Mars is supposed to be dead…

Bizarre quakes are rumbling over the long-dormant tectonic plates of the planet, disrupting its trillion-dollar mining operations and driving scientists past the edges of theory and reason. However, when rocks shake off their ancient dust and begin to roll—seemingly of their own volition—carving canals as they converge to form a towering structure amid the ruddy terrain, Lt. Jain and her JSC team realize that their routine geological survey of a Martian cave system is anything but. The only clues they have stem from the emissions of a mysterious blue radiation, and a 300-year-old journal that is writing itself.

Lt. Thomas Weatherby of His Majesty’s Royal Navy is an honest 18th-century man, doing his part for King and Country aboard the HMS Daedalus, a frigate sailing the high seas between continents…and the immense Void between the Known Worlds.

With the aid of his fierce captain, a drug-addled alchemist, and a servant girl with a remarkable past, Weatherby must track a great and powerful mystic, who has embarked upon a sinister quest to upset the balance of the planets—the consequences of which may reach far beyond the Solar System, threatening the very fabric of space itself.

Review

"Martinez's debut is a triumph of genre-blending.... With a cast of superbly drawn characters, Martinez's title is a mesmerizing tale of two universes that briefly cross paths, leaving both worlds forever changed." -- Library Journal (starred review, SF/F Debut of the Month

"The HMS Daedalus sails a ballsy, brilliant and at times breathtaking universe and you get to tag along for the ride. I can't speak highly enough of what the author has created here" -- Fantasy Faction

"...a story that is plain good fun and adventure and that does not get bogged down into complexities of the world. A highly recommended debut." -- The Founding Fields

"This is a fast-paced and smooth read from the very beginning, and towards the end Martinez builds up the suspense and urgency like a pro....adventurous, original, and a blast to read." -- Tor.com

"...an ambitious and fun romp...entertaining and fun to read and despite its delays in publication, I hope it reaches its deserved audience, and that the author has the opportunity to explore the universe of the Daedalus, especially, much further." -- SFSignal** * *

"Genre bending often come at great peril, but Martinez pulls it off with an assurance that makes all the pieces slot together perfectly."
—Buzzfeed.com, "The 14 Greatest Science Fiction Books of the Year" (2013)

"Martinez's debut is a triumph of genre-blending.... With a cast of superbly drawn characters, Martinez's title is a mesmerizing tale of two universes that briefly cross paths, leaving both worlds forever changed."
—Library Journal (starred review, SF/F Debut of the Month), included in Best Books 2013: SF/Fantasy end-of-year wrap-up

"...an ambitious and fun romp...entertaining and fun to read and despite its delays in publication, I hope it reaches its deserved audience, and that the author has the opportunity to explore the universe of the Daedalus, especially, much further."
—SFSignal

"A true genre bender. It mixes alchemy, quantum physics, and historical figures in ways you haven’t seen before. [...] adventurous, original, and a blast to read."
—Tor.com

About the Author

Michael J Martinez: After nearly 20 years of writing other peoples’ stories as a journalist and professional writer, including stints at ABCNEWS.com and The Associated Press, Michael J. Martinez decided he’d try his hand at telling his own tales. So far, it’s worked out better than he thought.