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What is the 10 Cent Universe?

The 10 Cent Universe by Ed Robins seeks to mash together science fiction with popular pulp fiction genres of the early and mid-twentieth centuries to create fast, entertaining reads. Each series utilizes a different genre to tell the story about humanity's trials as they leave Earth for a new home on the planet Gaea. On board the generation Starship Australis, a hardboiled detective solves murders and slowly pulls the thread of a larger mystery. Years later, their descendents settle the frontiers of the planet Gaea orbiting the star Tau Ceti.

Many more books and series are in the works!

The Starship Australis Mysteries

“All I wanted was to put my past at the bottom of an endless bottle after I lost my badge and my wife. Between the prostitutes, dealers and the starship’s governing Earls, it’s hard for a former detective to keep his nose outta murder investigations. Our ancestors were sent on this multigenerational voyage aboard the Starship Australis with the noble intent of one day populating a new planet with the human species. Guess nothing changes our nature, though. There’s gonna be good people; there’s gonna be bad people.

“One day I’ll figure out which one I am, I suppose.”

Inspired by the grit of Mickey Spillane and the concision of Elmore Leonard, The Starship Australis Mysteries are a sci-fi / mystery mash-up devised in the best traditions of the dime store paperback. It is part of the 10 Cent Universe – a genre-bending macrocosm – that will continue with the sci-fi / western series Gunslingers of Gaea.

This series contains adult themes and content.

"All men can be bought."

"Some women, too."

"See no evil; hear no evil; speak no evil."

"Do plenty of evil."

Available on Kindle & Kindle Unlimited

“All I wanted was to drink until I couldn’t remember Madelyn anymore, but a former detective can’t just ignore a murdered dame in his compartment. Why would someone kill such a beauty and why’d they choose me to take the fall?

“To find the murderer, and clear my own name, I gotta dive into the Starship Australis’ seedy underworld of prostitutes, dealers, assassins and one seriously pissed off crime boss. Then, maybe, I can make time with my gorgeous bartender, or at least get back to drinking enough to forget what a mess my life’s become.”

Reviews

This well-written book is unique. It's a detective story set on a spaceship with spare vivid scene-setting, strong characterization, and beautifully rendered prose.

Fun read for a fan of both sci-fi and crime noir. Plot moves and the sci-fi world is easily believable.

Chivalry Will Get You Dead is a hardcore, hard-boiled detective story by Ed Robins. Part science fiction, part Mickey Spillane novel, it’s about a detective aboard an ark ship traveling through space. Make no mistake, this is a mature story with a lot of sex and violence in the vein of Spillane and others of his style.

If you like your detectives more like Mike Hammer than Philip Marlowe, then this is your kind of book. The mixture of science fiction also adds another layer to an already rich storyline.

"Gorgeous girl like that? Why we have sculptors."

"Outta his league."

"Says the man who wouldn't even be allowed on the field."

"Trouble," Louis said.

Didn't know if he meant I was trouble or trouble would find me. Either way, probably true.

Available on Kindle & Kindle Unlimited

“All I wanted was to make time with the sensuous Jesse Alderman, but cantankerous Jazz had been accused of murder. Just some girl I’d met once. Still, sometimes you know an innocent face when you see one. Too bad no one will listen to me – not even my best friend.

“But when the consort of a royal is murdered under similar circumstances, suddenly everyone is all ears. Now the Earls who run the Starship Australis expect me to sort the damned thing out! And I’ve managed to piss off a group of vigilantes who seem to have only one thing in mind: making me dead.”

Reviews

The book is funny, dark, and feels like it should be rainy...and in that way it checks all the wonderful boxes I look for in noir craft.

It's nearly curtains several times for our intrepid hero as he manages to sort out the players and the pawns on his way to the truth and his own life in the balance. Hang on, it's a bumpy ride!

I read this the day after reading the first Starship Australis story and again finished it in a sitting! These books are so fast paced I cannot put them down.

"I can be a nice guy."

"No, you can't. Solve a hella lot problems if you could."

"You saying...

you saying I killed the wrong man?"

Available on Kindle & Kindle Unlimited

“All I wanted was to put my past behind me, but another little girl is dead and my ex has accused my not-quite-boss of being a serial killer. The rub is I already put that psycho to death with my own hands. Or could be I killed an innocent man.

“I’ve spent a lifetime hiding behind sarcasm when I could; violence when it was available. Drinking and bleeding away a whole lotta bad. Gonna have to confront it all, including how I lost the love of my life, in order to find a murdering psychopath stalking the corridors of the Starship Australis. And, maybe, I’ll find out just what kinda man I really am.”

Reviews

I don't buy many books but these, these I will anxiously await and buy without hesitation. Cannot wait for the next one!!!

Really enjoyed all 3 books In the series. Love the characters and back stories. Well written and paced. Will eagerly be awaiting book 4.

Gunslingers of Gaea

Centuries ago, old Earth launched the Starship Australis in the hopes of one day populating the planet Gaea. One hundred and fifty years after landing on the near barren rock, humanity has prospered and built its first city from the starship’s ruins. But living in its cramped towers isn’t for everyone.

Intrepid souls, seeking fame and fortune, push forth from Australis City, looking for new opportunities in the Tanami territory. Yet, as on old Earth’s American frontier, there are those ready to work, others eager to thieve, and a few willing to kill for a chance to leave their mark on humanity’s future.

"Do you have a gambling problem?"

"Only when I lose."

“Imma find you,” he growled, nice and slow. “And good Lord are you gonna hurt.”

“You see me again, it’ll be the devil waiting on both our souls.”

Available on Kindle & Kindle Unlimited

On the planet Gaea, opportunities are hard to come by. Setting out for the Tanami frontier, young Dalton Reid hopes to make his fortune with nothing but his horse and the last few bits in his pocket. Before he can get started, though, he loses his savings to the dastardly Roscoe, professional cattle rustler and murderer.

There’s no shortage of folks in Hensonville willing to give Reid the education he needs to survive, if he’ll do what they say. Paloma Griswell’s ready to work him to the bone on her ranch. The straight and narrow is what old Marshal Rawlins expects. Bellyaching Chip Reegan just wants to put him in his place. Even Roscoe offers to make him part of his gang as they prepare for their biggest heist yet.

Only Reid can decide what type of man he wants to be as he seeks fortune and fame–or will it be infamy?

About Ed Robins

Ed Robins has been writing since the age of eleven. Robins’ father was an avid consumer of speculative fiction and raised Ed on a steady diet of television shows, books and movies to spark his imagination.

If there’s anything Robins likes more than science fiction, it’s old things, especially books. It inspired him to create The Ten Cent Universe by mashing together the styles of old dime store masters with modern science fiction.

Robins currently resides in Wichita, KS with his wife and two children, and tells too many "dad jokes".