Mark Hall's new job as a colonial auditor seemed like a good thing-it kept him out of the office, allowed for travel, and let him make new friends. It was a new lease on life he was looking forward to-that is, until the day he pulled into the town of Kearney. Situated at the edge of settled land and skirting a planetary uplift that dominates the skyline, he began to discover that something wasn't right. Stories travel, but in this small farming and ranching town, these stories were kept close-and no one was talking. Rumors of disease, ruined crops and a darkness that seemed to inhabit the very land kept stabbing at his thoughts-forcing him to look deep inside himself and at the past he wanted to leave behind. Speculative Fiction Illustrated Presents is dedicated to bringing imaginative, visually rich stories to life-without compromising on values. Each title in this imprint is carefully curated to be family¿friendly: free of graphic violence, explicit content, and offensive language, while still offering compelling plots, vivid worlds, and memorable characters. These are books you can confidently share with teens, classrooms, and multi¿generational readers who love wonder, adventure, and a good story told cleanly.