When charisma is a superpower,
it's a mind-bending force.
“With Universe of Lost Messages Stilson shows herself to be one of the very best of new SF writers. This is a terrific thriller but it’s also a deeply incisive political novel.”
—Jonathan Oliver, multi-award winning editor and the author of The Language of Beasts.
About Janet
Janet Stilson lives in two worlds. She is a creative writer whose body of work includes novels, short stories, scripts and a short film. She is also a journalist who has served as an editor and correspondent for many fine publications.
Coming Soon! Universe of Lost Messages
What if your child has extraordinary powers of charisma and can get people to do almost anything? What happens if the child is abducted? This stand-alone sequel to The Juice is set for release May 14th. Preorder your copy today!
About The Juice
A dystopian, cyberpunk novel about media set a few decades into the future
Jarat Ellington was just an exile from Elite society, trying to lead a simple life, when a genius friend dropped an explosive mystery in his lap. The old pal, Thom Tseng, created a priceless chemical substance called the Juice that turns mildly charming people into almost god-like presences, known as Charismites. But the Juice is stolen, and Thom killed.
Praise
“The Juice is ambitious and genre-bending, blending cyberpunk, espionage, romance, and social commentary in a fast-paced story … The main thread is entertaining, tech-centric, and action-packed enough to keep readers engaged to the end.”
— Booklist
“An interesting science fiction cross dystopia story that is sure to open some eyes, especially with its political cross references. I’m looking forward to reading more of Janet’s work in the future!”
—The Nerd Daily
“Janet has written some incredibly original script concepts. She has great instincts and an undeniable talent for writing.”
— Felipe Machado, Independent Producer (“Don’t Breathe,” “The Grudge,” “Crawl”)
“The Juice is full of high energy and memorable characters. Its pregnant plot ideas pulled me onto a rollercoaster thrill ride. It is sexy and smart, with a contemporary and assured voice.”
— David Kenin, former executive at CBS & USA Networks
“The Juice is a rollicking, inventive, and insightful read — heady, heartfelt but never heavy-handed.”
— Elizabeth Guider, Novelist, former executive editor of Variety and editor of The Hollywood Reporter
“Janet is not only a superb journalist but a master of keeping the trolley on the tracks, managing a stable of free-lancers while honing her own craft.”
— Marianne Paskowski, Former Editor, Multichannel News
Major Themes and Threads
Janet writes personal, human stories set in larger sci-fi and fantasy worlds.
She explores:
- Who we trust, and who we simply can’t;
- The intoxicating power of charisma and magnetism;
- How advertising and media increasingly influence our opinions and behavior;
- The ways in which political figures shape public perceptions;
- How we stay humane in the face of injustice.
Featured Podcasts & Interviews
The podcast Sci-Fi Talk featured Janet speaking about her new book 'Universe of Lost Messages'
Sci-Fi Talk also featured Janet, chatting about 'The Juice'
Janet talks about The Juice on The Reading & Writing Podcast
Janet describes some of her favorite sci-fi novels on shepherd.com
Latest Blog Post
Stranger In A Strange Land: Bertino’s Novel ‘Beautyland’
There’s no shortage of alien characters in popular sci-fi storytelling. But Marie-Helene Bertino puts an original spin on the concept in Beautyland, a recently released book that combines quirky humor with heart-aching poignancy. The protagonist, Adina, believes that she is an extraterrestrial from a planet 300,000 light years away. She was dropped into Philadelphia in the late 1970s, apparently the natural born offspring of a loser dad and an Italian American mother who’s hard pressed to make ends meet.
(Photo by Efe Kurnaz on Unsplash)
