I've been starved for good sci-fi in recent years in the rise of fantasy; seems we either get dystopian eco-fiction or the robots take over sorts of stories for science fiction these days. Future's Edge is classic sci-fi inspired by the golden age of the genre. A touch of space opera but not pure space opera. I had a thoroughly entertaining time with this.

I've followed the author's career for a long time now, found him to be one of the most approachable authors on social media. I've also followed his real-life romance with a fellow author. I thought this was one of his most personal books yet. I felt more emotionally connected to these characters than I have in past books of his.

This is at its heart a story about unity and survival in the face of an alien invasion that wipes out most life on earth. Ursula Morrow, an archaeologist on a universe that no longer needs her skills, has to give up the life of adventure she had imagined for herself as a naive, idealistic student. She has an instant romantic connection with a soldier, Jack, who helps her escape. On a remote world on an archaeological dig before it all went to hell, she had touched an alien artefact with her bare hands that made her practically invincible.

She winds up running a bar at a refugee camp, holding out hope that Jack will come back for her. He does, but not in the way she imagined. He's now married to his ship, a sentient AI, and he needs her to operate the alien artefact again. They think it could be a weapon to destroy the Cutters. But what if there's something out there scarier than the Cutters?

This was a character-driven thrilling adventure that also put the science back in science fiction. I appreciated how the love story didn't go the love triangle or romantic subplot route and Jack and the Crisis Actor were an established couple. I also appreciated how it was a fresh take on the "evil robot takeover" trope - the robots aren't evil in this but rather sentient beings with complicated feelings.

I also loved Ursula's character, how she struggled with a drinking problem and worked through whether her love for Jack was a childish obsession or true love. She was a very real character who transformed in an inspiring way. File this one under men who write women well. I also appreciated that this wasn't heavy on backstory or info-dumping about worldbuilding, but the worldbuilding in this was interesting.

A fun science fiction adventure with a personal touch. Recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Future's Edge by Gareth L. Powell is a fast-paced, modern, universe-expanding adventure. Following the destruction of Earth by the alien Cutters, the story centres on Ursula, who is infected by an alien parasite and running a bar on a refugee planet. Her life is disrupted by the arrival of her ex-husband, who brings with him a plan to defeat the Cutters.

While Future's Edge delivers the action-packed sci-fi adventure one expects, its true strength lies in its exploration of Ursula's complex relationships with the novel's diverse and well-developed cast. The emotional weight of losing Earth and everyone she loved is explored, adding depth to her journey. In particular, Ursula's interactions with her ex-husband and his new wife, Cris, an AI military ship, contribute significantly to the narrative's richness.

Although the ending felt somewhat premature, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the thought-provoking concepts it explores. If you're a fan of action-packed sci-fi adventures with likeable and fascinating characters, you will likely find Future's Edge a compelling read.

Do you like fast paced sci-fi adventures? Then you’ll want to check out Gareth L. Powell’s newest book, Future’s Edge. This is definitely not your average sci-fi adventure. I don’t want to go too deep into the storyline to avoid spoilers, but I will say with a lot of sci-fi adventure dealing with the destruction of Earth/humanity by aliens we’d see the build up to that and the actual battles/destruction happening, however this is set years after humanity was already devastated, with the focal character being one of the survivors who just might hold the key to defeating their enemy. And yes while there is a large overarching theme around that quest for revenge, there is also a more personal storyline as well. With well developed characters (including one heck of a unique character..don’t want to say more since its a fun little surprise), a gripping story, and quite the epic ending, Future’s Edge is sure to entertain. If you enjoy this and are new to Powell’s work be sure to check out his Embers of War trilogy as well. I’d like to thank Titan Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Future’s Edge.

This book follows Ursula an archeaologist living in a refugee camp after the fall of earth. The story is interesting and the writing well done however the plot wasn't always enticing.

This was a brilliant first novel of mine for Gareth Powell and im eager to see what else is in store. I think i'm going to now start the back catalogue

Another wonderful Space Opera by one of the modern British greats. Future's Edge in another stand alone story of alien artifacts, space piracy, and planets spanning chases, Powell's space adventures are pure fun reads

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Future’s Edge is my first experience with Gareth L. Powell’s writing, and I’m sure it won’t be my last. He excels at sci-fi, and I tore through this book faster than the speed of light!

Set after the destruction of Earth by alien forces, humanity is left scattered among the stars. Ursula, our protagonist, barely escapes—thanks to the help of her not-really-ex-husband, Jack. She’s a very compelling character, grappling with the trauma of losing her homeworld and the homesickness that follows. On top of that, she must also face the painful reality that Jack, the man she once loved, is now married to the AI of his warship.

The emotional depth of Future’s Edge makes it more than just a thrilling space adventure. Powell crafts a story that’s both action-packed and deeply human, exploring loss, resilience, and the complexities of love. If you’re a sci-fi fan, this is a must-read!

When you read a lot of science fiction, it can be hard for something to seem unique. Although Future's Edge doesn't always feel completely ground-breaking, there were aspects of the narrative that I found really intriguing. The world presented here does contain some common tropes, but I also would happily read more in this setting, as it felt like there was room for further exploration.
I found the characters to be some of the strongest aspects of Future's Edge - the blurb recommends the book for fans of Becky Chambers and James SA Corey, and I can see the similarities to both. Like Chambers, there is a found family crew which encompasses a variety of sentient races. Even the minor side characters feel well-fleshed out and coherent in their reactions to events. As with James SA Corey, we have an ancient alien existential threat, and a grand scope of events.
Although the ending felt slightly rushed, overall I found Future's Edge to be a really enjoyable, solid four-star read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher. However I enjoyed it so much I pre-ordered the physical book as soon as I finished it.

The main character was just so fascinating and she goes through such a huge amount of personal growth in this story. She’s able to put aside personal feelings for the good of others, in a way that would be really difficult for most people. She’s a true survivor. We meet her as she’s working at a bar in a place most humans are trying to escape from after a strange alien species has destroyed the earth. We learn she was infected by an alien artefact which has given her immense healing abilities.

A reconnection sets her on a path to try and help humanity face this enemy that seeks their annihilation. But this will have her facing heartbreak and loss. I was so impressed by the courage shown by the main character in such a natural way. She’s not an obvious hero, she has human emotions, she has fear. She struggles with what she has to do and forgiving people who have hurt her.

This was such fantastic sci-fi writing. It managed to invoke the vibes of big space opera through the scale of the enemy and threat faced, whilst being a very character focussed story which I loved!

Future’s Edge by Gareth Powell is a scifi action adventure novel with a strong focus on the human connection. The story is told from the first person point of view of archaeologist Ursula Morrow. Ursula’s growth as a character and the relationships she develops with the novel's side characters showcase the author’s skill in writing well-thought out characters. The plot is very action and character oriented and the novel is a quick read. However, scenes are often written in a gimmicky way to move the plot forward, and don’t always feel like a natural progression of the story. Also, while this novel centers on a number of science fiction tropes and concepts, those concepts are not explored in any meaningful way.

In this story, the Earth is destroyed by an alien race known as the “Cutters” and the story begins with the aftermath of those who escaped the attack. Ursula barely escaped the moment of the attack and now lives on a backwater world, running a bar in a refugee camp. She also happens to be infected by an alien parasite that gives her the ability to quickly heal and resist damage to her body. It just so happens, that alien parasite might be the key to defeating the Cutters. After waiting for two years for the man she loves, he suddenly shows up in a military ship, seeking her help, and she is thrust into a thrilling adventure through the undervoid involving piracy, space battles, and more.

No doubt, the relationships that develop between Ursula and the other characters are well-written and show a warmth for the human connection. That may be enough for most readers to enjoy this novel, but the story lacks the seriousness and the exploration of scifi concepts. This story has an AI ship that, weirdly, happens to be married to a human. The sentient AI does not feel at all like AI, simply like another human character. The AI part is not examined in any meaningful way. That’s also the case for many other aspects of this novel, such as the archaeology trait for Ursula, the alien parasite, the undervoid, and so on. Future’s Edge is pure action in many respects, opting not to go in depth on the scifi concepts Powell introduces.

Future’s Edge is a quick read and an action oriented novel for those looking not to think too hard about concepts that typically need detailed exploration in a scifi novel. Powell makes up for the surface level look at the concepts with strong characters and the genuine relationships they develop.

I absolutely loved this book and I couldn't put it down! I had to know what was happening next as the anticipation was killing me. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and it really surprised me the direction the story went. I would highly recommend Future's Edge to any fellow Sci-Fi/Fantasy lover.

This was a pretty fun ride!
Future's Edge is a short but fast-paced sci-fi novel that explores a huge number of themes- from the Fermi Paradox, to artificial intelligence and what it means to be human.
I think the characters were the highlight. While I initially wasn't too sure about the protagonist (she was very impulsive and brash and that normally isn't my sort of thing), she developed really nicely throughout the story. The side characters also each had their own merits and it was really refreshing how they actually talked to each other about their problems in a mature way to find a resolution. I was the antithesis of the miscommunication trope and I need more of that in my books! There was a love triangle in this book of a sort, but the way it was handled maturely and realistically actually made it a pretty great part of the story, whereas they normally want to make me immediately put a book down.
I think the cutters were also a highlight of the book. They were really well described and definitely feel like they could be a real alien species! Very creepy too- though I don't think they were scary enough to warrant the book being marketed as "horror-tinged," that was a little bit misleading and meant I expected something very different to very action-heavy sci-fi that I got.
I also think there was perhaps a bit too much going on for the page count. It meant that some themes and characters felt a bit surface-level and I didn't quite connect to them, so events like character deaths didn't have as much of an impact as they otherwise could have. The exploration of the fermi paradox was super interesting but I just wanted some more! I won't say about specifically what for fear of spoilers but those who've read the book will probably know what I'm talking about. I also wanted to know a lot more about all of the different alien species- we got a glimpse but it was so little!
So yeah, a pretty fun ride with fun characters and exploration of some really interesting themes, even if they were a bit surface-level. Keep an eye out for this one when it comes out if you're interested in action packed and clever sci-fi.

I don't think I've ever actually heart of Gareth L. Powell, despite the fact that he's an award-winning author, but this book has convinced me that I should at least look into his other works. I initially requested it because it said it was horror-tinged, and while I can where they're coming from in saying that I would argue that it's not really. It's a sci-fi, novel for sure, and it poses some strong philosophical questions like a good sci-fi novel should, but if you are looking for a horror novel this isn't it. That being said it was an enjoyable ride. I love a good stand-alone, and this book accomplishes everything that it sets out to do, while also being a fun read that also makes you think. The characters are delightful, and despite a life-or-death plot Powell manages to give them decent development. I think my only complaint here (if I can even call it that) is that things are wrapped up a little too nicely. With a book like this, in such circumstances, I would expect an ending with more consequences, but we don't really get that. Which, like I said, isn't a bad thing, but it does seem a little too neat. I also have a feeling that in a few months I won't really remember much about the book, so while it was enjoyable at the time I don't think it's going to leave a lasting impression. Which, again, isn't a bad thing, but it's definitely a factor in my rating, and why it's a 4 star read and not a 5 star one. Either way I won't hesitate to suggest this to those looking for a good stand-alone sci-fi novel, and I think fans of the Expanse series might find something to enjoy here as well.

Brilliant, punchy, science fiction from Gareth L. Powell; interstellar travel has been made possible through pre-existing technology, but aliens have destroyed life on earth as well as on other planets. Starting on a refugee planet on the outer edges, and eventually becoming a universe-spanning space opera. Really fast-paced, emotionally engaging, and rather entertaining with its “not as far in the future as you might think expect” timeframe - Earth is recognisable “earthy” prior to the oncoming apocalypse - London buses as a unit of size etc.

I think it’s a standalone book but I’d love a sequel beyond Future’s edge.

"When archaeologist Ursula Morrow accidentally infects herself with an alien parasite, she fears she may have jeopardised her career. However, her concerns become irrelevant when Earth is destroyed, billions die, and suddenly no one needs archaeologists anymore…"

This is yet another cracker from Gareth L Powell. I love how he manages to make each of his stories unique and readable, especially his spaceships. I thought the Trouble Dog from Embers of War was going to be my favourite and then along comes Crisis Actor (Even if I really didn't like its name)

Good characters, believable dialogue and a unique world, this is definitely going to become a fan favourite.

What if you were to start a book AFTER the "end of the world?" What if there is a very real reason for the Fermi Paradox? What do you do if after the greatest collective trauma the human race has ever experienced happens - but you survived?

That's sort of where Future's Edge, British author Gareth Powell's decides to jump off his newest stand-alone novel. I've read Powell before - he was a discovery during Covid-19, where I devoured the Embers of War series and then read his back catalog as well. He has a wonderful mind for writing science fiction that seems both very real and very different - his aliens often feel alien in a way that some authors just never pull off. And for someone who I think isn't a big name in the wider world...he's somebody you SHOULD be reading (at least if you're interested in well written and well thought SF). So I squeed just a bit when the approval came down for this book.

What is amazing is that he decides to barely show the "apocalypse/end of the world." We start two years aft

A fantastically enjoyable story. This is top tier science fiction. Recited at a fast and streamlined pace, this story is classic science fiction but told very well, often with oblique references to other science fiction franchises.
A classic tale of good versus evil, but with added context that we discover at the end, rendering it a very fun read. The settings and the dialogue are sometimes ropey and obvious, but this is fine science fiction and something to be read and liked.

I had a chance to read this book early from Netgalley and Titan Books. I have wanted to give Gareth L. Powell a chance for a while and when I saw the premise for this pop-up I had to request it. I enjoyed the perspective of each character and I think the most unique part is the ship also had a perspective. Honestly, the ship perspective was one of my favorites as she navigates human emotions and troubles.

The plot for this entire novel is fast-paced and hella fun to read. I read this book in less than a day because I couldn't stop from chapter to chapter. I loved this book so much, I immediately went to my library app and picked up his Embers of War Trilogy. I went through those in a week.

If you enjoy a good romp in space with decently fleshed-out characters and a cool premise, then this could be for you. I am going to be reading more from this author.

A short and fast-paced sci-fi novel set in the not-too-distant future. It's driven by an interesting twist on the "alien apocalypse" trope that could ring some bells for fans of the Mass Effect videogame franchise. Interesting characters and cool takes on sci-fi tech.

In some ways, Future’s Edge by British SF writer Gareth L Powell is exactly what the doctor ordered. I’ve been a bit out of sorts with science fiction lately, and Decided that what I really wanted was a dose of good old fashioned space opera.
So here we have such a thing, mixed in with a bit of military science fiction, some (not quite) first contact, some technological sublime, and a dash of body horror. We begin in the kind of rough and ready frontier camp familiar from Westerns (think Deadwood) in the aftermath of a catastrophic attack on Earth by mysterious aliens. A local bar owner is waiting for something: possibly the man she left behind, or possibly a ticket out. But it turns out she has a back story: thanks to an enounter with an alien artifact, she is more or less indestructible.
Then the ex turns up and he has a mission for her: they need to go back to the artifact, which might be the weapon they need. Cue road trip. In space.
The plot motors along fairly efficiently and the novel has a lot of the ingredients I like in a science fiction novel… but I just don’t think they blend very well. Perhaps this is trying to take in too many of those sub-genres of science fiction. There is so much here that it all feels as if it is dealt with too superficially. Most of the characters are mere sketches, and there is perhaps just a little too much hand waving. How the main character turns from archaeologist to bad-ass is a case in point. I might have preferred her to remain a bit of a nerd. All this, and the phrase deus ex machina is used at the end, as if to hang a lantern on the fact that the ending is really a bit too much that.
Anyway, perhaps my problem with science fiction isn’t the science fiction. Perhaps it is me. After 50+ years of reading this stuff, I’ve just grown too fussy.