Risingshadow
Speculative Fiction Books
  • About
    • Home
    • Articles
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Staff Members
    • Newsletter
    • Finnish (FI)
  • Books
    • New Releases
    • Coming Soon
    • Books of the Year
    • Bookshelves Activity
    • Recently Added
    • Advanced Search
    • Reviews / Comments
    • Genres and Tags
    • * Submit Book
  • Community
    • Discussions
    • - Recent Messages
    • - Recent Topics
    • - Hot Topics
    • - Popular Topics
    • - Search
    • CHALLENGES
    • - Reading Challenge
    • - Book Trivia Quiz
  • Home
  • Books
  • Joel Shepherd
  • The Spiral Wars
  • Precursor

Precursor

The Spiral Wars #10 / 11
by Joel Shepherd
Precursor (The Spiral Wars #10) by Joel Shepherd
⧗ 8.00 / 1
123456718910

The UFS Phoenix returns to Homeworld, after more than three years of searching the galaxy for a way to save humanity from the looming AI threat. Some of Fleet's captains are unhappy with their own command, following the massive casualties of Nia's first strike, and are looking to Captain Erik Debogande as the war leader they truly need, as the threat of civil war looms. But on Homeworld lurks an old threat, a secret kept by Fleet Command since Homeworld's first conquest by humans. A secret that could tear Fleet, and Erik's powerful family, apart.

Amazon: Check Best Offer

Science FictionSpace Opera
Release date: July 22, 2025

Book Order
Amazon
Kindle
Audible
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon Europe

Your Rating
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Standard Shelves

Readers also enjoyed

No Man’s Space (P.X #1)
★ 9.86 / 7
Revenger (Revenger #1)
★ 6.58 / 17
A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan #1)
★ 7.42 / 7
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen (Vorkosigan)
★ 7.00 / 5
Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire #1)
★ 8.00 / 5
Salvation (The Salvation Sequence #1)
★ 8.00 / 5
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse #1)
★ 8.40 / 5

Join the Discussion
You can post as a guest or sign in for more features.
Have questions about this book or want to share your thoughts? Join the conversation!
Joel Shepherd

Joel Shepherd

Joel Shepherd is an Australian author whose imagination bridges the vast expanse of science fiction and the intricate depth of fantasy. Born in Adelaide in 1974 and raised in Perth, he discovered an early fascination with storytelling through science fiction films and speculative tales that stretched beyond everyday life. This curiosity eventually led him to study film and television arts at Curtin University, a foundation that shaped his cinematic approach to narrative and world-building.

Read more ...

Shepherd’s literary journey began with his debut novel Crossover, which was shortlisted for the George Turner Prize and later nominated for an Aurealis Award, signaling the emergence of a distinctive voice in Australian speculative fiction. His Cassandra Kresnov series, featuring an AI super-soldier navigating questions of identity, autonomy, and morality, brought him international attention, while A Trial of Blood and Steel explored political intrigue and rebellion in a richly imagined fantasy realm. More recently, The Spiral Wars series demonstrates his skill at combining military space opera with complex character arcs and high-stakes tension.

Beyond his books, Shepherd’s life is a tapestry of diverse experiences. He travels extensively, cycles through the landscapes of Australia, and serves with the South Australian Country Fire Service, all of which inform the authenticity and scope of his storytelling. His work resonates with readers who appreciate tightly woven plots, morally complex characters, and worlds that feel both vast and lived-in.

With a career spanning decades and multiple international publications, Joel Shepherd continues to captivate fans of science fiction, fantasy, and military speculative fiction, crafting stories that challenge the imagination while probing the human condition.

 

The Spiral Wars

Set against the vast expanse of deep space, The Spiral Wars unfolds as a sweeping military science fiction saga filled with political tension, moral complexity, and unrelenting action. At its heart lies a battle for survival, not only between empires and fleets but within the souls of those who fight them.

The story follows Commander Eric Debogande and his crew as they navigate the volatile Spiral arm of the galaxy, where shifting alliances and covert agendas threaten to ignite total war. Amid breathtaking starship battles and intricate tactics, the series delves into the human cost of power and the fragile balance between duty, loyalty, and freedom. Every victory comes at a price, and every choice ripples through a galaxy on the edge of chaos.

Read more ...

Rich with layered world-building and grounded, character-driven storytelling, The Spiral Wars stands out for its fusion of large-scale space opera and deeply personal narrative. Rather than relying on spectacle alone, the series immerses readers in the complexities of warfare, the politics of interstellar civilizations, and the quiet moments of humanity that persist even in the cold vacuum of space.

Fans of realistic military sci-fi and immersive galactic adventures will find The Spiral Wars both thrilling and thought-provoking, a meticulously crafted journey through the heart of conflict, courage, and consequence.


The Spiral Wars consists of ten books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Renegade (The Spiral Wars #1)
★ 10.00 / 1
Drysine Legacy (The Spiral Wars #2)
★ 10.00 / 1
Kantovan Vault (The Spiral Wars #3)
Unrated
Defiance (The Spiral Wars #4)
Unrated
Croma Venture (The Spiral Wars #5)
Unrated
Rando Splicer (The Spiral Wars #6)
Unrated
Precursor (The Spiral Wars #10)
⧗ 8.00 / 1
The Spiral Wars Book 11 (The Spiral Wars #11)
⧗ 9.76 / 17


^ Top
Follow Us: Newsletter | Facebook | X | Mastodon | RSS
Hosted by Planeetta Internet Oy
© 1996 - 2026 Risingshadow. All rights reserved.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Privacy Policy