/horror. Fans of Kraus' two recent books should look elsewhere for dark sci-fi thrills, Mason Coile's Exiles, or the preceding W1ll1am would be a more meaningful and enjoyable version of the best parts of this book.


Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

[Ashton Ahart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set far into humanity’s future where we have conquered Mars and Europa and devoted ourselves to becoming half robots, The Sixth Nik, follows one 9-year-old space ambassador as she travels to a far off planet on a ship made of tumors.

Sisilla, a girl who had six metal chips inserted in her brain at 8 weeks old to make her both unemotional and extremely intelligent, comes from a long line of other child soldiers known as Niffakoq. After being trained for all of her childhood and worshiped as a god by those outside of her closest sphere, Sisilla sets off for her Chore – a destiny and quest given to each Niffakoq that they must complete before they die at age 11.

Her Chore is to go to a planet full of metal known as Fem with a crew consisting of an engineer whose more plastic surgery than organic tissue, a medic who lost all his family and is addicted to hallucinogens, an assassin clad entirely in white – and sometimes black – rubber, and a captain who both loathes and deeply cares for Sisilla.

This novel is riddled with just about every trigger warning there is and has probably made up some of its own in its pursuit to be the most gruesome bio-horror out there. With a new made-up word and scientific discovery on every page and a complex look into power and control, this book was both deeply disturbing and oddly satisfying – like a pimple popping video.

After reading this, I still don’t know how to feel about the novel and probably never will. That being said, the writing was dark and enlightening with enough gore to make me never eat while reading again.

[Jeff Swartz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have several issues with this book, of which almost made me want to shelve in “Did Not Finish.” But I saw it through if only because I’m a completionist. The first glaring problem I had with this book that no other review seems to even mention is the Joseph Mengale quote that starts the whole thing off or the peppering of the neo-Nazi language for no reason. When a writer casually drops this language into a book you question their motives behind it and why, especially when it has nothing to do with the world building, character development or plot points.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

The second issue I had with this book was it felt like two different genre-based stories in one. The first half is this grotesque “Aliens” meets “Terminator” in space. The horror is actually decent, with some really disturbing visuals in this part until the main character, a 9yr old girl, is raped while in stasis by the biomass spacecraft she’s traveling in, and proceeds to become pregnant.
The second half of the book reads like a bad lost in space episode. Our character winds up on the planet she was destined only to give up on her main objective and have the ship’s baby?! That’s probably the only horror you’ll find in this half of the book.

Overall, I’m mad, I wanted to like this book since it was a #goodreadsgiveaway and sounded interesting, but there are too many glaring red flags to get more than two stars.

[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.

[Ryan Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to all involved in receiving the advance copy. I’m a fan of Kraus and enjoyed the opportunity to get it. In fact, Angel Down was a favorite read from last year. Sadly, I will not remember this one as fondly.

To be clear, it’s a very well written, fascinating world and my criticisms lay solely in my own personal taste and mood. This novel did not hit me right. Some of the disconnect may be in the cover that, to me implies a sort of high fantasy-ish sci-fi tale when in fact this book is pure horror. Sure, there’s very futuristic elements and a central mystery sorta but at its core, it’s a very grim, very dark (not to be confused with grimdark) very brutal series of escalating scenes of body horror.

Admittedly, body horror isn’t really my thing but my central issue involves the nature of the main character and something that happens about 40% thru the book that made me very unhappy for the duration. It’s terrible, seemingly unnecessary and the book proceeds to wallow in its implications nonstop. In fact, had I know (I won’t spoil beyond that it’s SA) I probably would not have read the book in the first place.

Mr Kraus is an innovator and can clearly write and I’m sure a lot of folks will like this one I just wasn’t one of them. Thanks again for the ARC and the opportunity to support real, human made art, even when it’s not necessarily to my taste.

[Steve Edholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Daniel Kraus. I LOVED Whalefall, Pay the Piper kinda took a few to take off, but man did it and Angel Down is just a work of art. This was an odd one for me. This book took a while to get going for me. I actually paused to read another ARC in the middle of it, but oh man am I glad I stuck to this one!

I think the book drags a little at times because of 2 reasons. I think the lore and the world building takes a long time. I think that is a benefit at the end of it all, but it can be kinda rough at first. I also think the Sickness maybe takes a little too long, but that's about my only complaints about this book.

This book goes from pure Sci-Fi to dear god so much more than just pure sci-fi. Once you get to Fem this book puts slams on the gas and never stops. Daniel does a nice job keeping his secrets hidden in this one to nicely reveal them all.

I was disappointed at times in this book, but honestly want to read it again just to experience the end and see the puzzle fit together.

Daniel just doesn't care, he writes what he wants and just damn it is always so damn good. I kinda hate myself for thinking of considering ever giving up on this.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early review copy!

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In trying to devise a way to explain this book to someone, I find myself thinking about The Matrix. So, to steal a quote from Morpheus: "Unfortunately, no one can be told what The Sixth Nik is. You have to read it for yourself."

And what a read it is. I mean, holy shit. I don't think I have encountered such unabandoned wacky sci-fi since Lexx was on the air. For example:

Boyfriend: walks in the room, minding his own business and not talking to me because I am reading.
Me: “the crew is being attacked by a giant placenta.”
Boyfriend: “a placenta?”
Me: “a placenta.”
Boyfriend: tries to walk away.
Me: “the placenta is the size of a tennis court.”
Boyfriend: picks up his pace in leaving the room.

More than once I had to put it down to catch my breath or give my mind a break from the images and sounds the book put into my brain. I do not recommend eating anything prior to reading parts of this book.

At this point, I'm not even sure if I liked it because I had such a spectrum of feelings, ranging from deep affection to outright disgust and plenty of horror. And I am a little confused on how some parts of the plot worked, but that may be me not paying close enough attention? So, I guess it's sensational, but what the fuck did I just read!?

[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.

[Percy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This honestly surpassed my expectations. Why did I think this would be cozy and calm? It's the blue. How could you use colour psychology on me lmao

This is incredibly gross and horrific. You want something you can't predict that isn't your run of the mill sci-fi? Read it. Read it, but read the trigger warnings, especially the ones that happen closer to the end. There is a lot of adventure, action, thrill, plenty of futuristic tech, and oh my god were the characters unique.

It's hard to read if you cannot stomach the horror in it. Body horror, 'wet' horror, extremely gross and depressing things that happen to young characters. I will admit, the end got me and I could barely finish the book. I did, only to see why and what would happen and if anything got better near the end but no. It did drop a couple stars because of this. I couldn't. That's my personal opinion though, I have strong feelings against ANY form of abuse towards kids and it lowkey sends me into a rage so I fear this is not for me after that ending.

[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.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Sisilla has been trained by a cult since infancy that she is destined for a chore that will end her short life. She also has “niks” embedded in her skull that allow her to gain information from the people she encounters. Her chore takes her aboard The Sickness—a tumor-like spaceship with a diverse crew. They are headed towards the planet Fém that is inhabited by Earth’s outcasts with an incurable and deadly disease. Sisilla will need to use her abilities to discover the truth of the secretive society and what she values most. With well-developed characters, this immersive, dark but hopeful sci-fi horror read will disgust and touch the reader.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

[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!

[Bennett T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.

The Sixth Nik is honestly a hard book to describe, but it’s an artfully built science fiction story set in a strange future world filled with some very vivid (and often gross) detail. Biomass ship? Check. Gory battle scenes? Check. But underneath all of that, it’s also very much a coming-of-age story with characters that are surprisingly well developed.

This is outside my usual reading lane, but I wanted to see what Daniel Kraus would do with science fiction, and I wasn’t disappointed. Weird, graphic, creative, and ultimately a really interesting sci-fi read.

[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.