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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The winner of the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) is Our Simulated Selves by @nikkinull.bsky.social. “[T]his book could legitimately help a lot of people understand themselves.” — SPSFC 4 winner Wick Welker spsfc.space/2026/10/08/t...

The cover of Nikki Null's science fiction novel Our Simulated Selves, which depicts two abstract figures high above a vast metropolis. The city is real and the people are rendered as ASCII art characters. A portal of rectangles also depicted as ASCII is below them.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The runner-up in the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) is ab initio by Jacob Terracina. Is AI legally human? “This was that book that I was reading on train, waiting at bank, at the cafe, and got annoyed every time I was interrupted.” spsfc.space/2026/10/08/t...

The cover of Jacob Terracina's science fiction novel ab initio, which depicts a sleek bald android hanging upside down, its eyes closed, expression mysterious and latticework of metallic blue skin partially hidden in shadow. A pixelated yellow background looks like it might be a virtual world.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Third place in the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) goes to Generations by @noamj.bsky.social. A "slow-burn conspiracy theory space opera" on a generation ship 80 percent of the way to a new home. spsfc.space/2026/10/08/t...

The cover of Noam Josephides' science fiction novel Generations, which depicts a woman in silhouette looking away out of a round portal of what may be a spaceship. The passage is dark with soft orange light and blue shines in from the portal.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Fourth place in the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) goes to Artificial Selection by Marianne Pickles. A cozy mystery in a hopeful climate apocalypse starring a benevolent AI and the Head of Awkward Questions. spsfc.space/2026/10/08/t...

The cover of Marianne Pickles' science fiction novel Artificial Selection, which depicts a stylized sun rising or setting in front of a circular pattern of blue objects and the orange silhoette of a running figure with a ponytail.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Fifth place in the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) goes to FrostByte by N.S. Chaudhury. A Desi cyberpunk novel of illegal resurrection. Judge: "Ngl, I adored this book." spsfc.space/2026/10/08/t...

The cover of N.S. Chaudhury's science fiction novel FrostByte, which depicts a woman in a cyberpunk city with hair that is blond and red, the latter appearing digital like a holographic effect. She has henna patterns on her hands and is holding a plant.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Sixth place in the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) goes to Time Traitors by @elidonovanwriter.bsky.social. Judges called it a romp with a "cast of scientific and seedy characters all trying to avoid becoming dinner." spsfc.space/2026/10/08/t...

The cover of Eli Donovan's science fiction novel Time Traitors, which depicts an athletic woman and man carrying hefty rifles they probably need, given that they are standing in a jungle with a dinosaur in the foreground that looks like a Triceratops and another in the background that's a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The final finalist is Generations by @noamj.bsky.social, an epic about a colony ship that carries the last hope of humanity and a centuries-old conspiracy. www.amazon.com/Generations-...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The fifth finalist is Our Simulated Selves by @nikkinull.bsky.social, a quantum thriller of romance, recreated realities and who we're truly meant to be. www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCVK8RP7

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The fourth finalist is FrostByte by N.S. Chaudhury, a South Asian cyberpunk novel about illegal resurrection and solving your own murder. www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5N4VHYR

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The third finalist is Artificial Selection by Marianne Pickles, a post-apocalyptic mystery full of awkward questions and hope. www.amazon.com/Artificial-S...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The second finalist is ab initio by Jacob Terracina, an artificial intelligence courtroom thriller about what it means to be human. www.amazon.com/dp/B0FM6H956S

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The first finalist is Time Traitors by @elidonovanwriter.bsky.social, a tale of dinosaurs, poachers and a broken time machine. www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSL63L7S

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

SPSFC 5 judging teams have announced the 10 novels advancing to the semifinals. spsfc.space/2026/06/17/t... The finals are coming on Aug. 1. #sciencefiction

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

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.

Photo of sand descending in an egg timer published by openDemocracy.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

With the fifth Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) taking book entries next month, we're looking for a few good volunteers to join us as judges: spsfc.space/2025/09/19/j... More than a few, actually. #SPSFC

A photo of the retro raygun awarded to the winner of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition alongside a plague that notes the winner of SPSFC 4 as Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker. Next to the trophy is Welker's book, which has a cover of a hovering ovoid spacecraft above San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. The sky is orange and full of portent.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Here's more on the #SPSFC 4 winner Saint Elspeth by @wickwelker.bsky.social and the top 6 books. spsfc.space/2025/08/07/a... Carve out some quality time for yourself this evening and read a self-published novel.

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.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Bluesky omitted the cover from our announcement, so here it is again for the first time.

The cover of Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill. In space over a planet, four women including humans and one of catlike appearance stand in the foreground looking confident as a spacecraft takes off in the background.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

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...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

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 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.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

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...

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?"

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

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 Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin. A man looking out a tall building sees an enormous idealized feminine head with green eyes radiating light.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

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...

The cover of the novel Bisection by Sheila Jenné. Over stars and a blue planet, two women of contrasting colors are connected by roots and structures reminiscent of a brain.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

The 6 novels that made the finals of #SPSFC 4 are Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin, Bisection by Sheila Jenné, On Impulse by Heather Texle, Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker, Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill and Yours Celestially by Al Hess. #readem spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Saint Elspeth by Wick Welker has been picked as an #SPSFC 4 finalist: spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s... Judge: "I'm really glad I read this book. ... I like Elspeth Darrow. I rooted for her."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

On Impulse by Heather Texle has been selected as an #SPSFC 4 finalist. spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s... Judge: "Well-paced and written in a way that makes it easy to slip into the story."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Accidental Intelligence by @geektells.bsky.social‬ has been chosen as an #SPSFC 4 finalist. spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s... Judge: "My favorite opening half of anything I've read in this competition this year."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill has been picked as an #SPSFC 4 finalist. spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s... Judge: "Equal parts heart-warming and heart-breaking, full of real human depth, and a thoughtful exploration of aging."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Yours Celestially by @al-distortion.bsky.social‬ has been selected as an #SPSFC 4 finalist. spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s... 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 sometimes."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Bisection by Sheila Jenné has been chosen as an #SPSFC 4 finalist. spsfc.space/2025/06/05/s... Judge: "I just finished Bisection and OMG I absolutely loved it."

The cover of the novel Bisection by Jenné. Over stars and a blue planet, two women of contrasting colors are connected by roots and structures reminiscent of a brain.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

After 8 months of reading, the judges of the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition have chosen the six finalists for SPSFC 4. We'll be announcing these books tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Eastern. Make some coffee. Take the dog out. Hold all calls. Stretch your Kindle thumb.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

The Space Girls have named their SPSFC 4 semifinalists: Proliferation by @erikotto.bsky.social and On Impulse by Heather Texle. tinyurl.com/proliferation2 tinyurl.com/onimpulse www.lecari.co.uk

The cover of Proliferation by Erik A. Otto: A man made up of stars and constellations looks at an object with cities in the background. 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.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

A team submerged in time's relentless tide picked these SPSFC 4 semifinalists: The Murder Algorithm by Wilson Kincaid and EAT by Jesse Brown. tinyurl.com/murderalgori... tinyurl.com/eatjessebrown

The cover of The Murder Algorithm by Wilson Kincaid: A man in a hoodie in a darkened apartment with a large computer screen looks out on the foreboding red-tinted skies of downtown Los Angeles at night. The cover of EAT by Jesse Brown: A gray snake with yellow eyes and dripping fangs dives through the bloody text "EAT" and "Welcome back to the food chain."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Ground Control to Major Tom has advanced their SPSFC 4 semifinalists: Saint Elspeth by @wickwelker.bsky.social and Yours Celestially by @al-distortion.bsky.social. sciencefiction.news/item/167/sps...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Team Red Stars has revealed their SPSFC 4 semifinalists: Accidental Intelligence by @geektells.bsky.social and Bisection by @jennelikejennay.bsky.social. eclectictheist.wordpress.com/2025/03/26/s...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Team Tar Vol On has chosen their SPSFC 4 semifinalists: Time of the Cat by @tansyrr.bsky.social and A Swift and Sudden Exit by @nicovincenty.bsky.social. www.tarvolon.com/2025/03/26/s... www.tarvolon.com/2025/03/17/s...

The cover of A Swift and Sudden Exit by Nico Vincenty: A woman in black clothes and boots in a swirling portal reaches out to touch the extended hand of another woman with long hair and an old-fashioned dress. The cover of the novel Time of the Cat by Tansy Rayner Roberts: A tabby cat with a white neck and paws is strutting through a viking village in a viking helm with nothing to suggest this is in any way odd.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Peripheral Prospectors has announced their SPSFC 4 semifinalists: Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill and Wakers of the Cryocrypt by Nathan Kuzack. onereadingnurse.com/2025/03/26/t...

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

There's one last SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist to share: Ground Control to Major Tom chose Enigma by Ryan Southwick. sciencefiction.news/item/166 Humans fled Earth and reinvented themselves. After 10K years fold travel brings colonies together. Dire events unfold. FAMILY REUNIONS AMIRITE?

The cover of Enigma by Ryan Southwick. A woman in long white pants and a purple vest with a long metal bracer covering a forearm places a hand on a placid snow-white oversized tiger in front of a trippy landscape of red trees, glowing pink lights and fungal plants that resemble parachutes.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

The Space Girls selected Vermilion Flames by Adam Fernandez as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/vflames There is life on Mars. Kaya, drawn deeper into the theocracy she loathes, seeks the truth about her mother's murder. Judges were drawn to the societal conflict.

The cover of Vermilion Flames by Adam Fernandez. Armored soldiers and figures in long cloaks carrying banners observe a fire sending smoke across buildings.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Peripheral Prospectors claim Da Vinci on the Lam by B. D. Booker as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/dvonthelam Julia and Artis must deliver a Da Vinci sketch off the dying Earth. Judge: "She is adaptable and he's, well, not a total asshole". What could go wrong?

The cover of Da Vinci on the Lam by B. D. Booker. A grizzled man in futuristic Western attire wears blue goggles and carries a long handgun pointed upwards. He has an unperturbed expression.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

The Space Girls chose Proliferation by Erik A. Otto as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/proliferation2 After society collapses to pre-industrial, a machine city rises and now everyone cares what an anthropologist thinks. A judge loved it so much she bought the paperback.

The cover of Proliferation by Erik A. Otto. A man made up of stars and constellations looks at an object with cities in the background.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Ground Control to Major Tom has picked Our Lady of the Artilects by Andrew Gillsmith as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. sciencefiction.news/item/165/ When an AI claims to be possessed, the Vatican sends exorcist and neuroscientist Gabriel Serafian to find the truth -- and maybe cover it up.

The cover of Our Lady of the Artilects by Andrew Gillsmith. A female android kneels in prayer, holy light and electricity emanating from her head.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Peripheral Prospectors has selected Whiskey and Warfare by E. M. Hamill as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/whiskeywarfare A retired space merc gathers old friends to bring her mate's ashes home and stumbles upon a war crime. Judge: "Female friendship ... and banter for days."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Ground Control to Major Tom has dared to make Yours Celestially by Al Hess an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. sciencefiction.news/item/164 Sasha bought a resurrection but inherited a lot of grief, including a lovesick AI guardian angel. Capsule review: "goes down like pudding."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

A judging team spoken of only in portentous whispers chose EAT by Jesse Brown as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist: tinyurl.com/eatjessebrown One judge said this GMO horror nailed "that feeling of tension, that no character feels safe, or that anything that can happen will happen."

The cover of EAT by Jesse Brown. A gray snake with yellow eyes and dripping fangs dives through the bloody text "EAT" and "Welcome back to the food chain."

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

The Red Stars team has delivered Steamborn by @ericrasher.bsky.social to the SPSFC 4 quarterfinals. tinyurl.com/steamborn A tinker's apprentice flees his home and learns a secret that sends him to the deadlands. Judges loved the worldbuilding, which is good because this is book 1 of 9.

The cover of Steamborn by Eric R. Asher. A young male and female approach a smoldering hole in a towering city wall that looks 100 feet tall. Tall buildings, spires and bridges are seen beyond it.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

The Space Girls have chosen Far Flung by Utunu as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/farflungbook Two planets in conjunction may break up three inseparable companions. Bori's a psionic fennec who may be sent off-planet on the shuttle bringing supplies to their barren home.

The cover of Far Flung by Utunu. A fennec adopting a battle posture projects a transparent form of another fennec as yellow lines of energy swirl around them.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Peripheral Prospectors digs Transference by Ian Patterson so much they made it an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/prospectors2 Work is so scarce the rich pay the poor to suffer their illnesses. A Sicko might bring the system down. A judge praised the "disorientation."

The cover of Transference by Ian Patterson. A skull is shown from the side with components such as a city skyline, hand holding fruit above an open doorway, fire and an enigmatic eyeball.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Ground Control to Major Tom chose Of Friction by S. J. Lee as an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. sciencefiction.news/item/163 The Altered share the Earth with genetically inferior humans until they die off. Sibling special ops are dragged into a milSF saga that even a pacifist judge liked.

The cover of Of Friction by S. J. Lee. On a stark black background yellow topographical lines are disturbed by a human hand.

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The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition @spsfc.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

A team of judges shrouded in myth made All Hope of Becoming Human by Lonnie Busch an SPSFC 4 quarterfinalist. tinyurl.com/allhopehuman "Busch does a tremendous job of eliciting strong emotional responses to all characters in this book, no matter how great and small they are."

The cover of All Hope of Becoming Human by Lonnie Busch. The title of the novel over abstract red texture from which emerges a monster with long savage teeth and an eye staring at the viewer.

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