At Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, we love science fiction, from heartwarming YA sci-fi adventures to spine-tingling sci-fi thrillers. So, this National Sci-Fi Day, we are putting the spotlight on some of our wonderful sci-fi authors, who may just love the genre as much as we do!
Dan Batchelor, author of Jack Palmer: A New Order (coming June 2025)
Inspired by the growth in technology and accessibility in the modern world, Jack Palmer: A New Order raises important questions about the future and the potential for life beyond earth, prompting readers to question how the world would react to being contacted by aliens. Drawing upon his own struggles with a late dyslexia diagnosis and his experience working as a teacher, Batchelor creates a relatable and engaging protagonist, drawing readers in with a balance of humour and pathos. This debut novel is an excellent addition to the YA sci-fi genre, and is perfect for fans of Skyward by Brandon Sanderson and Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke.
Dan Batchelor says…
“For me, sci-fi has the ability to create completely speculative and unique situations but is at its best when it’s rooted in the believable. However quirky or eccentric the world that you create is, the characters still need to be relatable and interesting, that readers want to learn more about. Due to the unknown of the universe, the story can go in a million different directions, and you can create anything you can imagine. My Story, Jack Palmer: A New Order, is a first-person account of the first contact with aliens. This is meant to be a simple, diplomatic mission but goes horribly wrong and Earth would no longer be a place that humans can call home…”
Robert Evans, author of The Rewilding (coming June 2025)
Robert Evans’ debut science fiction thriller comes with a vicious bite, following a Jurassic Park-style rewilding project that goes wrong, with dire consequences for the nearby Scottish village of Calnally. With real-world rewilding projects, such as the re-introduction of wolves to Yellowstone, becoming increasingly common, The Rewilding explores what the consequences could be of predatory mammals being brought back to the Scottish Highlands.
Robert Evans says…
“The beauty of sci-fi is that it allows us to think beyond the realms of current possibility into what could be. For me, the gatekeeper to such a world was Michael Crichton. Like all good sci-fi writers, he had me thinking: what if?
I’ve always been fascinated by the prehistoric. With scientific advances being what they are, I wanted to tap into something just a step or two ahead of reality (even as I write, the gaps in the steps are shrinking fast) which was why I wrote The Rewilding. Tapping into realistic trends with a little bit of ‘what if?’ thrown into the mix, all stirred together with dollops of drama. After all, we still need the story to go with the concept.”
