Heavy Weight of Darkness
Willard Bennett – court marshaled, imprisoned, and class status revoked, he is now like most people: limited freedoms, no opportunity to advance, rights and privileges restricted, life-extending health services denied, and worse, the shame of once having it all, and then losing it. Many hard days and fitful nights he had dreamed of retracing his footsteps, finding the woman who did this to him, and ending her.
In a desperate act to curb insurrection on Earth, space command’s admiralty and tribunal branch offers him redemption in the form of a new mission: track, find and kill Cassandra Kurtz. In return, he will receive his freedom, commission, life extending health care and a return to his former glory.
Originally enthused, he researches Cassandra’s origins, the once first class, full citizen from the oldest family of the Third Republic turned insurrectionist on Earth and a full-blown terrorist on Mars. But it’s after his investigation of the Delta Quarter, where it all started for Cassandra, that Bennett’s resolve diminishes.
Drawing inspiration from Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the Heavy Weight of Darkness is the sequel to the Endless Fall of Night where questions are answered, lives are altered, and truths come out in the final confrontation between Acting Captain Willard Bennett and the infamous disrupter, Cassandra Kurtz.
Publication Date: August 30, 2024
Pages: 203
JM Erickson ISBN: 9781942708551
Kindle (EPUB) 978-1-942708-56-8
Amazon Paperback ISBN: 9798337949963
Amazon: ASIN: B0DFTYCL1X
Amazon Hard copy: ISBN: 9798337952222
B&N Softcover: 9781942708551
B&N eBook: 2940186138525
Intelligent Design II: Apocalypse
Foreword Reviews' 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award - Finalist
Each year, Foreword Reviews shines a light on a select group of indie publishers, university presses, and self-published authors whose work stands out from the crowd.
“The 2015 INDIEFAB finalist selection process is as inspiring as it is rigorous,” said Victoria Sutherland, publisher of Foreword Reviews. “The strength of this list of finalists is further proof that small, independent publishers are taking their rightful place as the new driving force of the entire publishing industry.”
Contributor(s): J. M. Erickson (author), Suzanne M. Owen (editor), and Cathy Helms – Avalon Graphics, LLC (cover designer)
Publisher: J.M. Erickson
ISBN-13: 978-1942708100
Publication Date: October 16, 2015
Pages: 172
Price: $10.99
Synopsis:
Intelligent Design II - Apocalypse picks up right where Revelations ends with hidden worlds, spaceships, exploding planets, and larger-than-life heroines, monsters and aliens. On Earth industrialist Christine Reich pulls together her all female assault team and resources to survive Jupiter's ignition into a new sun, while former MIT doctoral candidate Andrea Perez discovers "Hades" on the hidden planet Terra. And now there's the inhabitants of Mars and Venus have arrived. How will it all end?
Afterlife Code
February 21, 2018
What if our existence was just a level in the cosmic computer game we call "life?" There is no death that is final unless you don't have an "interesting life." And if life is not lived to the fullest you could be deleted. Dr. Melanie Sage and Robert Cobb get a glimpse of the code that happens after life; deletion or level up. That is the question.
Publisher: J. M. Erickson (author), Suzanne M. Owen (editor), and Cathy Helms – Avalon Graphics, LLC (cover designer)
ISBN - 13: 978-1-942708-49-0 (ePub)
ISBN - 13: 978-1-942708-50-6 (Softcover)
Publication Date: February 21, 2018
Pages: 73 pages
Cost: $6.00
Time is for Dragonflies and Angels
Kirkus Reviews' The Best Books of 2018 (December 2018 Issue, Volume 88, No. 23, page 199)
Award Winner in 2017 Best Indie Book Awards
Gold Medal Readers' Favorite 2017 International Book Awards in Fiction Anthology
Finalist for 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (NGIBA) in Action/Adventure
Foreword Reviews Announces Finalists for 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards
Time is for Dragonflies and Angels is a collection of flash science fiction and novellas that embraces the ideas of multi-universes and dimensions, critical decisions and judgments, and human struggles associated with racism and dystopian societies.
Publisher: J. M. Erickson (author), Suzanne M. Owen (editor), and Cathy Helms – Avalon Graphics, LLC (cover designer)
ISBN - 13: 978-1-942708-24-7 (ePub)
ISBN - 13: 978-1-942708-25-4 (Softcover)
Publication Date: October 3, 2016
Pages: 240 pages
Cost: $10.99
Time is for Dragonflies and Angels made #1 on Amazon's "Hot New Releases" in the Teen & Young Adult categories, science fiction-steampunk genre; reached #4 in the "Top 100" in the same category and steampunk genre and #6 in the "Top 100" in the science fiction-anthologies & short stories genres
Endless Fall of Night
Based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, we see our future that shows striking similarities to this age of imperialism, classism, and capitalistic expansion where racism is commonplace, slavery exists, and a minority of people are in absolute power. Instead of Belgium Company’s outposts along the Congo River in Africa in 1899 or a US Swift Boat going up the Nung River in Vietnam in 1969, this is the great Third Republic on Earth and colonies on Mars in the year 2126.
Cassandra XI, patrician and first-class citizen, is exposed to a traumatic experience that later has her questioning the established social order. She is eventually tried and convicted as an insurrectionist, her personal AI deactivated, social status and titles revoked, and she is sent to prison. Cassandra is then approached by Captain Willard Bennett of the light cruising ship the Jefferson Davis to investigate why the Martian colony New Georgia went dark, leaving severed heads on spikes and the message “Bring Cassandra Kurtz.”
With no choice but to go, Cassandra’s life is about to change in unimaginable ways.
“A gripping SF tale that explores themes of humanity and loyalty.” - Kirkus Review
“…simultaneously eerie and inspirational—a fitting achievement for a book that unflinchingly explores the depths of human depravity.” - Kirkus Review
“…blindside story twists, bursts of clever banter, boundless imagination, and sly social critique make this darkly prophetic work of sci-fi a quick and memorable read.” - Self-Publishing Reviews
Publication: June 1, 2024
Page count: 160
Cost: $8.99
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-942708-53-7
Kindle ISBN: 978-1-942708-51-3
Future Prometheus: The Series
The series rated as #1 in Amazon Best Seller in Science Fiction Steampunk category, #5 in Anthologies & Short Stories and #30 in Space Marine category in July 2018
2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards - Finalist
2016 Best Indie Book Contest - Finalist
"Our awards program is known as the 'Sundance' of the book publishing world," says Catherine Goulet, Chair of the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards program.
Contributor(s): J. M. Erickson (author), Suzanne M. Owen (editor), and Cathy Helms – Avalon Graphics, LLC (cover designer)
Publisher: J.M. Erickson
ISBN-13:978-1-942708-16-2
Publication Date: November 13, 2015
Pages: 576
Price: $19.40
Synopsis: In the tradition of dystopian science-fiction, the Future Prometheus series compiles five novellas into on full-length epic of a world where the science we know today has warped into masterful and terrifying ways.
The books are winners of the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest not-for-profit book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. The awards are judged by leaders of the indie book publishing industry, including many coming from long-standing careers with major publishing houses, to identify books that deserve to reach a wide audience.
Intelligent Design: Revelations to Apocalypse
Finally...two science fiction novellas together in one book...
Intelligent Design: Revelations is a science fiction novella published in July 2014 by AIA Publishing that won silver at the Foreword Reviews 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year. Revelations starts sixty five million years ago revealing new worlds, great technologies and the efforts of superior beings trying to save several species of hominids. Come forward to present days, there are only a trusted few humans that know that Earth is not the only planet in the solar system that has sapient life. The truth of our origins and greater threats and plans to come will test human resolve. And it will all fall onto two women.
Intelligent Design II: Apocalypse picks up from where Revelations leaves off, with more answers that are far darker than the questions. Hidden planets, preexisting advanced civilizations, coexisting hominid species, and new revelations have all led to the end of days. Whether by twist of fate or by design, the Jovian planet is about to ignite into a sun. The civilizations of Mars, Earth and Terra are now at risk from the cataclysmic effects of an impossible astronomical anomaly. Critically acclaimed and recipient of the Readers' Favorite Five Stars Review, Apocalypse reveals all truths, including a hints of yet another civilization in the Sol System.
Intelligent Design: Revelations to Apocalypse was rated as Amazon's “Hot New Release” in December 2015 reaching #2 in literature & fiction, fantasy category for adults, while reaching #22 in the top 100 ranking in science fiction & fantasy, anthologies & short stories categories.
(Published on October 27, 2015; Paperback: 978-1-942108-15-5; Kindle: 978-1-942708-13-1; Barnes & Noble Nook & Smashwords: 978-1-942708-14-8)
Intelligent Design: Revelations
Contributor(s): J. M. Erickson (author), Tahlia Newland (editor), and Cathy Helms – Avalon Graphics, LLC (cover designer)
Publisher: AIA Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-0-9873231-7-0
Publication Date: July 14, 2014
Pages: 218
Price: $11.99
Synopsis:
A science fiction thriller that starts sixty five million years ago revealing new worlds, great technologies and the efforts of superior beings trying to save a new species called humans. Finally, the truth of our origins and greater threats and plans to come will test human resolve. And it will all fall onto two women.
Future Prometheus II: Revolution, Successions & Resurrections
Contributor(s): J. M. Erickson (author), Stacee Gravelle Lawrence (editor), Suzanne M. Owen (editor), and Cathy Helms – Avalon Graphics, LLC (cover designer)
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN-13: 978-1-4787-3477-2
Publication Date: May 14, 2014
Pages: 482
Price: $10.99
Synopsis:
Jose Melendez leads his new team to form alliances with a militaristic matriarch and the natives called "Americans" to confront a cybernetic army committed to the destruction of the human race. Lessons from a distant war comes full circle as the final conflict begins.
Other Awards...
Future Prometheus II : Revolution, Successions & Resurrections and Intelligent Design: Revelations were awarded Gold and Silver, respectively, in the Foreword Reviews 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award announced at the American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco on June 26, 2015.
Each year, Foreword Reviews shines a light on a select group of indie publishers, university presses, and self-published authors whose work stands out from the crowd. Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention awards were determined by a panel of librarians and booksellers along with Foreword’s editorial staff.
The Prince: Lucifer's Origins
2016 Best Indie Book Contest - Semi-Finalist
This is a science fiction story of a young Prince Victor Venture who would prefer to remain on his university world to read and learn. Instead, he is called upon by the Royal Family to serve on his brother Jason's court. Another royal brother, Prince Ramsey, fearing that the two of them will form an alliance sets out to kill the young prince. The attempt is thought to be successful when Victor is marooned on a hostile planet. But this planet, “Hell,” has many secrets. Instead of dying, he changes into a force of nature. A classic story of adaption, survival, and good versus and evil, the lessons of loyalty, family and courage in all its forms reveal themselves.
The Prince: Lucifer's Origins rated as Amazon's “Hot New Release” in June 2015 reaching #3 in science fiction, steampunk category for teen and young adult, while reaching #20 in the top 100 for steampunk & cyberpunk categories. The Prince was also Recommended by US Review of Books
Amazon Smashwords & Barnes & Noble
Paperback: 294 pages
Price: $10.99
Publisher: J M Erickson (May 19, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1942708068
ISBN-13: 978-1942708063