Rijel 12: The Rise of New Australia: An action-packed thrill ride of rebellion and hope

For fans of epic science fiction rebellion stories like The Word for World is Forest, The Sixth Column, and Dune, comes a book like no other. New Australia, the intergalactic prison on remote Rijel 12, is a very profitable enterprise. Its desolate surface is an uninhabitable wasteland, but inside the planet is a treasure trove of some of the most precious resources in the galaxy.

The aliens and humans sentenced to New Australia know it’s a one-way ticket. There’s no way off and no one goes home. Inmates are forced to work in horrible conditions and the death rate is staggering. Luckily for the warden, new inmates arrive monthly to replenish the labor pool. Business has never been better.

When all hope is lost, one prisoner decides to take a stand. Inmates slowly but surely rally to the cause and prepare for rebellion. With improvised weapons and limited supplies, can the rag-tag rebels of New Australia succeed in their quest for freedom? And, what happens to a planet of criminals if they somehow manage to pull it off?

A raucous science fiction adventure. I’m always on the look out for new sci-fi authors and I was not disappointed with King Everett Medlin. This was a highly entertaining read. -Literacy Work and Play

This is a story of rebellion, battle tactics, brotherhood, group dynamics, leadership, and freedom. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it. -Cheryl Stout

It is motivational and full of hope, in a similar spirit of inter-species collaboration I so love from Star Trek. -Karl Booij