Software Fiction

Every SaaS company on earth is careening towards its next revenue plateau. It’s called a Growth Ceiling—a moment in time where growth stops, and you’re losing just as many customers as you’re bringing in. It’s not an opinion—it’s just how recurring revenue businesses work.

This audiobook is a summary of the advice I’ve given to software engineers over the years–and then some more. This audiobook follows the structure of a “typical” career path for a software engineer, from starting out as a fresh-faced software developer, through being a role model senior/lead, all the way to the staff/principle/distinguished level. It summarizes what I’ve learned as a developer and how I’ve approached coaching engineers at different stages of their careers.

Mike and Beth didn't know each other existed before the night of the meteor shower. A melancholy film producer and a house sitter barely scraping by—chance made them neighbors, a bottle of champagne brought them together, and a shared need for human connection sparked something more. After a drunken and desperate one-night stand, the two strangers awake to discover a surprise astronomical event has left widespread destruction in its wake. But the cosmic lightshow was only part of something much bigger, and far more terrifying.

A story in which little is as it seems. Someone murdered Morgan Djai’s brilliant but estranged brother. When they killed him, he had a $10,000 chunk of platinum in the pocket of his jeans. Morgan has problems of his own. His company’s been bought out, he’s been laid off, and his wife’s having an affair. Better yet, she’s planning to take everything he has in a divorce. As Morgan tries to assume his duties as guardian for his brother’s teenage children he’s confronted with the mystery of why his brother died carrying a piece of platinum. Morgan’s fifteen year old niece is ...

In Understanding Software, Max Kanat-Alexander, Technical Lead for Code Health at Google, shows you how to bring simplicity back to computer programming. Max explains to you why programmers suck, and how to suck less as a programmer. There's just too much complex stuff in the world. Complex stuff can't be used, and it breaks too easily. Complexity is stupid. Simplicity is smart.

In the heart of the Pacific lies a mysterious island, shrouded in secrecy and guarded by the enigmatic Gordon McMillan, the world's wealthiest and most elusive genius. Once a titan of the technological realm, McMillan's sudden retreat from the world's stage three years ago left many puzzled minds wondering about his intentions. Little did they know, his seclusion was merely a prelude to an audacious experiment that would alter the course of human history.

As the last starfighter in Squadron 111, only Midshipman Henry Gallant can stop the invasion from an alien galactic empire. With the United Planets space fleet on the verge of annihilation, Gallant can expect no help. With so much uncertainty about the aliens, analyzing the captured equipment in his possession is critical. The four books in this audiobook collection include Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space, Lieutenant Henry Gallant, Henry Gallant and the Warrior, and Commander Henry Gallant.

Henry Gallant is the captain of the spacecraft carrier Constellation. He is the last hope of the Marines stranded on a volcanic wasteland nine light-years from Earth. Not since Guadalcanal has the Second Marine Division faced a grimmer struggle to hold on against a powerful and ruthless enemy. As the Titan invaders close in, the Marines wonder if there is the "will" to save them. Top Gun pilots Rob Ryan and Lorelei West take a desperate gamble to save Nathan Steward and the remnants of the 2nd Division. Will they be in time? Will they be enough?

Henry Pierce has a whole new life - new apartment, new telephone, new telephone number. But the first time he checks his messages, he discovers that someone had the number before him. The messages on his line are for a woman named Lilly, and she is in some kind of serious trouble. Pierce is inexorably drawn into Lilly's world, and it's unlike any world he's ever known. It is a night-time world of escort services, websites, sex, and secret identities.

Gallant leads the Warrior on raids against the Titans' commerce. He disrupts their military operations. Using a neural interface, he penetrates the Titans' communication network and steals a high-ranking alien’s identity. He learns about their society and fleet disposition. His hit and run tactics bewilder the enemy. Employing a brilliant strategy, he wreaks havoc with the Titans defense. Despite the demanding military actions, Gallant seeks to mend his relationship with his lover, Alaina.

As the last star fighter in squadron 111, Midshipman Henry Gallant is on his way from Jupiter to Mars. With the United Planets' fleet on the verge of annihilation, he can expect no help as he passes through the asteroid belt and threatening aliens. In an era of genetic engineering, he is the only Natural (non-genetically enhanced) officer left in the fleet. His classmates and superior officers have all expressed their concern that he will not be up to the demands of the space service.

The final Eden. Medusa’s Gauntlet is the much-anticipated conclusion to the New Eden series. The adventures of physicist Dr. Joshua Andrews, reporter Rachael Miller, information theorist Vinod Bhakti, and their alien friend Seth continue in a mind-boggling space odyssey that traverses the solar system. The fate of life in the cosmos is at stake as the group embarks on a mission on a biological spaceship to confront Medusa at Planet Nine.

U.S. spy satellites over Asia make a disturbing discovery. An arachnid, an elephant-sized creature created by an alien race, is roaming a forest in North Korea. How did it get there? What is its purpose? Is it a weapon of some kind? When there’s complete radio silence from the North Koreans, and further satellite images show the area around the creature being evacuated, the U.S. decides to send a joint military and scientific team to investigate.

The enemy aliens sued for peace...but they lied! To Humanity’s shock and horror, the Titans launched a surprise attack on the Solar System. They devastated the United Planet’s Home Fleet. Henry Gallant’s Task Force 34 is all that stands between the aliens and Earth. At home, Alaina wanted to start a family. Forcing Gallant to assess if he was a Natural "superman" or a disappointment to one and all.

The ancient Chameleon have an AI chip implanted in their brain. The genocidal Titans are methane-breathing, autistic savants. Together, they have found a common alien credo.... All humans must die. Henry Gallant’s exceptional ability to interface with AI has made him the key to stopping both species. Together with simulation expert Daniel Logan and forensic xenoarchaeologist Kate Mahoney, he must create the resources to overcome the aliens’ technology advantages in stealth, lasers, and shields.

Baby Zeke returns! It has been many months since Baby Zeke learned he was the warrior in the Balance of The Four. In his new book, Baby Zeke: Return of the Warrior: An Unofficial Minecraft Book, you will learn what Baby Zeke has been doing during his months of silence. And, you will follow his surprising adventures in pursuit of a magical llama.

With Herobrine momentarily defeated, but not destroyed, Zeke and his friends realize they are not safe unless they keep moving.

A gigantic unidentified flying object materialized over the capital of Earth - terrifying the world. The ancient Chameleon race wants to work with humans to stop the genocidal Titans. The Chameleon are humanoid but have an AI chip implanted in their brain which gives them unique abilities. Henry Gallant's exceptional ability to interface with AI makes him the key to negotiate a mutual defense treaty and obtain the aliens' superior stealth technology. Using the advanced tech, Gallant leads a raid against the Titans' homeworld.

In an era of genetic engineering, Lieutenant Henry Gallant is the only Natural (non-genetically enhanced) officer left in the fleet. In spite of his superiors' concerns that he is not up to the challenge, his unique mental abilities have proven essential to the defense of the United Planets in its fight against the Titan invaders. Gallant allies himself with Alaina Hepburn, the leader of the democratic opposition. With Alaina's help, he discovers that the ancient AI has a sinister ulterior motive and he must match his exceptional mind against the complexity of machine intelligence to escape the ultimate trap and prevent the extermination of humanity.

Jamie Hawkins became a swashbuckling space pirate to fight tyranny. When Jamie Hawkins saved the lives of women and children who were caught in the crossfire of war, he fell squarely in the crosshairs of avenging soldiers and was unfairly convicted of treason. Sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor in an infamous penal colony on a faraway planet, his courage won him the admiration of his fellow convicts. While plotting his escape, an enemy attacked the planet, giving this daring warrior his chance. Together with his fellow prisoners, he launched a bold assault and hijacked the enemy ...