Cultivate the seeds of discussion with the SF&F Literati THIS MONDAY!

When: January 22, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Oak Park Mall Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 11323 W. 95th Street, Overland Park, KS
Discussing: Seeds of Earth, by Michael Cobley

Join the Kansas City SF&F Literati on the second floor by the windows, to discuss the first selection of 2018--then help pick the next four selections the group will read. All are welcome (including first-timers) to come to meetings--even if you haven't finished it. Come join the discussion!

Seeds of Earth
The first intelligent species to encounter mankind attacked without warning. Merciless. Relentless. Unstoppable. With little hope of halting the invasion, Earth's last roll of the dice was to dispatch three colony ships, seeds of Earth, to different parts of the galaxy. The human race would live on ... somewhere.

150 years later, the planet Darien hosts a thriving human settlement, which enjoys a peaceful relationship with an indigenous race, the scholarly Uvovo. But there are secrets buried on Darien's forest moon. Secrets that go back to an apocalyptic battle fought between ancient races at the dawn of galactic civilization. Unknown to its colonists, Darien is about to become the focus of an intergalactic power struggle where the true stakes are beyond their comprehension. And what choices will the Uvovo make when their true nature is revealed and the skies grow dark with the enemy?
--Overview provided by the publisher

Reviews
"A complex, finely detailed thriller-cum-space opera"
--SFX

"Proper galaxy-spanning Space Opera ... a worthy addition to the genre"
--Iain M. Banks

"After a devastating and unanticipated alien war, Earth sent out colony ships to preserve humanity. The human colony on Darien has coexisted peacefully with the indigenous Uvovo for the past 150 years, but now a power struggle for control of the galaxy threatens the amity. A space opera series opener by the author of the Shadowkings trilogy."
--Library Journal

"Seeds of Earth has everything: well-realised extraterrestrials, scheming artificial intelligences, set-piece space battles and bizarre technology from the dawn of the galaxy. The first book of the trilogy is also a convincing portrayal of political machinations and the plight of individuals caught up in events beyond their comprehension."
--Eric Brown, The Guardian online

"Seeds of Earth is as powerful as Smoke on the Water, as twisted as Paranoid and as epic as Stairway to Heaven. As a lover of epic fantasy I tell you that is the kind of space opera I want to read. For me it is epic fantasy in future. I recommend it! Give it a go...."
--"Edifanob," on Only The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy

IMAGE: Many thanks to Amazon for the cover art.

2-Week notice: SF&F Literati discuss Seeds of Earth sooner than you think!

Have you finished it yet?
Michael Cobley's "Humanity's Fire" series-opener Seeds of Earth is the selection up for discussion at the Kansas City SF&F Literati meeting, set for January 22, 2018.

"Seeds of Earth has everything: well-realised extraterrestrials, scheming artificial intelligences, set-piece space battles and bizarre technology from the dawn of the galaxy. The first book of the trilogy is also a convincing portrayal of political machinations and the plight of individuals caught up in events beyond their comprehension."
--Eric Brown, The Guardian online

The discussion's in just two weeks! 
But there's still time to read it! 
Mark your calendar for January 22, 2018 at the Oak Park Mall Barnes & Noble, second floor, 7:00 p.m. Everyone's welcome--even if they haven't finished the book. First-timers are welcome!

Note that the January meeting offers a special opportunity: that's the night they'll choose the Spring selections! Don't miss it!

IMAGE: Many thanks to Amazon for the Seeds of Earth cover image.

Did you get book gift cards in your stocking?

Did Santa bring you bookstore gift cards?
The Fourth Monday of December fell on Christmas Day this year--and the Kansas City SF&F Literati did not meet. But they WILL on January 22, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. at the Oak Park Mall Barnes & Noble (2nd floor). 

Their January selection is Seeds of Earth, by Michael Cobley. If you have bookstore gift cards burning a hole in your pocket, here's a golden opportunity!

Praise for Seeds of Earth from critics:
"A complex, finely detailed thriller-cum-space opera"
SFX

"Proper galaxy-spanning Space Opera ... a worthy addition to the genre"
Iain M. Banks

"After a devastating and unanticipated alien war, Earth sent out colony ships to preserve humanity. The human colony on Darien has coexisted peacefully with the indigenous Uvovo for the past 150 years, but now a power struggle for control of the galaxy threatens the amity. A space opera series opener by the author of the Shadowkings trilogy."
Library Journal

"Seeds of Earth has everything: well-realised extraterrestrials, scheming artificial intelligences, set-piece space battles and bizarre technology from the dawn of the galaxy. The first book of the trilogy is also a convincing portrayal of political machinations and the plight of individuals caught up in events beyond their comprehension."
Eric Brown, The Guardian online

"Seeds of Earth is as powerful as Smoke on the Water, as twisted as Paranoid and as epic as Stairway to Heaven. As a lover of epic fantasy I tell you that is the kind of space opera I want to read. For me it is epic fantasy in future. I recommend it! Give it a go...."
"Edifanob," on Only The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy online

"This is Space Opera in the truest sense: no wonder there is an Iain M. Banks blurb on the cover."
Goodreads contributor

Or you could try this . . . 
Of course, if your friends and relatives don't love you enough to give you book gift cards, or you have other purchases in mind, this might be a good moment to reserve your copy from the library!

Either way, the Kansas City SF&F Literati would love to see you at the book discussion next year!

IMAGE: Many thanks to Amazon, for the Seeds of Earth book cover image!

It's not too early to plan for 2018!

Get your copy now! 
The Kansas City SF&F Literati were holding their November book discussion when this post went live. If you read The Clown Service but couldn't attend the meeting, you might enjoy the after-meeting online summaries and comments they post on their Facebook page.

And there's no time like the present to plan for their next meeting! 

Since their regular Fourth Monday of December always falls during the height of the winter holidays, the group takes a month off, but that just gives you more time to read and enjoy the January selection, a sweeping space opera. Order or reserve your copy now!

Seeds of Earth
By Michael Cobley

Overview 
from Barnes & Noble:
The first intelligent species to encounter mankind attacked without warning. Merciless. Relentless. Unstoppable. With little hope of halting the invasion, Earth's last roll of the dice was to dispatch three colony ships, seeds of Earth, to different parts of the galaxy. The human race would live on ... somewhere.

150 years later, the planet Darien hosts a thriving human settlement, which enjoys a peaceful relationship with an indigenous race, the scholarly Uvovo. But there are secrets buried on Darien's forest moon. Secrets that go back to an apocalyptic battle fought between ancient races at the dawn of galactic civilization. Unknown to its colonists, Darien is about to become the focus of an intergalactic power struggle where the true stakes are beyond their comprehension. And what choices will the Uvovo make when their true nature is revealed and the skies grow dark with the enemy?

Hope to see you next year!

Plan now to join the discussion January 22, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Oak Park Mall Barnes & Noble Booksellers (second floor, by the windows). Everyone's welcome, even if you haven't finished the book or have never joined the group before. 

IMAGE: Many thanks to Amazon for the Seeds of Earth cover image.