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After Moses
A century ago, our AI benefactor, Moses, disappeared, taking mankind's future with him. The dream of the stars is dead. Earth is silent and the colonies of the solar system slowly dwindle. Everyday life depends on technology that we no longer understand.
The future is grim.
Freelancer for hire Matthew Cole struggles to pay the bills and keep his ship in the air. He's always been a loner, but as the years go on and the solar system grows ever more dangerous, the time has come that he'll have to either find a crew or perish.
When the specter of Matthew's past comes back to haunt him, his new crew will have to come together around their captain. They'll find that he is a rare kind of man, a man with principles.
And that might be just what humanity needs.
The future is grim.
Freelancer for hire Matthew Cole struggles to pay the bills and keep his ship in the air. He's always been a loner, but as the years go on and the solar system grows ever more dangerous, the time has come that he'll have to either find a crew or perish.
When the specter of Matthew's past comes back to haunt him, his new crew will have to come together around their captain. They'll find that he is a rare kind of man, a man with principles.
And that might be just what humanity needs.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
482 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2019
48 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Michael F. Kane
6 books14 followersMichael F. Kane cut his teeth on science fiction and fantasy. In fact, his first memories of Star Wars are his mother covering his eyes during the rancor scene. Later, he fell in love with the classics, Tolkien, Asimov, Herbert, and more. Somehow, despite the odds being stacked against him, he grew up to be a somewhat respectable human being. By day he's the music director at a mid-sized church, but at night he dreams of unseen lands and places man has never trod. Check out his website to stay up to date on his publishing adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 23, 2019
Wowzers!
I actually know the author and was prepared to be critical but from the moment I started this book to the very end I was entranced by the characters and story. I am not a huge sci-fi or western fan, this book by-passed my tastes in literature though and I find when a book does this, it is the real deal!
I will not expand on what I loved because I do not want to be a spoiler but read this book, you will not be sorry!
I actually know the author and was prepared to be critical but from the moment I started this book to the very end I was entranced by the characters and story. I am not a huge sci-fi or western fan, this book by-passed my tastes in literature though and I find when a book does this, it is the real deal!
I will not expand on what I loved because I do not want to be a spoiler but read this book, you will not be sorry!
November 15, 2019
Review from Pre-Release Copy
After Moses is a novel that strokes the reader’s imagination, delivering a compelling stage of dystopian space and a charming crew of characters to play in it.
Though the novel exists as Science Fiction, the concepts and mechanisms behind After Moses’s unique science are accessible to nearly every reader. No long-winded descriptions of fictitious technology will be found here. Instead, After Moses correctly opts to show its characters living alongside the fantastic tech, allowing readers to learn by seeing.
As for the characters themselves, After Moses takes a traditional approach. Being the exact opposite of a Young-Adult novel, our main character, Matthew Cole, is a level-headed adult who is grimly aware that he is not a superhero. What stems from this realism are scenes that regularly reflect on the limited capacity of human effort, and that any point one could lose everything, even their life.
In conclusion, After Moses is a novel you will glad to experience. The prose is good and consistent, making it an effortless read, and the chapters are organized in an episodic nature where each episode has a conflict and resolution that rarely spans multiple chapters. This makes the novel comfortable to put down after finishing a chapter, but surely you will be eager to return to it.
After Moses is a novel that strokes the reader’s imagination, delivering a compelling stage of dystopian space and a charming crew of characters to play in it.
Though the novel exists as Science Fiction, the concepts and mechanisms behind After Moses’s unique science are accessible to nearly every reader. No long-winded descriptions of fictitious technology will be found here. Instead, After Moses correctly opts to show its characters living alongside the fantastic tech, allowing readers to learn by seeing.
As for the characters themselves, After Moses takes a traditional approach. Being the exact opposite of a Young-Adult novel, our main character, Matthew Cole, is a level-headed adult who is grimly aware that he is not a superhero. What stems from this realism are scenes that regularly reflect on the limited capacity of human effort, and that any point one could lose everything, even their life.
In conclusion, After Moses is a novel you will glad to experience. The prose is good and consistent, making it an effortless read, and the chapters are organized in an episodic nature where each episode has a conflict and resolution that rarely spans multiple chapters. This makes the novel comfortable to put down after finishing a chapter, but surely you will be eager to return to it.
September 27, 2024
Excellent.
Took a little to get into, the prose is workmanlike. And I might have shuffled the narrative arcs a little and shortened it, it hit a natural conclusion around 3/4 in.
But the characters are well rounded and compelling, the plot moves quickly and is lots of fun and the world is fleshed out and fascinating.
Plus it's just a beautiful book.
Took a little to get into, the prose is workmanlike. And I might have shuffled the narrative arcs a little and shortened it, it hit a natural conclusion around 3/4 in.
But the characters are well rounded and compelling, the plot moves quickly and is lots of fun and the world is fleshed out and fascinating.
Plus it's just a beautiful book.
October 4, 2023
What an absolute bore.
September 26, 2025
After Moses by Michael F. Kane is the sort of book you should definitely judge by the (pretty cool!) cover. Kane does a good job blending the gritty charm of classic westerns with the drama and intrigue of space opera.
Our protagonist, Matthew Cole, is a freelancer for hire with a heart of gold, who often ends up in a tough situation by doing the right thing. He still manages to gather a crew of similarly well-intentioned and misfortune-prone misfits along the way, and the relationships (and conflicts) between this newfound family take up a huge part of the narrative. The rest is mostly dedicated to exploring the extensive universe of After Moses as it’s revealed through their travels along the many planets, moons, asteroids, settlements, and factions of humanity scattered across the solar system, setting the groundwork for what promises to be a great series.
The loner with strong morals and a dark past, flying a barely functioning ship at a relentless pace, finding work (and trouble) everywhere he goes puts me in mind of Firefly, specifically the board game, with its motto, "Find a crew, find a job. Keep flying." The rest of the cast does not remain in his shadow, though, nor is it there just as a foil for the protagonist; quite the contrary, they stand out in their own right, with their own dilemmas, ambitions, and history.
Thematically, After Moses explores the perils of digital gods, featuring the solar system plunging into a dark age after humanity's AI benefactor sudden and mysterious disappearance. The AI’s origin, intentions, or the cause of its disappearance are not clear (I guess you’ll need to read the rest of the series to find that out), only the fact that humanity became dependent on its existence and technology, and now can’t govern itself, even decades after Moses’ disappearance. By relying on AI, humanity forgot how to be self-reliant, something we are witnessing with greater frequency these days. The metaphors are not subtle, especially regarding people's tendency to isolate themselves into tribes, safe in their own little worlds, waiting for a miracle.
The prose is clear-cut with the occasional flair of wit and poetry. The pacing is brisk but not overwhelmingly so. Following the narrative is easy and satisfying. After Moses, like most debut novels and first instalments in a series, is not perfect. But I can see the potential for a brilliant series, both in the worldbuilding, prose and style. I particularly enjoyed the setting and ambitious scope of this story as well as the cautionary tale regarding humanity’s increasing reliance on technology.
Overall, After Moses is an original story crafted from well-established tropes that should please its audience. If you enjoy Firefly and The Expanse, you'll probably enjoy many of the elements in this book.
Our protagonist, Matthew Cole, is a freelancer for hire with a heart of gold, who often ends up in a tough situation by doing the right thing. He still manages to gather a crew of similarly well-intentioned and misfortune-prone misfits along the way, and the relationships (and conflicts) between this newfound family take up a huge part of the narrative. The rest is mostly dedicated to exploring the extensive universe of After Moses as it’s revealed through their travels along the many planets, moons, asteroids, settlements, and factions of humanity scattered across the solar system, setting the groundwork for what promises to be a great series.
The loner with strong morals and a dark past, flying a barely functioning ship at a relentless pace, finding work (and trouble) everywhere he goes puts me in mind of Firefly, specifically the board game, with its motto, "Find a crew, find a job. Keep flying." The rest of the cast does not remain in his shadow, though, nor is it there just as a foil for the protagonist; quite the contrary, they stand out in their own right, with their own dilemmas, ambitions, and history.
Thematically, After Moses explores the perils of digital gods, featuring the solar system plunging into a dark age after humanity's AI benefactor sudden and mysterious disappearance. The AI’s origin, intentions, or the cause of its disappearance are not clear (I guess you’ll need to read the rest of the series to find that out), only the fact that humanity became dependent on its existence and technology, and now can’t govern itself, even decades after Moses’ disappearance. By relying on AI, humanity forgot how to be self-reliant, something we are witnessing with greater frequency these days. The metaphors are not subtle, especially regarding people's tendency to isolate themselves into tribes, safe in their own little worlds, waiting for a miracle.
The prose is clear-cut with the occasional flair of wit and poetry. The pacing is brisk but not overwhelmingly so. Following the narrative is easy and satisfying. After Moses, like most debut novels and first instalments in a series, is not perfect. But I can see the potential for a brilliant series, both in the worldbuilding, prose and style. I particularly enjoyed the setting and ambitious scope of this story as well as the cautionary tale regarding humanity’s increasing reliance on technology.
Overall, After Moses is an original story crafted from well-established tropes that should please its audience. If you enjoy Firefly and The Expanse, you'll probably enjoy many of the elements in this book.
September 20, 2024
This book came highly recommended on X, and I bought it from reading glowing reviews which claimed that it rose to the top of the self-published cream. These reviews did not lie.
I have read much self-published dreck, mere self-congratulating embarrassments to make the claim, "I'm an author! Look at what I've made!" rather than to tell a good story. After Moses is a good story, and it was written in an honest way. Clear Christian undertones are on most pages, but it's not crippled by didacticism, pandering, or propping itself up with logical fallacies.
There were a few spots where spelling, punctuation, and mechanics fell by the wayside, but those were the parts I could tell the author was so excited the sheen of properness and propriety rubbed off in gleeful friction.
Parts of the book gave me chills (which, to my dismay, does not happen often to me as I'm reading). The characters are well fleshed. The plot meanders a bit but gets to a meaningful arc before too long. The worldbuilding is thorough (comparable to Firefly), and the sci-fi elements awakened my inner eleven-year-old self from a long slumber.
Simply put, I love this book.
I have read much self-published dreck, mere self-congratulating embarrassments to make the claim, "I'm an author! Look at what I've made!" rather than to tell a good story. After Moses is a good story, and it was written in an honest way. Clear Christian undertones are on most pages, but it's not crippled by didacticism, pandering, or propping itself up with logical fallacies.
There were a few spots where spelling, punctuation, and mechanics fell by the wayside, but those were the parts I could tell the author was so excited the sheen of properness and propriety rubbed off in gleeful friction.
Parts of the book gave me chills (which, to my dismay, does not happen often to me as I'm reading). The characters are well fleshed. The plot meanders a bit but gets to a meaningful arc before too long. The worldbuilding is thorough (comparable to Firefly), and the sci-fi elements awakened my inner eleven-year-old self from a long slumber.
Simply put, I love this book.
June 26, 2025
I immensely enjoyed this first installment in the “Moses” series. I love everything about this crew and their adventures in the solar system, and I’m excited to read what comes next for the Sparrow!
October 7, 2025
Firefly 2.0
February 18, 2024
I absolutely enjoyed this book immensely. I was about halfway through this first book when I ordered all the other books in the series in hardcover. It was a joy and pleasure to read this story. The plot, characters, and setting were so well thought out and unfolding to always keep me interested.
Here's my early complaint, you get too much story for what little you paid for this. Kane should have gotten at least four books out of this and charged you the same price for all of them. Now, with my tongue-in-cheek complaint out of the way, the adventures of the crew are very episodic in nature and each one matches a familiar pattern of a serial (without the old-time cheese). They are self-contained adventures. Here's the kicker - you can enjoy them without needing to read eight books with a never-ending sword of Damocles hanging as the "big bad". That is not to say there isn't an overarching story in the universe. It is tastefully teased out as narrative interviews at the beginning of the chapter (save one that differs as important to the story) and peppered throughout the adventures of the crew. This is so smart and downright enjoyable. I will say, that it would have been nice to have a little bit more understanding of what Moses did for humanity in terms of care and technology; the subtlety gets a little too much and overshadows some of the payout towards the end of the book (a small gripe).
The characters couldn't have been written better. The main character, Matthew Cole, is likeable and a mixture of a mysterious past, a hero paragon, and someone who can change when the situation calls for it makes him so well-rounded you almost forget that it's ok for authors to do this still. The crew collected along the way do not fade into the background. Each one is also written like an actual human being you want to read about. In fact, some of the crew have some of the best lines written about them. Yvonne has an amazing character moment in a library that is subtle but very powerful and advances her character maybe a little bit more than our main character for a good purpose. The children characters, Grace and Davey are just annoying enough to make you believe they are children but they are able to grow and have purpose as the story progresses. Abigail as the Shield Maiden co-bounty hunter also has virtue and poise and agency and growth. I liked that, at least in this book, there is no need to push a romantic angle with Cole. She does not take a backseat only backs up where needed and works well in a team setting.
Again, the plot are the stories and there are stories upon stories here. Each chapter is a self-contained adventure and so you get rise and fall tension and action and periods of rest. However, where a good rollercoaster puts the big drop at the beginning of the ride, the end story has the best rising and falling action. Kane bought a lot favor with his audience with all the other stories and gave them a wallop of one at the end. There is not one "bad one" in this bunch. There are none that don't have a purpose or fail to logically follow where our characters are as people or from their talents. This is just good sci-fi straight through. Yes, the Firefly comparison is probably appropriate in terms of setting and feel, but this is so different in such a good way (and we get more than one season and a movie here). The ending is nice as a set up for other books in the series but you can easily be done with this one and just know that the world that exists in the book goes on. That's what I want when it comes to any sci-fi/fantasy book and I'm happy that this story has other parts.
This is a high recommendation for me and I'm going to say that this will be a hard one to beat in 2024 as a book I loved completely. I cannot say enough good things about this and recommend just buying all the books in the series straight out. A true joy. Final Grade - A+
Here's my early complaint, you get too much story for what little you paid for this. Kane should have gotten at least four books out of this and charged you the same price for all of them. Now, with my tongue-in-cheek complaint out of the way, the adventures of the crew are very episodic in nature and each one matches a familiar pattern of a serial (without the old-time cheese). They are self-contained adventures. Here's the kicker - you can enjoy them without needing to read eight books with a never-ending sword of Damocles hanging as the "big bad". That is not to say there isn't an overarching story in the universe. It is tastefully teased out as narrative interviews at the beginning of the chapter (save one that differs as important to the story) and peppered throughout the adventures of the crew. This is so smart and downright enjoyable. I will say, that it would have been nice to have a little bit more understanding of what Moses did for humanity in terms of care and technology; the subtlety gets a little too much and overshadows some of the payout towards the end of the book (a small gripe).
The characters couldn't have been written better. The main character, Matthew Cole, is likeable and a mixture of a mysterious past, a hero paragon, and someone who can change when the situation calls for it makes him so well-rounded you almost forget that it's ok for authors to do this still. The crew collected along the way do not fade into the background. Each one is also written like an actual human being you want to read about. In fact, some of the crew have some of the best lines written about them. Yvonne has an amazing character moment in a library that is subtle but very powerful and advances her character maybe a little bit more than our main character for a good purpose. The children characters, Grace and Davey are just annoying enough to make you believe they are children but they are able to grow and have purpose as the story progresses. Abigail as the Shield Maiden co-bounty hunter also has virtue and poise and agency and growth. I liked that, at least in this book, there is no need to push a romantic angle with Cole. She does not take a backseat only backs up where needed and works well in a team setting.
Again, the plot are the stories and there are stories upon stories here. Each chapter is a self-contained adventure and so you get rise and fall tension and action and periods of rest. However, where a good rollercoaster puts the big drop at the beginning of the ride, the end story has the best rising and falling action. Kane bought a lot favor with his audience with all the other stories and gave them a wallop of one at the end. There is not one "bad one" in this bunch. There are none that don't have a purpose or fail to logically follow where our characters are as people or from their talents. This is just good sci-fi straight through. Yes, the Firefly comparison is probably appropriate in terms of setting and feel, but this is so different in such a good way (and we get more than one season and a movie here). The ending is nice as a set up for other books in the series but you can easily be done with this one and just know that the world that exists in the book goes on. That's what I want when it comes to any sci-fi/fantasy book and I'm happy that this story has other parts.
This is a high recommendation for me and I'm going to say that this will be a hard one to beat in 2024 as a book I loved completely. I cannot say enough good things about this and recommend just buying all the books in the series straight out. A true joy. Final Grade - A+
October 28, 2024
This is the first in a series of books set in a distant future where humanity struggles to survive after the disappearance of a powerful, beneficial, and benevolent AI program known as "Moses." Moses had been responsible for many scientific and technological breakthroughs that hastened humanity’s colonization of the solar system, but he disappeared abruptly. Now, societies are beginning to decay as they lack the knowledge to continue progressing and flourishing on their own. Furthermore, the colonies on Mars, Jupiter’s moons, and even in Venus’s atmosphere have lost all contact with Earth and have no idea what’s happening there.
The main action of the story follows a crew of freelancers—essentially hired guns willing to take on difficult, often dangerous jobs throughout the solar system. From overseeing the safe delivery of fuel tankers to investigating murders, Matthew Cole, the captain of the "Sparrow" and carrying a burden from his past, prefers working alone. Naturally, he quickly acquires a unique crew: the exoskeleton-enhanced Abigail, Dr. Yvonne, fleeing from cartel thugs, and two orphaned children, Davey and Grace, who had been abused by a human trafficking ring. Slavery is a significant theme in the series, as societies lacking advanced technology, especially robotics, are forced to rely on human labor, resulting in the strong preying on the weak as the colonies struggle to survive.
The crew of the "Sparrow" forms a dynamic ensemble cast who enjoy a variety of episodic adventures that slowly reveal interconnected plot lines laid out in earlier chapters. This episodic structure, reminiscent of a classic TV show, features straightforward adventure with good-versus-evil themes. While the story could benefit from more interior development of the main characters, Kane’s clean, clear style makes for an easy and engaging read. Cole, though uncomplicated, is a character we root for, and his troubled past eventually adds layers to his motivations. His backstory is revealed quite late in the book and is well worth waiting for. All the main characters have their own complicated histories and secrets, which both hinder and strengthen them in relatable ways.
Davey and Grace are believable as children without the snarkiness often found in modern portrayals. While it also has a strong “Star Wars” vibe, it is mercifully free (in this installment, at least) of aliens or "smart-aleck" robots. This decision is refreshing, proving that humanity’s inner struggles and strengths can create plenty of compelling drama, allowing the story to succeed as epic science fiction with lots of edge-of-your-seat excitement. The world-building is fascinating, blending known facts about our solar system with imagined advancements that expand the horizons of the narrative.
One of the ingenious elements of this series is that each chapter opens with a passage from an interview or a published work by people who lived during Moses's era, reflecting on the changes that have come since. Kane does an excellent job capturing a variety of voices and perspectives, offering tantalizing glimpses into the “golden age” under the AI’s presence. Whether Moses achieved actual sentience remains uncertain, but his absence is deeply felt.
The conclusion wraps up satisfyingly while setting up intriguing plots and mysteries for the future of this fun universe. Despite the grim post-tech apocalypse setting, the tone is not dour or transhumanist. It is hopeful, entertaining, and great for all ages.
Happily recommended.
The main action of the story follows a crew of freelancers—essentially hired guns willing to take on difficult, often dangerous jobs throughout the solar system. From overseeing the safe delivery of fuel tankers to investigating murders, Matthew Cole, the captain of the "Sparrow" and carrying a burden from his past, prefers working alone. Naturally, he quickly acquires a unique crew: the exoskeleton-enhanced Abigail, Dr. Yvonne, fleeing from cartel thugs, and two orphaned children, Davey and Grace, who had been abused by a human trafficking ring. Slavery is a significant theme in the series, as societies lacking advanced technology, especially robotics, are forced to rely on human labor, resulting in the strong preying on the weak as the colonies struggle to survive.
The crew of the "Sparrow" forms a dynamic ensemble cast who enjoy a variety of episodic adventures that slowly reveal interconnected plot lines laid out in earlier chapters. This episodic structure, reminiscent of a classic TV show, features straightforward adventure with good-versus-evil themes. While the story could benefit from more interior development of the main characters, Kane’s clean, clear style makes for an easy and engaging read. Cole, though uncomplicated, is a character we root for, and his troubled past eventually adds layers to his motivations. His backstory is revealed quite late in the book and is well worth waiting for. All the main characters have their own complicated histories and secrets, which both hinder and strengthen them in relatable ways.
Davey and Grace are believable as children without the snarkiness often found in modern portrayals. While it also has a strong “Star Wars” vibe, it is mercifully free (in this installment, at least) of aliens or "smart-aleck" robots. This decision is refreshing, proving that humanity’s inner struggles and strengths can create plenty of compelling drama, allowing the story to succeed as epic science fiction with lots of edge-of-your-seat excitement. The world-building is fascinating, blending known facts about our solar system with imagined advancements that expand the horizons of the narrative.
One of the ingenious elements of this series is that each chapter opens with a passage from an interview or a published work by people who lived during Moses's era, reflecting on the changes that have come since. Kane does an excellent job capturing a variety of voices and perspectives, offering tantalizing glimpses into the “golden age” under the AI’s presence. Whether Moses achieved actual sentience remains uncertain, but his absence is deeply felt.
The conclusion wraps up satisfyingly while setting up intriguing plots and mysteries for the future of this fun universe. Despite the grim post-tech apocalypse setting, the tone is not dour or transhumanist. It is hopeful, entertaining, and great for all ages.
Happily recommended.
July 25, 2024
I am an avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy, but I will admit that I gravitate towards fantasy. It's not that I like it more, its just that sci-fi often tries to bog down into technicalities and is dry.
That's why its been such a joy to have discovered Michael Kane and his After Moses series. All the comparisons in the other reviews to Firefly, Cowboy Bebop, etc. are accurate. There is a gritty, face-paced, western in space feel to the story. But beyond that, there is definitely a uniqueness to this with the premise. After Moses deals with humanity being artificially launched into space by what appears to be a benevolent AI who took on the name Moses. After leading humanity out among the planets of our solar system, Moses disappears under strange circumstances leaving humanity with technology it hardly understands and cannot reproduce or improve upon out among the planets sustained by this advanced technology.
Kane does a great job showing two major things. One, that humanity can (though not inevitably so) be cruel, vicious, and even animalistic when its survival is threatened. Two, that even in such times, there are individuals who are lights shining in the darkness. Though each of the protagonists have their flaws, they are >>>good<<< people doing the right thing.
One other thing I liked about this first book is that it is refreshing to read a story with Christianity (using the term generically here) not framed as evil or the main antagonist. Its a rare thing to find these days. The Catholic church (I'm avoiding spoilers here) is front and center of the story here and they are framed as good people attempting to help in the dark times.
The fiction is clean, which is a definite plus, and has great character development, hooks, worldbuilding, and plot development. Michael has excellent talent as a writer/storyteller. I only can hope that the story is going where I want it to, but I shall have to read the other books in the series to find out. I cannot wait!
Well done, Michael, and thanks for sharing your story with us.
That's why its been such a joy to have discovered Michael Kane and his After Moses series. All the comparisons in the other reviews to Firefly, Cowboy Bebop, etc. are accurate. There is a gritty, face-paced, western in space feel to the story. But beyond that, there is definitely a uniqueness to this with the premise. After Moses deals with humanity being artificially launched into space by what appears to be a benevolent AI who took on the name Moses. After leading humanity out among the planets of our solar system, Moses disappears under strange circumstances leaving humanity with technology it hardly understands and cannot reproduce or improve upon out among the planets sustained by this advanced technology.
Kane does a great job showing two major things. One, that humanity can (though not inevitably so) be cruel, vicious, and even animalistic when its survival is threatened. Two, that even in such times, there are individuals who are lights shining in the darkness. Though each of the protagonists have their flaws, they are >>>good<<< people doing the right thing.
One other thing I liked about this first book is that it is refreshing to read a story with Christianity (using the term generically here) not framed as evil or the main antagonist. Its a rare thing to find these days. The Catholic church (I'm avoiding spoilers here) is front and center of the story here and they are framed as good people attempting to help in the dark times.
The fiction is clean, which is a definite plus, and has great character development, hooks, worldbuilding, and plot development. Michael has excellent talent as a writer/storyteller. I only can hope that the story is going where I want it to, but I shall have to read the other books in the series to find out. I cannot wait!
Well done, Michael, and thanks for sharing your story with us.
November 29, 2025
Awesome Launching Pad for a Western Sci-Fi Series...
After Moses delivers enjoyable characters in a richly-built world that is ripe for future story-telling. It’s immediately clear in the opening pages that the reader has stepped into an immense setting that touches on a full spectrum of scientific, social, and theological underpinnings. But the strongest pillar in the novel are the protagonists that band together and journey into the futuristic worlds of After Moses. The main character, Matthew Cole, is enigmatic and reluctant, but reveals himself to be fully likeable as he is forced to share quarters with a tattered and diverse crew. Together, they make their way through the solar system, encountering several action-packed and curious escapades. Even though the story doesn’t have many ‘slow’ places in it (there’s always healthy doses of action), it felt a little sluggish early on. The reason for this is that the characters engage in several seemingly disparate and unrelated jobs. Although the reader is introduced to cartels, unions, slaves, and business rivals, no real over-arching conflict enters into the storyline until about two-thirds into the book. This absence of plot thread during this time does lessen the amount of suspense and tension, but the excellent trade-off, though, is that the author masterfully uses that time to explore the characters and history, as well as introduce the world around them and conceivably dropping important bread crumbs for the rest of the series. Beyond that, the story redeems itself with an excellent pay-off – explosive thrills and intriguing mystery that gear the reader up for more excitement in later books! All in all, a rewarding tale for any lovers of sci-fi adventure!
After Moses delivers enjoyable characters in a richly-built world that is ripe for future story-telling. It’s immediately clear in the opening pages that the reader has stepped into an immense setting that touches on a full spectrum of scientific, social, and theological underpinnings. But the strongest pillar in the novel are the protagonists that band together and journey into the futuristic worlds of After Moses. The main character, Matthew Cole, is enigmatic and reluctant, but reveals himself to be fully likeable as he is forced to share quarters with a tattered and diverse crew. Together, they make their way through the solar system, encountering several action-packed and curious escapades. Even though the story doesn’t have many ‘slow’ places in it (there’s always healthy doses of action), it felt a little sluggish early on. The reason for this is that the characters engage in several seemingly disparate and unrelated jobs. Although the reader is introduced to cartels, unions, slaves, and business rivals, no real over-arching conflict enters into the storyline until about two-thirds into the book. This absence of plot thread during this time does lessen the amount of suspense and tension, but the excellent trade-off, though, is that the author masterfully uses that time to explore the characters and history, as well as introduce the world around them and conceivably dropping important bread crumbs for the rest of the series. Beyond that, the story redeems itself with an excellent pay-off – explosive thrills and intriguing mystery that gear the reader up for more excitement in later books! All in all, a rewarding tale for any lovers of sci-fi adventure!
March 11, 2021
Full of spoilers.... You have been warned!
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. Like honestly when I snatched it from KU I was totally unprepared for the world that awaited me. I have so many things I love about this book and that's saying alot since I'm a very picky reader and will quit a book if it doesn't meet certain requirements within the first few chapters(4)
I'm obsessed with every character its unhealthy! Abigail is my favorite, she is so brave and I'm crushing on the Shield Maiden hard core EVEN THOUGH I'm needing her and Matthew to get together asap. The chemistry is explosive like when she knocked him around like a fly in Kyoto.
I like how there were many missions throughout the storyline, normally a book will have 1 mission the whole book. Its tedious to have 500 pages of the same plot for an entire read. All the drama was very exciting.
The tidbits of history at the beginning of each chapter was insightful, we found out alot about the decline of the human race- which is A.M for After Moses. When he left the world in darkness and has been missing for 100 years.
Also I'm not a very religious person but I like how Christianity wasn't shoved down my throat like in some books. I didn't have to skim paragraphs at a time from boredom, I actually was able to do some deep thinking on humanity and what happens to us when it's all over? How we are just ants in this big universe and what mark we will make to save mankind or further us into ruin. The author gets major points for that.
One of the coolest things about this series is that the women aren't meek and hide behind the men, it's the other way around since Abigail has an exo suit and Grace has the Miracles!! The girls are badass and definitely give the boys a run for their money.
We also have many characters (good and bad) that we meet throughout this journey. They all have a spot to play in this galaxy of ours and I'm excited to see where this story goes. I hope this is a 15 books series! Its just that good.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. Like honestly when I snatched it from KU I was totally unprepared for the world that awaited me. I have so many things I love about this book and that's saying alot since I'm a very picky reader and will quit a book if it doesn't meet certain requirements within the first few chapters(4)
I'm obsessed with every character its unhealthy! Abigail is my favorite, she is so brave and I'm crushing on the Shield Maiden hard core EVEN THOUGH I'm needing her and Matthew to get together asap. The chemistry is explosive like when she knocked him around like a fly in Kyoto.
I like how there were many missions throughout the storyline, normally a book will have 1 mission the whole book. Its tedious to have 500 pages of the same plot for an entire read. All the drama was very exciting.
The tidbits of history at the beginning of each chapter was insightful, we found out alot about the decline of the human race- which is A.M for After Moses. When he left the world in darkness and has been missing for 100 years.
Also I'm not a very religious person but I like how Christianity wasn't shoved down my throat like in some books. I didn't have to skim paragraphs at a time from boredom, I actually was able to do some deep thinking on humanity and what happens to us when it's all over? How we are just ants in this big universe and what mark we will make to save mankind or further us into ruin. The author gets major points for that.
One of the coolest things about this series is that the women aren't meek and hide behind the men, it's the other way around since Abigail has an exo suit and Grace has the Miracles!! The girls are badass and definitely give the boys a run for their money.
We also have many characters (good and bad) that we meet throughout this journey. They all have a spot to play in this galaxy of ours and I'm excited to see where this story goes. I hope this is a 15 books series! Its just that good.
October 23, 2024
Cowboy of Space
In the novel After Moses! the Reader finds a futuristic cowboy moving about the Solar System with his trusty spaceship Sparrow in search of work. Whether it's moving cargo like a freighter, working as an armed escort to a space tanker of expensive fuel, chasing down pirates, or freeing agricultural slaves, Matthew Cole is your man.
Atmospheric Venus, the Martian surface, Ceres, and the moons of Jupiter are humankind's colonies. Earth has gone silent following a massive war and an apparent ice age. There are few details. But about one hundred years ago, Moses - an AI - appeared and worked his magic for humankind's benefit. Now he's gone. The colonies struggle on, hampered by humankind's darker side for exploitive benefit.
Enter Matthew Cole, master of the Sparrow, seeking work. Marked with a strong moral compass, Cole takes on only certain jobs. Usually crewless, he manages to get the job done until on once and assignment; an unwanted accomplice is forced upon him.
Events get more interesting from there.
Interestingly, each story or chapter stands complete. Yet each one dovetails into the larger build of the advancing novel. Eventually, character details become more fully revealed rendering full and satisfying personalities.
After Moses! is a fun read. Family friendly, highly recommended.
In the novel After Moses! the Reader finds a futuristic cowboy moving about the Solar System with his trusty spaceship Sparrow in search of work. Whether it's moving cargo like a freighter, working as an armed escort to a space tanker of expensive fuel, chasing down pirates, or freeing agricultural slaves, Matthew Cole is your man.
Atmospheric Venus, the Martian surface, Ceres, and the moons of Jupiter are humankind's colonies. Earth has gone silent following a massive war and an apparent ice age. There are few details. But about one hundred years ago, Moses - an AI - appeared and worked his magic for humankind's benefit. Now he's gone. The colonies struggle on, hampered by humankind's darker side for exploitive benefit.
Enter Matthew Cole, master of the Sparrow, seeking work. Marked with a strong moral compass, Cole takes on only certain jobs. Usually crewless, he manages to get the job done until on once and assignment; an unwanted accomplice is forced upon him.
Events get more interesting from there.
Interestingly, each story or chapter stands complete. Yet each one dovetails into the larger build of the advancing novel. Eventually, character details become more fully revealed rendering full and satisfying personalities.
After Moses! is a fun read. Family friendly, highly recommended.
October 30, 2025
It’s refreshing to have morally upright protagonists who are actually complex and conflicted. The cast is pretty diverse, but shares some core values and does the “found family” theme well.
The chapters are very episodic, but never boring. There were times I expected pages of “filler” scenes between each major event, but the author kept the action and motivation going. It felt like I was reading a weekly episode of the cartoons I grew up with, except now it’s about a space cowboy.
The world and its history are mysterious and investing, and I’ll likely start the next book soon. It’s somewhat thematic due to our growing dependence on AI technology. Also, not to judge a book by its cover, but the design made it easy to pick back up each day. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to friends and family!
The chapters are very episodic, but never boring. There were times I expected pages of “filler” scenes between each major event, but the author kept the action and motivation going. It felt like I was reading a weekly episode of the cartoons I grew up with, except now it’s about a space cowboy.
The world and its history are mysterious and investing, and I’ll likely start the next book soon. It’s somewhat thematic due to our growing dependence on AI technology. Also, not to judge a book by its cover, but the design made it easy to pick back up each day. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to friends and family!
February 17, 2025
This is the first in a western-influenced post-apocalyptic science fiction series by Michael F. Kane. Focused on a roving spaceship-for-hire, but with some religious (specifically Catholic) themes, it makes one think of the famous 2002 TV series Firefly crossed with the 2010 film The Book of Eli. The first few chapters were a bit slow, but after them, I couldn’t put this book down.
The title of the novel comes from the name of an AI entity which took humanity to the planets, and then vanished (prior to the time of the novel), leaving earth to nuclear catastrophe and the planets to slowly decaying infrastructure. The action takes place on Mars, Venus, the dwarf planet Ceres, and various moons of Jupiter and of Saturn.
The title of the novel comes from the name of an AI entity which took humanity to the planets, and then vanished (prior to the time of the novel), leaving earth to nuclear catastrophe and the planets to slowly decaying infrastructure. The action takes place on Mars, Venus, the dwarf planet Ceres, and various moons of Jupiter and of Saturn.
December 13, 2022
This novel answered a prayer…
This novel answered a prayer I had not uttered, that in reality I did not even comprehend until the last pages of this novel. I deeply felt the prayer woven in your novel’s words. A prayer about healing from the depth of damage inherent in the cost of resisting evil. This story, this work, was used by Christ to see me through a realization of the extensive price I have paid. Thank you is inadequate Michael Kane. Perhaps healing and rest is coming to me. Your words, your story bring hope.
This novel answered a prayer I had not uttered, that in reality I did not even comprehend until the last pages of this novel. I deeply felt the prayer woven in your novel’s words. A prayer about healing from the depth of damage inherent in the cost of resisting evil. This story, this work, was used by Christ to see me through a realization of the extensive price I have paid. Thank you is inadequate Michael Kane. Perhaps healing and rest is coming to me. Your words, your story bring hope.
May 16, 2024
After a highly advanced AI, Moses, lifted humanity up from the brink and brought us Solar System, he disappeared. The rapid scientific advances and progress disappeared with him. Humanity is in decline. Enter freelancer Matthew Cole, who seeks to keep the light of what is good burning.
He gathers a motley crew of misfits and outcasts for various adventures from Venus to Saturn, fighting for what is right. But Matthew has a dark and mysterious past, while an old adversary stalks his every move.
A series of exciting adventures across the Solar System in this piece!
He gathers a motley crew of misfits and outcasts for various adventures from Venus to Saturn, fighting for what is right. But Matthew has a dark and mysterious past, while an old adversary stalks his every move.
A series of exciting adventures across the Solar System in this piece!
August 7, 2024
a philosophical adventure
I thought I was signing up for a good ol western shoot em up story. This book had plenty of that but so much more. A great philosophical conundrum surrounds the plot lines of this novel and excellently ties them together at the end while at the same time seeding future plans for the upcoming books. Just ordered book 2 because I HAVE to know where this take is heading. Do yourself a favor and take this journey through this narrative. It is a bit long of a read but ultimately worth it ten times over
I thought I was signing up for a good ol western shoot em up story. This book had plenty of that but so much more. A great philosophical conundrum surrounds the plot lines of this novel and excellently ties them together at the end while at the same time seeding future plans for the upcoming books. Just ordered book 2 because I HAVE to know where this take is heading. Do yourself a favor and take this journey through this narrative. It is a bit long of a read but ultimately worth it ten times over
January 3, 2026
After being in a bit of a reading slump, this was the perfect book to help get me out of it. A fun, episodic space western, with enjoyable characters. A worthy entry into the space western category, drawing on influences that I enjoy (Firefly, Star Wars, The Expanse, etc.) but bringing together into its own story. Given the book was published in 2019, the main premise of a benevolent AI running all of human society and then disappearing still works very well in 2025. Would recommend to general sci-fi fans.
September 30, 2024
Excellent book series written about humans as an early spacefaring civilization. It initially reminded me of "The Expanse" series, but I fizzled out on The Expanse books part way through. I could not put these books down and am anxiously awaiting the sixth book in the series. The premise behind the series is new, creative, and interesting.
April 27, 2025
Amazing! Greatly enjoyed each character and watching them grow in small ways throughout the book. Initially I didnt realize how many books would be in the series but it makes sense with the big world that is being fleshed out. I am looking forward to seeing how all the threads weave and tie together as the lore and characters progress.
May 17, 2025
Completely hooked on this series!
Great sci-fi action adventure with just the right mix of history, science, philosophy, technology, space travel and “magic.” Can’t wait to dive into the next in the series, and spend some more time with this cast of characters. Bravo, Mr. Kane! (Patriot_Mimaw)
Great sci-fi action adventure with just the right mix of history, science, philosophy, technology, space travel and “magic.” Can’t wait to dive into the next in the series, and spend some more time with this cast of characters. Bravo, Mr. Kane! (Patriot_Mimaw)
June 13, 2025
As one who is very picky about what I consider an excellent novel, I hold no reservations in giving this as many stars as I am able. There is almost nothing about this book that I did not like. I had first put it off to get some shorter novels out of the way, but it reads like something half the size simply due to how well it is written and structured.
The progress is well planned and feels as though the author put a great deal of time into setting up the intricacies and inter-related plot points to create a holistically appealing storyline.
It has been referenced before, but is worth saying that there is a great parallel between this novel and the TV show Firefly. The western/space motif, while having been used in previous mediums is very well knit and put together here. The narrative flows in a constant pace, the characters feel real and their struggles are genuine. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to craft a story that reads as smoothly as this one. The info dumps are non-existent, the world building is natural and not distracting, the dialogue is witty, heavy, and throughout we have various layers of psychological introspection, and grand themes rather than flat characters.
Probably the greatest strength is that at no point did the author have to resort to the lowest common denominator tropes like vulgarity, gore, or sexually explicit scenes. The story itself stands on its own and doesn't require any transgressive scandalous means to grab the reader. I would have no issue giving this to a young teen, but also recommending it to an adult, in that sense it has a very Tolkien-esque market with a wide age-range.
I genuinely cannot think of an aspect of this book that I would fault that isn't a manner of mere preference. (OK, biggest issue is that 1 mile is not 2km, it's 1.6 - this might be the unforgivable error in the book) I look forward to continuing with this series.
To all the indie authors out there, this is how it should be done.
The progress is well planned and feels as though the author put a great deal of time into setting up the intricacies and inter-related plot points to create a holistically appealing storyline.
It has been referenced before, but is worth saying that there is a great parallel between this novel and the TV show Firefly. The western/space motif, while having been used in previous mediums is very well knit and put together here. The narrative flows in a constant pace, the characters feel real and their struggles are genuine. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to craft a story that reads as smoothly as this one. The info dumps are non-existent, the world building is natural and not distracting, the dialogue is witty, heavy, and throughout we have various layers of psychological introspection, and grand themes rather than flat characters.
Probably the greatest strength is that at no point did the author have to resort to the lowest common denominator tropes like vulgarity, gore, or sexually explicit scenes. The story itself stands on its own and doesn't require any transgressive scandalous means to grab the reader. I would have no issue giving this to a young teen, but also recommending it to an adult, in that sense it has a very Tolkien-esque market with a wide age-range.
I genuinely cannot think of an aspect of this book that I would fault that isn't a manner of mere preference. (OK, biggest issue is that 1 mile is not 2km, it's 1.6 - this might be the unforgivable error in the book) I look forward to continuing with this series.
To all the indie authors out there, this is how it should be done.
September 18, 2025
if you’re looking for Firefly, you found it.
I found a book to be very entertaining with well developed characters and a curious take on an old sci-fi plot. Humanity has become completely reliant on AI, and out of the blue AI savior has decided to delete himself. This is a much more human story than see the expanse, even though it takes place from Mars to Europa. Give it a shot.
I found a book to be very entertaining with well developed characters and a curious take on an old sci-fi plot. Humanity has become completely reliant on AI, and out of the blue AI savior has decided to delete himself. This is a much more human story than see the expanse, even though it takes place from Mars to Europa. Give it a shot.
May 2, 2020
After Moses is an episodic Sci-Fi that feels like a breath of fresh air. There are no cheesy tropes, and the Sci-Fi is soft which is something I like. The characters are interesting to read, and learning about the degraded post-utopia universe is very fun.
August 7, 2024
I had the second book saved in my cart before even finishing the first and placed the order within minutes of turning the last page.
The first book introduces plenty of interesting characters through episodic storytelling with enough momentum to frame shift into book two.
The first book introduces plenty of interesting characters through episodic storytelling with enough momentum to frame shift into book two.
Read
April 19, 2025Good start to a series, I enjoyed the setting and the anthological nature of the first several sequences, and it came together in the end. It's very much a Christian sci-fi but it's written in a way that's accessible to non-Christian audiences, think "Daredevil" but in a "Firefly" setting.
July 5, 2024
Excellent. Interesting and unique. Just what I want in a sci fi story.
March 8, 2025
Another worthy independent science fiction novel
This was a fun story to read. It has a strong Christian perspective that I enjoyed and I look forward to the next in the series.
This was a fun story to read. It has a strong Christian perspective that I enjoyed and I look forward to the next in the series.
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