PRAISE FOR
THERE ARE NO STARS HERE

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Blunt, Fast, and Full of Teeth: A Dystopia That Cuts Deep - Literary Titan

There Are No Stars Here is a speculative dystopian novel set in a near-future America torn apart by environmental collapse, authoritarian control, and ideological warfare. At its heart are the lives of Manuel and Solanis, two young adults navigating fractured families, corrupted systems, and the lingering shadow of a manufactured plague called Haze. Through split narratives, the book builds an urgent picture of a society breaking under its own weight, where AI companions, dome cities, and militant resistance movements exist side by side with old-fashioned grief, duty, and hope. It’s a story of survival, identity, and the terrifying beauty of personal rebellion.

What I liked about Thompson’s writing is the way he captures tension like it’s a living, breathing thing. There’s this pulse running under every page, whether it’s the quiet horror of a dying parent or the chaos of a city in flames. The prose doesn’t try to impress you with its vocabulary. It’s blunt, fast, and full of teeth. That style worked wonders for me. I never felt lost in the world-building, and that’s a real feat in a book with this many moving pieces. The pacing can be relentless, but when the emotional moments hit, they hit hard. Manuel’s grief, Solanis’s panic, it all feels lived-in and earned. There’s sincerity here, even in the most surreal scenes.

The ideas, artificial intelligence as surrogate parent, state surveillance morphing into salvation, climate catastrophe wrapped in corporate spin, are all big and worthy. But sometimes I felt they rushed past in favor of another twist. The emotional weight stays solid, and I found myself thinking about this world long after I finished it.

I’d recommend There Are No Stars Here to anyone who enjoys near-future sci-fi grounded in character and emotion. It’s not just for fans of dystopia or political thrillers; it’s for people who want to feel something, who want to sit with loss, hope, and rage, and watch characters claw their way toward meaning.

Technology, Betrayal, and Survival in a Dystopian Future - Readers’ Favorite

There Are No Stars Here by J.S. Thompson is a tightly controlled, fast-moving story that is a spectacular and incredibly imaginative dive into a dystopian future. The writing is well executed, with enough descriptive elements to depict time and space while still keeping each scene focused. Thompson builds a world where technology has become a form of confinement, a phenomenon that is believable, and with a government, rules, and customs that are fully realized. I like Solanis Tailor and the situations that Thompson puts her through, from the outside world and within, moving through flooded tunnels, or being placed in a quasi-luxurious cell. There are quite a few twists and shocking betrayals, all of which are well-timed reveals that are a testament to Thompson's skill as a writer. Despite the scale of the setting, its size, and the nod to this turning into a series, the story never loses track of the large cast of characters. Overall, this is a welcome addition to the post-apocalyptic genre and will be embraced by readers who enjoy the likes of DuPrau's The City of Ember and Howey's Wool.

A slow but beautiful story with 3D characters and strong story progression - Reedsy Discovery

This book really stayed with me. It’s not the kind of dystopian that’s packed with action or dramatic rebellions. Instead, it focuses on the emotional side of survival, and that’s what makes it so compelling.

Solanis is a quietly complex character. She’s done what she had to do; left behind the man she loved, buried the past, and built a life inside a sealed city designed to keep people safe while the Earth recovers. Her choices weren’t easy, and the book doesn’t shy away from the weight of them. She’s not trying to be a hero, she’s just trying to protect her daughter and keep moving forward, which makes her feel very real. I think the author did a good job of making none of the characters feel 2D. Everyone was well fleshed out and enjoyable to read about.

The setting of Shamut is unsettling in a really subtle way. It’s clean and safe, but it’s also cold and emotionally disconnected. You can feel the trade-off of safety in exchange for memory, meaning, even hope. The writing captures that atmosphere perfectly without ever overexplaining.

What really worked for me is how the story unfolds slowly and quietly. When someone from Solanis’ past shows up, it throws everything off balance. She starts to question the life she’s created, and that’s when the emotional tension really kicks in.

If I’m being honest, the pacing might feel a little slow if you’re expecting high-stakes action. But if you’re into character-driven stories that explore grief, motherhood, and the cost of starting over, this is a really strong read.

This book is very thoughtful, sad in places, but also hopeful in a quiet way. It asks some big questions about what we’re willing to sacrifice for a sense of peace, and whether that peace is really enough. I’m still thinking about it days after finishing.

The Moral Weight of Comfort in J.S. Thompson’s Broken Future - IndieReader

Dystopian fiction can feel like a literary form of disaster tourism. The reader is invited to wander through the ruins of a doomed civilization, marvel at the wreckage, then close the book to return to a world where, hopefully, the sky isn’t filled with apocalyptic death clouds that rain poisoned razor blades. In THERE ARE NO STARS HERE, J.S. Thompson makes the idea of disaster tourism—watching the world crumble from a safe, comfortable distance—the novel’s central moral and existential conflict. Beginning with an epigraph by Benjamin Franklin—”Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”—the narrative interrogates this tension between freedom and security, as well as what people are willing to sacrifice for a guarantee of security.

THERE ARE NO STARS HERE imagines a near-future America ravaged by environmental catastrophe and political strife (any resemblance to present-day America is purely intentional). Communications executive Solanis Tailor is driven from her Boston home after the deadly Haze—the aforementioned apocalyptic death clouds—destroys the city and causes the death of her brother. Solanis takes shelter in Shamut, a high-tech, domed city that offers protection from the Haze. As she explains to one of the Dome’s leaders, “It has to be safe… I want to make sure it’s safe. Because I can’t go through this again.” Security, however, comes at a steep price; Shamut is a tightly controlled, cult-like surveillance state that ruthlessly silences dissent and “antisocial” behavior. A second storyline, set in the American Southwest, follows Manuel: a scientist-turned-U.S. congressman obsessed with finding and rescuing his mother, who is trapped somewhere in the Free Republic of South Texas (FROST).

As a portrait of a dysfunctional near-future society, THERE ARE NO STARS HERE is thematically closer to Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go or Hugh Howey’s Wool than 1984 in its depiction of a repressive society that maintains control through seduction and conditioning instead of coercion. No one is forced to live in Shamut; its residents voluntarily give up freedom in exchange for a comfortable life in a manufactured reality. By contrasting a willing participant with someone who leaves a place of relative safety to head into the disaster zone of FROST, Thompson suggests that it’s better (no matter how difficult and painful) to live an authentic life in the real world. In the words of Manuel’s father: “We are strong. We work for solutions… You turn pain into something productive.”

This is a big, sprawling novel of ambitious scope, featuring numerous storylines and a huge cast of characters. There’s a considerable amount of world-building to absorb, but Thompson keeps the reader from becoming mired in expository details with brisk, energetic pacing, snappy dialogue, and a refreshing focus on character and psychology over plot construction. An unsettling vision of a broken future, THERE ARE NO STARS HERE presents a compelling case for the moral necessity of engaging with the world’s horrors—rather than simply watching them from a comfortable distance.

THERE ARE NO STARS HERE by J.S. Thompson offers psychological dystopian fiction that prioritizes character development over action, examining how ordinary people rationalize complicity with authoritarian systems when safety becomes the ultimate currency.

notable awards

• Literary Titan, Silver Book Award

• Outstanding Creators Awards, Best Sci-Fi, Best Dystopia, Best Speculative Fiction

ADVANCED READER REVIEWS

A Dark, Gripping Dystopia Where Power and Mystery Collide

This intense and gripping book, with a disturbingly powerful group called Shamut and a mysterious leader named Worthington, will keep you on the edge of your seat. The author expertly crafts a messed-up world where Haze plays a significant role, and the characters are well-developed. If you enjoy dark, dystopian stories, this book is a must-read that will leave a lasting impression.

A Bold and Emotional Tale of Survival and Identity

There Are No Stars Here by J.S. Thompson is an impressive dystopian novel that explores themes of survival, identity, and resilience in a unique and captivating world. Through the powerful story of Solanis Tailor, readers are taken on a journey filled with emotion, thought-provoking reflections, and unexpected twists. This ambitious and thoughtfully crafted novel is a reminder that even in synthetic worlds, the human spirit prevails.

A Thrilling High-Tech Dystopia with a Powerful Emotional Core

J.S. Thompson's There Are No Stars Here is a captivating dystopian novel that delves into themes of survival, identity, and resilience. Through the journey of protagonist Solanis Tailor, readers are transported to a high-tech Dome society filled with intrigue and thought-provoking reflections on freedom and humanity. With its ambitious world-building and powerful emotional core, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre.

A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi About Family, Consequences, and Hope

THERE ARE NO STARS HERE is a captivating sci-fi novel that delves into the consequences of human pollution and the selfishness of mankind. With themes of family, blind followership, and unexpected twists, the story seamlessly weaves together different dimensions and keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the satisfying conclusion. A must-read for sci-fi fans and anyone looking for a thought-provoking and thrilling read.