Book picks similar to
Surveyor: Book 1 in the Corps of Discovery Series by James S. Peet


sci-fi-exploration
alternate-history
don-t-even-bother
general-sci-fi

The Retro War


Dietmar Arthur Wehr - 2014
     The Synchronicity War is over and the Insectoid beachheads in our spiral arm have been destroyed but the aftermath of the war holds some nasty surprises for Humanity and its loyal AI allies. Somebody is messing with the human timeline. Is it the Friendlies, the Sogas, the Insectoids or a new race? This stand alone novel set in the same universe has new human and AI characters. Find out what happened to Valkyrie, Casanova, Iceman, Gunslinger and the other Rim AIs. The Retro War spans time and space in a galactic chess game with humans and their AIs as the pawns.

Rex Electi


W.P. Kimball - 2016
    He soon learns that every aspect of his life so far, including the staged deaths of his parents, has been arranged by the Senate Tribunal in an attempt to mold him into the perfect leader. Now there are only thirty candidates, including Caius, left competing to be the Emperor's heir. Success in a series of Trials will reunite him with his family and make him the most powerful man in the world, but failure will lead to a life of isolation and imprisonment hidden in the eaves of the palace. As Caius enters the trials, it becomes apparent that the tests themselves are not the problem: it is the twenty nine other candidates willing to do whatever it takes to win, including maim or kill their top competitors. Can Caius navigate the pitfalls of imperial politics and cutthroat competition, all while performing well enough to succeed in the trials fair and square?

Destiny's Cradle


Paul Crawford - 2019
    The hole disgorges a naked man, barely conscious and clutching a human leg bone, and then vanishes. Even more astonishing to Ben and Tessa, this man is a stranger to them and, in their close-knit world, no one has ever seen a stranger before. When he recovers, that stranger, Thomas Morgan, finds himself trapped in a small rural community where everyone regards him with bewildered awe. He alone knows they are inside the earth-like biosphere of an immense starship, The Destiny, on a thousand-year voyage to colonize a distant planet. While he had been in cryogenic hibernation, Ben, Tessa, and the others in this rustic community appear to be descendants of a small ‘wake’ crew that was originally charged with maintaining the ship's operating systems. Clearly something happened, long ago, that upset the carefully laid plans of the starship's designers, a crisis, now long forgotten, that left the wake crew and its descendants trapped for generations within the biosphere, its exits locked and its walls, shielded by a holographic force field, invisible to everyone inside. Soon, Tom Morgan finds himself struggling, with the help of Ben and Tessa, to prevent a disastrous conflict between the simple farmers born in the biosphere and their technologically-advanced ancestors, now emerging from cryo and led by Tico Calder, the starship’s arrogant and ruthless captain. To succeed, he must discover the cause of the crew's entrapment, including the role played by Agatha, an enigmatic young computer prodigy who lived hundreds of years earlier. He must also deal with the threat posed by Dante, a sentient robot of unknown origin, who has secretly controlled The Destiny for centuries and has the crew's fate, though not necessarily its best interests, in its unpredictable hands. And, finally, Tom and his young friends must face what's awaiting them on the bewildering planet below, for the massive starship has finally reached its destination. DESTINY'S CRADLE is a stand-alone hard science fiction novel, with a complex, scientifically plausible setting, well-drawn characters, and an intricate, thought-provoking plot. It is set a world riven by conflict and distrust, a world in which the fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of just a handful of individuals.

Seed


Matthew G. Dick - 2020
    After a third failed mission on Mars, Nick returns to Earth heartbroken. But during the trip home he has an epiphany caused by a near-death experience on how to truly accomplish his dream. Nick launches a billionaire funded startup company that solves the interstellar travel problem. Transporting people in a spaceship without any people aboard. After Nick lands on his new, distant planet, he has to combat his greatest trials yet including raising children and goats while becoming a colony building survivalist. Fans of Andy Weir’s The Martian and Dennis E. Taylor’s We Are Legion (We Are Bob) will find familiar themes of innovative science fiction ideas with plenty of humor and pop-culture.

The Assassination of Orange: A Foreworld SideQuest


Joseph Brassey - 2013
    They can be read in any order with or without prior knowledge of The Foreworld Saga.There’s a bounty out for Prince William of Orange…and “alive” is not an option.The Dutch are trying to free themselves from the Spanish yoke, and the dynamic and charismatic revolutionary, William of Orange, is risking life and limb for the nation he so desperately loves. But when the Spanish monarch offers glory, titles, and twenty thousand crowns for the man who can silence William, the battle for the Netherlands becomes an assassin's game.Celebrated Welsh mercenary Roger Williams is ordered by the crown of England to protect the prince at all costs, and while the Welsh mercenary has many years of battlefield experience, the cat and mouse of political assassination is a much different fight. The enemy is faceless, its tactics are unknown, and there will be little or no warning before the attempt is made. Roger's skills are drawn from the legacy of the Shield-Brethren--the one true art of the sword--and he may be unprepared for the dawning of the age of the gun.A thrilling new tale set in the Renaissance Era of the Foreworld Saga, The Assassination of Orange is an exciting addition written by one of The Mongoliad authors, Joseph Brassey.

The Scales of Justice (The Coalition #2)


Alex Rath - 2020
    She returns home triumphant, but there is trouble brewing—the Serpentes face peril from both internal and external forces, and El’Jyiurma finds herself caught up in the middle. With word of their existence growing, they catch the attention of a race they’d rather not meet. At the same time, they must battle the hatred and fear that automatically comes from humans, based merely on their appearance. Fearing an invasion from outside forces, President Frazier of Gieliv sends a desperate plea to the Serpentes, requesting help to bolster their weak navy. With a potential attack looming, the king of the Serpentes sends El’Jyiurma to the Gieliv system to foster diplomatic relations and help defend Gieliv. Hard choices have to be made, and El’Jyuirma is in the hot seat. Which is the more significant threat, and how can it be stopped? A wrong choice could lead to the end of the Serpentes civilization, and El’Jyiurma has little time to decide.

Second Chance: An American History Military Time Travel Novel


Michael Roberts - 2021
    

The Shadows - Escaping Darkness Book 6: (A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller Series)


E.S. Richards - 2020
     A routine survey mission turns into the unthinkable as the Yellowstone Caldera finally breaks free of its earthen chains, releasing thousands of years of pent-up energy in an instant. As fire and ash consume all in their path, signs point to the disaster not being as natural as it first appears... Barely escaping the disaster in a small plane that takes off from the Yellowstone airport, Mia finds her Texas A&M life turned upside down as the days of class and studying turn into a fight for the very air she needs to survive. While she tries to help her fellow survivors, her niece and nephew are being watched over by her parents on a small farm that quickly succumbs to the choking clouds of ash. Both sides of the family must fight against man - and nature - in this unique take on the classic Yellowstone post-apocalyptic story. Written by ES Richards in conjunction with #1 best-selling post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus, this thrilling post-apocalyptic series features characters that are vulnerable, naive and inexperienced who work alongside the prepared and experienced to get through the end of days. The Escaping Darkness series will be 6-books long, published at a rate of approximately one book per month.

Gallantry in Action (Halberd #1)


John Spearman - 2020
    Spearman. A sci-fi military novel set in space, the book follows Captain Jonah Halberd, newly assigned commander of the spaceship HMS Cumberland, an advanced cruiser in the Royal Navy of the Commonwealth, currently under the reign of King Edward XII. There is an ongoing war between the Commonwealth and the Rodinan Federation. After rescuing Lady Julia Hawthorne, the fiancee of First Space Lord Chesterfield, Jonah and his crew set off for yet another dangerous assignment. But an ensuing battle with the Rodinan armada causes heavy casualties, and Jonah finds himself captured by the enemy. A daring rescue led by Lieutenant Commander Fred MacMurray results in Jonah receiving a hero's welcome back home. Now, he must unite the Coalition for war.

Soldiers of Fame and Fortune Full Series Omnibus: Nobody’s Fool, Nobody Lives Forever, Nobody Drinks That Much, Nobody Remembers But Us, Ghost Walking, 12 Book series...


Michael Todd - 2019
    THEY DIE FAST AND HORRIBLY.Born from the fertile imagination of bestselling author Michael Anderle Read the entire series in the bestselling Soldiers of Fame and Fortune series at a discounted bundle price! Nobody’s Fool Decades ago, an alien ship fired a missile at Earth as they passed by, and we caught it. That was when humanity truly opened Pandora's box.One more trip into danger, or something beyond danger?Holly Smith has been hired as a consultant to go into the ZOO and retrieve information to help a company find a unique chemical.Holly is not a stranger to danger when trying to uncover that next billion-dollar ingredient, but even Holly has to admit something is wrong with the vibe coming from the ZOO. There should not be a lush jungle in the middle of the Sahara. Needing more information, she leaves the American security enclave and heads to the French/Israeli/India military encampment where mercenaries are known to congregate. Plenty of alcohol should get her the answers she needs, right? The more she learns, the more her concern intensifies. Can she learn if there is real danger, or are they lying? Nobody Lives Forever Holly has found FU*BAR in the French encampment and she hopes to learn more about the ZOO from those who have been there.Will she get the truth, or will she make decisions on tall tales?JB is looking for someone special, someone to help him in the future. He might have found that person in Holly.Will each of them find the answers they need?Holly is back, learning about another story ripped out of the ZOO. Can she learn enough about the ZOO before those back in America push her to make a decision? Plus 10 more stories in the ZOO! This entire series boxed set will have you laughing so hard you just might pee your pants, or so frightened you'll never look at plants the same way again! The future is looking interesting and humorous, except for the dying part. Go up and click on the 'Read Now' button and enter the ZOO.

Dawn The Warrior Princess of Kashmir


Rakesh K. Kaul - 2019
    

Ghost Galaxy Omnibus


Sarah Noffke - 2020
    Save the galaxy. All in a hard day's work. Get both the Completed Omnibus of Ghost Squadron and Precious Galaxy series in one GIANT omnibus for a stellar price!Ghost Galaxy encompasses the two Age of Expansion series co-written by Sarah Noffke and Michael Anderle!Ghost Squadron's 7 book set:After 10 years of wandering the outer rim of the galaxy, Eddie Teach is a man without a purpose. He was one of the toughest pilots in the Federation, but now he's just a regular guy, getting into bar fights and making a difference wherever he can. It's not the same as flying a ship and saving colonies, but it'll have to do.That is, until General Lance Reynolds tracks Eddie down and offers him a job. There are bad people out there, plotting terrible things, killing innocent people, and destroying entire colonies.Someone has to stop them.Experience this exciting military sci-fi saga and the latest addition to the expanded Kurtherian Gambit universe. If you're a fan of Mass Effect, Firefly, or Star Wars, you'll love this riveting new space opera.Precious Galaxy completed 4 book set:A new evil lurks in the darknessAfter an explosion, the crew of a battlecruiser mysteriously disappears.CorruptionAfter an explosion, the crew of a battlecruiser mysteriously disappears.Bailey and Lewis, complete strangers, find themselves suddenly onboard the damaged ship. Lewis hasn’t worked a case in years, not since the final one broke his spirit and his bank account. The last thing Bailey remembers is preparing to take down a fugitive on Onyx Station.Mysteries are harder to solve when there’s no evidence left behind.Bailey and Lewis don’t know how they got onboard Ricky Bobby or why. However, they quickly learn that whatever was responsible for the explosion and disappearance of the crew is still on the ship.Monsters are real and what this one can do changes everything.The new team bands together to discover what happened and how to fight the monster lurking in the bottom of the battlecruiser. The stakes have never been higher No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, one thing is certain.The Federation cannot be allowed to fall.Note: If cursing is a problem, then this might not be for you.

Bartley's Man (Ring of Fire)


Paula Goodlett - 2016
    It is the journey of Johan Kipper, a reluctant soldier in illy's tercio as he collides with the fact of Grantville's existence. Johan decides he doesn't want to be a soldier anymore. So he becomes what he thinks is a swrvant to entrepreneur David Bartley and the Higgins family. They actually treat him like a person, in stark contrast to how he has been treated all his life by the royalty and nobility of his own time. Johan returns this genuine caring with love and loyalty as he watches David grow into manhood and he grows as a man.

Time Shift: A Historical Novel Of Survival


Victor Zugg - 2021
    He and a small support crew have been cashing in on the video craze with phenomenal, hair-raising exploits for years.Their latest undertaking is way beyond anything they’ve ever done. It’s extremely dangerous and, worse, highly illegal. Never would Jackson have imagined those risks to be the least of his worries.After stumbling over the archaeological find of the century, Jackson and a local anthropologist suddenly find themselves transported to a different time and place. It’s a world of unbelievable sights, unimaginable marvels, and barbaric practices that violate all that is human. Despite treading lightly as they deal with this new reality, their intrusion results in unintended consequences for the world they left. Making it right is their top priority, along with surviving the ordeal. It may not be possible to do both.Can they clean up the mess they’ve made? Or will the attempt just make it worse?

Stellar Survival Quest


Jalf Whitemage - 2019
    With no hype building announcements, no history of any Alpha, or beta, or even as much as a leaked snapshot they released a first-generation fully immersive virtual reality pod and their bundled game Stellar Survival Quest. Even being 20 years ahead of anything else out, a new entertainment media is not typically world shattering. Especially, when players reported not being able to recall their time playing. The company made claims of not allowing meta-gaming, Thus keeping the game world pure. After every gaming session regardless of length the player could watch a short video of their session. Each video was only three minutes of randomly recorded footage from every hour played. Thus, a nearly impenetrable wall of secret gameplay was maintained.However, when that first generation of gamers left the white-grey egg-shaped gaming pods, they gave the world an even bigger shock! The technology was amazing, true VR with all five senses was outrageous, the stuff of fiction novels! No, what really sent the world reeling was skills learned in game translated to real life skills! Overnight the world was thrown on its heels. A new player could log into the game to be given a job in some way decided by the game and come out an ivy league educated scientist, or special ops level soldier. As the world reels from these first-generation gamers suddenly becoming some of the most highly skilled individuals in the world, more gamers clamor to buy their own expensive pod and hop into space!Nathan Tyrone Rogers or Bubba to his friends and family awoke on a small transport. Freshly landed on an ancient space station. As the first Human to be spawned outside the Sol System, Nathan is vastly unprepared and overwhelmed for the task. With a cryptic message that he needs to claim the solar system of Epsilon Indi before one of the other 12 alien species; whom were also spawned in system can. Some of which will supposedly be hostile to humanity. Nathan attempts to survive in the completely unforgiving environment of space. All the while trying to choose a path for himself, avoid being eaten by monstrous alien women, and growing more and more annoyed with his “real self” still back on Earth.Nathan’s first step to claiming the Solar system is simple to say, hard to do. He must survive!***This is the first Sci-Fi LitRPG in the Stellar Survival Quest series set in Jalf Whitemages Total Expanse Universe. This book contains adult themes, mild harem themes, base building, and real time strategy elements. It is not recommended for those new to the Lit Genre, and definitely not anyone who is easily offended by … well anything. You have been warned 