Two Years Since the Dream, Two Weeks Since the Launch: The Verdict on The Spacer

Why the early reviews of my debut novella—a "requiem" for the Galatean Saga—have me breathing a sigh of relief.

It has been two weeks since I released The Spacer into the wild.

As any author will tell you, the days immediately following a launch are a strange mix of adrenaline and terror. You spend months (or 2 years in my case) living inside your own head, constructing a dual timeline, refining the military protocols, and agonizing over the moral gray zones of your characters.

But you never really know if it works until strangers read it.

Now that the first wave of reviews has come in on Goodreads, I can finally exhale. I am absolutely blown away by the reception.

The "Sci-Fi Headache" test one of my biggest fears was balancing the "Science" with the "Fiction." I wanted the world of 2203 and 2253 to feel grounded and real, but I didn't want to alienate readers who aren't hardcore genre fans.

That’s why seeing Meg Bozarth’s review meant the world to me:

    "Sci Fi novels always give me headaches but I found this was to be one of the easiest to comprehend... She has created so many extras and content for readers to get a full perspective."

If I’ve made a complex world feel accessible, I’ve done my job.

More than just a war story 

While The Spacer is Military Sci-Fi, it was never just about the battles for me. It was about the psychology of the soldiers and the questions of humanity. I was thrilled to see that Matthew Futter picked up on exactly that:

    "The author explores at least a couple of really big questions in this book... If you like to consider ethical dilemmas and uncover buried truths with your powerful sci-fi, this is definitely one you’ll want to read."

And Mariusz Trynka left a review that I might just frame on my wall:

    "It’s rare to find military sci-fi that feels this thoughtful, restrained, and emotionally sharp at the same time... It’s intense without being loud, smart without showing off, and genuinely moving."

Justice for Monihan

Perhaps the best part of these first two weeks is seeing how protective you’ve become of the protagonist. To Toine, who wrote in their review that they "want space/future Amnesty to fight for Monihan"—I hear you! That anger and empathy you feel for the character is exactly what drove me to write this story.

What’s Next? 

To everyone who has bought a copy, read an ARC, or shared the book with a friend: Thank you.

One reviewer compared the vibe to a mix of Murderbot and Becky Chambers, which is the highest compliment I could imagine. 

If you haven’t picked it up yet, The Spacer is available now 

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3XJuvh7

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3XJuvh7

And finally, because this story is a legend meant to be told, I am thrilled to announce that the Audiobook edition arrives in just one month!