Kristen Brand

Welcome!

Hi. I’m speculative fiction author Kristen Brand. If you’re looking for a good book in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, then you’re in the right place. My novels all have fast-paced action, witty banter, and at least a hint of romance. I’m a huge nerd, which is pretty obvious in my writing, and I love reading and talking about books, comics, and short stories.

Check out my Books page for a full list of my novels. Or start reading my free superhero serial, Fight Crime! (A Love Story), online right now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage SciFi Month: A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

A Princess of Mars is serial fiction at its finest. Long before Netflix perfected the algorithm to keep us glued to our seats for episode after episode, Edgar Rice Burroughs had that s**t down.

Originally serialized in the magazine The All-Story in 1912, A Princess of Mars tells the story of John Carter. He’s a a former confederate soldier who, while on the run for his life, stumbles into a mysterious cave that transports him to Mars. As you do.

Once he wakes up there, the first thing he has to do is relearn how to walk, because thanks to the lesser gravity and atmospheric pressure, each step sends him shooting into the air.

Hold on. A man gets sent to another planet, and the different planetary conditions give him superhuman strength? Why does that sound familiar…

John Carter is often cited as one of the inspirations behind Superman, just to give you an idea of what a huge influence A Princess of Mars has had on the science fiction genre. Continue reading Vintage SciFi Month: A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Try Broadswords and Blasters Issue 12

Space cops! Ray-gun fights! Space fashion! Alien divas!

I love all these things, which is why they ended up in a short story I wrote recently called Starstruck. It’s a retro sci-fi adventure that ticks off a couple boxes from my 5 Favorite Vintage Sci-Fi Tropes list and is inspired by old science fiction and pulp comics.

That’s probably why it’s such a good fit for Broadswords and Blasters, a “pulp magazine with modern sensibilities.” Their latest issue, number 12, came out yesterday, and you can read over a dozen awesome pulp stories in it. I’m super excited that Starstruck is included in their number.

Space Cadet Duke Rayburn just wants to go one day without getting criticized by his impossible-to-please superior. But when he’s assigned to protect a galactic celebrity who’s being stalked and threatened, he’ll have to do whatever it takes to keep her safe–and worry about the consequences if he survives.

Continue reading Try Broadswords and Blasters Issue 12

Vintage Sci-Fi Month: The Zero Stone by Andre Norton

Used bookstores have certain sort of magic. It might be the smell of old pages filling the air like fairy dust, or the chance to stumble upon a hidden gem with a story lost to time. And no two stores are the same, each one giving us a new maze of bookshelves to explore.

There’s a used bookstore about thirty minutes from my house that’s extra awesome because it also sells comics. Its sci-fi/fantasy bookshelves are hidden in the back, and they’re a treasure trove packed full of more stories than I could read in a lifetime. Looking over the rows of spines to pick out my next purchase is always an adventure.

I bought this one mostly because it has a cat on the cover.

Continue reading Vintage Sci-Fi Month: The Zero Stone by Andre Norton

5 Favorite Vintage Sci-Fi Tropes

Did you know January is Vintage Science Fiction month? I didn’t until I saw the hashtag on Twitter, which piqued my interest, because I love old sci-fi. You can feel the enthusiasm and energy in a lot of those old space travel stories, written in a time where mankind was just venturing beyond Earth’s atmosphere, and everyone was excited about the possibilities.

January is also great timing, because I’ve got a retro sci-fi short story coming out in Broadswords and Blasters Issue 12 later this month. You might find more than one of these tropes in it. Or not. Read it and see. 😉

Space Fashion

Are you venturing into the cold reaches of space and don’t know what to wear? No need to worry. Just pop a fishbowl over your head, and you’ll be fine.

Planet Comics Issue 36 Cover — The helmets won’t protect you from evil green space giants, obviously, but they will shield you from the void of space.

Continue reading 5 Favorite Vintage Sci-Fi Tropes

New Superhero Fiction of 2019 (Year-End Megapost)

2019 is almost over, and it was a good year for superhero fiction. You can check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of my wrap-ups throughout the year to find any books you missed. Below, I’ve got a mix of books that came out in the last couple months and releases from earlier in the year that I overlooked. Hopefully, you can find something that catches your interest.

As usual, I haven’t personally read all of these novels, so check out the reviews and samples before purchasing. And happy reading!

This post contains affiliate links.

Supernova

by Marissa Meyer

All’s fair in love and anarchy in Supernova, the epic conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer’s thrilling Renegades Trilogy

This volume sees Nova and Adrian struggling to keep their secret identities concealed while the battle rages on between their alter egos, their allies, and their greatest fears come to life. Secrets, lies, and betrayals are revealed as anarchy once again threatens to reclaim Gatlon City.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

A Christmas Carol (Wearing the Cape)

by Marion G. Harmon

Continue reading New Superhero Fiction of 2019 (Year-End Megapost)

Free Ebook Friday: Nyssa Glass and the Caper Crisis by H.L. Burke

Being a bookworm ain’t cheap. Fortunately, there’s a ton of free ebooks out there. Unfortunately, sorting through them to find one you like can feel as tedious as searching through receipts during tax season.

Free ebook Friday spotlights a free ebook I’ve personally read and enjoyed, and hopefully, it’ll help you find a good read. The posts come out on random Fridays, not weekly, and the books featured will probably be speculative fiction.

This week’s pick is:

Book Description

Orphaned cat burglar Nyssa Glass intends to outwit her rotten fate.

“Adopted” by her incarcerated uncle’s gang of thieves, she breaks into homes and picks pockets to repay her family debt and one day buy her freedom from their dark enterprise. Mechanically adept and determined, Nyssa longs to attend Miss Pratchett’s School for Mechanically Minded Maids and make an honest life she can take pride in. Continue reading Free Ebook Friday: Nyssa Glass and the Caper Crisis by H.L. Burke

Back from Vacation with Photos and Mini Book Reviews

The Florida Keys are awesome.

There’s a reason I chose it as Dave and Val’s vacation destination when I wrote Kill Them All. And I’m happy to report that my trip went a lot better than theirs did and wasn’t interrupted by rocket launchers and complex, supervillain-related plots. 😉

In all seriousness, I had the perfect honeymoon. It was wonderfully relaxing and filled with beautiful sights and excellent food. Coming back to reality this past week has been tough. Continue reading Back from Vacation with Photos and Mini Book Reviews