Anti-State
Published on 21. April 2026
400 pages
978-1-80552-030-6 (ISBN)
Description
A standalone story set in The Fractal series world, which began with the much lauded Fearless and Resilient, hard-sf masterpieces which Analog called "Rigorous hard SF with a powerful but flawed protagonist."
"Stroud raises fascinating questions about the politics of space exploration."- Publisher's Weekly
2121 AD. Three years after the first Mars conflict and the colony is still struggling to recover. Corporations fight to hold on to their investments. Old secrets resurface and new faces appear.
Magnus Sirocco should never have been allowed to come here. He is a vigilante turned revolutionary who has been given a cause. He doesn't lose. Ever. Peter Iskander leads a new religious mission to deliver the promised land to their people. And after being investigated, exonerated and promoted, Commodore Ellisa Shann returns, but when a ship is stolen, she is drawn into another deadly duel.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
"Stroud raises fascinating questions about the politics of space exploration."- Publisher's Weekly
2121 AD. Three years after the first Mars conflict and the colony is still struggling to recover. Corporations fight to hold on to their investments. Old secrets resurface and new faces appear.
Magnus Sirocco should never have been allowed to come here. He is a vigilante turned revolutionary who has been given a cause. He doesn't lose. Ever. Peter Iskander leads a new religious mission to deliver the promised land to their people. And after being investigated, exonerated and promoted, Commodore Ellisa Shann returns, but when a ship is stolen, she is drawn into another deadly duel.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Reviews / Votes
"Incisive, human, intelligent science fiction" -- Adrian Tchaikovsky If you like them political and full of intrigue, murder, and double crosses, don't skip this one. -- Gabino Iglesias for Locus Magazine A 'complex political thriller set in space. Its tight scope delivers a compelling story' -- Stewart Hotston, Nerds of a Feather "The depths of outer space test the strength of a dynamic heroine's inner resolve in Stroud's smart, introspective space opera set in the year 2118. [...] With an attention to detail that will please hard science fiction fans, Stroud raises fascinating questions about the politics of space exploration. This is one to be savored." "Tense, compelling ... Stroud' Fractal series is prescient and ultimately profoundly hopeful." -- Anna Smith Spark "Prescient, rigorous and believable hard SF packed full of daring and danger" -- Stephen Oram "Anti-State is a gripping, hard SF adventure for the times. Missing the Expanse? Love For All Mankind? This is for you." -- Gavin Smith "Anti-State is a fascinating study of how individuals can be sucked into political machinations with the highest stakes. Ideal for anyone who enjoys SF filled with very smart people solving interesting problems." -- Emma Newman "A well rounded Sci-fi tale of politics, intrigue and belligerent factions." -- Fat Guy Reading "[Allen Stroud] also brings a Clarkian feel that grounds the story in the best tradition of science fiction. He keeps the action going, and does a fine job of showing the difficulties of conflict in space. Highly Recommended." (On the Fractal Series) "Fast-paced, gripping hard SF with death in hard vacuum waiting at every turn." (On the Fractal Series) "Space battles, sabotage, and treachery envelop a gripping whodunit, as Captain Ellisa Shann strives to identify a murderer among her crew and save her ship, the Khidr, from imminent destruction. Fearless is a fabulous read from a writer who knows how to deliver." (On the Fractal Series) -- Ian Whates, Author of Dark Angels Rising and 2019 Winner of the Karl Edward Wagner Award "Fearless is a brilliant achievement, and one of the best science-fiction novels I have read in a very long time." (On the Fractal Series) "Gripping, intense, military SF. Stunning and urgent." (On the Fractal Series) -- Anna Smith Spark, author of the Empires of Dust series Rigorous hard SF with a powerful but flawed protagonist and a fascinating historical background, 'Fearless' is a treat for just about any Analog reader." (On the Fractal Series) -- Analog Science Fiction & Fact "A wonderful, modern, inclusive and clever science fiction that deserves to be a part of anyone's collection." (On the Fractal Series) -- SF BookMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Flame Tree Publishing
File size
3,23 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-80552-030-6 (9781805520306)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Allen Stroud is a lecturer and researcher at Coventry University. Stroud completed a Ph. D. at the University of Winchester entitled 'An Investigation and Application of Writing Structures and World Development Techniques in Science Fiction and Fantasy'. He has worked in computer games, roleplaying games, novels, short stories and scripts. He currently runs the Creative Futures research project with the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
Stroud was a founding host of Lave Radio, an Elite: Dangerous fan podcast that started in February 2013 and ran the annual convention Lavecon. His novel set in the Elite: Dangerous game world, called Elite: Lave Revolution was successfully funded on Kickstarter and published in late 2014, with a second edition published in 2015. Stroud then supported Spidermind Games in developing the Elite Dangerous Roleplaying Game. Stroud worked on Chaos Reborn with Snapshot Games and has worked on Phoenix Point, released in 2019.
Stroud was the 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023 chair of Fantasycon, the annual convention of the British Fantasy Society, which hosts the British Fantasy Awards. He was also Chair of the British Science Fiction Association from 2019 to 2025. Stroud continues to write academic papers, reviews, articles and fiction in science fiction, fantasy and horror. He lives in a messy house with three cats and his partner, Karen.
Stroud was a founding host of Lave Radio, an Elite: Dangerous fan podcast that started in February 2013 and ran the annual convention Lavecon. His novel set in the Elite: Dangerous game world, called Elite: Lave Revolution was successfully funded on Kickstarter and published in late 2014, with a second edition published in 2015. Stroud then supported Spidermind Games in developing the Elite Dangerous Roleplaying Game. Stroud worked on Chaos Reborn with Snapshot Games and has worked on Phoenix Point, released in 2019.
Stroud was the 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023 chair of Fantasycon, the annual convention of the British Fantasy Society, which hosts the British Fantasy Awards. He was also Chair of the British Science Fiction Association from 2019 to 2025. Stroud continues to write academic papers, reviews, articles and fiction in science fiction, fantasy and horror. He lives in a messy house with three cats and his partner, Karen.
