About Jo Bronzetrek

Who I Am

Jo Bronzetrek is a pen name—a signal sent into the void, a transformation of identity for the purpose of exploration. Behind it stands someone shaped by multiple worlds: born in South Africa, now writing from the Canadian prairies. An immigrant who has lived on farms, in small towns, and in cities. A contemplative introvert with a day job in finance and a mind that wanders among the stars.

I write science fiction because it ignites my imagination like nothing else. It's the genre where grand adventures collide with profound questions, where ancient mysteries meet future possibilities, and where stories can explore the repeating patterns of history on a galactic scale.

What I Write

Galaxy-spanning stories of power, liberty, and ancient echoes.

The Cosmicforge universe is built on a simple premise: civilizations rise and fall across the stars just as they do on Earth, and the patterns repeat. Authority corrupts. Power concentrates. Freedom must be defended, or lost.

My stories follow sentient species connecting across vast distances, encountering the remnants of civilizations long dead, and grappling with questions that humanity has asked since the beginning: Who made us? What came before? How do we stay free?

I blend hard science fiction with grounded speculation—proposing alternative theories to mainstream narratives that remain plausible and supported by evidence. I connect futuristic technology with documented ancient history, asking: What if our past was stranger than we've been told?

The tone is gritty and practical, punctuated by moments of wonder and hope. These are adventure stories and war stories, but they carry weight. They ask readers to think about power, corruption, and the price of liberty—not just in distant galaxies, but here, now, in our own world.

Where I Come From

Growing up in Africa taught me hard lessons about government overreach, corruption, and the danger of ideologies that promise utopia while delivering tyranny. I've seen firsthand how power corrupts, how narratives are controlled, and how history can be weaponized.

These experiences shaped my worldview and fuel my stories. I'm fascinated by geopolitics, ancient and modern history, and the uncomfortable truth that authorities—no matter how noble their intentions—eventually abuse their power. Human liberty is precious and fragile. Every generation and every world must defend it.

I believe there is a Creator behind the universe. That belief informs my work, not through preaching, but through wonder—the sense that reality is stranger, deeper, and more meaningful than materialism allows. There's an objective ethical framework woven into existence, and my stories explore what happens when civilizations honour it or abandon it.

My Influences

I stand on the shoulders of giants:

• ▸Frank Herbert for world-building and political intrigue
• ▸J.R.R. Tolkien for myth, beauty, and the battle between good and evil
• ▸George Orwell for unflinching warnings about totalitarianism
• ▸Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov for cosmic scope and scientific wonder
• ▸Dan Simmons for blending hard SF with deep humanity
• ▸Tom Clancy for geopolitical realism and technical detail
• ▸Wilbur Smith for adventure, landscape, and historical sweep

I also draw inspiration from modern storytelling: the George Lucas era of Star Wars, the Mass Effect trilogy, and the timeless wisdom found in stories that understand the eternal struggle between tyranny and freedom.

My Approach

Accessible depth. Gritty optimism. Stories that matter.

I write for readers who want more than escapism—though there's plenty of that too. My ideal audience is open-minded, willing to question mainstream narratives, and hungry for stories that challenge as much as they entertain.

You don't need a physics degree to enjoy my work, but you'll find enough technical grounding to satisfy hard SF fans. You don't need to share my worldview, but you'll find themes worth wrestling with.

I write with precision and purpose. Every word serves the story. The prose is direct but layered—blunt when it needs to be, poetic when it earns it.

Why I Write

Because stories shape how we see the world. Because science fiction, at its best, is the literature of possibility—asking not what is but what could be, and in that space, revealing profound truths.

In order to reach our potential as sentient creatures, we must immerse our imaginations and free our creativity.

I write to explore the dangers of repeating history. To champion liberty against the creeping tide of authoritarianism. To entertain and inspire readers to reach their potential. To ask uncomfortable questions about our past, our future, and the forces that shape both.

And ultimately, I write because I must. The stories demand to be told, and the cosmos is vast enough to contain them all.