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Post by: Helena Trooperman
Dated: 13th Aug 2026
Isbn: 978-0-88801-777-2 (443 pages)
ASIN: B0D29RND6X
Title: Pale Grey Dot
Author: 🇨🇦 Don Miasek
‘The Athena six,’ most particularly grabbed my attention.
A cross between Philip K. Dick’s, Blade Runner, only from the mutant’s perspective and Neal Stephenson’s, The Diamond Age.
You’re in fast and pulled closer still by the made family storyline that grows and grows. This story questions loyalty at all levels. An excellent read.
Three members of an elite team of operatives—once so close they were like family—are living in disgraced exile after a mission gone horribly wrong. But when the solar system’s Jupiter Station is attacked from within, they are thrown back into action, whether they like it or not. It will take all the tricks and tech they have to sort out the truth behind the official reports, and no small amount of courage to fight back against the system’s totalitarian government, in this exciting sci-fi debut.
Don Miasek plunges readers into a cracking fusion of cyberpunk and space opera, whirling us with breakneck action through a wonderfully realized vision of a inhabited solar system riven by intigue. As agendas and loyalties fray and collide, our only certainty is that we care deeply about the characters, no matter which side they think they are on.
David Annandale, Warlord (Warhammer 40,000) and The Tyrant Skies (Marvel: Untold)
Brimming with atmosphere from the first paragraph, the incredible world-building by Don Miasek will draw you in, but it's the fascinating characters and intriguing plot that will keep you there. Pale Grey Dot is a gripping debut that won't let you go until the last page is turned.
Jason Pchajek, Bounty
Cyberpunk and thriller mixed with space travel.
This is a timeline in our solar system with cybernetics of varying levels, a distopian political system where most have lost their jobs to automation and AI. Awesome worldbuilding with vivid imagery.
Yet, there’s hope.
The loyalty and trust in one another the four viewpoint characters have as siblings is engrossing. They’ve been separated by their locations on different planets many years.
Right from page one events start to bring their different worlds together. Their hope to find each other really lifts the backdrop of the story. I had to read on. I had to know whether they found each other or whether the totalitarian political system breaks them.
You’ll have to read the story, if you want to know how the reunion goes given their changing sides and deceptions.
The Athena 6 have the Athena protocol.
The six were part of Earth Security Services operations to maintain peace and order throughout the Solar System 50 years ago when an op all went wrong. Cherney, Ezza, Siena, and Jenna are all that’s left. All have different talents and specialties and they want their autonomy. She/Her is the one they all wanted to impress… like unconditional love for a parent.Â
Which will win the unnatural loyalty of the Athena protocol to the leader of ESS or true loyalty to each other?
Chilling! I say that because this story gives the feels. You are truly transported into a different setting. The plan unfolds as you read and it becomes clear that to achieve the goal, understanding the past is important. A fantastic ride. Don’t miss your chance to read it.
Buy: Rakuten Kobo & Kobo+  Amazon paperback  Amazon Kindle
Check out 🇨🇦 Don Miasek’s Website  Join Don Miasek’s newsletter. You’ll find the signup window on the right hand side panel of his website home page, below the signing events.
NEXT MONTH… Ed’s Pick (RHS) asks, but what if they come in peace?
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