A second chance for civilization becomes increasingly uncertain in Outsphere by Guy-Roger Duvert. The story places humanity in an unfamiliar environment where survival depends not only on adapting to a new world, but also on confronting different ideas of what humanity itself should become.
by Guy-Roger Duvert
May 29, 2026
The Ark reaches Eden carrying settlers determined to preserve humanity after decades of deep space travel. They expect difficult conditions and the challenge of starting over, but they do not expect to find evidence of another intelligence already woven into the planet itself.
Then another expedition arrives. More advanced and entirely unified, the newcomers represent a version of humanity built to eliminate conflict and uncertainty. Their methods and values stand in direct contrast to those of the original settlers, creating tensions that grow more dangerous as both groups attempt to claim the same future.
Meanwhile, Eden continues revealing remnants of a vanished civilization and systems that remain active beneath the surface. As the planet responds to both human factions, Outsphere expands into a story about consequence, control, and whether humanity deserves the future it is trying to create.
EXCERPT
Chapter 2
The corridor was narrow and short. At one end, it stopped abruptly at a bare, flat wall. At the other end, it appeared to open to emptiness, but the darkness made it impossible to judge. As in the rest of the ship, red pilot lights installed at the foot of the walls bathed the surroundings in a reddish hue. On either side of the corridor, cylinders made of metal and glass were encrusted into the walls. Some of them started to vibrate and lower, slowly. Once they were almost horizontal, lids opened in a cloud of vapor. At the same time, powerful lights, installed equidistantly in the ceiling, popped on.
The gases gradually disappeared, allowing the place to return to its previous stillness. But it did not last. Jake Bowman opened his eyes; beautiful, gray, hard eyes on a square face. Cropped hair. His muscular frame almost naked, except for plaid boxer shorts. He sat up and exited his cryogenic capsule. Once standing, it took him a moment to regain control of his senses. He thought the worst had passed, before being violently struck by a massive headache. He couldn’t suppress a grunt.
“They told us the awakening would be difficult.”
Bowman turned around to see who had spoken, and saw Tanakashi Yamakama, also getting out of his metallic coffin. Although he looked a bit fragile, he appeared to have tolerated the after effects of the awakening well, in spite of his smaller build. They were calm, having prepared for this situation. But experiencing it for the first time felt new, strange. He smiled at Bowman, as if to help him with his headache, which was already starting to vanish.
“I’ve never had a hangover like this!”
“Let’s see if Suleiman is awake.”
Tanakashi quickly reverted to protocol, which was a good sign, Bowman thought. He didn’t feel any particular affinity for the Japanese man, but he knew he was reliable, and that was more than enough for him.
Bowman took a few steps, passing before a capsule where Leo Folks was slowly emerging. Much less brawny than his companions, the pilot was his usual self: gentle, smiling, a man of few words. He merely observed his senior officer, while focusing on his own awakening.
Bowman leaned on another capsule, its occupant having more difficulty than the others in coming to his senses, most likely due to his age. Well into his fifties, Admiral Abdelrahman Suleiman was a handsome man who exuded natural authority. Normally, he was quite elegant, though wearing only boxer shorts like the others didn’t exactly flatter him.
“Admiral? How are you feeling?”
Suleiman tried to focus on Bowman, but his eyes kept fluttering. It took a few moments before he could stabilize them.
“Colonel…” he started, then hesitant, as if his memories were slowly coming together “...Bowman?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“What day is this?”
“No idea, Sir. I was just awakened.”
“Let’s check.”
Bowman was surprised; he had expected that the ship’s captain would take longer to regain full consciousness. But the man was strong.
Bowman helped him to his feet, while Folks was doing the same with another traveler, Ivan Igovitch, who smiled when he saw the Admiral.
“Happy to see you again, Admiral.”
“Colonel Igovitch.”
After a salute to his second in command, the Admiral looked at his four companions, taking stock of the situation.
“Well it looks like we’re all here.”
Tanakashi tapped buttons on one of the walls, and a small computer appeared, sliding toward him. Tanakashi tapped quickly on the keyboard, looked at the screen, before concluding: “Everything has gone according to plan, Sir. Estimated time of arrival forty-eight hours…”
The Admiral took note of the information, and headed toward the end of the corridor, followed by the others.
Chapter 2
The corridor was narrow and short. At one end, it stopped abruptly at a bare, flat wall. At the other end, it appeared to open to emptiness, but the darkness made it impossible to judge. As in the rest of the ship, red pilot lights installed at the foot of the walls bathed the surroundings in a reddish hue. On either side of the corridor, cylinders made of metal and glass were encrusted into the walls. Some of them started to vibrate and lower, slowly. Once they were almost horizontal, lids opened in a cloud of vapor. At the same time, powerful lights, installed equidistantly in the ceiling, popped on.
The gases gradually disappeared, allowing the place to return to its previous stillness. But it did not last. Jake Bowman opened his eyes; beautiful, gray, hard eyes on a square face. Cropped hair. His muscular frame almost naked, except for plaid boxer shorts. He sat up and exited his cryogenic capsule. Once standing, it took him a moment to regain control of his senses. He thought the worst had passed, before being violently struck by a massive headache. He couldn’t suppress a grunt.
“They told us the awakening would be difficult.”
Bowman turned around to see who had spoken, and saw Tanakashi Yamakama, also getting out of his metallic coffin. Although he looked a bit fragile, he appeared to have tolerated the after effects of the awakening well, in spite of his smaller build. They were calm, having prepared for this situation. But experiencing it for the first time felt new, strange. He smiled at Bowman, as if to help him with his headache, which was already starting to vanish.
“I’ve never had a hangover like this!”
“Let’s see if Suleiman is awake.”
Tanakashi quickly reverted to protocol, which was a good sign, Bowman thought. He didn’t feel any particular affinity for the Japanese man, but he knew he was reliable, and that was more than enough for him.
Bowman took a few steps, passing before a capsule where Leo Folks was slowly emerging. Much less brawny than his companions, the pilot was his usual self: gentle, smiling, a man of few words. He merely observed his senior officer, while focusing on his own awakening.
Bowman leaned on another capsule, its occupant having more difficulty than the others in coming to his senses, most likely due to his age. Well into his fifties, Admiral Abdelrahman Suleiman was a handsome man who exuded natural authority. Normally, he was quite elegant, though wearing only boxer shorts like the others didn’t exactly flatter him.
“Admiral? How are you feeling?”
Suleiman tried to focus on Bowman, but his eyes kept fluttering. It took a few moments before he could stabilize them.
“Colonel…” he started, then hesitant, as if his memories were slowly coming together “...Bowman?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“What day is this?”
“No idea, Sir. I was just awakened.”
“Let’s check.”
Bowman was surprised; he had expected that the ship’s captain would take longer to regain full consciousness. But the man was strong.
Bowman helped him to his feet, while Folks was doing the same with another traveler, Ivan Igovitch, who smiled when he saw the Admiral.
“Happy to see you again, Admiral.”
“Colonel Igovitch.”
After a salute to his second in command, the Admiral looked at his four companions, taking stock of the situation.
“Well it looks like we’re all here.”
Tanakashi tapped buttons on one of the walls, and a small computer appeared, sliding toward him. Tanakashi tapped quickly on the keyboard, looked at the screen, before concluding: “Everything has gone according to plan, Sir. Estimated time of arrival forty-eight hours…”
The Admiral took note of the information, and headed toward the end of the corridor, followed by the others.
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Guy-Roger Duvert is a French science fiction author, filmmaker, and composer whose work spans literature, cinema, and interactive media.
After studying political science and business, he began his career composing music for films, television, and video games before writing and directing the cyberpunk feature Virtual Revolution (released internationally as 2047: Virtual Revolution).
He made his literary debut with Outsphere, which became a bestseller in France and was later named by Audible France as one of the Top 10 Greatest Science Fiction Novels of All Time, alongside Dune, 1984, and Foundation.
Duvert has since published around twenty novels, establishing himself as a prominent voice in contemporary European speculative fiction. His work is recognized for its scale, layered world-building, and exploration of power, technology, and human evolution.
He is currently based between Los Angeles and France. Follow Guy on Instagram.
