Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp, and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

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Quantum Chaos (Quantum #5) – Douglas Phillips

Chaos. Where the universe ends, and reality begins.

Everyone knows that Chitzas are masters of spatial compression, routinely exploring distant places across the Milky Way in their wedge-shaped scout ships. But rumors abound of even greater accomplishments. Some say these intrepid explorers have reached beyond the galaxy.

When a distress signal is received from deep space, making sense of the emergency becomes a personal matter for Daniel Rice. His wife is onboard that ship. Has it been destroyed? No one knows, but searching for survivors won’t be Daniel’s only problem. The distress signal comes from a region so remote that light itself has not had time to reach our eyes. The Chitzas may have ventured beyond the cosmic horizon.

Compelled to seek the truth, Daniel must follow the Chitzas’ path across vast reaches of space to a mysterious planet in an unusual galaxy. What he learns will take him even further from home—to a place ruled by chaos.

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Savage Skies – Nicholas Sansbury Smith

A hostile world that will doom the human race … or save it, if a few survivors can unlock its secrets …

After waking up with no memories in an underground facility, a squad of elite soldiers and scientists must try to recall what their mission is. But first, it’s a race against the clock to escape their collapsing bunker before it becomes a tomb. Topside, an even more dangerous world of fiery skies and desolate terrain awaits.

As they venture out to explore their strange new surroundings, bits of memory begin to return, though nothing can prepare them for the strange forces protecting this bleak landscape. Worse, it seems that not everyone on the team wants the mission—whatever it is—to succeed. One thing is certain: the world they remember is gone, destroyed by war or natural disaster. Soon, they will learn that they must unlock the past if they are to have any hope of ever seeing the future.

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Shades of Magic (Restriction #2) – D. K. Holmberg

Torian Ranth is no longer the struggling student he once was.

Now a skilled sahir to be reckoned with, Torian arrives at the devastated university. It still stands amid the remnants of the Rusav onslaught.

Torian dives deep into the study of sahir magic, trying to wield his valsahir power by grasping the nuances of the conventional sahir elements. However, the university is not the sanctuary he had hoped for, as it remains under the constant threat of the Rusav and their deadly creatures.

Behind the chaos, an unexpected person pulls the strings, orchestrating the attacks that could lead to the final fall of the university and the destruction of all that Torian holds dear. His new-found power may be the only hope.

Can he unravel the secrets of his valsahir magic in time to stand against the shadows that threaten to engulf the one place that withstood the last attack? The weight of magic presses heavily upon him, but failure is not an option.

Torian must learn to master the shades of his magic or watch his world crumble into ruins.

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Silent Order: Thunder Hand – Jonathan Moeller

To the galaxy at large, Jack March is a privateer of the interstellar Kingdom of Calaskar and a former Iron Hand commando of the malevolent Final Consciousness. In truth, he is an alpha operative of the Silent Order, the most efficient and feared intelligence organization in human space. When there is a crisis, Jack March is the man to call.

An insane artificial intelligence. A deadly ambush. Jack March must defeat both.

Jack March is on the most important mission of his life – to find and destroy the Pulse superweapon before it can kill billions.

But to find the Pulse, he must first survive the traps his enemies have set…

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Kamen America #8 – a Kickstarter campaign from Timothy Lim and Mark Pellegrini

“Charlotte ‘Carly’ Vanders was a fashion designer whose fateful encounter with a cosmic collision transformed her into a supercharged henshin heroine! Shedding her corporate overlords and driven by good ol’ American grit and determination, she is the patriotic paladin known as KAMEN AMERICA!”

Kamen America, Volume 8 finds a fractured Kamen Corps having to reconvene in Nevada to stop a destructive plan from the Zenerengers and a mob of Dark Suit hooligans! That’s easier said that done, however, as they’ll have to coordinate their efforts while facing an onslaught from a team of Otomotons who have their own set of tricks!

It’s an all-out battle royale as the two henshin-hero groups fight for this piece of ground! Who will emerge victorious and what repercussions will this have on our heroine and her world?

This Kickstarter will remain open until 2 August, 2023.

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The Mighty Sons of Hercules – a Kickstarter campaign from Cirsova

Long ago, in ages past… there were men who travelled the world, seeking adventure. Fighting injustice, defending the weak and the helpless, looking to right wrongs wherever they are found: these were the Mighty Sons of Hercules!

Cirsova Publishing invites you to join eight of the Mighty Sons of Hercules on their daring adventures! You’ll be amazed by their impressive feats of superhuman strength. You’ll be dazzled by the exotic and dangerous beauties who would seek their downfall. You’ll cheer as they save the innocent from peril and mete out justice to dastardly villains.

Wherever righteousness must have a champion, there you will find the Mighty Sons of Hercules! Whenever there is need and no mortal man can suffice, a Mighty Son of Hercules shall appear!

This Kickstarter will remain open until 31 July, 2023.