J.T. Barr is an American science-fiction writer based near Detroit, Michigan. By day he works in international trade consulting, but his passion lies in crafting hard, realistic sci-fi tales. Barr’s debut novel Rust and Blood (2022) – a cyberpunk-tinged story set on Mars – earned him praise from readers (holding a 5‑star average on Amazon). In addition to Rust and Blood, Barr has published several short stories, including the college‑journal piece “Liberty” and the recent Piker Press cover story “The Hermit Crab” (2023). On his website and in interviews he emphasizes that his work explores how future technologies and cultures might shape humanity, always striving for scientific accuracy (he explicitly rules out faster-than-light travel).
- Full Name: J.T. (Jordan) Barr – also writes under “Jordan Barr.”
- Location: Detroit, Michigan area (lives “in the vicinity of Detroit”).
- Day Job: International trade consulting professional.
- Genre: Science fiction (hard/SF, realistic future settings).
- Debut Novel: Rust and Blood (2022) – a Mars-set sci-fi thriller (self-published).
- Short Stories: “Liberty” (2012, Michigan Avenue Creative Arts Journal); “The Hermit Crab” (2023, Piker Press cover story).
- Notable Facts: Rust and Blood earned a 5‑star Amazon rating. Early story “Liberty” won Best Fiction in a Michigan college literary journal. Barr is active in writing workshops (joined the Critters SF workshop after many rejections) and plans to join the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association.
- Personal Interests: He jokes he “would’ve been an astronomer if it weren’t for [his] lack of mathematical talent”. He’s also openly nostalgic for 90s culture – often “wearing flannel, listening to grunge, and crying over the loss of the 90s” – which colors his personal style and humor.
Background and Early Writing
Barr’s early writing surfaced in college. In 2012 he published a short story “Liberty” in the Michigan Avenue Creative Arts Journal (a Henry Ford College publication) under the name Jordan Barr. That story – written in about thirty minutes, he recalls – won the journal’s Best Fiction award for 2012. After this initial success, Barr took a long break from writing fiction. In his blog he admits he was “back in the game after a long hiatus from writing” when he returned to publish Rust and Blood.
When he resumed writing, Barr poured his real-world science and business background into imaginative futures. He describes his goal as exploring how science and technology might help or change people and cultures. For example, he avoids faster-than-light travel (a common sci-fi trope) and instead builds stories around plausible advances and social shifts. His stated motivation comes from “curiosity about the universe” and even a “nostalgia for the future” – a longing to imagine what lies ahead.
Major Works and Publications
Barr’s known publications span from 2012 through the present. His key works include:
- Liberty (2012) – A short story published in the Michigan Avenue Creative Arts Journal (Henry Ford College’s literary magazine). This piece earned him the journal’s 2012 Best Fiction award.
- Rust and Blood (2022) – His first novel, self-published on Amazon. This Mars-based science-fiction thriller quickly drew attention; readers gave it a 5-star average rating on Amazon. (The book involves a revolution on Mars against a tyrannical corporate regime, blending cyberpunk and hard-SF elements.)
- “The Hermit Crab” (2023) – A cover-story short fiction in The Piker Press (a speculative fiction magazine). This story further showcased Barr’s gritty space-opera style in a reputable genre publication.
These works reflect Barr’s hands-on approach: after publishing Rust and Blood, he “pivoted to short stories for now” in an effort to break into more markets. He reports writing dozens of stories and even joining online critique workshops (like Critters) to improve them.
Writing Style and Themes
Barr’s writing is firmly in the hard science fiction tradition. He focuses on realistic science and space travel, often set in near-to-far futures where humanity’s choices matter. He summarizes his interest as exploring how “future societies and cultures might be shaped by space travel, colonization, technology, and alien life”. Crucially, he aims to be “as scientifically accurate as possible (i.e. no FTL, ever)”. In practice, this means his stories treat things like engine physics, economics, and cultural change with seriousness rather than convenient hand-waving.
Barr’s own voice in his blog reflects this gritty realism. He even jokes that he was destined to be an astronomer if not for his poor math skills – indicating a lifelong love of space. His protagonists tend to be tech-savvy and practical: for example, the hero of Rust and Blood is a Mars shuttle pilot (nicknamed “the Hermit Crab”) whose adventures evoke the lonely, frontier spirit of hard-SF explorers. Barr also injects personal flair: he admits a fondness for 90s grunge and flannel, so his characters sometimes wear loose-fitting plaid shirts aboard futuristic spacecraft!
Overall, readers can expect Barr’s fiction to blend speculative science with human-scale drama. He often asks “What might our world look like in a few hundred or thousand years?” – imagining detailed futures without breaking known physics. This combination of imaginative scope and realistic detail is a hallmark of his style.
Community and Future Plans
Though Barr’s bibliography is still small, he’s active in the writing community. He joined the Critters SF/F/H Workshop (an online critique group) to refine his short fiction after initial rejections. He’s also indicated plans to join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) once he achieves more sales with his stories. This commitment shows he’s taking a professional approach to his craft.
Barr’s debut novel has already won him some recognition: Rust and Blood was a popular self-published book (it even ranks in Amazon’s cyberpunk and space-invasion categories). While traditional reviews are scarce, the 5-star reader ratings and his Piker Press cover story signal a positive reception. As of early 2026, his latest published story is “The Hermit Crab” (2023), and fans can watch for his next projects – he mentions he “can’t wait to write the next book.”
Conclusion
J.T. Barr is an up‑and‑coming voice in science fiction – a writer whose Detroit roots and day-job in international trade belie a mind roaming the stars. He combines careful hard-SF worldbuilding (no warp drives!) with adventurous plots about human resilience. For readers seeking fresh, realistic space opera with a touch of 90s nostalgia, Barr’s work delivers. If you’re intrigued, check out his novel Rust and Blood (available on Amazon) and his short fiction in The Piker Press. Follow his blog or social media to catch news of his next story – the future he’s imagining is one worth reading.
