What began as a casual conversation over a glass of red wine between a Tenby father and son has evolved into an epic, large-scale science fiction novel set to hit bookshelves this June. Local authors D. S. and D. J. Sangster are preparing for the release of Hell Space: Revelations, a sweeping space opera that blends dystopian stakes with classic genre influences.
Set in the year 2179, the story follows the shattering of humanity’s golden age of space expansion after the discovery of alien intelligence and the sudden eruption of an ancient warship from beneath the Earth's crust. For the Pembrokeshire-based duo, writing the book was a unique way to combine decades of science fiction fandom across two generations.
A Family Affair of Sci-Fi Passion
D. S. Sangster, a retired hotelier, is a lifelong sci-fi enthusiast whose passion for the genre began over 65 years ago when he first discovered the works of Ray Bradbury. His son, D. J. Sangster, a retired solicitor, grew up surrounded by his father’s extensive book collection, drawing his own inspiration from authors like Douglas Adams and Cormac McCarthy.
Speaking about their writing journey, they said: “As we both loved sci-fi, what started as just an idea tossed around between father and son over a glass of red wine turned into our first attempt to write a novel with a full-blown universe with aliens and catastrophe wherever you turned.”
Seamless Collaboration
Despite the challenges of co-authoring a novel, the pair developed a seamless, collaborative routine in their local area. They explained: “Our process was highly collaborative but very informal. We would meet over lunch at least once a week and just talk through and refine the story in our own heads. We would agree which bits we each wanted to write and go off and write separately at our own pace. We then read each other's drafts, made suggestions and agreed to the final version. It was a very smooth and argument-free affair.”
The result is a book perfect for local readers who enjoy the works of James S. A. Corey, Andy Weir, and Arthur C. Clarke. But for the authors, the project brought a reward that went far beyond the publishing deal.
“We're delighted with how the book turned out and that it is being published,” they said. “But to be honest, we had such fun and got to spend such amazing quality time together that the end product is simply a bonus.”
Hell Space: Revelations is published by The Book Guild and will be officially released on June 28, 2026, priced at £10.99.
