Welcome to the Babushka Universe – Complete Book & Chapter List
Your guide to all the stories, chapters, and novellas in the Babushka saga—start reading now!
Welcome to the Babushka Universe Book List! Below, you’ll find every chapter, novella, and short story in the Babushka saga, organized to guide your reading journey. Immerse yourself in the gritty, post-apocalyptic world of survival, fierce grandmothers, and AI overlords. While a few previews are available to whet your appetite, this list serves as a comprehensive table of contents for the full Babushka experience, including my preferred reading order, highlighting which short stories and novellas to enjoy between the tetralogy.
Recommended Journey Through the Babushka Universe
You’re free to read the novella Ghosts of Praxis before or after Echoes of Immortality, the first novel in the planned tetralogy. Since I wrote Ghosts afterward, it expands on some of the unexplained world-building in Echoes. Reading Ghosts first may ground the events in Echoes more firmly in hard science fact, whereas reading Ghosts afterward might surprise you with “aha” moments in case you were wondering whether this series has any magical realism—which it does not!
After Ghosts, I suggest The Price of Water, which explores Lev Rozhkov’s early journey, set 50 years before Echoes and enriching his character for the second book, Shadows of Betrayal. At any point before the third book, Whispers of Destiny, but definitely after Echoes, I recommend reading The Last Man, which explores Pavel Kirov’s past and the consequences of his reconstructed genetic legacy. Next, read the short story Baba Medved and the Syndicate of Steel before continuing with Whispers.
Ghosts of Praxis (Novella) ⏳ — Finished and edited; currently doing final touch-ups before publication.
Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) ⏳ — Manuscript complete, first draft; needs to be edited.
Other Novellas and Short Stories (Upcoming) ⏳ — Still germinating, but possibly set during the War of Formation. May feature Alexei Zakharov and Nina Grigoreva twenty years before the main events, the founding of the Black Wolves, and a younger Tatyana Romanova and Colonel Orlov in the war against the Strangers.
Whispers of Destiny (Book 3 - Upcoming) ⏳ — Currently rough drafting; the first 12 chapters are complete (about half of Act One), along with some later chapters that don’t impinge on the main plot.
Cover art by Hakku.
Book 1:
Echoes of Immortality
Sixty years have passed since the war that ravaged the world, leaving the city of Gred a sanctuary trapped in time. The ruling elders, preserved by an anti-aging serum, cling to power while the rare young bear the weight of a future uncertain. When scandal ties the revered University to a black market for the drug that halted death, Gred spirals into turmoil. As the Syndicate struggles to contain the fallout, Doctor Anastasia Zakharovna turns inward, revisiting her past in an effort to refine her memories. In doing so, she reaches a moral crossroads—her loyalty to the city she loves or the dangerous allure of her research. The path she chooses will shape not only the fate of Gred’s citizens but the very concept of mortality itself.
Babushka: Echoes of Immortality (Book 1) - Prologue - Marzanna
A marine biologist, relying on a volatile compound to stay ahead of time, races through a war-torn metro, battling for survival in a crumbling dystopia while risking her own destruction.
Babushka: Echoes of Immortality (Book 1) - Chapter 1 - Dunya
A young woman ventures into a mysterious realm, encountering an enigmatic guide and a choice that could change everything.
Babushka: Echoes of Immortality (Book 1) - Chapter 2 - Maria
After a clash with the Black Wolves, Maria encounters a powerful matron who reveals unsettling secrets beneath the city.
Babushka: Echoes of Immortality (Book 1) - Chapter 3 - Vesna
Vesna awakens to a tense encounter with Dunya, unraveling secrets, fears, and a dangerous mission.
Babushka: Echoes of Immortality (Book 1) - Chapter 4 - Zakharovna
Doctor Anastasia Zakharovna confronts betrayal and secrets in her quest for immortality, where science and power collide in the shadow of Gred's decaying legacy.
Babushka: Echoes of Immortality (Book 1) - Chapter 5 - Yana
Yana meets Dunya at The Flock, where unsettling revelations about Vesna's disappearance spark concerns about a looming threat. Together, they prepare for the challenges ahead.
For your consideration: Babushka: Echoes of Immortality spans 170,000 words, told through 46 chapters and an epilogue. It’s a story that explores the boundaries of humanity, ambition, and resilience, offering a deep dive into the world of Gred and the choices that shape its future.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the story and these previews so far! Click here to purchase the full book, Babushka: Echoes of Immortality, on Amazon.
Novella:
Ghosts of Praxis
Ika, a long-retired veterinarian, enjoys an idyllic life on her Croatian hill, tending sheep and finding solace away from a world once torn by conflict and technological upheaval. Her tranquil existence is shattered when she is drawn to Praxis, a futuristic enclave hiding profound secrets beneath its surface. Guided by the enigmatic Dr. Lev Rozhkov, Ika learns that her untethered mind holds the key to a choice with far-reaching consequences: a future of harmony or descent into chaos. Faced with an existential decision, she grapples with her deepest fears and long-held beliefs, realizing that the path forward demands she embrace the hero’s mantle—one she had always dreaded, but can no longer avoid.
Ghosts of Praxis (A Babushka Novella) - Chapter 1 - First Cut
Ika tends her flock on the rugged hills of Krk, reflecting on her past as winter’s chill sets in and strange signs appear across the bay from the distant city of Praxis.
Ghosts of Praxis (A Babushka Novella) - Chapter 2 - Hidden Fleece
Surrounded by the wreckage of her flock, Ika surveys the damage in silence. As night falls and strange sounds echo through the dark, a faint signal crackles to life.
For your consideration: Ghosts of Praxis (A Babushka Novella) is a 53,000-word prequel spanning 10 chapters and an epilogue. While the novella lays the foundation for the Babushka universe, its epilogue stands as a self-contained short story, offering a glimpse into the choices and consequences that resonate throughout the series. Perfect for both newcomers and long-time fans.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the story and these previews so far! Stay tuned for when Babushka: Ghosts of Praxis becomes available on Amazon.
Book 2:
Shadows of Betrayal
While Director Yelena Petrova grapples with a crumbling order, Dunya Bocharov and Baba Mina Saydova uncover a discovery that hints at forgotten mechanisms of immense power. Klara Chaban, caught between duty and redemption, must navigate a treacherous path where survival and morality are constantly at odds, and trust is impossible to secure. Yet, the balance of power may not rest in Gred alone. On the ocean’s horizon, Admiral Veronika Lagunov, aboard The Sovereign Tide, faces a critical choice: crash onto the shores of the city she once swore to protect, or stand by as its people descend into chaos and annihilation. As Gred erupts into full-scale conflict, past betrayals and looming disasters threaten to engulf humanity’s last hope for unity.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Prologue - Legacy
In a dim room steeped in legacy, an ancient ritual unfolds, thick with mystery and unspoken bonds.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Prologue - Genesis
A newly conscious being discovers its identity and forms a fragile connection, as unanswered questions drive the search for meaning and belonging.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Chapter 1 - Ana
Ana navigates a disorienting reality, caught between past and present, as shifting landscapes and cryptic encounters challenge her identity and purpose.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Chapter 2 - Yelena
Yelena consolidates her rule over Gred, navigating alliances and rivalries while uncovering secrets tied to power, transformation, and survival in a city teetering on the edge of renewal and conflict.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Chapter 3 - Lev
Lev returns to his old lab, haunted by past work and Zakharovna's manipulation. As a dangerous protocol resurfaces, he grapples with moral dilemmas and the unpredictable risks of his creations.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Chapter 4 - Vesna
Vesna awakens in a surreal liminal space, grappling with memories, betrayal, and power. An enigmatic figure challenges her to redefine her path, forcing her to confront her fractured identity.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Chapter 5 - Roman
Roman navigates the crumbling streets of the Derge, uncovering truths about betrayal and loss. As alliances form and scars resurface, he finds himself drawn into a fight for justice.
Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal (Book 2) - Chapter 6 - Lagunov
Admiral Veronika Lagunov leads a fractured council aboard The Sovereign Tide, navigating past betrayals and forging alliances to spark a rebellion that could determine Gred’s future.
For your consideration: Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal unfolds over 310,000 words, spanning 80 chapters and an epilogue. This installment dives deeper into the intricate world of Gred, unraveling webs of loyalty, deceit, and survival against a backdrop of shifting alliances and looming existential threats.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the story and these previews so far! Stay tuned for when Babushka: Shadows of Betrayal becomes available on Amazon.
Book 3:
Whispers of Destiny
Synopsis yet to be written—wouldn’t want to spoil Book 2.
Short Stories:
Baba Medved and the Syndicate of Steel (A Babushka Short Story)
From her secluded forest home, Baba Medved senses a grave threat to the sacred birch woods she protects. Mechanical invaders from a ruthless city begin ravaging the land, seeking its resources. Alongside her loyal companions Sergei, a clever sable, and Misha, a mighty bear, Baba Medved leads the defense, rallying the spirits and creatures of the forest. As the battle between destructive progress and nature’s resilience intensifies, her fight becomes a deeper struggle for the soul of the earth itself.
The Price of Water (A Babushka Short Story)
After surviving the unforgiving Kyzylkum Desert, Lev reaches Samarkand, a city under the iron rule of warlord Sayid Bekov. There, he meets Mina, an optimistic historian and resilient survivor. Forced to unlock a dormant AI node that could alter the course of humanity, Lev is haunted by memories of his lost family and the looming threat of Babushka, an artificial intelligence whose awakening could spell doom for all.
The Last Man (A Babushka Short Story)
After emerging from the wreckage of a vanished world, Pavel Kirov navigates the shifting truths of Gred, a city ruled by those who fear the past as much as the future. Bound to Doctor Zakharovna, a woman obsessed with reshaping humanity, he sifts through the remnants of his own existence—memories fractured, rewritten, or erased.