Introduction: Cries of the Disillusioned is a nihilistic space opera that explores how humanity鈥檚 arrival on the galactic scene reshapes the galaxy, mostly for the worse, over a period of 100+ years. Each book takes place several decades apart from the previous one, featuring a mostly new set of characters. This means each installment may be treated as a standalone, though it's still recommended to read them in linear order.Book 1: Dark HorizonThe peaceful albeit aristocratic alliance of alien races known as the Galactic Union has proven successful in its thousand-year effort of building a prosperous galactic community.But all that changes dramatically for the worse when Union science gives birth to a revolutionary new warp drive, suddenly granting access to the aptly named 'Unstable Regions'.A trio of brave aliens working for the infamous Exploration Division is bullied by the Union鈥檚 highest authorities into testing the experimental drive: Agozi, an adventurous if not snarky female belonging to the cat-like Mevik race of aliens, her Captain and lover, Kaz, and the intelligent but fragile Xeno-psychologist Zelana Song belonging to the batlike Langa species.While their haphazard quest appears to be successful initially, things quickly go wrong when their journey places them into direct contact with an unimaginably dangerous and barbaric new race.That race is Humankind.Book 2: TBARelease schedule: Chapters are usually uploaded every 3-4 weeks.ETA for Book 1: Act 3: Currently ongoing.The series features original artwork.Author's Disclaimer: After receiving feedback from several readers regarding the story's pacing, I feel it necessary to add the following disclaimer. This is a slower paced series than some of you might be accustomed to, focusing on character growth and a gradual narrative build-up. If you鈥檙e looking for a fast-paced action adventure in space, it might not be your cup of tea.Cautionary Note about the Setting: Since reviewers keep making a big deal out of this, I'll just say it upfront: the setting is bleak as hell and full of horrible people. One reviewer called it "Idiocracy without the parody," and he isn't entirely wrong. If that doesn't sound like your thing, that's fine, but know what you're getting into before you start reading. Yes, the characters are usually terrible people. Yes, many of them (especially the humans) are irredeemably stupid. This is not by mistake; it's simply how this dystopian world works. It is what it is. Take it or leave it....