E.S. Raye

Finally, the big news I have been holding on to since October 1st has been announced!

Gas Giant Gambit: A Tall Tale From Beyond the Cygnus Rift has been named one of Kirkus’s Best Indie Books of 2025! This is an incredible honor to receive with my debut novel, even more so when you consider that of the 100 indie books chosen, there were only six adult science fiction novels, and of those six, only Gas Giant Gambit was actually published in 2025 (Kirkus bases these lists on when their review of the book was published, not when the book itself was published).

As one of Kirkus’s best books, Gas Giant Gambit has now made an appearance in the current Kirkus magazine, as well as in an exclusive members only newsletter.

So, what does that mean?

Kirkus, a book review magazine founded in 1933, is one of the premier book industry magazines. Its average subscribers tend to be librarians, book buyers, and literary agents.

In other words, a plethora of people whose attention I would love to grab. After all, all I want for Christmas is an agent!

Who knows what will happen next, but I’m excited for the possibilities! Thank you to everyone at Alex Parker Publishing for helping me along every step of the way, and believing in this odd little mash-up story.

Oh, and you should check out the short write-up Alex Parker Publishing did on this announcement. They talk a little about the accolade (including a link to the current issue so you can check out all the others that made the cut), the book, and, well, me.

You can read it here.