Skip to Main Content

About The Book

Murder makes unlikely allies.

On the eve of the planet Ileri's historic vote to join the Commonwealth, the assassination of a government minister threatens to shatter everything. Private investigator Noo Okereke and spy Meiko Ogawa join forces with police chief Toiwa to investigate and discover clues that point disturbingly toward a threat humanity thought they had escaped.

About The Author

John Appel volunteered to jump out of planes before he’d ever been in a plane; his friends and family say this sums up his approach to life pretty well. He writes science fiction and fantasy and the occasional tabletop RPG adventure. A lifelong Marylander, he lives in the Baltimore suburbs with his wife and children. He masquerades as a technology risk manager to pay the bills after two decades as an information security pro. When not writing, rolling dice, or keeping the bad guys at bay, he enjoys rum and swords, but not both at the same time. John is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writing workshop.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Solaris (July 22, 2021)
  • Length: 448 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781781089156

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

"With solid, thoughtful representation this will be well worth the time of any reader looking for socially conscious hard sci-fi." -- Publishers Weekly

– Publishers Weekly

"The writing is good; the ideas excellent." -- John Dodd, author of Just Add Water

"John Appel bursts unto the science fiction scene with a tightly-plotted far-future thriller. Combining rigor and thoughtful speculation of technology and history with nuanced characterization of seasoned operatives, Assassin's Orbit is an excellent read." -- Michael R. Underwood, author of Annihilation Aria

"A fast-paced debut novel filled with interesting, well-developed characters and super cool sci-fi technology." -- Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series

"Assassin’s Orbit is the best kind of space thriller—twisty and explosive, it doesn’t stop, doesn’t flinch, and doesn’t hold back. I absolutely loved this book and the super-capable women at its explosive heart." -- Karen Osborne, author of Architects of Memory

"A compelling, explosive debut." -- Locus Magazine

– Locus Magazine

"Combines a space station murder mystery with mature characters, with action beats, intrigue, diverse characters and an engaging plot and writing style."

– Nerds of a Feather

"A fast-paced, action-packed crime thriller."

– San Francisco Book Review

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images