The first in a trilogy that explores the struggles of an empire. Epic in scope and intimate in voice, it follows members of the Muungano empire – a far-reaching coalition of city-states that stretches from O.E. (original earth) to Titan – as it faces an escalating series of threats.
SWEEP OF STARS
by Maurice Broaddus
St. Martin’s Press, February 2023
The Muungano empire strived and struggled to form a utopia when they split away from old earth. Freeing themselves from the endless wars and oppression of their home planet in order to shape their own futures and create a far-reaching coalition of city-states that stretched from Earth and Mars to Titan. With the wisdom of their ancestors, the leadership of their elders, the power and vision of their scientists and warriors they charted a course to a better future. But the old powers could not allow them to thrive and have now set in motion new plots to destroy all that they’ve built. In the fire to come they will face down their greatest struggle yet. Amachi Adisa and other young leaders will contend with each other for the power to galvanize their people and chart the next course for the empire. Fela Buhari and her elite unit will take the fight to regions not seen by human eyes, but no training will be enough to bring them all home. Stacia Chikeke, captain of the starship Cypher, will face down enemies across the stars, and within her own vessel, as she searches for the answers that could save them all. The only way is forward.
“Powerful, sweeping Afrofuturist space opera…. A hugely ambitious and notable work of postcolonial science fiction. This takes the genre in an exciting and challenging direction.”―Publishers Weekly, starred review
Maurice Broaddus is a fantasy and horror author best known for his short fiction and his Knights of Breton Court novel trilogy. He has published dozens of stories in magazines and book anthologies, including in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Black Static, and Weird Tales.
Penelope Schleeman, a consistently broke Connecticut high school teacher, is as surprised as anyone when her sensitive debut novel, 
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Erin is married to handsome and thoughtful Jamie, who sells elaborate security systems: he represents safety to a woman who hasn’t always had that stability in her life. Sophia was an ambitious and successful investigative journalist until a scoop went horribly wrong – leaving her working an entry-level role in local news. Her honeymoon with supportive Mark is a chance to escape and hatch a plan for redemption. When the two women meet at the hotel pool, they spontaneously decide to go on a double date to celebrate their last night. But when a stranger spills a drink over Erin the evening ends abruptly. Hours later he is discovered dead. But it was an accident… right? Back home, and when Erin struggles to answer Sophia’s questions, it becomes clear that there’s another side to this story. Many marriages can survive anything – but when it starts on a lie is it really ’til death do us part?
A year into her dream job at a cutthroat Silicon Valley start-up, Cassie finds herself trapped in a corporate nightmare. Between the long hours, toxic bosses, and unethical projects, she also struggles to reconcile the glittering promise of a city where obscene wealth lives alongside abject poverty and suffering. Ivy League grads complain about the snack selection from a conference room with a view of houseless people bathing in the bay. Start-up burnouts leap into the paths of commuter trains, and men literally set themselves on fire in the streets.