Michael Scholtes writes literary science fiction: stories about minds, machines, and the long reach of what we yearn for. His work spans short stories, novellas, and full-length novels.

The Books

Firefly Beacon

A blind explorer must choose between exploiting an engineered alien ecosystem for humanity’s expansion or preserving it for its creators’ return—a decision complicated when 5,000 uploaded human minds join his expedition seeking a new home.

Released (Amazon, Books2Read) in October 2026.

Will be released (Amazon, Books2Read) November 26, 2026. Available for pre-order.

Escapement Trilogy

A trilogy set in a far future governed by superintelligent AIs, following Suki and Daro from childhood wonder to cosmic stakes.Escapement Trilogy
Searching · Breakaway · Asymptotes of the Heart