In his first life, BRIAN H. ROBERTS worked as a contractor and civil engineer in bustling Seattle. In his spare time he read novels by the greatest names in science fiction: Andy Weir, Frank Herbert, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and so many others. Whenever he read these authors, he often dreamt, “I’d love to write Sci-Fi Thrillers, something as engaging and entertaining as this.”

As with so many of us, life intervened. Raising a family, work, remarriage and finally retirement all placed demands on his time. Desiring a change – and time to write – he and his wife traded big city life for the outdoor adventures of Central Oregon. His writing draws deeply on his lifelong loves of science/technology and adventure sports. The EPSILON Sci-Fi Thrillers is Brian’s first series.

Connect With the Author

★ MEET BRIAN, THE READER ★

What are your favorite genres to read?
So much for starting out with an easy question. I love to read, plain and simple. But to narrow it down ... I love Sci-Fi. Whether its the wonky speculation of the mid-20th century works, or the more action-oriented contemporary authors, I can't get enough. But I also love a good thriller. I love the fast-paced, problem-solving as the hero outwits an implacable foe, and the good guy (or gal) triumphs in the end.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

Who are your favorite authors to read?
On the Sci-Fi side I've been reading a lot of Gerald M. Kilby, Andrew Moriarty, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Brandon Q. Morris, and Ginger Booth. My recent Thriller reads have been works by Dean Koontz, Gary McAvoy, Blair Denholm, Lisa Jackson (a fellow-Oregonian), Frank Zafiro (also a fellow-Oregonian), and Susan Furlong.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

Do you remember what book initially piqued your interest in reading?
That would be Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg. I learned to read before ever going to school, in part by memorizing it, then associating the sounds with the letters and words. But the book that got me interested in Sci-Fi was Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. My Mom had enrolled me in the Weekly Reader Book of the Month Club, and that was one of the featured books.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

What is the first book that made you cry?
Old Yeller. That was my introduction to the concept of self-sacrifice, and difficult choices. My wife is always teasing me when I tear up during a similar movie scene we're watching together.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

What is the first book that made you laugh out loud?
You know, sci-fi and thrillers aren't exactly known for grins and giggles. But every now and then, a scene of building tension is sprinkled with humorous action or banter. And given the jarring juxtaposition of humor and danger, it can be hilarious if carried out well. It's embarrassing, but I don't remember the author or the title. I was in high school. The protagonist had entered his room and gotten into an argument with his petulant AI assistant. He bemoaned that the AI was unable to see his perspective. Suddenly the room's walls, that usually featured soothing scenes of nature, switched to eyes--thousands of them, staring angrily back at the human occupant.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

What’s one book you feel is deeply underrated?
And why do you love it so much?
That would have to be current Gerald M. Kilby series, Solar Storm. I really enjoyed his Colony Mars series, but his writing and characters in his new series are even better

~o~o~📚~o~o~

Do you listen to music when you read?
If so, do you have a playlist?
Not so much when I read as when I write. I've downloaded hundreds of CDs to my PC and phone (yup, I'm a dinosaur), and I'll customize a playlist depending on my mood, or the need for a mood in a scene I'm working on. And more than once, I've been researching for blues classics for my main character, Dallas Gordon, only to buy the CD and add it to my collection.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

If you could go to any place you’ve read about in a book
(real or imagined), where would you go?
The Shire, or more generally, Middle Earth. Going to New Zealand and visiting where Peter Jackson filmed Lord of the Rings is high on my bucket list.

~o~o~📚~o~o~

What book are you currently reading?
Right now, Susan Furlong's "The Killer's Wife."

~o~o~📚~o~o~

★ MEET BRIAN, THE WRITER ★

What’s one behind-the-scenes fact about your latest book
that you think readers would love to know?
My fiction is set in the near future. Unlike most Sci-Fi, which is set far in the future, mine needs to be accurate. Whether methods of propulsion, or environmental systems, to weapons, or geopolitics, it needs to reflect where we're likely to be in fifteen years or so (starting with Book 1, Crimson Lucre). So I spend a great deal of time researching the tech. For geopolitics, all I have to do is pay attention to world news.

~o~o~✍~o~o~

Without giving us any big spoilers,
what was your hardest scene for you to write?
After being a shadowy figure for the first three books, I finally reveal EPSILON's owner. I had to do this knowing he would be the central character in the series prequel, which will be my next project. I began revealing bits of his mysterious background in book three. I had to do all this with an eye to the full revelation of his character development and experiences in a book I have yet to write.

~o~o~✍~o~o~

Of all your books, who is your favorite character and why?
That's easy. The Russian stealth fighter pilot Genady Antonov, who defected to the United States during a joint military exercise in the Mojave Desert. I reveal quite a bit of his background and character in Book 2, Red Dragon. For those on my newsletter subscriber list, they have access to some bonus background to be found in a link to a free short story, Tourist Trap. The link can be found at the bottom of my newsletters.

~o~o~✍~o~o~

~o~o~✍~o~o~

~o~o~✍~o~o~

Do you listen to music when you write?
If so, do you have a playlist you'd like to share?
Yes, I do. But no, I can't. I don't use an online music service. My collection ranges from classic Rock & Roll, to Swing, to Jazz, to Blues, to Bluegrass, to Americana. Plus a few classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart. My playlist du jour depends on my mood and/or writing needs.

~o~o~✍~o~o~

If you weren't writing, what other creative pursuits,
if any, could you see yourself doing?
When I was young, I took piano lessons. Later, in college, I picked up a guitar. Turns out that no amount of practice can compensate for a lack of aptitude. But I'd love to be able to play a banjo. As Steve Martin once quipped, "You can't hear a banjo playing and not smile."

~o~o~✍~o~o~

WIP SNEAK PEEK!

What’s the first sentence of the manuscript you're currently working on?
From Red Planet Lancers, EPSILON Sci Fi Thrillers Book Four:

Dallas Gordon pushed himself back from Malcom McDowell's patio table, contemplating the now-empty plate in front of him, his steak reduced to a fond memory.

~o~o~✍~o~o~

★ BOOKSHELF SPOTLIGHT ★

FREE for a Limited Time Only!

DALLAS GORDON STANDS ALONE BETWEEN EMPEROR ZHANG’S MILITARY AND THE LOSS OF AMERICA’S LUNAR BASE. CAN HE RALLY THE RESISTANCE BEFORE EPSILON AND THE AMERICANS ARE SWEPT OFF THE MOON?

Dallas Gordon has returned to Earth from Mars, leaving the Prospector mission in the hands of his replacement, Commander Genady Antonov. But unrest among the mining crew threatens the viability of the new permanent mining colony, Epsilon City.

Meanwhile, General Zhang Aiguo conspires to lead a new Chinese dynasty that rules the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. He signs a treaty with the remnant communist Chinese government, but plots to take over mainland China and the South China Sea. He also sets up Colonel Song Dajing to command China’s lunar base.

After a well-deserved rest, Dallas is assigned to EPSILON’s wing of the American lunar base. As events unfold on both the Earth and Moon, he finds himself opposing Song Dajing and the utter destruction of the American lunar base and the lives within it.

If Song gains mastery of the Moon, the domination of Mars and Epsilon City’s divided occupants are next.

BLOOD MOON, the third novel in the EPSILON SciFi Thrillers series.

Get Your Copy Today!

Sharing is Caring!

Did you find this via social media and want to subscribe? Click here!