Books with author Sean Michael Thomas

Nate has a talent for space combat after hundreds of victories in the Star Crusader videogame simulation. His skills are unique, enough to gain him a rare privilege. The chance to join five other Alliance cadets and escape the dull routine of the classroom. They will enter a fierce competition light-years away in the ancient Byotai Empire. Yet days after their arrival a rebellious faction begins a bloody mutiny that spreads like wildfire. The time for competition has ended; the time of war has begun.A handful of capital ships attempt to avoid the massacre, but only Relentless escapes. Nate and his friends are aboard, part of the few to make it out alive. Relentless is a heavily armoured assault ship, a relic from another age, but most of her crew members are dead or missing. Nate and his fellow cadets have to face the unthinkable. Under the guidance of Lieutenant Higgins, the ship's last fighter pilot, the six cadets have just days to practice operating the ship's fighters. There are no others. Only they can defend the ship, or face death at the hands of the enemy.

Nate and his friends are expert gamers, and now veteran combat pilots. They have proven their skills by inflicting defeat on the enemy and saving their ship in the process. The passengers and crew regard them as heroes, yet after their violent escape, they are to be sent home to a life of study and boredom. Their ship, ANS Relentless, sets off to join the fleet to embark on a secret operation. A new battle is about to begin, and Nate and his gamers are unwilling to be pushed aside so easily. The dangerous assignment for Relentless is one that will require every pilot onboard to join the fight.The Orion Battlegroup assembles under the command of the war hero, Admiral Churchill. Desperate for pilots for the coming fight, Churchill gives Nate's unit their chance. They will reform the defunct Knighthawk Squadron, and join with their comrades in the battle to help their Byotai allies. Churchill's fleet is heads into hostile territory, a place where the enemy will outnumber them ten to one. As Nate climbs into the cockpit of his Bullnose Gunship, he still has no idea of the suicidal risks they are about to take. The Empire has already fallen, and the flames of revolution are spreading fast.

The invasion of the Centauri Rim has begun, and Knighthawk Squadron leads the way. They fight in both the real and virtual worlds, where they use their unique skills to throw the enemy off balance. This last battle will be fought against the mighty stronghold of the separatists, an impregnable fortress hidden inside the Rim known simply as The Rock. And in their path lies a vast array of warships, pirate vessels, thousands of soldiers and a secretive leader who promises a future freed of alien influence. A grim future where Humanity can realise its destiny as masters of the known universe.What should be the final battle of the war threatens to spread the conflict to encompass every corner of the Alliance. As the crisis reaches its inevitable climax, the Knighthawks discover a dark secret. A secret that could bring the Alliance to its knees, even in its moment of ultimate victory.

"The human side of AIDS is candidly and poignantly revealed in 12 personal interviews with YAs who are HIV-positive, friends and relatives of AIDS patients, and AIDS educators and activists. Readers will be inspired by the determination and tenacity of those who are speaking out and their dedication to this critical cause. Between the interviews are brief passages of information about HIV and AIDS....A strong choice for discussion groups."--School Library Journal. List of resource organizations.

Black Widows: The Complete First Series includes the complete first season of six Black Widows episodes, previously only available separately:The Black Widows are an infamous, all-female mercenary unit. Aboard their heavily-armed ship Medusa, they embark on secretive missions throughout the crumbling Confederacy as it wages a terrible and bloody civil war. Each of the Widows is an elite operative, with skills and expertise that command a high price. Their very names spread fear and terror into the hearts of their foes.Episode 1The lives of Syala and her twin sister Arana are changed forever on the day the slavers hit their home on the Skylla. It is a day that started like any other, before turning into a terrifying massacre as soldiers and hideous creatures swarmed through the facility killing or enslaving anyone in their way. The sisters struggle to survive as a desperate few try and fight back, but nothing can hold back the horde. Episode 2The Black Widows head for the massive transport ship MS Monterey, captained by the tough as nails Lothar Bartholomew. Following a series of difficult operations, they need to take on supplies and collect payment for a recent contract. While the Widows look forward to some time away from Medusa, Syala has other plans. Episode 3The Black Widows land at the massive Kharybdis 1 Trading Post, deep inside the debris of the shattered moon. A valuable contract is on offer to retrieve an ancient artefact, but to their astonishment, the infamous Seven Sons mercenaries have beaten them to it. With funds low, and Medusa needing much needed repairs, they are stranded and in serious trouble. Until Syala, desperate to prove her worth to the mercenaries, sets out to steal the details of the contract from their competitors. Episode 4Syala and the Black Widows have located a rich prize hidden deep inside the debris filled remnants of the Kharybdis debris field. It is a massive transport ship, crippled by an unknown enemy and ripe for plunder. If their information is correct it could leave each of them wealthy beyond their dreams. Syala is not interested in loot, all she wants is the information hidden inside, information that could lead to finding her missing sister. Episode 5Syala and her new-found comrades are heading to the infamous Alpha Three Anchorage when their faithful ship Medusa finally succumbs to her wounds. With few options left, they are forced to seek refuge and assistance at the most unlikely place, the Ángel Salvage Facility on the planet of Euryale. It isn’t long before Syala discovers that Carlos Ángel, the enigmatic owner of the facility has many dangerous new friends. Episode 6Syala and the Black Widows are heading home to the infamous haven for mercenaries, traders, criminals, and cutthroats from a dozen worlds. To Syala it is a chance to follow a lead on her missing sister, but to the Widows it’s their home. This heavily defended installation is the Alpha Three facility, known colloquially as The Anchorage. The Widows run directly into a massive flotilla in the middle of a violent battle and each of them is on the run from their former home.

Black Widows Complete Second Series includes the complete second season of six Black Widows episodes, previously only available separately:The Black Widows are an infamous, all-female mercenary unit. Aboard their heavily-armed ship Medusa, they embark on secretive missions throughout the crumbling Confederacy as it wages a terrible and bloody civil war. Each of the Widows is an elite operative, with skills and expertise that command a high price. Their very names spread fear and terror into the hearts of their foes.Episode 1The Black Widows are offered a mission they cannot refuse, and this time their client is the Confederate Navy itself. Though a risky operation, Syala is keen to prove her worth to the crew of the Medusa and is itching to see action. Contact has been lost to the neutral pleasure colony of Teumessia 13, and an elite team of mercenaries is to be sent in.Episode 2Arana, twin sister of the Black Widow’s latest recruit is a prisoner. As a slave of the dreaded Echidna Union, she’s suffered unimaginable horrors during her time as a captor aboard the privateer Rising Sun. Her life is about to take a turn for the worst when the ship breaches a Confederate blockade and head for the surface.Episode 3The Morgan sisters are tougher than any believed possible. While Syala fights for her life on a distant world, Arana faces a new and terrible challenge. Her home aboard the Rising Sun is torn apart when pirates arrive and surround the ship. Though a prisoner and a slave, she will not yield to any of her enemies. As the pirates attempt to seize the ship she’d forces to pick a side. Does she fight against those entering the ship, or does she turn on those who choose to keep her in chains?Episode 4The Black Widows are prisoners of an insane general and his army of acolytes. The broken remains of Human sacrifices litter the innards of the Teumessia Pleasure Colony, and the Widows will soon be next. Syala could have chosen to escape, but instead she lies in wait, filthy, exhausted and wounded. Far away on a distant moon, her twin sister Arana faces an equally difficult situation. She’s been a slave for months, but now she is forced to fight for the pleasure of others. Episode 5Arana might have survived the terrors of mortal combat on Astarte V, but her life continues to worsen. Instead of barren moons and the frigid interiors of spaceships, she finds herself a slave on a distant world. With no allies, and surrounded by hostiles slavers, she is forced to learn new ways to save herself. On the planet of Agora, it isn’t just the people that can kill you, even the native fauna can melt the flesh and kill the careless. As days become weeks she decides that she must escape, not matter the consequences, or the violence she will have to unleash.Episode 6The Uprising is over, and one by one the old colonies sign up to the new Alliance. It is the dawn of a new age, but not all are keen to be a part of it. Solarium City is the next in line to join the fledgling Alliance, and as important dignitaries arrive the place transforms from a bustling city, into the most important colony in the sector. Into this tinderbox come the Morgan sisters. They have travelled very different paths, and encountered a myriad of terrible foes. Yet neither realises that their lives will finally cross paths at the floating city, a place where their destinies will finally be decided, and blood will be spilled.

In this book, The Adventures of Antanina and Tinatina, Episode One, Attack of the Dragon Spider, I introduce the memorable ant characters my father extemporaneously narrated to my brother, sisters and me in the 1960's. This story focuses on our two ant heroines with adventurous spirits and clever minds. Through their inquisitive and caring natures, the sisters find their way into a challenging situation with a very dangerous spider. They use their creativity and physical gifts to plan a battle and lead their family to victory, saving their colony and teaching important moral lessons of honor and teamwork. My father died at the age of 93. It was our dream to have his stories in print before he passed. However, I am sure that my mother, father and brother will rejoice knowing that these stories are now shared with the rest of the world. We hope you, and the adventurous child within you, enjoy the journeys.

Black Widows: Episode 1 is first story in a thrilling science fiction series about the infamous all-female mercenary unit. Aboard their heavily-armed ship Medusa, they embark on secretive missions throughout the crumbling Confederacy as it wages a terrible and bloody civil war. The lives of Syala and her twin sister Arana change forever on the day the slavers hit their new home on the Skylla Research Facility. It is a day that started like any other, before turning into a terrifying massacre as soldiers and hideous creatures swarm through the facility killing or enslaving anyone that stands in their way. The sisters struggle to survive as a desperate few try and fight back, but nothing can hold back the horde. Until they find a single mercenary dressed in black armour who refuses to back down. Her name is Zhang Wei, and she is a Black Widow.Black Widows is serialised over multiple short-read episodes per season, in the same fashion as a TV series. The first season of six episodes is also available in one complete box set. See my website for news on the next thrilling release at www.starcrusader.com.Season 2 is due for release in September 2017.

Black Widows: Episode 2 is the second story in a thrilling science fiction series about the infamous all-female mercenary unit. Aboard their heavily-armed ship Medusa, they embark on secretive missions throughout the crumbling Confederacy as it wages a terrible and bloody civil war. The Black Widows head for the massive transport ship MS Monterey, captained by the tough as nails Lothar Bartholomew. Following a series of difficult operations, they need to take on supplies and collect payment for a recent contract. While the Widows look forward to some time away from Medusa, Syala has other plans. She is looking for information as she desperately tries to locate her missing sister and the sinister slavers they tore her home apart. What none of them realise is that something left Skylla with them, and now it’s on the ship and stalking its prey. As the death count rises, only the Black Widows can save the day, and Syala is caught up right in the middle of it all.Black Widows is serialised over multiple short-read episodes per season, in the same fashion as a TV series. The first season of six episodes is also available in one complete box set. See my website for news on the next thrilling release at www.starcrusader.com.Season 2 is due for release in September 2017.