@shadowcat47.bsky.social
Biomedical Scientist. Cat mother. Sci-fi/fantasy reader and reviewer. Lone gamer. SPSFC judge
Image reads: SSBA 2026 Edition, Readers Wanted! Requirements: 18+ Years Old, Avid Reader of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and/or Horror, and Independent (Not Affiliated with a Press)
What does volunteering as a reader for the Small Spec Book Awards mean? It means that you get to read some incredible books (FREE!) and uplift fantasy, science fiction, and horror writers from small and independent presses. Join us and do some good this new year!
#SSBA #SSBA2026 #BookSky
Photo of sand descending in an egg timer published by openDemocracy.
The fifth #SPSFC is about to close for entries and we're looking for a few more judges:
spsfc.space/2025/11/07/l...
Come for the free books. Stay for the Discord community full of self-published authors and avid science fiction readers.
The cover of the novel Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker. In a sky lit an apocalyptic shade of orange, an ovoid ship hovers over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
The winner of the fourth #SPSFC is Saint Elspeth by @wickwelker.bsky.social, a tightly crafted tale of a doctor who survived first contact and nuclear apocalypse.
"They just arrived, inadvertently triggered humanity to tear itself to pieces, landed, and vanished."
www.amazon.com/Saint-Elspet...
The cover of the science fiction novel On Impulse by Heather Texle. A woman in a leather jacket holds a large gun in a place with dropping wires and sky beyond. She has a blue computer readout over her head and a pensive expression.
With four places announced out of six, the fourth #SPSFC is faced with the dilemma of what to announce next.
By a margin of just 0.392, second place goes to "action packed" On Impulse by Heather Texle, led by migraine-afflicted ex-space cop Reliance Sinclair.
www.amazon.com/Impulse-Reli...
The cover of Yours Celestially by Al Hess. A well dressed figure in a purple sportscoat, black shirt and hat has a cloud-filled sky instead of a face. Windows dialogs read "Resurrection: Loading", "Metatron.jpg" and "Call your guardian angel?"
Third place in the fourth #SPSFC goes to the second chances resurrection romp Yours, Celestially by @al-distortion.bsky.social. Judge: "I needed this in my life right now at a time where I had more than a few negative thoughts in my head about being who I am."
www.amazon.com/Yours-Celest...
Fourth place in the fourth #SPSFC is claimed by the "rollicking space opera" Whiskey and Warfare by @emhamill.bsky.social. A found family of golden-years space mercs reunite to stop a genocide.
www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Warf...
The cover of Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin. A man looking out a tall building sees an enormous idealized feminine head with green eyes radiating light.
Fifth place in the fourth #SPSFC goes to the richly constructed noir cyberpunk thriller Accidental Intelligence by @geektells.bsky.social. A judge loved that the dark reign of AI began when a videogame "learned so well and so fast that it gained sentience."
www.amazon.com/Accidental-I...
The cover of the novel Bisection by Sheila JennΓ©. Over stars and a blue planet, two women of contrasting colors are connected by roots and structures reminiscent of a brain.
After 306 days and 175 novels, the fourth #SPSFC has chosen its winner along with five finalists as runners-up.
Sixth place goes to the "awesome high-concept" Bisection by @jennelikejennay.bsky.social. You can share one brain and still not understand someone.
www.amazon.com/Bisection-Sh...
Thank you! I'm so glad The Source of Strife is out in the world for others to enjoy. It's a great book π
24.03.2025 23:20 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0It's a good book. Very exciting in places
17.02.2025 18:31 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Front cover of Drowning Earth by Sean Willson
A review for one of our @spsfc.bsky.social quarterfinalists. It's Drowning Earth by Sean Willson
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The front cover of The Finding Machine by Lucy Lyons
Moving on with the #SPSFC4 reviews, today's is The Finding Machine by Lucy Lyons
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The front cover of The Grandmaster's Gamble.
It's the start of Advent, so time for another #SPSFC4 review! Next up we have The Grandmaster's Gamble by Paul G. Zareith
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Since I have a bunch of new followers, I want to share this starter pack again. If youβre looking to follow more self-pub reviewers, then check this one out! Would love some shares as well! π
go.bsky.app/245qQTt
The front cover of The Hounds of Gaia by Sean Tirman
OK, let's see if I can do this. My first review for #SPSFC4 was The Hounds of Gaia by Sean Tirman.
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Hi everyone! I'm judging again for #SPSFC4 with Team Ground Control to Major Tom. I'll be dropping reviews here as well as the other place.
13.11.2024 22:10 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Thank you!
13.11.2024 21:52 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Hi! I haven't actually posted anything yet here but could I be added please?
13.11.2024 21:47 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
