Skip to main content
book cover for Mendel's Ladder: A Grimdark Scifi Epic

Mendel's Ladder: A Grimdark Scifi Epic

The Collected Histories of Neoevolution Earth Vol. 1

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Oct 24 2023 | Archive Date Sep 16 2023

Talking about this book? Use #MendelsLadderAGrimdarkScifiEpic #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Outlast. Outgrow. Outlive. In the ashes of Earth, evolution is the ultimate weapon.

Inspired by such works as Dune, Berserk, Hyperion, Mad Max, Monster Hunter, Elysium, The Book of the New Sun, A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones), Warhammer 40k, Attack on Titan, Diablo, Final Fantasy, Chronicles of Riddick, The Witcher, Blood Music, His Dark Materials, The Broken Earth Trilogy, and other epic, action-packed adventures teeming with unforgettable characters, epic world building, and complex lore.

---------

In 2099, Earth is unrecognizable. Ravaged by climate change, nuclear devastation, and other cataclysmic events, the planet and its people continue to undergo radical changes in order to survive. Most of humanity has allowed themselves to be transformed into Nomads, bizarre human-plant hybrids who continue their lifecycle as flesh-bearing trees connected to a vast mycelial network that forms Earth’s burgeoning consciousness. Welcome to the thrilling, action-packed, and emotionally compelling world of Mendel's Ladder, the first book in the epic sci-fi series, The Collected Histories of Neoevolution Earth.

Battling across the world after the destruction of their home, a pair of cybernetically enhanced warrior women bound by love and loyalty clash with Mutants, Biofreaks, and various other dangers to protect two human-like girls known as the Virus and the Cure. Traveling alongside them is an enigmatic Nomad who has served as the girls’ protector since they were created. Together, they must face the enslaved Hunter and the ruthless Huntress, lethal creations of the old world. The Hunter just wants to save the human woman he loves and lost, while the Huntress desires only to continue the Eternal Hunt and eradicate the final bastions of humanity remaining on Earth. Above this unforgiving landscape, the utopian space station Astrea offers refuge to the select few who escaped Earth's devastation. Here, a tireless worker and son of a notorious revolutionary discovers the harrowing truths hidden beneath the veneer of Astrea's idyllic existence, exposing a reality more insidious than anyone ever imagined.

While these characters' paths intersect in surprising and explosive ways, ancient powers lurk in the shadows, wielding god-like influence and potentially orchestrating the fate of the world itself. With societies and cultures on the brink of collapse, our heroes must form unexpected alliances and confront their deepest fears to protect their fragile world from the encroaching darkness.

Mendel's Ladder delivers an adrenaline-fueled journey set on a dystopian future Earth, brimming with high-stakes action, adventure, and mystery. This epic series opener plunges readers into a world filled with diverse cultures, heart-pounding battles, and characters who will captivate your heart and imagination.

Outlast. Outgrow. Outlive. In the ashes of Earth, evolution is the ultimate weapon.

Inspired by such works as Dune, Berserk, Hyperion, Mad Max, Monster Hunter, Elysium, The Book of the New Sun, A Song...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781732306998
PRICE

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)
Download (PDF)

Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

An extraordinary journey through a dystopian future Earth that is both exhilarating and thought-provoking. The world-building in this book is nothing short of exceptional, with vivid descriptions and complex lore that immerse readers in a post-apocalyptic landscape.

Fein's storytelling prowess shines through as the characters' paths intersect in unexpected and explosive ways. The adrenaline-fueled action, emotionally compelling relationships, and the looming presence of ancient powers make this an incredible read. This is a gripping series opener that promises an exciting journey through a captivatingly dark and imaginative world.

Was this review helpful?

I stumbled upon Mendel's Ladder and couldn't believe the wild and imaginative world it introduced me to. This book is like a mix of all my favorite sci-fi and fantasy stories rolled into one epic adventure. You've got cyber-enhanced warriors, bizarre human-plant hybrids, enigmatic Nomads, and ancient powers lurking in the shadows—all battling for survival in a post-apocalyptic Earth. The action is non-stop, the characters are unforgettable, and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Trust me, you don't want to miss this epic sci-fi journey. Mendel's Ladder is a rollercoaster of a read that's bound to leave you hungry for more.

Was this review helpful?

Mendel's Ladder, by E. S. Fein, is nothing short of a revolutionary tapestry that beckons readers to lose themselves in its intricate warp and weft. Immediately, one is ensnared by the novel's audacious rendition of Earth, where human evolution is not just a fact of the past, but a visceral, ever-evolving reality. The metamorphosis of our species into Nomads, human-plant-fungus hybrids, doesn't just question the bounds of biology but teases the very concept of identity, consciousness, and community.

By far my favorite set of characters, Shira and Myriam are electric and filled with the power of love, loyalty, and determination against all odds. These are characters that do more than live on the page—they breathe, they ache, and they fight with a fierceness that sets the heart alight. Their journey, alongside a cast of equally mesmerizing characters, resonates with a raw urgency. Their battles, both physical and existential, are rendered with an intensity that left me, as a reader, both breathless and hungry for more.

The narrative draws us intimately into the intertwined fates of three pivotal perspectives: Shira and Myriam, discussed above; the enigmatic Hunter, Thompson, and his lethal counterpart, the Huntress Volya, both products of a time gone by with desires that teeter on the edge of morality and survival; and Samuel, an inhabitant of the orbiting utopia Astrea, where beneath the veneer of paradise lies secrets that ripple with profound implications. Fein's portrayal of these characters is nothing short of magnetic. They don't merely exist within the pages—they resonate, they yearn, and they challenge, each adding a layer of depth and complexity to the overarching tale.

But where Mendel's Ladder truly ascends to literary brilliance is in its delicate balance of the profound and the personal. Amidst the vastness of a transformed Earth, Fein narrows in on intimate moments, ensuring the vastness of the universe never overshadows the depths of the human heart. The prose is evocative, with layers of meaning and emotion that demand both contemplation and admiration. It's a narrative that respects its readers, challenging them to reflect upon larger themes while ensnaring their senses in a relentless pace of action and revelation.

It's rare for a book to become an experience, and yet, Mendel's Ladder achieves this with seemingly effortless grace. This isn't just a novel—it's a voyage, a revelation, a challenge, and an invitation to imagine beyond the confines of what we know. E. S. Fein hasn't just written a book; he has crafted a universe brimming with potential, questions, and heart. Dive in, and let yourself be transformed. This is sure to be a remarkable and far-reaching series!

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: