The Call of Abaddon (The Abaddon Cycle Book 1) by Colin Searle - Amazing Story and World-Building!

The Call of Abaddon (The Abaddon Cycle Book 1) by Colin Searle

This is a multifaceted post-apocalyptic tale revolving around the principal characters, while at the same time, it brings in multiple story threads that all come together to complete this part of the story. One might think this makes it a complicated story, but in the case of The Call of Abaddon, it is so well written that it is an excellent, cohesive story I found to be entertaining. It has several characters for a reader to care about, and some that are terrifying.

One of the best parts of this story is world-building! A reader will be given a tour of a ruined Earth following a war that has made the planet's surface uninhabitable. People are forced to live in sealed cities. Call of Abaddon focuses on New Toronto, a self-sufficient and often dangerous place that serves as the capital of the United Earth Federation. Life isn't easy, but it is livable if one is willing to work and play their part.

The principal characters include three young adults who face challenges in reaching a goal. But this is not a young-adult story. There are several elements that might make sensitive readers uncomfortable.

Here is the book's description from the cover to avoid spoilers...

To save the human race from the ultimate cosmic threat, Jason will have to become something far beyond human.

New Toronto is a fractured city-arcology on a dying Earth, where hope is as scarce as clean air. For Jason, survival means scavenging the ruins beneath the city — where any day could be his last.

But everything changes when an ancient alien obelisk — the ABADDON BEACON — attacks Jason’s mind from afar, making his dormant psychic abilities spiral out of control. After barely surviving Abaddon’s psionic possession attempt, Jason and his companions are left with no choice but to find the obelisk before it consumes him.

Problem is, Abaddon has been sealed within a top-secret United Earth Federation research lab for over a century, silently worming its alien technologies into human society, presented as gifts with a far darker purpose. The Beacon doesn’t just speak; it infects, projecting its viral energies far beyond the walls of the lab.

And Jason isn’t the only one hearing Abaddon’s call. Across the Solar System, a ruthless Emperor will stop at nothing to seize the Beacon’s power for himself.

As the Imperial invasion of Earth looms, Jason’s quest to confront Abaddon will force him into a critical choice: master the strange power growing inside him ... or succumb to the Beacon's godlike influence, ushering in mankind's doom.

The Call of Abaddon is a gripping mythological tale of humanity's struggle to overcome an unimaginable darkness, blending the political intrigue of Dune with the eldritch terror of Lovecraft, and the explosive world-building of The Expanse.

There are several characters to follow in Call of Abaddon. Among my favorites are Jason, David, and Sam. These three are a team that works well together. Jason is smart, but troubled. He is plagued by voices transmitted to him from an alien device. He is in constant danger of losing himself to the Abaddon Beacon. It is an alien device that works to bring those with psionic powers under its control. Jason is forced to rely on a drug to keep himself under control.

Jason's brother, David, is the pragmatic one of the trio. He sees the practical side of things and works to keep himself, his brother, and Sam grounded. He often points out the folly of his friends decisions and finds solutions to problems that work.

Sam is the technical wizard and warrior of the group. She has abilities beyond many others and saves the day quite often. Sam is also susceptible to psionic episodes, although she seems to be able to control them better than Jason.

Talos is a combat robot Sam has reprogrammed to help the trio. But there is one aspect Talos adds; he has a great ability to point out absurdities as the team works to perform their tasks. Talos' deadpan delivery adds a lot of comic relief to lighten the otherwise grim realities of the story. Talos often made me think of Marvin the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker's Guide. I often found myself laughing while reading his lines and wanted more!

Anne and Zeke Oakfield are two heroic characters. They have made it their mission to bring down Mariko, the despotic, megalomaniacal, self-appointed Emperor, who intends to bring Earth under his heel and take control of the Abaddon Beacon.

My favorite plot points, along with Talos' dry wit, are the relationships and conversations between the principal characters. Jason, David, and Sam care deeply for one another and would easily sacrifice themselves for the other two. They work well together and are more like family, depending on each other for nearly everything, but especially emotional support. They have a tendency to pick at each other, but they all understand it is just talk to break the tension. Their dialog was a high point of the story for me.

Another favorite part was when Zeke Oakfield leads a large group of people in a rallying song. The tune is based on a familiar old American song, but the author's lyrics are incredible! If one reads this story, when one gets to this part of the book, and you can figure out the tune, I dare you not to sing along.

The theme that stood out the most to me was Jason's battle to keep his identity. While he has a strong personality, the Abaddon Beacon is a powerful alien device urging Jason on to do its bidding. The only way Jason can resist completely losing himself is to take a drug to silence the voices he hears.

Another prominent theme involves the megalomaniac, Emperor Maiko. He is obsessed with thinking he can control the Abaddon Beacon and the people of Earth with ruthless tyranny.

The Call of Abaddon is a story with many various threads that weave into a complete tapestry. While there are numerous characters to keep track of, and a lot of detail, the story is so well written, the story never eludes the reader. The characters are memorable, and they are involved in plenty of action that helps this story move at a great pace. Descriptions of the action and backdrops are detailed and colorful, and the themes are well explored. One will experience a good spectrum of emotions from laughter to tears, and there are plenty of thrills, twists, and turns to keep one reading to the end.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website (https://colinsearle.com/)

Hi! I'm Colin Searle, an illustrator, visual designer and storyboard artist who was drawing and telling stories before I could walk. A steady diet of books, comics and pop culture classics started a chain reaction in my head. Whole universes were born.

Seven years ago, I started as an artist in the animation and gaming industries with a plan to eventually tell those stories. That time has come. I've learned from many mentors and fantastic clients to pick up the visual and storytelling skills necessary to write my own words into existence. While I will always continue working as an artist, bring novels like The Call of Abaddon to life is the real dream.

I'm currently based in Toronto, where I work remotely out of my home studio and participate in the vibrant creative culture of the city, attending industry events (XP Game Summit), speaking at colleges (Sheridan), and spending time with my girlfriend. I'm also an avid traveler, visiting almost every Canadian province for recent fan convention appearances.

Slaves to the Stars by Nuell Martin - Marvelous Sci-Fi Thriller!

Slaves to the Stars by Nuell Martin

One thing I have found in reading books by independent authors is that there are a lot of people out there writing some amazing stories. Every now and again, there are a few of those books that rise above others, defying my ability to come up with adequate superlatives to describe a high level of excellence in creativity - Slaves to the Stars is one of those.

Nuell Martin is a multi-talented individual who is especially amazing at telling a good tale. There isn't one single thing I didn't love about this story. There are several great characters who a reader can become invested in. The story is paced so well it just flows off the page. The settings are colorful and easy to visualize. The science is easy to understand. And finally, the story will challenge one to question conventional scientific and religious thought.

If you only read one sci-fi book this year, Slaves to the Stars would be an excellent choice.

At an Asian Orthodox church in Montenegro, a humble priest discovers ancient writings describing a celestial event that he witnesses in his telescope. Father Igor Grgic must get what he has learned to his superior.

The world enters a global energy crisis that threatens to collapse the planet's entire economy.

Scientists around the world puzzle over a message from an object that has appeared above the planet Jupiter.

The people of Earth face a challenge. The question is, can humanity rise to the occasion?

The characters in Slaves to the Stars are mostly ordinary people, many of them posses a high level of intelligence and extraordinary analytical minds. They learn as they work to solve the problems placed in front of them. Most of the principal characters are well developed and become people the reader can invest in.

My favorite plot point is the chapter where we learn about the nature of the object that has taken up position over Jupiter. In that chapter, we learn about the origins of the object and its purpose. It is an entity that is alive and sentient, but it is not organic. This section is pure science fiction that reads as scientific fact. The author goes into painstaking detail that reveals his skill as a writer and his vivid imagination. It is not only science; it is art! The detail is gripping, and the world-building is colorful and fascinating.

The theme that stood out to me the most in this tale was the line between truth and belief. As the characters discover the nature of the object, they learn that often belief becomes truth in the minds of humans. But this is not always the case. Belief is a tricky thing that can shade truth, and there are those who, despite solid evidence, continue to deny the truth in favor of belief. This can be a very controversial area of an individual's philosophy. I admire the courage of Nuell Martin's willingness to take this challenge on and putting it in writing.

In my life, I have learned that the distance between what I know and what I think I know are often separated by vast distances. Slaves to the Stars had me thinking about this all the way through.

My takeaway from this book is to remember to question everything. A line from Hamlet seems appropriate here: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

In case you haven't guessed by now, I am impressed by Slaves to the Stars and number it among the best books I have ever read. It is a work of science fiction, but I think anyone who enjoys a great story would enjoy it. The only thing I would caution the reader about is that there are some violent scenes therein. 

It is a well-written and professionally edited book that moves at a good pace. The characters are compelling. The world building is top-notch. From the moment I opened it, I was spellbound until the end. There are twists and turns all the way through, and the ending is one of the best plot twists I have ever encountered!

Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nuell Martin, a creative and restless mind with a penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, has emerged as a distinctive voice in the realm of science fiction literature. His journey into the arts began with a 25-year dedication to music, specifically ambient music, which set the stage for his later pursuits. It was in the past five years, in the coastal city of La Coruna, Spain, that Nuell's passion for writing took flight, culminating in his debut novel, Operation Bifrost. A graduate in biology, Nuell's academic background infuses his writing with a unique blend of scientific authenticity and imaginative flair. His work is characterized by a relentless quest to shed light on the mysteries of the world, offering new and logical perspectives on age-old human questions. This approach has resonated deeply with adult readers of hard science fiction, earning Operation Bifrost critical acclaim and a slew of positive reviews, particularly noted on Amazon.

Nuell's creative process is fueled by his need for continuous innovation and his interactions with diverse cultures and ideas from around the globe. As a musician and a photographer, he harnesses these artistic avenues to enrich his narratives, weaving intricate stories that captivate his audience. His readers find themselves immersed in worlds where science and imagination intertwine, creating a tapestry of thought-provoking and engaging narratives. Currently, Nuell is channeling his energies into thinking up new ideas for his upcoming works, promising to keep delivering to his fans the kind of intellectually stimulating and imaginative storytelling they have come to expect. As he continues to explore the boundaries of science fiction, Nuell Martin stands as a rising star in the genre, an apprentice of everything, and a master of his craft.

As mentioned, Nuell is also a creator of music. The soundtrack he composed for the book is at https://nuellmartin.bandcamp.com/album/slaves-to-the-stars and can be found on Apple Music as well.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

The Aftermath: Terra (The Aftermath Series Book 3) By Bradley James - Entertaining High Adventure Sci-fi

The Aftermath: Terra (The Aftermath Series Book 3) By Bradley James

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The third installment of the Aftermath series is every bit as good as the previously two published works by Bradley James. Those previous works are The Aftermath: Lunar, and The Aftermath: Titan - click on the title to see my reviews of those books. The big difference with this third story is how the author has ramped up the intensity of the story.

This segment of the ongoing story picks up where the previous one leaves off. It hits the ground running and does not let up until the end, and is wide open, begging for a fourth book.

I eagerly await the next one!

While on the surface of the moon, astronaut Elliot Adams witnessed an asteroid strike on Earth, and that single event would have been enough to send him on a quest to survive in the harsh Lunar environment. But no, that wasn't enough. He discovered there was a permanent underground base on Earth's only natural satellite he knew nothing about. Then he discovered there were people living in that idyllic settlement. It was idyllic until he further discovered it was built and operated by a people calling themselves the Telvanni, who seem to want to take over Elliot's home world.

The Telvanni, and their leader, the General, have plucked yet another asteroid from its natural orbit and sent it hurdling toward Earth. Elliot and his Lunari friend, Mayto, hijack a Telvanni ship and head to Earth to stop that catastrophe, while Ava and her daughter remain on the Moon to once again face the General.

It's going to take some clever thinking, hard fighting, and the willingness to sacrifice to bring an end to the General and his gang of henchmen's attempt to rule what's left of the human race.

Aside from writing some amazing adventure tales, Bradley's strength as an author is bringing great characters to life.

Elliot and his friends are people a reader will come to care about. They all have their own special skill sets and work together to achieve seemingly impossible goals. Along with their problem-solving skills, they also have a sense of humor that made me laugh out loud while reading. 

Less appealing is the General. He has no redeeming qualities and has no reservations about torturing and killing people on a whim.

The characters in Aftermath: Terra are worth the price of the book.

My favorite point of plot in Aftermath: Terra is the description of what Elliot finds in the aftermath of the first asteroid strike. There are pockets of survivors who are just trying to live as best they can, and others that prey on them, almost seeming to help their antagonists. Adding to the intensity of the story is how the stakes have risen. Not only is Elliot trying to save a group of people trapped on the Moon, now he has taken on the responsibility for everyone left on Earth, too. It is no small task, and Elliot faces some huge obstacles to overcome.

There are two major themes that stood out to me in this segment of the story. The classic tale of good versus evil is prominent. With no other apparent purpose than conquering Earth, the Telvanni kill massive numbers of people. The General is cruel and seems to enjoy playing with his prey before going in for the kill. The second theme is it seems good cannot exist without evil. Even when evil is apparently stopped, it comes back with a vengeance and is even worse the next time around.

My takeaway is, when fighting evil, its defeat is not final - one must remain vigilant, always.

The Aftermath: Terra is an excellent sci-fi adventure story. It is full of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. Take nothing for granted if you enter Bradley's imaginary universe. 

I am recommending those interested in reading this series to start at the beginning and read all three books in order. Each subsequent book opens at the minute the previous one ends. The three novels are well worth the time to read. I've found the entire series highly entertaining and a fun rollercoaster ride into a saga with heroes to love and villains a reader will love to hate.

Highest recommendations for this book, as well as the entire series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath: Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

You can connect with Bradley on his website, https://bradleyjamesauthor.com/.

Well, there it is...

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Deus Ex Effing Machina By Rick Jurmain - The Wild Ride Continues In This Second Book Of The Gravtech Series!

Deus Ex Effing Machina: The Gravtech Series - Book 2

After reading the first book in the Gravtech series, Apocalypse Du Jour, there was no way I would miss the sequel, Deus Ex Effing Machina! I was mesmerized by the first book, and again, I became absorbed in this volume. It is an edge of your seat ride through the aftermath of the events in the first story. Deus Ex is another fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek look at life after the accidental discovery of antigravity technology that brought about the eventual collapse of the global economy to make life better for everyone.

Deus Ex is a humorous work of speculative fiction that will also give the reader much to think about. There are some serious considerations that will crop up in this tale, but are presented in such a way that makes considering some of the grimmest situations fun to contemplate.

The characters in this story are all believable, so even the absurd will seem plausible.

Following the invention of antigravity, the four scientists who accidentally created the technology have all become billionaires and continue to work for the new company that is still developing and learning the consequences of their invention. In the meantime, there are those who would exploit this new tech for their own advancement and nefarious reasons. The global economy has become one where there is plenty for everyone, and that is difficult for some to accept, while others take to it without problems. A group of oligarchs see opportunities to use the tech to further their agenda. But the company is trying to investigate the problem of a hacker who has an agenda that is difficult to understand. Further, this hacker has a skewed sense of humor that is baffling everyone. No one can seem to get what this person wants, if it is even a person. Then, there are several nuclear devices traveling to major cities in the U.S. set to create mayhem and destruction on a massive scale, and they seem impossible to stop. And it is not clear who is behind that little plot, and there are numerous possibilities for the responsible party.

So, numerous problems and no easy solutions makes for a ride faster than a speeding bullet, and just as dangerous!

The characters in Deus Ex are all extraordinary individuals but are written in such a way they could be very real people. In this story, all the people introduced in Apocalypse are back, but some are expanded.

My favorite in this one is Ted "Boingy" Binghamton. He is the CEO of GravWorks. A former game programmer, he possesses a monster-sized sense of humor. Boingy will find the humor in all situations, no matter how grim. He’s the kind of boss I would want to work for. He seems very laid back, but he demands top performance from his people, but he does it without being overly demanding. He likes donuts and dunking them in his coffee (my kind of guy). 

Another favorite character was an octopus living in a Boston aquarium. I'll just leave that right there.

My favorite point of plot in Deus Ex is the mixture of various subjects to make the story thought provoking and informative. There is a mixture of science (both real and made-up) along with history, philosophy, politics, human relations, war and peace, and economics. While all the elements are fictitious, they all are relatable to situations we can read about every day in the news. While the reader will want to get on to the next element of the story, it wasn't uncommon for me to stop reading and contemplate what I had just read.

Another favorite part of Deus Ex was a chapter that had a subheading offering the reader to skip a chapter. I urge you not to do this! It's one of the best parts of the book!

My takeaway from Deus Ex is to remember something I will quote. I see it as more of a warning for vigilance than anything...

"Humans evolved from chimps into chumps. And everyone with something to sell knows it." (Page 273)

Deus Ex Effing Machina is 762 pages of sheer fun and an opportunity to think and learn. I am eager to see where the author takes the story from here. Rick has a great sense of humor and knows how to use it. The writing in this book reminds me a little of Douglas Adams because it combines dire situations with a natural sort of hilarity that one might find in reality. A friend once told me when the chips were down, "never lose your sense of humor."

The length of the novel might seem intimidating, but the book reads quickly and is absolutely worth the time.

I gave my highest recommendations for Deus Ex Effing Machina along with the previous book in the series, Apocalypse Du Jour. The author warns the reader that before reading Deus Ex, it would be wise to read Apocalypse, and I completely agree!

Oh, and while I'm at it, I'll warn you to beware of the interrupting bovine creature (you're going to have to read the book to get that).

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rick Jurmain is a retired rocket scientist and entrepreneur. In the ‘90s, he and his late wife Mary (killed by cancer in 2016) built a successful corporation from the ground up. For Realityworks, Inc., the invented, built, and marketed a microprocessor-based product that gained national support, achieved international media attention, and was named by Fortune magazine as Product of the Year in 1994. In 2000, the Eau Claire (Wisconsin) Chamber of Commerce selected Rick and Mary as the local Entrepreneurs of the Year, and Ernst & Young selected them as Finalists for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mary ran the company, while Rick was Vice President In Charge Of Things That Go Beep (engineering, computers, phones, faxes, cars, dishwashers, and oddly enough, toilets, though they rarely go beep).

In the ‘80’s, Rick let, or was a member of, 13 NASA Space Shuttle mission control Flight Activities teams. Unlike cruise ships, Shuttle flight activities did not include shuffleboard or bingo. The Flight Activities teams planned missions starting years prior to launch, and re-planned missions during flights when things went wrong. And things always went wrong. Rick also led the Operations Analysis teams for General Dynamics’ Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) and McDonnell Douglas’ National AeroSpace Plane (NASP). He spent 15 years in the aerospace industry doing tactical analysis and war games, including top level WWIII combined arms games, and he helped invent hypersonic war games.

In 2002, Rick was a consultant to Coleman Aerospace on DARPA’s RASCAL study, which designed modifications for a rocket-powered F-14 fighter. For that contract, Rick headed up designing the Operations, Support, Avionics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Cockpit, Payload Interfaces, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management Systems. All the fun stuff.

In the late ‘90’s, Rick was founder of Vela Technology Development, Inc. Vela and its partners started much of what is becoming the space tourism industry. Vela’s briefings to Burt Rutan and Richard Branson started them on the path to space tourism. Vela worked with the FAA to write regulations for space tourism. And Vela helped design a space-tourism themed resort for Las Vegas. While Vela has since folded, Rick owns its process patent on key low-acceleration trajectories for space tourism. And if Rutan doesn’t get his butt in gear, the patent will be worthless because it expires soon.

Rick was a Captain in the Army Combat Engineers, National Guard and Reserves (no significant active duty).

Rick is 65 years old, currently retired, though working intermittently as a board member, inventor, and writer. He has two kids: Jake, age 30, and Ariel, Age 26. And he’s obnoxiously proud of both of them.

Rick is widely acknowledged to have been Mary’s trophy husband. Though no one has ever thought of him as just another pretty face. At least, no one who’s seen his face. And, come to think of it, no one has ever considered that he was a first-place trophy either. Rick was just in the right place at the right time to trip up a gorgeous, massively intelligent woman with an aging biological clock and desperately low standards. Someday, someone will make a fortune building a dating site for such women.

Well, there it is...

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Western Lights By C.P. Schaefer - A Fast-Paced,Entertaining, And Thoughtful Story

Western Lights by C.P. Schaefer

This is the second book from C.P. Schaefer, an author I have gained a great deal of respect for. The first book was The Kuyper Rogue, an excellent story of survival far from Earth. Western Lights, however, is set right here on the good Earth. It is a story that takes hold of the reader right from the opening and doesn't let go until it is over. But even then, there is a lot left to think about when the story ends. The 434 pages of this story blazed by, and it was a fun ride.

The world in Western Lights is being ravaged by runaway climate change. It is too late to stop it. At the same time, our Sun is in a period of heightened electromagnetic activity, and to make matters worse, the magnetic core of the Earth is flipping. Magnetic north is moving, and not in small increments, but in huge leaps from one place to another.

The result is complete and utter chaos.

This mix of circumstances results in some beautiful, and very dangerous, Super Aurora displays. There are also some very strange time portals opening up all over the planet. Those portal appearances result in some extraordinary events that baffle scientists.

NOAA researcher, Sara Gathers, is a concerned citizen who is seeking a way to stop climate change. She has the answers, but it is probably too late to make necessary changes to arrest the process threatening all life on the planet. When the magnetic pole moves to California, she and her two companions vanish without a trace.

Sarah winds up decades in the past and sees an opportunity to change the deadly course of runaway climate change.

But how?

And that barely scratches the surface of the amazing story in the pages of Western Lights.

The tale centers on Sara Gaithers, a researcher who cares about the planet. Everything on the planet, and she knows how to get things done, very much like her mother, who is the director of NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce). She is smart and driven even at a time when it seems there is little hope of reversing the damage that has been done to the planet dating back to the time of the Industrial Revolution. She also has an uncanny ability to move people to taking action on her behalf. 

Sara comes by her abilities naturally when considering the abilities of her mother, Julia. Julia knows the right people in high places and helps Sara obtain the resources she needs to do her job investigating the chaotic events taking place.

Mason Hahn is a pilot and he and Sara meet up in Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska, where an event, probably as a result of the shifting magnetic pole, could end in disaster. Sara knows what needs to be done, and Mason knows how to improvise and get things done, and these characters make a great team. They also have feelings for each other, adding another dimension to the story, making it feel real. Mason and Sara are joined by a young wiz-kid.

Ethan Sites, Assistant Manager of Operations for a NOAA outpost, finds himself in the wilderness until he is rescued by Sara and Mason. He is great with computers and other electronic devices and, while a bit obnoxious at times, Ethan is a valuable asset to the group, as well as others. He is a fun character in the tale and often provides a little comic relief to some otherwise grim situations.

All the characters in Western Lights are believable people, and characters I grew to like and care about.

My favorite point of plot in this story is how the author not only provides a great story, but he also includes some factual, scientific information. But that is not all. There is also the introduction of paranormal events included in the story, adding color and an interesting wrinkle to heighten interest. This story has it all!

My takeaway from Western Lights is to remember that an intelligent, resourceful person can affect change if they are willing to take great risks.

Sara could have just lived in the past safe from climate change, but instead, she chose to work in the past to make the world a better place going forward.

Western Lights is a great story about people who care about the world and the people in it. There are some bizarre situations, one might even think absurd in a way, but in this day and age, when nearly anything seems possible, maybe not so far-fetched. It is a fast-paced tale with some fine characters that will have the reader caring about them and their plight. But this story will also make one think about our own future and what is to be done to make corrections before we tip over the edge, if that isn't the case already.

I give my highest recommendations for Western Lights, an entertaining and informative story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

C.P. Schaefer is an American writer and Engineer. He has been a private engineer in private practice for over 40 years and has written two science fiction novels called The Kuyper Rogue and Western Lights.

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The Aftermath: Lunar By Bradley James - A Great Fascinating Debut Novel Worth Reading!

The Aftermath: Lunar by Bradley James

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. 

The Aftermath: Lunar is the debut novel and first part of a planned series by Bradley James.

When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one. Imagine standing on the surface of another world where you have had to bring everything you need to survive and then you witness the destruction of your home planet. Unimaginable, you say? Yes, it is. But the author of this brilliant first novel builds a world on another world to spark the imagination.

There are twists and turns galore at nearly every page turn, making this unlikely story seem plausible. It is packed with plenty of action that begins on the opening page and never lets up right through to the end. I found myself not wanting to put Aftermath down because the ends of most chapters are cliffhangers in miniature spurring one to read on.

Astronauts Elliot Adams and Franklin Lewis are on a mission to the Earth's Moon near the site of a base under construction. When they look up, they see rocks and boulders impacting the surface, kicking up dust and debris and seek to get undercover to wait the event out.

But that is only the beginning of the explorer's problems.

In the chaos, the pair dash for cover and become separated. Elliot notices a large shadow pass over the surface and can only watch as the Earth suffers from the impact of a huge asteroid. There isn't time for reminiscing, as survival is the first order of business. Elliot and Franklin become separated and lose communication. Elliot falls unconscious.

When he awakes, he literally stumbles into something that shouldn't be on the moon. What he finds is only the beginning of an adventure to boggle and fascinate the reader.

One of the author's major strengths in the writing of this story is a bullpen of well-developed characters. Many are characters the reader will certainly find themselves caring about, while others are shrouded in mystery. This makes for a fascinating and well-paced read. I will not talk too much about them because it would lead to some major spoilers.

The principal character, and the one whom we follow through the story, Elliot, is a strong character and the one we get to know the best. He is a good man with a solid moral base. Even with everything he faces, he doesn't lose his composure as he works out puzzles and navigates through and around obstacles the author places in his way. He also has some special skills that make him even more fun to read.

Another of Bradley James’ strengths in Aftermath is the world building and is my favorite plot point in the book.

Right from the beginning, during the meteor storm all the way to the end of the book are vivid and make an amazing backdrop for the characters to move through.

The major theme of this tale is survival. There are numerous and varied situations presented to challenge Elliot and others as they work to overcome them. There is never a dull moment in this book.

My takeaway from Aftermath is to remember that no matter how hopeless things may seem, there will always be a solution to problems as long as one doesn't stop thinking and acting while taking advantage of what one has at hand and remains open to learning something new.

The Aftermath: Lunar is just a fun and entertaining story that is hard to put down once the reader cracks the cover. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a fantastic journey. I think even those who are not sci-fi fans would enjoy this just for the humanity in it. It is a cracker-jack of a first novel that includes not only a great story but also great characters and some fine world building. It has everything one could want in a well-crafted tale of adventure and survival.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

Find Bradley's website at https://bradleyjamesauthor.com/

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Apocalypse du Jour (Book 1 in the Gravtech Series) by Rick Jurmain - Strap In For A Hell Of A Ride - Not To Be Missed!

Apocalypse du Jour (Book 1 in the Gravtech Series) by Rick Jurmain

What would happen if four scientists came together by chance and invented the impossible? What could possibly go wrong? Well, the story contained in the 383 pages of Rick Jurmain’s uproarious tale in Apocalypse du Jour is one possibility. And what a tale it is. Rarely have I read a story that uses humor in such a way to present what could be a very grim picture. But Rick does it with great style. This is a lightning-paced story that will keep the reader turning page after page until the end. Once one picks this up and starts reading, stopping is going to be more of a challenge than the amazing characters face in the text.

I have a casual, online relationship with the author through a mutual friend who holds weekly zoom meetings. It is how I learned about this book, and I am glad I was paying attention. Of all the books I read, I found this one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking stories I have ever picked up.

There is so much contained in those pages. In a word, all I can say to sum it up is...

WOW!

Usually, I would write my own synopsis of a story, but in this case, there is no possible way I could improve on the blurb from the back of the book, so I am quoting it here...

“Apocalypse du Jour is a hilarious techno-thriller. It presents the adventures of four researchers, all social outcasts: an autistic programmer, a barely functional paranoid mathematician, a blind vet physicist with severe PTSD, and a basement gamer prototyper.

“They briefly collaborate on research via the internet without ever meeting one another. They publish an innocuous paper in an obscure journal, then disband. Three months later, every major country and corporation in the world races to kidnap or kill them. They run for their lives, each according to their disability, while trying to figure out why. But that is just the beginning of an adventure involving many other interesting characters, political power struggles, and global economic collapse and rebirth, all from the point of view of relatively normal people. More than half of the main characters in the book are realistic, strong women.

“The book is packed full of action, motorcycle chases, helicopter chases, white-knuckle danger, psychological manipulation, soldiers, guns, Godzillas, betrayal, revenge, assassins, blueberry blintzes, two (count ‘em) battlegrannies, Presidential vendettas, computer hacking, riots, rescues, edge-of-the-seat tension, and one near-catastrophic hot flash.

“Then, in chapter two... Actually, that stuff is spread out throughout the book. Though it’s all there, plus a lot more.”

 The synopsis introduces the focus characters who take turns appearing as they face situations that are often challenging, but at the same time terrifying at the core. How this quartet of geniuses deal with these situations is different in each case, but funny and scary all at the same time.

The most impressive thing about this collection of people, and I mean every character in the book, is how unique they are. There are no copies and it is obvious that the author took great care in creating them. None of the people in this story can be considered “stock” characters. They come through as individuals with their own attitudes and beliefs. The principal characters are quite well developed and are people whom the reader can invest themselves in.

My favorite plot point in Apocalypse du Jour is that there is a surprise on every page. There are more twists and turns in this story than San Francisco’s Lombard Street! Every time I thought I had everything figured out, there was something new and fascinating happening. For instance, one of the principal characters is attending a comic con when he is suddenly being chased through the con while in costume. He winds up being saved by an unlikely set of circumstances culminating in a wild motorcycle ride through a busy city! It is truly a laugh a minute as this scene unfolds, and it is so unpredictable. It creates great tension, but the description of this scene is full of madcap hilarity, one cannot help but laugh out loud leaving anyone in the vicinity to ask what’s so funny.

 My takeaway from Apocalypse du Jour is to remember that no matter how grim a situation might be, there is always a solution to any problem. Sometimes the most absurd solutions may present themselves, and the tendency is to dismiss them out of hand. But one should give serious consideration to the absurd, it may just be the best, or only way to resolve a seemingly unsolvable puzzle.

 I give my highest recommendations for reading Apocalypse du Jour. It is an utterly entertaining story with a full range of emotions. It had me laughing and made me tear up a few times. But it is never boring. There is plenty of action for readers who are seeking thrills, there is some interesting science. There are characters who are compelling and much like people the reader may know in their own life, but the circumstances they find themselves in are anything but ordinary. I think this would be a great tale for anyone to read because there is truly something for everyone. So, grab a copy of Apocalypse du Jour and strap yourself into your favorite reading chair, it’s a hell of a ride!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rick Jurmain is a retired rocket scientist and entrepreneur. In the ‘90s, he and his late wife Mary (killed by cancer in 2016) built a successful corporation from the ground up. For Realityworks, Inc., the invented, built, and marketed a microprocessor-based product that gained national support, achieved international media attention, and was named by Fortune magazine as Product of the Year in 1994. In 2000, the Eau Claire (Wisconsin) Chamber of Commerce selected Rick and Mary as the local Entrepreneurs of the Year, and Ernst & Young selected them as Finalists for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mary ran the company, while Rick was Vice President In Charge Of Things That Go Beep (engineering, computers, phones, faxes, cars, dishwashers, and oddly enough, toilets, though they rarely go beep).

In the ‘80’s, Rick let, or was a member of, 13 NASA Space Shuttle mission control Flight Activities teams. Unlike cruise ships, Shuttle flight activities did not include shuffleboard or bingo. The Flight Activities teams planned missions starting years prior to launch, and re-planned missions during flights when things went wrong. And things always went wrong. Rick also led the Operations Analysis teams for General Dynamics’ Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) and McDonnell Douglas’ National AeroSpace Plane (NASP). He spent 15 years in the aerospace industry doing tactical analysis and war games, including top level WWIII combined arms games, and he helped invent hypersonic war games.

In 2002, Rick was a consultant to Coleman Aerospace on DARPA’s RASCAL study, which designed modifications for a rocket-powered F-14 fighter. For that contract, Rick headed up designing the Operations, Support, Avionics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Cockpit, Payload Interfaces, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management Systems. All the fun stuff.

In the late ‘90’s, Rick was founder of Vela Technology Development, Inc. Vela and its partners started much of what is becoming the space tourism industry. Vela’s briefings to Burt Rutan and Richard Branson started them on the path to space tourism. Vela worked with the FAA to write regulations for space tourism. And Vela helped design a space-tourism themed resort for Las Vegas. While Vela has since folded, Rick owns its process patent on key low-acceleration trajectories for space tourism. And if Rutan doesn’t get his butt in gear, the patent will be worthless because it expires soon.

Rick was a Captain in the Army Combat Engineers, National Guard and Reserves (no significant active duty).

Rick is 65 years old, currently retired, though working intermittently as a board member, inventor, and writer. He has two kids: Jake, age 30, and Ariel, Age 26. And he’s obnoxiously proud of both of them.

Rick is widely acknowledged to have been Mary’s trophy husband. Though no one has ever thought of him as just another pretty face. At least, no one who’s seen his face. And, come to think of it, no one has ever considered that he was a first-place trophy either. Rick was just in the right place at the right time to trip up a gorgeous, massively intelligent woman with an aging biological clock and desperately low standards. Someday, someone will make a fortune building a dating site for such women.

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Insiders By Shannon Knight - Twists And Turns Galore In This Space Opera

Insiders by Shannon Knight

I received a copy of Insiders for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Insiders is a science fiction space opera story revolving around a small ship in the business of long-distance hauling of materials over vast distances, even between galaxies. As with any great story, Insiders is heavily character driven with a cast of diverse individuals. Characters are developed over time in the tale by the changing of point of view - each chapter is a snapshot of the activities and thoughts of the players. I wasn't long before I began caring about the people on the small ship who, through no fault of their own, became entangled in a series of life-threatening events presented in multiple situations focusing on one character in particular who turns out to be the unlikely hero.

I enjoyed this book. It was engaging right from the opening and the action never lets up until the end.

The universe is being overrun by a deadly virus, and everyone has to be very careful. The Hibravian virus is robust. It spreads easily and kills quickly. A planet touched by this plague can be wiped out almost instantly. Those who are infected are promised a painful and swift death.

Onboard the Jacks, a small, long-haul vessel, a "barnacle" is discovered to have attached itself to the hull after departing a deep space station. When the crew investigates this, they find they have taken on a young girl and an unusual companion in the form of a sentient plant. The crew of the Jacks soon establishes that the girl's plant guardian may be the key to a cure for the virus.

There are others who believe the plant to be the path to a cure, and they all head for the Jacks to claim the lucrative prize to be had.

It is a race for wealth and health, and there are numerous sacrifices and many deaths along the way.

This tale is heavily character driven. Each chapter is from the point of view of a single character, and that is how we get to know them. The crew of the Jacks are a collection of diverse people who each have their own talent. The reader will soon learn that each crew member is a vital part of the story. Particularly enjoyed how the author developed each character from the inside out and did a fine job of giving each their own voice.

My favorite character was the captain of the little ship, Karasi. She is a strong character who knows how to lead. She is clever and knows how to get out of a bad situation and land on her feet. Her leadership style is to allow her crew to do their jobs, and they are all very capable.

My favorite point of plot in Insiders is just how much the crew of the Jacks is facing. They have to evade an empire, mercenaries, and the virus itself to survive, and on top of all that, there are obstacles in space itself that get in the way. Each crewmember brings their special talents to the table, and it is fascinating how they work together while also fighting their own personal demons.

My takeaway from Insiders is that no matter how many obstacles stand in the way of reaching a goal, perseverance and imagination will win in the end.

Insiders is a great space opera that has a flavor reminiscent of Firefly. Each crew member contributes to the whole, but each also has their own identity. The action starts from the beginning and doesn't let up until the last page. I found the ending quite satisfying and was entertained all the way through. There are several scenes of death some readers may find disturbing, but they are not over the top or gratuitous in any way.

I look forward to future sci-fi books from this author! Her command of creating characters to care about and the use of voice is amazing.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shannon Knight lives in the Pacific Northwest with her faithful feline, the best cat on this planet, and a spectacular view of the galaxy and beyond. In the spring of 2020, Shannon fell ill with the novel COVID-19 virus and became primarily bedbound for about 2.25 years.

Entropy By Michael McGinty - A Hard Sci-Fi Look At A Grim Future For Humanity

Entropy: A Novel by Michael McGinty

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The story in Mike McGinty's debut novel, Entropy, is an attention-grabbing tale of a future when things have gone from comfortable to terrible for principal character Bill Bartles, as well as the world he lives in. It is a fast-paced story of a man who is charged with looking at past events, stripping away all the static, and uploading what he filteres to a database contained in a space no bigger than a shoebox.

Entropy is a hard sci-fi, dystopian look at a grim future for humanity.

When I began reading Entropy, I found it commanding my attention. I was mesmerized by the story in its pages and whenever I had time to pick it up, I was drawn into a nightmarish world where chaos rules, and it's everyone for themselves.

I enjoyed Entropy. It ran me through an entire gamut of emotions, from being horrified, through sadness, and even some triumphant moments. It is an intense look into the future where there might be danger lurking around every corner. I had to pay attention because there were a few things I knew little about - at the same time, everything was adequately explained.

Bill Bartels lives in a city where life is strictly regulated. As long as one follows the rules, everything seems to work well, but going against established procedures have consequences. His life is quite comfortable - he lives in a nice apartment, has a girlfriend, and nearly everything he needs to live. He works near the bottom of a corporate ladder that goes very high. His job is to gather all human knowledge, sift it to be sure there is no spin left to taint the information, and finally store it on a device called the Infinity Drive. Bill does his job so well, he expects a promotion soon, but something goes wrong.

During a session taking a deep dive into the archives of the Infinity Drive's controller, he finds something disturbing. Outside the city is death and devastation, the result of numerous man-made disasters. In effect, Bill discovers a state of social entropy existing outside the city, and he is compelled to investigate. What compels him is that he is caught discovering forbidden information and the corporations do not want it to become common knowledge. He escapes the city and enters a world the likes of which he had no idea existed.

Along his journey, he discovers many disturbing facts and learns that humanity is doomed to end in the not-too-distant future.

For much of the tale, Bill is accompanied by an antisocial curmudgeon, simply known as The Thinker, who helps Bill with his decision if saving the dregs of humanity is worth the loss of the Infinity Drive.

The Thinker takes Bill on a tour of the ruined world and presents him with some disturbing looks into the realities of Social Entropy.

My favorite point of plot is the author’s illustration of the extremes between strict social control, and the lack thereof. It shows what can happen in two different worlds on the same planet when things are out of balance. It made me think of a lot of the things I witnessed during the height of the recent COVID Pandemic. How panicked people were hoarding supplies. How people began making their own rules and ignoring established laws. How people were behaving irrationally in general. Had things not calmed down, what might our world look today? I shudder to imagine it. We got a glimpse looking into an abyss, but Entropy takes it the rest of the way. It is not a world I would want to live in.

Another favorite point of plot was how the mood of the story changed in the blink of an eye. As the story opened, I felt as though I were reading a comedic story. There were things that struck me as being funny, but that didn't last long as the life of the principal character became unhinged as he became more aware of the realities of the world he lived in.

The overarching theme of Entropy is Social Entropy, as outlined by the second law of thermodynamics. My takeaway is an understanding of the concept of Social Entropy. When the constructs of living in communities break down, when there are no longer laws, in the absence of institutions that maintain order, society descends into chaos. It is a point at which irrationality rules and survival is the rule of the day. The strong survive at the expense of the weak. One example cited in my reading was what happens during war.

Entropy will make one think. It has a very familiar flavor in the light of headlines presented in the last few years. It takes the themes we have witnessed in reality and projects them into a future where it wasn't pulled back from the brink of tipping into disaster. We are still healing from the chaos witnessed during the pandemic, but this story gives us a look into what might be if some disaster, or combination of disasters, is left to follow its course. I see Entropy as a warning to societies telling us to take care of each other or we may face our own extinction.

I recommend this book to readers who like hard sci-fi and who enjoy post-apocalyptic and dystopian themed books. It is well thought out and disturbing. It caused me to have a few nightmares. While that may seem like a bad thing, perhaps it is just what we need to keep humanity moving in a positive direction.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mike was born and raised in Kalgoorlie, in the goldfields of Western Australia, before moving to Perth to complete a degree in Electronic Engineering. With a good science fiction book in hand and a lifelong passion for innovation, Mike has always imagined a future where technologies that are improbable today might be possible tomorrow. When not writing, Mike runs a software development company at cyinnovations.com, loves 1970s heavy rock music, and cheers on his beloved West Coast Eagles AFL team. And he often goes fishing in the Australian never-never. Together with his wife, Mike lives in an empty nest with their black Labrador, Louie.

Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather - This One Is A Hell Of A Page Turner

Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather

I downloaded this book from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I became aware of Aeon Rising when it was being announced on my Facebook newsfeed. I've read Mather's work in the past and enjoyed it, but this seemed to be a special project from the author. There was a lot of content surrounding the release of this story.

Aeon Rising is the tale of a disaster from outer space that threatens to change life on the planet as we know it. I enjoyed the characters and was pleased to see them grow as the story progressed. There is plenty of engaging action taking place and I really didn't want to stop reading when I started. I hurried through my mundane obligations so I could get back to the book.

There is also a great deal of emotional content in this story, and the writing was so good, one could feel what the characters must have been feeling. The emotional spectrum in this tome is mostly on the dark side, but there are also brief glimmers of hope and even a small amount of humor thrown in for good measure.

Another thing I was stirred by was the varied settings and how they were presented in the prose. There were urban settings, the Amazon Jungle, and the frozen tundra of the South Pole. Mather's descriptions were vivid and colorful, complete with the discomforts that come with those environments, as well as a few the author made up to add to the terror, especially in the jungle.

Overall, I love this engaging story.

Opening at a scientific research station on the continent of Antartica, a scientist monitors her equipment to detect neutrino particles as they strike the detectors. During the project, the scientist feels lucky when there is a hit, but one fateful day, her detectors lit up with a brilliance as an astronomical number of neutrinos excites her equipment. The scientist knows what this discovery means, and it isn't good.

What follows is a nearby (a relative term in astronomy) super nova event that has the effect of placing a second sun to heat the already warmed Earth. Climate change is rapid and will prove catastrophic to all life, especially human life. 

A man is sent to the Amazon in South America to contact an eccentric billionaire and friend to learn what he is up to in pursuing scientific discovery he would not be allowed to work on in the U.S. The man's pregnant wife is left to fend for herself and finds difficulty, but also finds help from a mysterious source.

The people of the Earth seek relief by moving north as fast as they can while resources are stretched to the limits and services are nonexistent.

The characters in this story are all well written and come alive as the reader gets to know them. 

Max Carver is former military, currently a professional over-the-road trucker. He's been tapped to find and contact a friend from his past and learn what he is doing in the Amazon jungle. Max seems to be a gentle, nice guy on the surface, but he has a skill set and very good survival instincts. Mostly, he just wants to finish the job he was sent to do and get back home with his wife. She is seven months pregnant with their first child.

Talisha Carver, Max's wife, is also preoccupied with the idea of Max being home before their baby is born. She also has a special skill set and is trying to survive in the difficult situation brought about by the supernova that has trapped Max in the jungle. When she is accosted by several dangerous people, she has to go on the run to save herself and her unborn child, while trying to learn what happened to Max and getting some place safe. She also finds she has a mysterious companion who claims wanting to help her.

Dr. Xin Rhou is the first person to detect the neutrino burst heralding the coming of the supernova. She is stationed at the South Pole and is a Chinese national. There seems to be more to her than just a simple researcher. She also finds herself involved in a mystery involving murder and other mayhem.

My favorite point of plot for Aeon Rising is all the things hinted at in future installments of the series. There are several questions that come to mind:

1. How will governments deal with a mass migration of people moving north to get away from the effects of the Aeon supernova?

2. What part does Max's friend play in the changes in the Amazon jungle?

3. What is the nature of Talisha's mysterious friend who wants to help, and why has this entity appeared?

4. How is Max going to survive in an environment that is out to do him harm at every turn?

5. What will finally be the fate of Xin and what is her actual role in developing events?

The overarching theme and my takeaway from Aeon Rising is survival for everyone in a situation that happened without warning. There are no contingency plans in place to deal with the mass migration of humanity to the northern parts of the planet to escape a developing situation. On the surface, the people of the planet seem to face certain extinction from something no one understands and can't do anything about, except hold out in hopes the crisis will work itself out.

Mather has set up a seemingly impossible to survive story. It will be interesting to see what roads he will lead us down as the questions are answered. This segment of the series gives the reader an exposition of people, places, and things likely leading to some amazing plot twists. I think Aeon Rising is an uncommonly great example of telling a story to invoke compassion, apprehension, and extraordinary thrills. I give Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins my highest recommendations as a book well worth reading.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The two novels following this one are: Aeon Burn - due to be released early December 2022 - and Aeon Fury - in April 2023.

You also might be interested in some of the promotional material that is available from the author. He talked about Aeon Rising with two other authors on videos available on YouTube. You can access those through the links below:

Talk with author Steve Konkoly

Talk with author Kyla Stone

In the meantime, be sure not to pass up Aeon Rising; apocalyptic sci-fi fans should really enjoy this one!

Amazon Charts Bestseller Matthew Mather's books have sold millions of copies, accumulated over 100,000 ratings on Goodreads, Audible and Amazon, been translated and published in over 24 countries across the globe, and optioned for multiple movie and television contracts. He began his career as a researcher at the McGill Center for Intelligent Machines before starting and working in high-tech ventures ranging from nanotechnology to cyber security. He now works as a full-time author of speculative and science fiction thrillers.

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When Earth Shall Be No More by Paul Awad and Kathryn O'Sullivan - One Child, Two Timelines To Save Humanity

When Earth Shall Be No More by Paul Awad and Kathryn O'Sullivan

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was attracted to this book because of its cover design and the title. I was expecting a post-apocalyptic kind of story where the Earth is destroyed and some very rich man building a spaceship to carry an elite crew off the planet to save humanity. When I read the book, I found it was much more than what I expected.

This is a story full of humanistic ideas and interactions between two timelines. There are many twists and turns making the story compelling. The plot is driven by well-developed characters that a reader can truly care about and relate to. It is a tale of people forming relationships depending on cooperation for survival. It suggests just what humanity can do if people work together.

A reader will find this book hard to set aside once it is opened. 

The Earth has somehow been destroyed and Constance Roy, an environmental scientist along with forty-eight others, are taken aboard the Orb, a huge space vessel that is in orbit around the planet Jupiter. Constance and the rest of the humans are watched over by an automaton race of beings calling themselves Curators. Everything on board Orb is provided except for the solution to the problem of where to go before the ship's orbit decays and is crushed in the Jovian planet's atmosphere.

In another timeline on modern day Earth, Constance goes about her life as a single mom raising a son who appears to be someone very special. The youngster, Nicolas, appears to have a special gift of being able to understand things far beyond his age.

Onboard the Orb, the Curators have given up on any possibility that the humans will save themselves. Their bickering and single-mindedness seem to get in the way.

Just when all seems lost, the timelines collide. Nicolas's mother Constance makes a sacrifice, and the boy helps Constance in the Orb timeline to solve the problems. Convinced there is no hope for the future of humanity, the Curators seek to kill Nicolas, but Constance fights to make sure the boy can give hope to what is left of Earth's population to start over on a new world.

When Earth Shall Be No More is told from Constance Roy's point of view in both timelines.

Constance on the Orb and on Earth both have the same personalities. They think, talk, and act alike. Both are analytical and are good problem solvers. The difference between the two is their focus on the problems they face. Orb Constance is trying to find the target planet to settle on by following a string of cryptic clues left behind by a friend while the Earth version is concerned mostly with her son and his wellbeing. Earth Constance does not know what is happening when a mysterious stranger arrives on the scene and tries to kidnap Nicolas.

My favorite point of plot in this tale is how Nicolas has been nurtured to appreciate science and what it can offer to solve problems. She encourages Nicolas to read books and learn all he can about the things he is interested in. This alone makes the child a force in the future survival of humanity.

My takeaway from this story is how one should never underestimate the powers of a young person who is full of wonder and curiosity. One such individual can be both an inspiration and can present a unique point of view to the solution of a problem.

This book is an easy-to-read story that flows along at a good pace and will hold a reader's attention. It is an uncommon science fiction thriller that runs the entire spectrum of emotional content and is well worth the time as the opening to a series.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan are an award-winning husband and wife writing and filmmaking team. They have collaborated on feature and documentary films, screenplays, and web series. Paul is a cinema professor and Kathryn is a theatre professor at Northern Virginia Community College. Kathryn is also the award-winning writer of the Colleen McCabe mystery series. They live in Reston, Virginia.

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