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

Advertisement
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.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

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

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 0.00

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Books Inc.

Host or Publisher Books Inc.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Palo Alto

4-Day Data Science with Python Bootcamp in San Gregorio, CA
Tue, 21 Apr at 09:00 am 4-Day Data Science with Python Bootcamp in San Gregorio, CA

228 Hamilton Ave

WORKSHOPS
April Tour of Elizabeth Gamble Garden
Tue, 21 Apr at 01:30 pm April Tour of Elizabeth Gamble Garden

Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden

Tour of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant
Tue, 21 Apr at 01:30 pm Tour of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant

Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant

Zumba at Citrine: Dance, Dine, Unwind
Tue, 21 Apr at 06:00 pm Zumba at Citrine: Dance, Dine, Unwind

Hotel Citrine, Palo Alto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

ENTERTAINMENT ZUMBA
Become AI Project Ready \u2013 PMI-CPMAI Training Program in  Portola Valley, CA
Wed, 22 Apr at 09:00 am Become AI Project Ready – PMI-CPMAI Training Program in Portola Valley, CA

3000 El Camino Real

WORKSHOPS ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE
Silicon Valley Investing Summit-Genomics, Precision Medicine, Biotech
Wed, 22 Apr at 12:30 pm Silicon Valley Investing Summit-Genomics, Precision Medicine, Biotech

Crossroads Auditorium

BUSINESS HEALTH-WELLNESS
Jam in Palo Alto with Derek Yee!
Wed, 22 Apr at 07:00 pm Jam in Palo Alto with Derek Yee!

Cubberley Community Center

WORKSHOPS
Fortunate Son Wine Dinner at Quattro Restaurant
Thu, 23 Apr at 05:00 pm Fortunate Son Wine Dinner at Quattro Restaurant

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto

WORKSHOPS
ICYMI Movie: Spring Break Edition
Mon, 06 Apr at 01:00 pm ICYMI Movie: Spring Break Edition

Rinconada Library

ENTERTAINMENT SPRING-BREAK
Pageturners
Thu, 09 Apr at 06:30 pm Pageturners

Rinconada Library

ART LITERARY-ART
IRENA SMITH at Books Inc. Palo Alto
Thu, 09 Apr at 07:00 pm IRENA SMITH at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Books Inc. Palo Alto

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
MIKE CHEN: THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at Books Inc. Palo Alto
Tue, 21 Apr at 07:00 pm MIKE CHEN: THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Books Inc. Palo Alto

TRIPS-ADVENTURES ART
Author Talk: Wyn Wachhorst, A Town Like No Other: Palo Alto Stories
Tue, 21 Apr at 07:00 pm Author Talk: Wyn Wachhorst, A Town Like No Other: Palo Alto Stories

Palo Alto Art Center

ART LITERARY-ART
REBECCA THOMPSON: HELD TOGETHER at Books Inc. Palo Alto
Thu, 23 Apr at 07:00 pm REBECCA THOMPSON: HELD TOGETHER at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Books Inc. Palo Alto

HEALTH-WELLNESS ART
MOLLY DAVIS MOON: THE GREAT ALL at Books Inc. Palo Alto
Sun, 03 May at 03:00 pm MOLLY DAVIS MOON: THE GREAT ALL at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Books Inc. Palo Alto

ART LITERARY-ART
"HAMNET" | Travel & Day Trips
Wed, 13 May at 10:30 am "HAMNET" | Travel & Day Trips

3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA, United States, California 94303

JONATHAN WEBER: CITY ON THE EDGE at Books Inc. Palo Alto
Wed, 10 Jun at 07:00 pm JONATHAN WEBER: CITY ON THE EDGE at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Books Inc.

ART LITERARY-ART

What's Happening Next in Palo Alto?

Discover Palo Alto Events