“The Christian Indie Awards recognize excellence in independently published Christian books.”
Thought-provoking Christian sci-fi is not a phrase you hear every day. But for local author Rick Larsen, a retired engineer and former president of Flexial Corporation, that concept led to a third-place finish in the Speculative Fiction category at the 2026 Christian Indie Awards.
His novel, Alien in My Land, is described as a “thought-provoking work of Christian speculative science fiction.”
“The Christian Indie Awards recognize excellence in independently published Christian books across multiple genres, highlighting works that combine strong storytelling with faith-based themes. Larsen’s Alien in My Land stood out among entries from authors across the country,” according to a release.
Alien in My Land continues the story begun in Larsen’s earlier novel Beings of the Same God, exploring the discovery of an ancient structure buried beneath North America.
Alien in My Land continues the story begun in Larsen’s earlier novel Beings of the Same God, exploring the discovery of an ancient structure buried beneath North America.
Set in prehistoric Tennessee, the novel follows a young woman, the daughter of early settlers, who must survive the deadly wilderness of Paleolithic North America in her search for answers about herself. Her encounter with a member of an alien civilization changes them both, according to the release.
Larsen, who lives in Cookeville, is at work on Laurentide, the third book in the series, which is set for release in 2026.
“He is also completing a nonfiction historical work on 17th-18th century Swedish Mora clocks, in conjunction with researchers in Mora, Sweden,” according to the release
Alien in My Land is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
Copyright 2026 The Upper Cumberland Business Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Other stories you may want to check out:
