I have self-published two books of my short and flash science fiction, available in paperback and eBook. And, being a dyed-in-the-wool hardback tragic, I have compiled them into one hardback volume.

In 2021 my first novel, Sha’Kert: End of Darkness, was published by Temple Dark Books of Ireland, followed in 2025 by Diathesis, the first book in my new science-fiction heaxology, Descent. Books two to six will be published at yearly intervals.

Read more about them below, and follow the links to purchase your copy.

DIATHESIS: DESCENT BOOK ONE

Maria Rodrigues’ parents were not who they seemed, and so the girl is raised apart from them, hiding without understanding. As she grows into adulthood and becomes enthralled by environmental activism, she meets a man whose genius is tempered by his questionable ethics, coming to learn that the lines between what is right and what is necessary are so easily blurred.

Philosophy, ethics and science are at odds as a disparate cast of soldiers, technicians and explorers clash in the maelstrom surrounding the Ismud project – Earth’s first crewed interstellar probe. Some will seek validation for past wrongs; others revenge for festering pain; some merely a meaning to their existence; while others will stop at nothing to see their genius brought to life. These lives are mapped with sympathetic immersion, narrating a multivalent trajectory that will see a future cut short as the Ismud launch looms.

What the readers say

Diathesis [sets] in train a number of fascinating themes that parallel our contemporary concerns… – Irish Times

…an incredible, sweeping opening to what promises to be a truly epic series…strikingly pertinent in the face of current technological and cultural developments…A big theme is dehumanisation and its consequences…deals squarely with how motivations can set people on particular paths. Tightly written and well paced, it’s science fiction that doesn’t get too held up by the science; no matter how integral it is to the story and the plot, it shapes the story rather than drowns it, a sort of balancing act that numerous authors have tried before to varying degrees of success. In the 1970s, Terry Pratchett described James Blish’s iconic Cities In Flight…as “the heady wine of science fiction”. The Descent series seems destined to be spoken of in similar terms – Irish Examiner

…a quantum leap forward in science fiction writing…a phenomenal tale of science and the ethical questions that come with it…should easily be on the shortlist for awards this year, if not the outright winner. If you are looking for a futuristic tale that will keep you pondering over the dilemmas posed for weeks afterwards, don’t miss this one. It’s a must read for sci-fi fans…There’s a lot of material here, but it’s not the ‘hard science’ type, the author prefers to concentrate on the characters instead of the technical aspects. That’s where his main skill is, and it’s doubtful that there is anyone else out there who does it this well. It’s a character driven story that pulls you in hard and never eases up, while giving you plenty to think about over the course of reading it, and long after. This is sure to be one of the best of 2025. This is beyond highly recommended… – Murray Samuelson for Monster Librarian

Soledad […] is back at work in his field of excellence: a space opera in a future both bleak and hopeful…a leap to the stars, and the potentially habitable planets that represent one last chance for the languishing citizens of this increasingly barren and poisoned world. Paradoxical plots and conspiracies…a burgeoning team of young candidates […] lifted to the pinnacle of human ability…brilliant scientists who eschew progress by embracing eco-terrorism; a delinquent who grows to excel at hiding his sociopathy in the discipline and structure of the military; shadowy government figures who maneuver and are maneuvered by the complicated blend of idealism, altruism, and lust for power that molds the book’s intriguing plot – Scott Arbuckle, Author of Scavenged

…a gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally intense science fiction novel that immerses readers in a world teetering on the edge of darkness and revelation…a masterful blend of suspense, character depth, and philosophical undertones…Characters are compelling and layered…The world-building is detailed yet seamlessly woven into the narrative, creating a setting that feels both vast and claustrophobic…exploration of themes such as identity, fate, and resistance against oppressive systems adds layers of depth that elevate this novel beyond a simple sci-fi thriller…a story that lingers in the mind long after the last page…an absolute must-read – Kevin Murphy, Even Angels

SHA’KERT: END OF NIGHT

Greg and Lou learn their daughter has a terminal illness. In their desperation, they make a deal from which there is no return. When their crimes are exposed, their world is turned upside down. Henry wants nothing more than to leave his Amish community behind, even as their land is under threat; their traditions under fire; and their faith faces its greatest test. But his mother is his world – where she goes, so too will he.

Circumstances bring these two worlds together – a family banished to the edge of the galaxy; a community praying for a new life and the re-orientation of their destiny. But when fate abandons them to an uncharted, inhospitable planet, some struggle for survival while others embrace the opportunity to explore this strange new world. Relationships are tested, beliefs are tried and emotions are pushed to the limit.

What the readers say

A slow burn but fascinating story about making a life where you find yourself … Small mysteries abound and those who enjoy new planet colonization will very much enjoy this story

It’s been many years since I’ve read Sci-Fi and I’m glad Sha’Kert was my reintroduction to it. Once I started reading it, it was hard to put it down. I was hooked from the first chapter. I can highly recommend Sha’Kert. Readers will not be disappointed. If you love Sci-fi you’ll love it. If you’ve never read Sci-Fi before, Sha’Kert is a great introduction

A thoughtful and ofttimes challenging read. Sha’Kert takes you inside the minds of a group of refugees flung serendipitously onto what is thought – at first – to be an unoccupied planet. What would you do to survive as an individual? As a community? How open to change are you? What is really important? A good speculative fiction read to make you think differently

Sha’Kert: End of Night drew me in and kept my interest from the very beginning. What made it more riveting was the science fiction theme weaved in with the Amish theme. It was well done and felt natural.

Listen to a sample

Courtesy of Carol Beth Anderson – Audiobook Narrator (website here) and Author (website here). You can also find her on Twitter/X as @CBethAnderson, and on FB as “Carol Beth Anderson, Audiobook Narrator and Author.”

HAWKING RADIATION

Aliens destroying relationships. A father’s dying wish for his son. Love, telepathy and puberty. Suicidal androids. The music of the future. Purple dragons, little girls and machine gun toting rabbits. One promise that changes the world.

Venture into the imagination of Ishmael A Soledad through the twenty-three science fiction short stories gathered here in one volume for the first time.

What the readers say

Brilliant collection of stories. Couldn’t put this one down.

An excellent collection of short stories, some funny, some moving, all written with a delicate taste of other worlds. Easy to pick up for a quick journey into space or to just read all at once, these stories will stay with you.

A spectacular sci-fi short story anthology featuring a refreshingly wide variety of characters and settings … a highly entertaining and thought-provoking read

SEX AND THE SINGLE COSMONAUT

A compilation of 30 short and flash science fiction stories ranging across serious and not so serious themes, including:

• Worlds collide over a butter fetish
• Friendly fire or murder in Vietnam
• Reincarnation and revenge
• Eternity gifted by your dead brother
• Your body for your grandson’s future
• Even the memory of you is too much
• Love, loss and obsession

There are no superheroes here, no giants amongst women or men; simply misfits, dystopians, flawed broken people caught by circumstance.

What the readers say

Every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor … wonderfully bizarre Outer Limits-esque short stories, twist endings and all. I loved seeing so much variety in the stories, which vary in length and jump from being comical to saddening to disturbing and occasionally just straight-up weird and back again … a welcome cure for sci-fi withdrawal

I laughed out loud. I stopped and thought. In at least one case I am still thinking. If he puts a twist in the tale then Ishmael is not afraid to make it one you were not expecting. I read these stories daily over breakfast and on more than a few days was nearly late for work due to wanting to find out how the tale turned out. That’s got to tell you something about Ishmael’s writing

WARNING
Contains strong language, adult themes and some violence. Not suitable for children

TIME IN LIEU

Time in Lieu brings together all fifty-three short and flash science fiction stories in Hawking Radiation and Sex and the Single Cosmonaut in one volume