Two things about a Daniel Kraus novel. You never know the genre of his next story, and it’s going to be one hell of a book. This is evident in his latest tale, The Sixth Nik, a fantastic blend of science-fiction and body horror. Kraus’s first foray into the world of sci-fi is one that will stick with you long after you close the book.
Deep into space, far past the triworld outposts, beyond range of the lethal trollbot internet, soars The Sickness: a ship woven from biomatter and capable of reacting to every need of its human crew. Sisilla, a nine-year-old cultist with a brain enhanced by arcane tech known as “niks,” has boarded to investigate the enigma of Fém—a plague-riddled planet that has abruptly gone rogue.
The mysterious crew includes a faceless assassin, a beautiful engineer jigsawed by plastic surgery, a peyote-addicted medic, and—most lethal of all—a rugged, NonModded captain with a score to settle with Sisilla. Other dangers abound. A hacked robot begins to believe Sisilla is its daughter. The Sickness itself is mutating, possibly even pregnant. And the secret of Fém is more horrific than anyone could have imagined. To survive, Sisilla will need to forsake her predetermined fate and embrace the unknown.
Typically my science-fiction quota is met by reading stories based “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”, so taking time to read a sci-fi story not involving Star Wars was something I don’t typically do. However, when it comes to books written by Kraus, they are must-read from the start. My favorite of Kraus’s stories tend to steer towards the horror genre, that is likely why this unique science-fiction tale hit home for me.
The Sixth Nik is through and through a sci-fi novel, a story built around many different locations, futuristic technology, and unique characters. This is evident from the very beginning and plays well throughout the story. However, it’s a great blend of sci-fi and horror, which is exactly the sweet spot I was hoping for. So anyone deciding to grab this book thinking its a straight forward space romp, there is some pretty brutal moments that might surprise you.
Beyond the gruesome horror moments, The Sixth Nik is a story full of action, adventure, and an extremely compelling and meaningful main character in Sisilla. The blend of sci-fi, horror, action, adventure, and a fantastic main characters gives the novel a truly rounded feel and propels you through the pages with ease. Without giving too much away, The Sixth Nik has some amazing storylines that makes each and every page turn worthwhile, landing with an ending that feels fitting but also may leave just enough questions to keep you thinking.
The Sixth Nik is a gripping science-fiction debut for bestseller Daniel Kraus. With a beautiful blend of sci-fi and body horror, this story is just the hybrid of a book that you’d hope for when entering the mind of Kraus.
The Sixth Nik hits bookstores everywhere on June 23, 2026 from Saga Press. The audiobook is available for preorder at Libro.fm!
