Oceanus

by Hanna Delaney, Shane Bzdok (Cover Design)

“One part Solaris, one part today’s headlines”

“Builds, then takes off like a rocket”

A starship drifts, its crew gone. The planet it orbits has no name.
Survivors are separated on the surface. Exhausted. Hunted. Lost.
The longer they stay, the less they can trust their own minds.
Their captor is as patient as he is bent on revenge.
Some prisons have no walls.

Genres: Science Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 19, 2026

About the author

Hanna is an author of horror, fantasy and science fiction. She is from Liverpool, UK.
She has three kids, an awesome husband who encouraged her to do this and a dog who didn’t but she’s happy to see Hanna trying to put food on the floor.
Hanna has a BA and MA in English Literature and was an English teacher for nearly a decade before embarking on her writing career.
She currently lives in Liverpool with her family. Oceanus is her debut novel.
If you’d like to keep up to date with the latest from Hanna, you can subscribe to her newsletter!

Reviews

[Joseph L L · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the future, a passenger ship has crashed in the world where an aggrieved father has been banished because he dared to bring his dead child back as a synthetic.
In Shades of the Tempest, Hana Delaney has created a compelling world, one that I am honored to have visited, even if only temporarily.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Builds, then takes off like a rocket

This book slowly builds the setting, and when the story takes flight, things move with the speed of a roller coaster. Great work!

[Keith Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hanna Delaney’s dreamy scifi reimagining of The Tempest by Shakespeare, Oceanus, is an incredibly well done homage to the classic play. While reading it, I felt in a haze of strangeness, in the best way. The feeling is evoked occasionally for me by a sort of uncanny valley in the world: a place much like earth but not quite right (Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, or parts of Peter Jackson’s King Kong movie believe it or not.) It’s a great vibe for this novel and it works for the characters and plot. You open with someone who doesn’t know what’s going on; you follow a group that mysteriously ends up in a pit without knowing how they got there — it’s all very… dreamy. The characters are excellent, and I found myself sympathizing with and understanding all of them. When I finished Oceanus, I was immensely intrigued how Hanna had adapted or took inspiration from The Tempest, so I borrowed an audiobook and listened through it. I HIGHLY recommend reading Oceanus, and then the Tempest, because I found that Hanna’s book allowed me to better understand the play, and man, I am impressed with the creative way in which pieces are adapted. The daughter in Oceanus and the spirit in the Tempest were two specific things I found superb in their adaptation (can’t say more without spoiiiiiiling it, sorry). The only feedback I have for this one is that I personally would’ve found it more dreamy and alien if the flora and fauna on Oceanus were more strange and weird, and briefly described somewhere. I’m also just a sucker for cool fictional creatures and plants. Anywhooo, go read it for yourself, ya square.

[Art the Turtle of Amazing Girth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.53

SOOOOOOO good
I truly wish there was more on Oceanus

This was a giveaway win on GR

I devoured this in 1 day

Such a fascinating concept, and, crazily enough, it brought to mind Bladerunner

[Ian Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review available on my Substack: The Word Dump!

Oceanus is one I would recommend to any fans of classic science fiction, that even bordered on pulpy at times. It’s a great example of character-driven storytelling that doesn’t spend too much time bogging you down with the facts you don’t need, moving along at a slow burn pace that crawls up a fuse until it hits the rocket and blasts off, with all the tension that comes along with that sort of a read. This futuristic thriller packs twists and gut punches, as well as serving as a wonderful homage to fans of Shakespeare retellings. The shape of Oceanus is enough like The Tempest that it has the look and feel of a vintage work to it, but with the boon of fresh environs and modernized ideas. Classic themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and family overlay a fresh environ that doesn’t detract from its source material. Pick up a copy today!

[E.H. Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: The author and I have interacted on Substack before. However, I also paid REAL MONEY 😱 for the ebook. So, I do think that I am giving my honest opinion without sugarcoating it too much, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point this out.
I also wrote a much longer review here, if anyone's interested.)

Oceanus is an indie sci-fi novel inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
But, it's not really a sci-fi story.
Instead, I found it to be more of a family drama than a sci-fi story - and it was one that I really enjoyed!
The characters are well-written, and there is a good exploration of the characters’ backstories and motivations .
The story itself is well-paced - it’s a tightly written story that keeps the reveals coming, all leading to a dramatic confrontation at the climax!
The narration style is written in a more passive third-person point of view that can feel detached, but leans in and out of different characters to provide more emotional insights - I found it jarring at the beginning, but grew to like it as I continued reading.
There were also a tiny amount of grammar mistakes and some crammed paragraphs at the beginning of the book, but I found that the author actually improved on those as the book continued and most of those issues are gone by around the halfway mark.
Overall, I was very engaged by the family drama of book, as well as the individual storylines of many of the characters. The sci-fi elements were utilized well and didn’t feel superfluous, with one of the main plotlines being dependent on this sci-fi setting.
This is a solid first indie effort, and the author’s personal and distinctive style really came through!
If a family drama with a dash of sci-fi sounds enticing to you, then I think you’ll enjoy this!

[Lyndsey Resnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received and advance copy of this book from the publisher. I am familiar with the author's books. I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but this book was easy for me to get into and enjoy. The elements are there, but aren't the focus of the story. The characters are

Oceanus, as inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, carries all the weight of family conflict mixed with legal and political ramifications of various characters' decisions. No spoilers, but a lot is packed into this story and important ethical questions are raised that we might encounter in our future.

There's also a magical element to the story, that veers from intriguing to terrifying at times. Oceanus itself has a dreamlike quality and, at times, disturbing influence. Anything could happen.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to more from this author. (I have no idea why the system thinks I read this twice.)

[Clifford Stumme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was amazing. The plot was so interesting. The sci-fi was, I thought, really true to classic sci-fi what-if-ism, but Hanna managed to not let that become the center of the plot. Instead it was all about character, which I think is the mark of really good fiction. And these characters were interesting and likable and empathetically written. And the writing was crisp and direct. Oh, and it’s based on The Tempest by Shakespeare. It reminded me a little of Hemingway’s terse, quick style but also of Philip K. Dick’s—I just read A Scanner Darkly. You get the sense that Hanna knows she’s writing about something important, and she doesn’t have time to waste with self-gratification or flowery prose that would distract the reader. Big things are happening in her story, and she has the self-discipline to focus on those.

[Diane Knutzen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it was written so poorly that I just did not like it.

Everything was a jumble it was like there was no editing that went into this book. The writing style was clunky and twitchy. It jumped from one thing to the next with no clarification. It jumped between character perspectives without differentiating whose perspective it was. It just did not flow.

I did not like the characters. They were underdeveloped and I just didn’t care about any of them. They were like paper dolls.

The dialogue was not great. A lot of it felt strained and weird. It just did not flow.

Also, I hated the ending. That did not need to happen that way.

I thought the concept of the story would have made for a good story, but the writing had a long way to go to get to that vision.

This book kept me mildly entertained, but I will not be reading it again.

[Josh Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tempest was the first of Shakespeare's plays I had seen on stage. I had read a few of them for English classes, but it held a special place in my heart as the first one to really come alive for me.

So when I found out there was a book that took the premise and shot it into space I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Oceanus did not disappoint! The characters are a lively, entertaining bunch and the story kept me on my toes. The plot quickly pivots off of the Bard's old, beaten path and I found myself at the end of my seat, trying to guess what in the world was going to happen next. I highly recommend this for any fans of Sci-fi or reimagined classics.

[Bryan Pirolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always forget how much I like sci-fi and Hanna reminded me wonderfully with Oceanus. The characters are expertly fleshed out and engaging and I just felt like i was following along with the pack across this planet. There is a gnawing yet brilliant curiosity the whole time that pulls you through the story. And then it delivers. On time and without any missing items :). Oceanus makes good use of the Tempest but then creates its own world altogether that you'd be forgiven to forget it was inspired by Shakespeare! I found Hanna's work on Susbtack and am thrilled to see her novels out in the world!

[Jean Marie Bauhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars. This was Hanna Delaney's debut novel, and it's a solidly entertaining read. Inspired by The Tempest, this is indeed a Shakespearian drama set against an otherworldly science fiction background. It blends sci-fi and fantasy, feeling at times more like magical realism than sci fi -- which, not being a fan of hard SF, for me was a plus. With elements reminiscent of Blade Runner or Battlestar Galactica, there's a lot going on, but Delaney does an excellent juggling act, pulling it all together with a satisfying conclusion.

[S. Emonts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Oceanus is a fascinating, character-driven science fiction story.

A slow-burn and exposition-heavy at times, yet short and well-paced, it presents a world reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica (2004.)

Much of the plot revolves around survivors crashing on an ocean planet with a singular isle but also includes flashbacks for backstory. The plot supports the characters and the emerging themes of injustice, revenge, and the notion that prisons are not just physical but also include the confines of strict social conventions and, at times, one’s own mind.

[Sophie Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t typically read fiction but this is a really great story written well, so it held my attention. I found myself interested in getting to know the characters and wanting to find out what happens to them, especially Thea whom I felt an affinity with personally. I’d definitely recommend this book to a friend, especially someone like me who doesn’t read much fiction or maybe doesn’t typically enjoy sci-fi. It’s a lovely read!

[Rob Mortell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The shocking conclusion is still something I'm thinking about. Oceanus had heart and suspense. It had fear and mystery. It had everything I want in a story. Thea was an absolute treasure and the highlight of the novel for me. I highly recommend this book to sci-fi fans

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lyrical, twisty, and mysterious journey. I have to admit I’ve never read Shakesphere’s Tempest, so I’m sure many references were lost to me. Still, it was wonderfully written, lots of mysteries to unravel, and the ending…. No spoilers here but the way it all came together pushed me to a 5/5 stars. Stellar job.

[Larry Denninger]

DNF at 16%. The premise sounded intriguing - a sci-fi treatment of The Tempest. Sadly, too much passive voice kept me at arm's length from being immersed into the world, and getting to know and care about the characters. I found myself editing along as I read.

[Michele Bardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

OCEANUS is an excellent read. EXCELLENT. I adore Hanna Delaney and her stories. I cannot wait for THE DEVIL NEXT DOOR. Luckily, I subscribe to her Substack and follow her on Notes, so I'm able to read her micro-fiction, too. I highly recommend.

[Josh Symonds · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 10%. Riddled with spelling and grammar errors and filled with exposition.

[Thomas Schecter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautifully done, and if I could give an extra star for the use of the phrase “radioactive green scrotum” I would.