Jeff Somers


Jeff Somers is an American science fiction author from New Jersey.

Literary career

Since 1995, Somers has published his zine The Inner Swine and has been a prolific contributor to alt.zines. The 21st century has seen Somers's transformation from an observational essayist into a science fiction writer of no small talent, "a gifted craftsman" with a "funky wit." His first novel, Lifers was soon followed by the dystopian fiction#Dystopian fiction|dystopian] Avery Cates series. His novels are published in the US and the UK by Orbit Books. Somers has also been called one of the "promising lesser lights" of mystery writing

Critical attention

According to one critic, Jeff Somers' first novel Lifers has an "undernourished plot," although the same critic praises Somers's character observations.
Somers' novel The Electric Church was widely praised on its publication. Booklist wrote, "Somers' stunning debut introduces one of the genre's most promising newcomers." Library Journal called it "a dark future of high tech and low dreams in an action-filled noir thriller reminiscent of Blade Runner." Publishers Weekly praised the characters but was less enthusiastic about the plot, writing, "Somers's plot sprints along through the nicely detailed world, but the characters are the real prize in this entertaining near-future noir."
In 2009 one of Somers' short stories Drum Trial was selected as 1st Runner Up for Best Science Fiction Story 2500 to 6999 words in the "Best Of" contest from Strange, Weird & Wonderful Magazine.

The Avery Cates Series

  1. The Electric Church
  2. The Digital Plague
  3. The Eternal Prison
  4. The Terminal State
  5. The Final Evolution
  6. "The Shattered Gears"
  7. "The Iron Island"
  8. "The Pale"
  9. "The Walled City"
  10. "The City Lord"
  11. "The Bey"
  12. The Shattered Gears
  13. The Kendish Hit
  14. ''The Burning City''

    The Ustari Cycle

  15. Trickster
  16. Fixer
  17. ''We Are Not Good People''

    Other works

  • The Ruiner
  • Chum
  • Lifers
  • The Freaks Are Winning
  • ''Blood and Splendor: Sliders Special''

    Writing & Publishing Guides

  • ''Writing Without Rules: How to Write & Sell a Novel Without Guidelines, Experts, or Pants''

    Digital Friction

  • The Electric Church
  • Twitter Fiction
  • The Eternal Prison Text Adventure