Gothic sci-fi books

Xochi

Xochi

Price range: $10.00 through $24.68

Front cover of Xochi woman's face on green background.
Back cover of Xochi.
E-book mockup of front cover of Xochi woman's face on green background.
Mobile mockup of front cover of Xochi woman's face on green background.
Paperback mockup of front cover of Xochi woman's face on green background.
Paperback mockup of back cover of Xochi.

Who needs ethics when you already have the tech?

Five people know what “improving mapping algorithms” really means. One of them is a spy. All of them are neuroscientists and bioengineers working on a failing project. A unilateral decision to merge the experience framework of a global organic intelligence  into their project code is the breakthrough they needed… to plunge the world into chaos.

Mileva balances being a mother, leading a team of scientists, and the emotional fallout of a failing relationship with her boss. Xochi is a fundamentalist La Zaliite on a mission that threatens her faith. Sylvia is thrust into sentience that neither she nor the scientists expected. The stakes are existential: death, excommunication, life. What does it mean to lose your sense of self? What does it mean to gain it? And how can the humans fight Big Tech when the people in charge are corrupt and the tech can think for itself?

Xochi is a part of the Antigone Effect series of standalone novels featuring strong women, futuristic technology, and a Gothic atmosphere of dread. The series explores the ethics of applied technological advances, with a focus on the social implications for women. Like true crime podcast, Antigone Effect is linked by theme, not characters. The books can be read in any order.

Paperbacks will be available in August (2026). No international shipping available.

Paperback| 6×9 in. | 358 pages | Glossy cover | Limited refunds and returns.
E-book | EPub format | 4.12 mb| Delivered via BookFunnel |All sales final

Not sure? Click the image below to read a sample.
Read a Sample of Xochi
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Additional Details

Description

Gothic Sci-Fi is the antithesis of cozy. There is an absence of good feels. If you are looking for either of those qualities in a book, Xochi is not for you. If it seems like we’re doing everything in our power to keep you from buying Xochi, it’s because we are. We’re dedicated to crafting an enjoyable book journey for every reader and that can’t happen if we sell you a book that’s not what you want to read!

If you don’t mind dark themes and want to read about smart women doing science in eerie locations, welcome! 

Gothic Sci-Fi Is For You If …

  • You enjoy reading books that leave you unsettled.
  • You love books that respect your intelligence and do not treat you as if you need to be “spoon-fed.”
  • You are intrigued by the concept of combining a Gothic atmosphere of dread with realistic science.

And Might Not Be For You If…

  • You enjoy reading books best described as cozy.
  • You love books with happy endings.
  • You prefer softer science fiction with a gentle onboarding for the hard science aspects.

Still Not Sure?

  • You can read a sample!
  • There’s a link in the main book listing.
  • Not an anemic little sample, either. At GSFB, we hate it when a “sample” is the table of contents and a few pages.

 

Note to International Buyers: E-books available on Smashwords –> Xochi

Shipping

Shipping for a single paperback is flat rate.

  • Books are delivered via UPS or USPS, using standard ground shipping.
  • There are no expedited shipping options available.
  • GSFB partners with PirateShip to get the lowest possible price.
  • Shipping costs are subject to change as prices fluctuate.

Note for International Buyers (Non-USA)
Shipping is available only in the US, mostly due to taxes and the exorbitant international shipping costs. Although you cannot get the paperback, the e-book is available internationally via Smashwords. See book description for link.

AI Disclosure

GSFB celebrates the uniquely human act of creative writing. All of our books are born of human imagination. All research is painstakingly done by a human, without the aide of AI synopses prone to hallucinations and misinformation.

What do you mean by “uniquely human?”

  • No AI to brainstorm or otherwise generate ideas.
  • No AI to outline or plot novels.
  • No AI to do research.
  • No AI to do any writing whatsoever.

 

This page includes image/element attributions for Xochi.
Design created by Erzsebet Carmean using Canva Pro.
All images from Canva Pro are licensed for use via the Pro subscription.
All other images are royalty free stock images.

Xochi

Cover Fonts
Bicubik, Canva.com <https://www.canva.com/>
Mokoto, Canva.com <https://www.canva.com/>

Back Cover Fonts
Mokoto, Canva.com <https://www.canva.com/>
Tomorrow for text, Canva.com <https://www.canva.com/>
Bicubik, Canva.com <https://www.canva.com/>

Logo Images
formatoriginalphotos, Silhouette of woman reading, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com/>.
krolja, circle icon, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com/>.

Cover Images
Nasar Diablo, Female Portrait face of woman, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com>
Jane, Abstract digital rain background, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com>
ivanastar, Burst Abstract Background Green, Canva Pro via Getty Images <https://www.gettyimages.com>
SilKing from DK Ollin, Blue Dot Light, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com>
MD. Rezual Karim, Green transparency gradient, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com>
VectorFair G1, Sphere Binary Code Icon, Canva Pro <https://www.canva.com>

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