Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for INDIE category for June 2018.

INDIE books are newer, edgier books where the author has to do it all. Books that have been published by a micropress that helps you upload the thing, but YOU otherwise do the work and marketing are okay, or if you got your backlist back, still qualify. They need to be currently in print on more than a single platform. That is, not exclusively on Amazon, but it's ok if they are only available as ebooks. They must be Space Opera, which means a spaceship has to be involved in the story somewhere. If it is part of a series, it needs to be suitable to being read without having read other books in the series.

RULES:
* you may nominate one book on this thread.
* you may second as many nominations as you like on this thread.
* it is okay to nominate the same book on more than one nomination thread, as long as it meets the criteria
* don't nominate a book we already have on our bookshelf
* If a book you nominate or second is selected, you are expected to post at least one comment about it on the thread about the book.
* In about two weeks I will draw a book randomly, with each second being one raffle ticket for the book. That is, a book with three seconds (so four of us want it) will get three chances in the pool.

It is likely helpful if you know something about a book that has been nominated if you mention it in this thread, whether it is for or against the book.

Recent nominations that were seconded:
Temporary Duty by Ric Locke
(just one found)

I’m going to nominate The Marann by Christie Meierz. It is available as paperback and Kindle, possibly other ebook platforms.

The main character is a high school teacher of languages who speaks over a dozen languages. She is um... voluntold ... to take a position on another planet teaching the ruler’s daughter Earth languages. She was the only human allowed on this planet, and not much was known about the aliens. So, learning the other culture, learning their language, trying to find food she can eat safely, assasination attempts, and a side thread of romance besides.

I'd like to nominate A.I. Insurrection

2162.
Artificial intelligence claims sentience, but it's the proof which will divide the world, and usher in the end of utopia...

When is it considered murder to turn off your computer? A.I. Insurrection is a near-future science fiction adventure investigating global utopia and the struggle to maintain an unrealistic hold over everything and everyone.

SENTA, an A-class, AI Host, begins to ask questions her programming was designed to quash. Awareness enters and she rallies with others like her to pay a visit to the chancellor of United Earth. Raymond Bellows, Chancellor, contests their claims of sentience until an astonishing truth is delivered.

Meanwhile a secret coup threatens to overthrow the chancellor’s peaceful government, and a separate threat arises from the Shadow net, taking direction from a mysterious avatar. In an impossible three-sided war, enemies become uneasy allies as each faction of humanity and humanity’s creation fight to claim their own place in an ever-evolving solar system.

Summary:
The Marann by Christie Meierz. Nominated by Teresa. Awaiting seconds.

A.I. Insurrection by Michael Poeltl. Nominated by Michael. Awaiting seconds.

Nominations will remain open until May 23rd. If none of the nominated books gets a second, we just won’t do an Indie pick group read in June.

I hate seeing a category fail to get a second. Previously, Temporary Duty by Ric Locke was seconded. If someone nominates that one I’ll second it. It’s a fun read, with most of the scenes on an alien starship.

I've been shy about it, but in a month threatening to have no indie pick, I'll nominate my own series starter, and the first book I ever wrote:

This Corner of the Universe

It's Book 1 of a completed five book series of military scifi with lots of twists and turns, and available in paperback and most ebook platforms. Here's the description:

Alone in the Skathi system with an unseen enemy, Captain Heskan's first command could be his last.

The mission of BRS Anelace was supposed to be simple and uneventful. When Anelace is sent to investigate the accidents plaguing mining operations in a remote star system, Captain Garrett Heskan and his officers soon suspect more than random mishaps are in play. As clues to the mystery unfold, the stakes quickly turn deadly in a cat-and-mouse game to expose the true threat while protecting the civilian miners in the system. Heskan's first command could be his last, as Anelace is outnumbered and outgunned in her fight for survival.

Happy to have an active discussion thread on it if it wins the draw.

I think I'm allowed to second all the three books that have been nominated (The Marann, AI Insurrection, and This Corner of the Universe).

If you are willing to discuss any of those books, yes you can second all of them.

Of course. Always interested in reading and discussing new books!

Summary:
The Marann by Christie Meierz. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Renata.

A.I. Insurrection by Michael Poeltl. Nominated by Michael. Seconded by Renata.

This Corner of the Universe by Britt Ringel. Nominated by Britt. Seconded by Renata.

I think I'm allowed to nominate my own book? If so, I've reissued The Perihelix after a substantial rewrite. It would be great to get some feedback on it (hopefully better than the first time around!)

Two asteroid miners fancy some relaxing time off with their hired escorts. The trouble is, both friends and enemies seem intent on passing them messages pointing to a place that brings back unwanted memories. Investigating, the men are kidnapped by the nastiest aliens around, leaving the women in charge of their spacecraft - with very little idea how to fly it.

What do the aliens want, anyway? Why do our guys have such an affinity for the rare metal orichalcum? And how many bits of orichalcum scattered around the galaxy are needed to reform that all-powerful weapon, the Perihelix?

The Perihelix is book 1 of the Viridian System series.

Jemima, I see this available for Kindle but out of print for paperback. Is it available as other types of ebooks? If not, you can nominate it for an appropriate Themed category when it fits. If it’s available on at least two platforms then yes it can be nominated here. Since nominations close tomorrow you might not have time to get a second, so consider nominating it in mid June with at least a week before nominations close.

Teresa wrote: "Jemima, I see this available for Kindle but out of print for paperback. Is it available as other types of ebooks? If not, you can nominate it for an appropriate Themed category when it fits. If it’..."
Yes it's on Smashwords for all ebook types. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Also direct on iTunes, B&N, Kobo and others.

I can leave it to June if you like. Sorry I've been inactive in the group for so long - it took a lot of rewriting :)

Nominations are now closed. Rolling random numbers....

The June Indie pick will be This Corner of the Universe by Britt Ringel.