Reviews
Critical Acclaim
Critical acclaim and reader reviews for J.M. Erickson's novels across science fiction, action/adventure, and speculative fiction.
Featured Industry Reviews
"Erickson's unparalleled sense of reality in scenes, science, and characterization creates a world that is both familiar and alien."
"A gripping story featuring well-constructed characters, poignant moral dilemmas and a chillingly realistic dystopian future."
"A taut suspenseful thriller sure to entice fans of Clancy, Flynn, and Ludlum."
Bold Dark Worlds
Bold Dark Worlds
"A gritty, haunting dystopian sci-fi novel — the author does an incredible job layering the story with powerful characters and rich world-building. The narrative stood out because it focused more on the world's social issues than on complicated sci-fi tropes."
"Cassandra IX was a powerful protagonist who carried the majority of this collection of stories. The humor in her relationship with her AI Alethia was a welcome reprieve from the darker aspects of the story, and the fast pacing of the individual chapters helped the story flow smoothly."
"The way the author brings Mars to life was incredible to read, and the emotional pull of these characters and their individual struggles adds to the collective struggles so many people in this dystopian world face."
"The balance the author struck brought these characters and their struggles to life on the page. Readers who enjoy science fiction novels, especially those who enjoy dystopian sci-fi, will thoroughly enjoy this novel."
Endless Fall of Night
"This gritty, fast-paced thriller… will appeal to both adult and mature young adult audiences who are concerned about where society may be heading."
"Blindside story twists, bursts of clever banter, boundless imagination, and sly social critique make this a quick and memorable read."
"It's not a fun read; it's a furious one… It holds a mirror up and dares you to look."
"Erickson's unparalleled sense of reality in scenes, science, and characterization creates a world that is both familiar and alien, drawing readers in with its vivid details."
"Endless Fall of Night is a gripping tale that takes readers on a thrilling journey through space and time, with a fast-paced plot that is impossible to put down."
"An excellent novel that twists dystopia and utopia into a compelling tale of intrigue and suspense."
Heavy Weight of Darkness
"A page-turning cautionary tale providing a glimpse into a world in which greed, racism, and hate shape our future."
"Reflecting the dark truth of humanity's history of colonialism, slavery, and racialized oppression… a multilayered exploration of the struggle and humility of changing one's ideology or beliefs… transcending other works in the genre."
"A cinematic sci-fi dystopia following one man's search for redemption."
"Author J.M. Erickson has crafted a wonderfully tense dystopian world, with a strong, confident construction of stark class divides and oppressive political structures."
"An accomplished and poignant work of science fiction that is highly recommended to fans of intelligently penned adventures and atmospheric, dystopian dramas."
"Erickson whisked me away from reality and into a world of endless imagination with an intriguing plot."
Hunting Armed Men
"The narrative is vibrant from start to finish and combines enough action and drama to satisfy the reader."
"An SF saga that's equally rousing and poignant."
"Erickson delivers a relentless, high-stakes thriller that never lets the reader catch their breath — a masterfully constructed story of survival, loyalty, and moral reckoning."
"A propulsive, cinematic read that blends military precision with deeply human stakes. Erickson knows how to build tension and sustain it across every chapter."
"Bold, unflinching, and impossible to put down. Hunting Armed Men earns its place among the best of the genre."
Deadly Going Dark
"Readers who enjoy intelligent dystopian fiction with a fiercely humane protagonist will adore this."
"In a world where class and status determine power, David must use his own wisdom to bring change."
"A fresh take on revolution by prioritizing day-to-day survival over dramatic grandstanding. Highly recommended."
Future Prometheus: The Series
Future Prometheus: The Series
"Finalist in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards — Science Fiction. Five novellas compiled into one full-length epic of a world where the science we know today has warped into masterful and terrifying ways."
Future Prometheus: Emergence & Evolution
"It's dystopian literature at its finest."
"A gripping story featuring well-constructed characters, poignant moral dilemmas and a chillingly realistic dystopian future."
"Thought provoking Science Fiction that keeps the reader engrossed."
"Fast paced, highly imaginative, and absolutely fascinating, Future Prometheus: Emergence & Evolution is a book that truly entertains."
"Future Prometheus is thought-provoking science fiction that keeps the reader engrossed."
Future Prometheus II: Revolution, Successions & Resurrections
"A truly original sci-fi series with strong ideas and even stronger characters."
"The richly detailed scenes, the overall creativity, and the synergy between characters are what elevates this series to reading greatness."
"With solid science fiction balanced with Shakespearean quotes and believable character development, these stories draw the reader in and urge them to devour chapter after chapter."
Intelligent Design Series
Intelligent Design: Revelations to Apocalypse
"Two science fiction novellas collected in one volume. Beginning sixty-five million years ago and racing to the present day, the series follows a hidden truth about Earth's origins — superior beings, coexisting civilizations, and a solar system on the brink of catastrophe. Revelations won Silver at the Foreword Reviews 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year; Apocalypse is a Readers' Favorite Five Star recipient."
Intelligent Design: Revelations
"A fascinating blend of science and mythology that keeps you turning pages."
"Erickson weaves together an intricate tapestry of science, philosophy, and action."
"A bold and imaginative work that challenges our assumptions about human origins."
Intelligent Design: Apocalypse
"Erickson packs a thrilling punch in a convincing alien realm, where supernatural, mythical, biblical and historical references collide to create a savage and truly unpredictable universe."
"Intelligent Design II: Apocalypse takes you deep into the solar system, changing settings often, from the hidden voices in the dark, to the underground domains of Terra and Mars, to the floating cities of Venus. The impending cataclysmic event is the propellant behind the action; the story accelerates as 'time' is running out."
"There is a wonderful, distinctively mysterious and futuristic atmosphere to the story which I enjoyed very much. The book is well-written with much to intrigue and grab enthusiastic fans of science fiction."
Science Fiction
Afterlife Code
"A thought-provoking exploration of consciousness, identity, and what it means to be human."
"Erickson raises profound questions about digital immortality with a deft narrative hand."
"Afterlife Code is a compelling, imaginative thriller that asks the questions science is only beginning to dare. Erickson handles the philosophical weight with the same confidence he brings to his action sequences."
"A tightly plotted, intellectually ambitious novel. Erickson has written something genuinely original — part thriller, part meditation on what survives death."
"Gripping from the first page. The concept is bold, the execution is sharp, and the characters feel real enough to mourn."
Time Is for Dragonflies and Angels
"A beautifully crafted novella that blends time travel with deeply human emotion."
"Erickson's prose is lyrical and precise — a rare combination in speculative fiction."
"A moving meditation on time, loss, and the choices that define us."
"J.M. Erickson shows great mastery in the art of the short story."
"Time is for Dragonflies and Angels is a gorgeous collection that I'd gladly recommend to anyone who loves short stories."
Rogue Event
"A dystopian concept that fits nicely alongside the stories of Huxley and Orwell."
"Erickson's plot is original and compelling, and his writing is a treat to read."
"Mr. Erickson is unarguably a very talented writer, but more than that he genuinely impressed me with his thorough world-building and sheer creativeness on many levels in such a short amount of time. Some of the writing was downright lyrical in the simple elegance of the prose, and other times I was nearly breathless from the intensity and violent passion. A must read for Sci-Fi fans."
"I was totally hooked and read it in one sitting. The way Erickson writes is captivating from the beginning and you just want to keep reading and reading and not stop. It is both descriptive and has great world building but also is fast moving and unpredictable."
The Prince: Lucifer's Origins
"A daring reimagining of one of literature's most iconic figures."
"Erickson brings fresh psychological depth to a story as old as time."
"Bold, provocative, and surprisingly moving."
"A thought-provoking and intense read that's brimming with action, adventure and exploration."
"A fantastic science fiction story."
"Great characters, a great plot, and good writing."
To See Behind Walls
"This tale of courage, conviction and adventure will most likely thrill any reader who has the good fortune to come across it. I'm hoping for more flash fiction from Mr. Erickson. To See Behind Walls is most highly recommended."
"For those with a vivid imagination, the sky's the limit. Altogether, an inspiring flight of fancy."
"It is a metaphor of postmodern manhood and fatherhood. It speaks to the adventurous souls of men who are trapped inside very ordinary, boring lives. The spirit of man craves danger, exploration, discovery, and adventure."
"Erickson has the ability to instantly create scenes that crackle with intensity — and that skill works marvelously for flash fiction."
Action / Adventure Thrillers — Birds of Flight Series
Albatross
"A taut, propulsive thriller that never lets up."
"Erickson's action sequences are cinematic and visceral."
"Albatross announces a series worth following. Erickson establishes his world and characters with economy and precision, then unleashes a plot that moves like a freight train."
"A confident, assured debut for the Birds of Flight series — sharp writing, high stakes, and a protagonist you'll want to follow to the end."
"Erickson has a gift for pacing. Albatross never wastes a scene — every chapter earns its place."
Raven
"A masterclass in tension and pacing."
"Erickson keeps the reader guessing until the very last page."
"Raven deepens the world of Birds of Flight with darker stakes and a more complex moral landscape. Erickson is growing as a storyteller with every entry."
"Tightly plotted and emotionally resonant — Raven is the series hitting its stride."
Eagle
"A relentless thriller that showcases Erickson at his most confident."
"Eagle soars. Erickson delivers his most kinetic entry yet — the action is relentless, the characters are tested to their limits, and the ending lands with real force."
"A thriller that earns every twist. Erickson has built something rare: a series that gets better with each book."
"Visceral, intelligent, and impossible to put down. Eagle is action fiction firing on all cylinders."
"Erickson writes action the way the best directors shoot it — with clarity, momentum, and genuine consequence."
Falcon
"Erickson delivers another pulse-pounding entry in the Birds of Flight series."
"Falcon is lean, mean, and utterly gripping. Erickson strips the story to its essentials and the result is his most focused thriller to date."
"A series that continues to reward its readers. Falcon raises the stakes in every direction — personal, political, and physical."
"Sharp, fast, and satisfying. Erickson knows exactly what his readers want and delivers it without a wasted word."
"The Birds of Flight series has found its rhythm, and Falcon is the proof. A thriller that moves like its namesake."
Black Swan
"A bold, unexpected turn for the series — and one of Erickson's best."
"Black Swan is the series at its most ambitious. Erickson takes real risks here — narratively and thematically — and they pay off."
"A stunning conclusion that recontextualizes everything that came before. Erickson has written a series worth reading from the beginning just to arrive here."
"Unpredictable, emotionally charged, and brilliantly executed. Black Swan is the rare series finale that actually delivers."
"Erickson saves his best for last. Black Swan is a masterful close to one of indie fiction's most compelling thriller series."