STONELANDS: 7 Reasons You Want To Read It
(OR, Why This Book Took So Effing Long To Release)
Today, seven years since the release of my last novel, The New Magic, I’m pleased/satisfied/relieved to announce that STONELANDS is finally here.
A lot of you have asked what took so damn long. While there are factors in my personal and professional life that I’m not going to go into here, the biggest reasons are that this book is just so lethally on-point, the industry didn’t know what to do with it.
To sum it up, here’s a list of a few of the things that set this novel apart… each one of which slowed the path to publication.
In no particular order:
1) STONELANDS features a magic portal, Navy SEALs, conspiracies, graphic sex, a gay subplot, an amputee veteran, and a Blackfeet main character.
Writing about all of these things in a cohesive and realistic narrative, while doing justice to all of them, took a lot of thought and editing. (So. Much. Editing.)
2) You never see this level of modern military realism in contemporary fiction, let alone in the Fantasy genre—and there’s a good reason for that.
Most military fiction authors don’t have first-hand experience informing their manuscripts about elite unit operations. (Looking at you, Mr. “I’m attached to the Rangers to fight an orc invasion, and they treat me like one of their own even though I’m a leg without a tab.”)
If the author does have said cred, military fiction seldom deals with sensitive topics about the way the U.S. military actually functions, especially at elite levels–Special Missions Units, Task Forces, and units I worked with that I can’t even mention the acronyms of, much less the codewords for, without doing Federal time. This is where I got my mail for most of my career.
The military details that comprise major plot points in STONELANDS are so accurate, the manuscript required several rounds of formal review and declassification by officials at the Pentagon, the US Special Operations Command, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Even though it’s a Sci-Fi/Fantasy crossover, I needed to change, remove, and even redact a startling amount of material to get it cleared. Case in point, here’s the OPORD I drew up for the formation of the Task Force in STONELANDS, which had a couple of sections blacked out just to be funny. When it came back from DOD review, it looked like this:
So, yeah. I still included this in the book, but it’s more of an artifact of curiosity than the helpful background summary I originally intended. Fun fact, the signature on it is by an actual guy who did the DOD clearance review.
Those of you who have read my work before know that even when it comes to the magic elements of fantasy, I don’t use “handwavium” to explain things away. Accuracy is essential to my worldbuilding, so I wasn’t willing to gloss over the military details that make the whole thing work. But it had to be done in a way that ensured the Joint Special Operations Command wouldn’t have to shoot everybody who reads it.
3) I landed a deal for the film rights with an A-list VFX producer before the book was even released.
I can’t say much more about it other than what was printed in Publisher’s Marketplace, but working this deal with my agent took my focus off of editing for a while. Sorry, not sorry.
4) Multiple Big 5 publishers held the manuscript for literally years, gushing about the writing and the story . . .
“an able command of the tropes of the SF military thriller genre, with crisp writing and persuasive, live-in technical detail” — Big Five Publisher #1
“a brilliantly executed cross-genre thriller” — Big Five Publisher #2
The feedback they gave was positively glowing. But they dragged their feet on buying it, while feverishly holding on to the manuscript for further consideration by their marketing monkeys.
The reason for that is . . .
5) STONELANDS is a military action thriller with key themes of identity and intersectionality.
Most military fiction plays to conservative cultural biases, consistent with how “Red America” views its military. The thing is, fewer than 1% of Americans served in the military, so they have no idea how “woke” it really is. By basing STONELANDS on first-hand experiences and relationships, I discovered that by necessity it had to tackle intersectionality issues in modern-day Special Operations Forces, something I’ve never seen another author cover. Themes in STONELANDS include racism, ageism, ableism, the challenges faced by women and LGBTQIA+ personnel in elite units, and a crop of young and forward-thinking leaders at odds with a conservative “old guard” on all of the foregoing. (Not to mention colonialism and exploitation under the guise of resource development.)
The characters are fictional, but these intersectionality subplots are all firsthand. SOCOM’s approach to these issues had begun to shift for the positive as I retired, but WOW, are these problems ever back with a vengeance under this new, um, leadership. Such that it is.
6) STONELANDS is a standalone title, but is concurrent with The New Magic and dovetails with The Outworlders series.
Because of its concurrence, I essentially had to write two books at once. I needed to line up details within Stonelands and the rest of its series before I could finish Book III of The Outworlders, Coin of the Realm.
You can read STONELANDS as an extension of the extant series if you wish. There are some very cool Easter eggs if you’re a fan of my other work. (PS. Coin of the Realm is drafted, but I’ve got to go through it again and make sure that the details of the universe all line up before I release it. Expect it in 2026.
7) STONELANDS is only available in print (no e-books).
The perfectbound paperback is beautiful, and it’s available now. Audiobook and hardcover are forthcoming, likely this fall.
This is a deliberate choice in response to the scourge of piracy and theft of The New Magic e-book that robbed me of royalties, which made publishing any more books financially unfeasible until the afore-mentioned film rights deal came though.
If the cost of printed books is prohibitive for you, ask your library to purchase it. The ISBN is 9780997887594. (If you’re pissed about all of this, go beat the living crap out of someone you know who steals e-books. It’s their fault.)
So there you go, seven years . . . and seven reasons I hope STONELANDS has been worth the wait.
Go forth and enjoy the ride.
I am stoked to get my copy that I ordered.
I’m not just saying that because you’re my niece’s husband. Or because you’re fun to hang out with. Definitely you did not pay me to say shit. Oh hell, now I’m just making this wierd.
Awesome, Joe! You’ve been through a lot and persevered. Many would never understand. I’m excited to read your new work. I’ll grab a paper copy for now and follow up with you to obtain a signed hardcover when available. Stay strong and keep pushing !
v/r,
Allen V. Cheesman
I have to say, I loved your prior series, but I really only purchase ebooks. I came here to ask if/when this was going to be available on Kindle, but it sounds like you’re maybe opting out of that? Certainly your choice, but I think you’re overestimating how much you really lose in piracy vs. no sale because it’s a physical book only.
I’m sorry, Rex, but I refuse to give the pricks the satisfaction. Anyone who wants to read it can ask their library to purchase it. It’ll also be out on audiobook, likely this fall.
Hi Rex,
Your prayers are answered. STONELANDS will be out as an ebook on 12 May, 2026. You can pre-order it now for $4.99. I will be raising the price to parity with the rest of the series ($9.99) once it launches. Enjoy.
– JM
Hi Joseph,
I will be broadcasting on our next podcast to expose you and your stolen valor.
Now things get worse for you.
Ask your boyfriend P—— T——— (removed, but IYKYK) what happens when you get the horns from the Dan Man. I’m going to ruin your life, you stolen valor piece of shit. I know all your socials. I know where you live.
oNa is coming for you, brother.
Hi Dan,
Your claims of Stolen Valor are baseless and defamatory. I guarantee you SFC (Ret.) Malik’s service is very real. Your continuing harassment of him is unwise. Your threats against SFC Malik are a serious mistake, what we in SF refer as a “CEG,” or, “Career-Ending Gesture.”
I oversaw Joe’s team at SOCCENT when he was a by-name-select to an advisory team for then-MG Nagata. Joe would regularly brief MG Nagata, JICSOC, and the teams as a Subject Matter Expert.
It’s painfully clear you didn’t serve, because you and your little online friends seem to be conflating Stolen Valor with the fact that Joe didn’t earn the traditional Special Operations accouterments. What you’re failing to grasp… and this is common among those whose only experience with Special Operations stems from video games… is how truly exceptional a Soldier needs to be in order to become a “brain in a box” for SOCOM, especially as a “Leg.” His qualifications for USSOCOM and JSOC included assignment as Acting S2 (Intelligence Officer) with a USASOC unit while still a junior enlisted Soldier (if you didn’t serve, there’s no possible way you can know how extraordinary this is), and Desert Commando training with the French Foreign Legion in the Horn of Africa, one of the most physically demanding courses in the world.
Under the USSOCOM J2 (Intelligence Directorate), Joe went on to quarterback cross-functional Joint (NSA/DIA/JSOC) 2/3 (Intel/Ops) teams on multiple tours supporting JSOC SMU’s (Special Mission Units), tasked with developing out-of-the-box approaches to neutralize emergent threats in burgeoning areas of concern.
I suggest you look these terms up. I spent 23 years in the Army, 8 as an Infantry Officer with 6 of those in Ranger Batt, and the last 15 as a Special Forces Officer (7th Group, USSOCOM, and rotations in JSOC.) I shudder at the thought of having pissed off SFC Malik. Had you any smarts at all, you’d be fleeing the country and changing your name.
On that… a brief dive into the Dark Web searching your name returns page after page of hits on what appear to be pedophilic, racist, and misogynistic hate boards. Doubtless these boards are filled with the same pathetic losers who are working to discredit SFC (Ret.) Malik.
You seem to be quite a hero among pedophiles. I’m honored to have served with anyone you hate so much.
In the meantime, I’ve reported you… and all the boards I found your name on… to the appropriate authorities.
V/r,
Tom,
COL (Ret.), SF
came here to discredit u as Stolen Valor but bro ur timeline…..
u posted pics with a guy who with a little digging was Spec Forces for like 40+ years, & was in both the Contra War and Syria. Spec Forces trained Death Squads in both places. per ur timeline, would of worked with him in Syria. ur DA Photo shows you were def Spec Ops Intell (I had a buddy explain ur uniform lol) but not Spec Forces. u never claimed to be Spec Forces………..u were always careful to say “Spec Ops.” i don’t see any Stolen Valor here..
more important, that puts u, mr. “just an analyst” as the Big Brain (if u WERE just an analyst & idk) in very spooky company. not a big leap that u legit trained death squad’s in intell. I sure AF don’t want u pissed at me lol. also i think some people better shut there mouths
Daniel William Mullen of Kingston, Mass is whose DOXING AND THREATENING U. email me for his direct contact info. i have receipts of him asking people to harass and defame u. i have “some of” there names to. glad 2 send.
buying all ur books for ur trouble. have a good life
Hi Liam,
That took a lot of guts and an impressive amount of character. Sometimes we learn our friends are wrong; I hold you to no blame. Thanks for the information. My legal team will absolutely be reaching out for the documentation you’ve offered.
Enjoy the books. I’d be happy to sign them for you sometime.
SFC,
Chief Tony, here. Just finished Stonelands. The banter between the operators is the most accurate I’ve ever read. I’ll go one step further and say I’m pretty sure I know a couple of those guys 😉 .
I recognized your notes on the map right away. And the briefing scene, holy shit!? How did you get that past DOPSR? Felt like I was right back in the room with you. Miss you, buddy. Those were good days.
Kept waiting to read Logan saying, “I could be wrong, sir, but I’m not.” WHICH FOR ANYONE READING THIS, MALIK SAID THIS TO GENERAL VOTEL IN A BRIEFING. GEN VOTEL WAS LITERALLY THE COMMANDER OF ALL U.S. FORCES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Malik’s solid brass balls, gleaming in the sun. We still laugh about it.
In all seriousness, you have a job here anytime, Call me if you want to slum it at CENTCOM. La Teresita, think about it …
Love to “Guff.” 😉 Miss that asshole.
Peace out,
– CW4 T.