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Book Cover for: Minimum Safe Distance, X. Ho Yen

Minimum Safe Distance

X. Ho Yen

They Came. They Didn't Invade. We Did the Rest.

A hard sci-fi exploration of transhumanism, sentience, and the biological traps that shape collective failure - perfect for fans of Delta-V, The Expanse, and Don't Look Up.

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First contact was nothing like we imagined.Can the aliens save Earth? Should they?

With the Earth teetering on recovery from humanity's 21st century mistakes, two highly advanced aliens observing from the Moon are suddenly on opposite sides of an ethical battle over a dire cosmic threat.

As governments seek to destroy them, the aliens wrestle and scheme, entangling all of humanity as they influence and empower specific humans to achieve their contrary objectives.

Among them are a brilliant AI expert who has channeled her autism in the service of science, and a violent, anti-secular zealot who hates everything she stands for.

Drawn into the conflict, Laurence and Matt must reach minimum safe distance from human nature itself - their own, the rest of humanity's, and of the former-human, techno-demon 'monstas'.

Chased into the ruins of the US, they struggle to distill the meaning of personhood, discover the value of their own lives, and in so doing decide the fate of the solar system.

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FINALIST, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2023

FINALIST, Colorado Authors League Book Awards 2024

"Our Verdict: GET IT" -- Kirkus Reviews

9/10 -- Booklife Prize 2024

4/5 -- Foreword/Clarion

5/5 -- Readers' Favorite

5/5 -- The Wishing Shelf

"There is a lot to like here" -- blueInk Review

Book Details

  • Publisher: Grand Unification Monastery
  • Publish Date: Oct 17th, 2022
  • Pages: 398
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.50in - 5.50in - 0.88in - 1.31lb
  • EAN: 9780976615828
  • Categories: Science Fiction - Hard Science FictionScience Fiction - Alien ContactLiterary

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About the Author

Ho Yen, X.: - X. Ho Yen is an autistic, mixed genetics aerospace engineer ( 30 yrs) who now writes inclusive, irreverent, hopepunk, literary sci fi. He does not write tropey sci fi.His pen name is essentially his Cantonese grandfather's name. Genetically, he is half East Prussian, quarter Cuban, quarter Chinese.Full list of Lauds with links: XHoYenAuthor.com/laudsInterviews at XHoYenAuthor.com/mediaBoth of his released novels ("Minimum Safe Distance" and "Custodians of the Future") are carried in Arapahoe Library System, Biblioboard, and CO State Library Book Club Resource.CotF is the stylistic opposite of MSD. X. Ho Yen is not a one trick pony. He's always working to improve and have creative fun with novel structure.His third book, "Space Autistic Author's Puzzling Innerverse" (Nov 2024), is not a novel. It's an immersive, educational brain tasks book promoting emotional health and critical thinking.Keep in touch at XHoYenAuthor.com.

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Praise for this book

"When's the sequel coming out?!"

- Derek O., rocket scientist and soccer player extraordinaire


"I really enjoyed MSD. Amazing for a first novel."

- Ruper G., technology director, international traveler


"A thought-provoking novel packed with complex, compelling characters, valuable philosophical insights, and remarkable attention to detail."

- Dan. C., attorney


"Brilliant! Intriguingly inventive and acutely astute. Well done!"

- "Fuj", international NGO assessment info sys mgr, blogger


"An engrossing read with unusual characters. If I had purchased the book, I would be happy that I did."

- Brad H., PhD, Applied Mathematics/Astrophysics, special guest reader