MIKE CHEN: THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Schedule

Tue Apr 21 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Books Inc. Palo Alto | Palo Alto, CA

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Join bestselling author Mike Chen at Books Inc. Palo Alto for a celebration of his new thrilling space adventure, The Photonic Effect!
About this Event

Join us for MIKE CHEN: THE PHOTONIC EFFECT!


About the book: The starship Horizon’s crew spent ten years trapped across the expanse of space. Now they’re finally home—only it’s not the home they knew. The Cluster, once a peaceful coalition of planets, has fractured in the wake of civil war.
Captain Demora Kim wants nothing more than to protect her surviving crew. It’s what she owes them after years of instability and terror. But in times of war, no one is allowed neutrality.
After an attack on a mining station leaves thousands dead, Demi’s efforts become almost impossible. Every ship is needed on the frontline. Thrust deeper into a conflict she barely understands, Demi considers a bold choice—one that might keep her promises but tip the galaxy further into chaos.
“Mike Chen has done it again. The Photonic Effect is bursting with unexpected twists and wild rides, but most of all, it's full of heart.” —Annalee Newitz
“One of the strongest space operas I’ve read in recent years. A thrilling, emotionally grounded story about survival, leadership, and the true cost of command.” —Karen Osborne

“What space opera is meant to be. A brilliantly complex novel about love, loss, and war.” —K.B. Wagers

Mike Chen is the New York Times bestselling author of The Photonic Effect, Star Wars: Brotherhood, Here and Now and Then, A Quantum Love Story, and other novels, as well as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine comics. He has covered geek culture for sites such as Nerdist and The Mary Sue, and in a different life, he's covered the NHL. A member of SFWA, Mike lives in the Bay Area with his wife, daughter, and many rescue animals.

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Where is it happening?

Books Inc. Palo Alto, 74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto, United States

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