Picture an American storyteller who brought the moon’s gritty frontier to life with a whiff of gunpowder—meet David Pedreira! This science fiction and thriller author has hooked readers with his chillingly plausible tales of lunar murders and cosmic wars. With a knack for blending hard science with human drama, Pedreira’s novels, like Gunpowder Moon and The Never Wars, explore the stakes of space colonization in worlds that feel just a heartbeat away from our own.
A former journalist turned novelist, Pedreira’s journey from newsrooms to sci-fi stardom is as fascinating as his stories. His work doesn’t just entertain—it makes you ponder the messy, thrilling future of humanity among the stars.
The Making of David Pedreira
Born and raised in the United States, David Pedreira carved his path through words long before he dreamed up lunar conspiracies. With a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Maryland, he honed a sharp, detail-driven style. As a reporter for outlets like the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times, Pedreira earned awards from the Associated Press and Society of Professional Journalists, covering everything from local beats to military affairs. His time in corporate communications for tech companies and co-owning a legal recruiting business added layers of real-world grit to his storytelling. When he’s not writing, you might find him surfing, scuba diving, or lacing up for beer-league ice hockey in Florida, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
David Pedreira’s Unforgettable Stories
Pedreira’s debut, Gunpowder Moon (2018), is a near-future thriller set in 2072, where lunar helium-3 mining fuels Earth’s recovery from environmental collapse. When a murder rocks the moon’s Sea of Serenity, war-weary veteran Caden Dechert must unravel a conspiracy before lunar war erupts. Critics praised its blend of The Martian’s inventive science, The Expanse’s intrigue, and Red Rising’s thrills, with Library Journal calling it a “well-crafted plot” that “powerfully highlights human politics and economics” on the moon.
His second novel, The Never Wars (2023), takes a wilder leap, mixing Interstellar’s time-bending stakes with The Expanse’s gritty space opera. Elite, disgraced soldiers orbit a black hole to fight Earth’s wars in a future where corporations battle for dominance. Readers lauded its riveting first half, though some found its battle-heavy focus intense. Pedreira’s style shines through in both works: realistic tech, nuanced characters, and a knack for weaving geopolitical tensions into cosmic settings. His journalistic roots ground his tales in plausible science, while his love for authors like Jules Verne and Arthur C. Clarke fuels their imaginative scope.
Why David Pedreira Matters
David Pedreira’s work stands out in sci-fi for its uncanny relevance. His stories don’t just imagine lunar colonies or black-hole missions—they mirror today’s global rivalries and environmental crises, making readers wonder, “Could this be us?” His ability to craft complex characters, like the haunted Caden Dechert, adds emotional depth to high-stakes plots, earning praise from outlets like the New York Times and Kirkus Reviews. While not yet a household name, Pedreira’s growing fanbase and critical acclaim mark him as a rising star in hard science fiction, inviting readers to grapple with humanity’s future in space.
- Key Works: Gunpowder Moon (2018), The Never Wars (2023)
- Awards: Journalism honors from Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists
- Hobbies: Ice hockey, surfing, scuba diving, camping
Snag Gunpowder Moon and dive into David Pedreira’s thrilling sci-fi universe—your imagination will thank you!