A thrilling new voyage into the Known Arc: LONGSTAR

Last updated on June 12, 2024

Jan January, bound in servitude to the Olid Ring Guild, finds himself aboard a freighter shuttling obscure cargos to remote worlds. His mundane existence is upended by the arrival of Tash Velotta, a secretive teen clutching a mysteriously squirming bundle. Tash is being sought by the most powerful factions of the Known Arc, who will do anything–anything at all–to possess the secret she carries.

When a surprise attack separates Jan from all but one of his shipmates–a dreadful female xeno from the planet Ghast–they are trapped with Tash on a ship they barely know how to operate.

Pursued by agents of the Cataclyst Church and the terrifying cult of the Mucktu Bloodline, they must race to decipher the riddle of Tash’s origins. If they fail, not only will their lives be forfeit, but the secret she carries will unleash an ageless fury not seen in the Known Arc since the days of the long-vanished Avatars.

Immerse yourself in the far-reaching adventure of LONGSTAR and see why critics call Patrick Cumby “A MASTER STORYTELLER.”

IN THE DEEP EXPANSE OF THE KNOWN ARC, AN ANCIENT COSMIC MYSTERY HAS AWAKENED…

“Epic… great depth and ambition… not your average sci-fi yarn.”
– Manhattan Book Review

LONGSTAR is a groundbreaking new novel from the author of GRONE, an award-winning cross-genre mix of hard-SF, LitRPG, and space opera that the Seattle Book Review calls “AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE OF SCIENCE FICTION.”

Inspired by the thick-and-thoughtful cyberpunk and space opera epics from Adrian Tchaikovsky, Neal Stephenson and Dan Simmons, LONGSTAR is sweeping, fast-paced science fiction set in a world where hope for the future lies in relics from the grand past—and the courage of unlikely heroes.

And yes, there are Easter Eggs.

If you’re new to the Known Arc, or if you enjoyed GRONE and have a taste for more adventure travel through exotic alien worlds, here’s what you should know: LONGSTAR is a standalone novel populated by a new and compelling cast of characters, plus maybe a surprise visit or two from familiar faces. You DO NOT need to read GRONE to enjoy LONGSTAR, and you can read the books in any order. Both novels are made up of the same genre-twisting ingredients of mystery, deep wonder, mind-bending science, and pure adrenaline that will keep you guessing until the end.