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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FIRST-PLACE WINNER, International Firebird Book Awards, Literary Fiction category, Q3 2025

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

Debut novel!

About the Author

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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