R J Thompson

Rocky writes stories born from a lifetime of exploration — from the skies of Earth to the farthest reaches of imagination. A U.S. Air Force veteran turned storyteller, he crafts tales of survival, betrayal, and fragile unity set among the stars. Through Shadow of Helios and beyond, his mission is simple: to remind readers that even across galaxies, the human spirit endures.

Along with his wife of twenty years and their four children, has spent a lifetime exploring every corner of the globe — some places by choice, others by the demands of military service. A twenty-four-year U.S. Air Force veteran, he’s experienced the vast range of human culture and resilience firsthand. Those experiences, combined with a lifelong fascination with space exploration, inspired him to imagine what life might look like if every world in our solar system were alive with people, power, and conflict.

The spark for Shadow of Helios began in a quiet hotel room, with a single question: What if our solar system was governed by an assembly of representatives from every planet? From that moment, a universe was born — one filled with danger, hope, and the enduring human spirit that reaches for the stars.

Drawing inspiration from Dune, Red Rising, The Expanse, and The Hunger Games, as well as from Star Trek, Star Wars, and the boundless imagination of NASA’s missions, Rocky writes stories that blend cinematic action with grounded emotion.

Through the Solar Realms Saga, he explores what it means to survive, to lead, and to hold onto hope when the odds are impossible. His work reflects a deep respect for exploration — both of the cosmos and the human condition — and invites readers to see themselves in the fight for a better future.