What do you think?
Rate this book
Final Eclipse
How do you conquer a planet?
Take away the sun.
(It’s easier than you think…)
NASA research satellites suddenly go silent as a mysterious dark “spot” appears in front of the sun. A young Kevin Mycroft discovers that the spot is steadily growing in size, threatening to throw the entire earth into permanent darkness. When senior NASA scientists, including Kevin’s father, begin intentionally hiding the truth, Kevin convinces his friends to take action on their own. But is there anything they can do to fight the grim fate that awaits the planet?
The origin of the eclipse soon reveals that cold and darkness are not the only enemies lurking in the shadows. And as each fight for survival seems to backfire, Kevin’s hopes fade while he questions whether he, or anyone else, can be the hero that the world so desperately needs.
Take away the sun.
(It’s easier than you think…)
NASA research satellites suddenly go silent as a mysterious dark “spot” appears in front of the sun. A young Kevin Mycroft discovers that the spot is steadily growing in size, threatening to throw the entire earth into permanent darkness. When senior NASA scientists, including Kevin’s father, begin intentionally hiding the truth, Kevin convinces his friends to take action on their own. But is there anything they can do to fight the grim fate that awaits the planet?
The origin of the eclipse soon reveals that cold and darkness are not the only enemies lurking in the shadows. And as each fight for survival seems to backfire, Kevin’s hopes fade while he questions whether he, or anyone else, can be the hero that the world so desperately needs.
292 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2024
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 27, 2025
It is so rare to read science fiction these days that both inspires the imagination and also teaches real science.
This last week I reviewed Three Body Problem, which I raved about because it does just that. Final Eclipse is another of the few. It has a small group of friends using deduction and science to battle against a conspiracy of unseen, sinister extraterrestrials who are hell-bent on conquering the planet.
And best of all (for a worldbuilding sucker like me), along the way you get to learn a lot about physics, history, and a smattering of so many others, from astronomy to sea ice to SOFAR to intriguing military technologies to why Iceland would be the best place on Earth to survive a winter apocalypse.
In addition to all that, this is also a very special book to me personally.
You see, about 6 years ago, I started a writer’s group that meets at me and my wife’s home. We set out to do one thing really well together: to give high quality constructive feedback regularly that manages to be both highly rigorous and uplifting.
Of the writers in that group, we’ve covered a lot of ground together over the years. We’ve struggled together to figure out so many things, encouraged each other in the lows, celebrated together in the highs.
And several novels have gone through our group. But today, the first one is getting published.
I couldn’t be more proud, because, as much as this book is definitely the brain-child of Matthew, it also feels a little bit like the child of the whole writer’s group, the proverbial village that it takes to raise a child. It’s Matthew’s biological child, but we all got to participate in a really substantive way, and that’s just really cool.
I often call Matthew the world’s most fascinating man. He’s a physics professor, a world traveler, an astronomer, a voracious reader of science fiction and many other genres, and he’s always taking some absolutely epic trip somewhere, kayaking down a river in the Congo to be the first one to film a remote waterfall, or traveling to the Azores Islands to do research for his book, or to Iceland to do research for his book, or…did I mention this guy does some incredible research for his books? Who does that???
He’s also just one of those people who are a seemingly infinite treasure trove of interesting information. And a gifted teacher. I’ve seen him teach complex physics topics to a mixed audience on the spot with ease.
Okay wow, I’ve gone far afield from talking about the book. The book!
Final Eclipse is epic. The first part is brooding. Our heroes and heroine become privy to the fact that the world as we know it is about to end. But almost no one on the planet knows it yet. People are just going about their days, few of them—outside a small handful of scientists—aware that there’s any problem at all. But there is, and it’s sinister.
Kevin’s father is a top scientist at an agency that monitors satellites. Particular satellites: the ones that monitor the sun. And then one day, all of these satellites mysteriously go dead within a moment of each other.
What could it be? Equipment malfunction? Solar flare? They test out the standard list of theories, but nothing checks out. Until someone comes up with a strange theory.
You see, all of these satellites are at a very special location in space. If you’re monitoring the sun, the best place to put your satellites is a location called L1. It’s one of the LaGrange points: particular spots around the Earth wherein, if you put a satellite, the forces of gravity all equal out so that it will stay put indefinitely without you having to expend any energy to keep it there. The L1 point is the place partway in a line between the sun and Earth, at just the spot where the gravity of Earth and the gravity of the sun equal out, pulling in two exact opposite directions (obviously much closer to the Earth than the sun to compensate for the fact that the sun is 300,000 times heavier).
Anyways, what’s such a big deal about this LaGrange point? Well if you think about it, if you wanted to put something between those two bodies…indefinitely…such as, I don’t know, a huge shield to block all sunlight from getting to the Earth…voila.
Someone’s out to kill all life on the planet.
The plot progresses along several lines. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that this is about good old fashioned fighting against the alien invaders, plus there’s the pandemonium of the masses preparing for impending doom, there’s the malice of nations against one another, there’s militaries and nations and a bit of politics, but most importantly, there’s the mystery unraveling slowly of figuring out: who exactly are these aliens? What kind of people would attack the earth in this way? How can we prepare for them? More is continually revealed as we adventure all over the globe, and it’s quite satisfying.
Oh and one other thing. Far from reading like a textbook, this is pretty easy reading. In fact, one of the other writers in our group described it as “YA (young adult) for grown-ups,” and I have to agree.
It’s fun, but not stupid. I’ve read my fair share of bad YA. One of the classic YA pitfalls is to make it seem like for some reason, it’s just the kids who are capable of doing anything to save the world, and all the adults are idiots…pure wish fulfillment. But this book is refreshing because it doesn’t do that. The adults are doing the big plans and everything—much more realistic—but at the same time, our young heroes and heroine have a major part to play, and we get to see the world through their eyes. And it’s just a lot more fun that way. I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds.
Okay, if I talk any more about this book I’m going to give things away. Go out and read it today! It’s a fun ride. Final Eclipse is perfect for young adult SF readers who want to learn some real science in their reads, adults who read YA sci-fi, readers who enjoy YA but are sick of the trope where all the adults are morons and only the kids can save the day, and anyone looking for the classic alien invasion story with a novel premise.
This last week I reviewed Three Body Problem, which I raved about because it does just that. Final Eclipse is another of the few. It has a small group of friends using deduction and science to battle against a conspiracy of unseen, sinister extraterrestrials who are hell-bent on conquering the planet.
And best of all (for a worldbuilding sucker like me), along the way you get to learn a lot about physics, history, and a smattering of so many others, from astronomy to sea ice to SOFAR to intriguing military technologies to why Iceland would be the best place on Earth to survive a winter apocalypse.
In addition to all that, this is also a very special book to me personally.
You see, about 6 years ago, I started a writer’s group that meets at me and my wife’s home. We set out to do one thing really well together: to give high quality constructive feedback regularly that manages to be both highly rigorous and uplifting.
Of the writers in that group, we’ve covered a lot of ground together over the years. We’ve struggled together to figure out so many things, encouraged each other in the lows, celebrated together in the highs.
And several novels have gone through our group. But today, the first one is getting published.
I couldn’t be more proud, because, as much as this book is definitely the brain-child of Matthew, it also feels a little bit like the child of the whole writer’s group, the proverbial village that it takes to raise a child. It’s Matthew’s biological child, but we all got to participate in a really substantive way, and that’s just really cool.
I often call Matthew the world’s most fascinating man. He’s a physics professor, a world traveler, an astronomer, a voracious reader of science fiction and many other genres, and he’s always taking some absolutely epic trip somewhere, kayaking down a river in the Congo to be the first one to film a remote waterfall, or traveling to the Azores Islands to do research for his book, or to Iceland to do research for his book, or…did I mention this guy does some incredible research for his books? Who does that???
He’s also just one of those people who are a seemingly infinite treasure trove of interesting information. And a gifted teacher. I’ve seen him teach complex physics topics to a mixed audience on the spot with ease.
Okay wow, I’ve gone far afield from talking about the book. The book!
Final Eclipse is epic. The first part is brooding. Our heroes and heroine become privy to the fact that the world as we know it is about to end. But almost no one on the planet knows it yet. People are just going about their days, few of them—outside a small handful of scientists—aware that there’s any problem at all. But there is, and it’s sinister.
Kevin’s father is a top scientist at an agency that monitors satellites. Particular satellites: the ones that monitor the sun. And then one day, all of these satellites mysteriously go dead within a moment of each other.
What could it be? Equipment malfunction? Solar flare? They test out the standard list of theories, but nothing checks out. Until someone comes up with a strange theory.
You see, all of these satellites are at a very special location in space. If you’re monitoring the sun, the best place to put your satellites is a location called L1. It’s one of the LaGrange points: particular spots around the Earth wherein, if you put a satellite, the forces of gravity all equal out so that it will stay put indefinitely without you having to expend any energy to keep it there. The L1 point is the place partway in a line between the sun and Earth, at just the spot where the gravity of Earth and the gravity of the sun equal out, pulling in two exact opposite directions (obviously much closer to the Earth than the sun to compensate for the fact that the sun is 300,000 times heavier).
Anyways, what’s such a big deal about this LaGrange point? Well if you think about it, if you wanted to put something between those two bodies…indefinitely…such as, I don’t know, a huge shield to block all sunlight from getting to the Earth…voila.
Someone’s out to kill all life on the planet.
The plot progresses along several lines. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that this is about good old fashioned fighting against the alien invaders, plus there’s the pandemonium of the masses preparing for impending doom, there’s the malice of nations against one another, there’s militaries and nations and a bit of politics, but most importantly, there’s the mystery unraveling slowly of figuring out: who exactly are these aliens? What kind of people would attack the earth in this way? How can we prepare for them? More is continually revealed as we adventure all over the globe, and it’s quite satisfying.
Oh and one other thing. Far from reading like a textbook, this is pretty easy reading. In fact, one of the other writers in our group described it as “YA (young adult) for grown-ups,” and I have to agree.
It’s fun, but not stupid. I’ve read my fair share of bad YA. One of the classic YA pitfalls is to make it seem like for some reason, it’s just the kids who are capable of doing anything to save the world, and all the adults are idiots…pure wish fulfillment. But this book is refreshing because it doesn’t do that. The adults are doing the big plans and everything—much more realistic—but at the same time, our young heroes and heroine have a major part to play, and we get to see the world through their eyes. And it’s just a lot more fun that way. I feel like I’m getting the best of both worlds.
Okay, if I talk any more about this book I’m going to give things away. Go out and read it today! It’s a fun ride. Final Eclipse is perfect for young adult SF readers who want to learn some real science in their reads, adults who read YA sci-fi, readers who enjoy YA but are sick of the trope where all the adults are morons and only the kids can save the day, and anyone looking for the classic alien invasion story with a novel premise.
September 19, 2024
A good first outing for the author. Good sci-fi is a welcome addition in the current young adult environment. Character development is possibly the authors greatest strength, as we see multiple characters grow and mature. The story touches on some real truths, another thing that sets it apart from its peers. Overall, I look forward to a follow-up.
September 10, 2024
A sci fi page turner that makes real physics interesting and aliens seem extra plausible
July 17, 2025
After reading Final Eclipse by Matthew Huddleston, I can say it’s one of the most unpredictable and strange sci-fi thrillers I’ve come across this year. The story begins with a sudden and total blackout of critical solar satellites at Lagrange Point One, launching an escalating mystery involving scientists, governments, and eventually, an unexplained anomaly near the sun. Kevin, a teenage protagonist, gets drawn into the crisis alongside his brilliant but emotionally distant father, Dr. Mycroft. What starts as a quiet domestic drama evolves into a sprawling, globe-spanning narrative that combines real space science, speculative threats, and teenage adventure. Think Contact meets WarGames, but with more snow gear and solar flares.
There’s something endearing about the way Huddleston writes characters, especially Kevin. He’s sharp but awkward, competent but unsure of himself, and his internal monologue feels genuine. The writing itself is clean and fast-paced, and despite the science-heavy content, the story never bogs down. I liked how the science was treated seriously without turning into a lecture. But I also felt some of the adult characters, especially the government and military ones, could’ve used more texture.
What really caught me was the balance of tone. It goes from geeky high school hijinks to doomsday speculation without losing its footing. Some of the emotional beats, like Kevin’s strained relationship with his father and the quiet absence of his mother, hit harder than I expected. The mystery of the solar anomaly builds nicely, and while the ending leaves things open I never felt cheated. I was actually glad not everything was wrapped up neatly because it gave it a sense of realism and weight.
Final Eclipse is a great ride for anyone who likes smart sci-fi with a human core. I’d recommend it for teenagers who love science, adults who grew up reading Michael Crichton, or anyone curious about space weather and likes the idea of kids being thrown into global crises.
There’s something endearing about the way Huddleston writes characters, especially Kevin. He’s sharp but awkward, competent but unsure of himself, and his internal monologue feels genuine. The writing itself is clean and fast-paced, and despite the science-heavy content, the story never bogs down. I liked how the science was treated seriously without turning into a lecture. But I also felt some of the adult characters, especially the government and military ones, could’ve used more texture.
What really caught me was the balance of tone. It goes from geeky high school hijinks to doomsday speculation without losing its footing. Some of the emotional beats, like Kevin’s strained relationship with his father and the quiet absence of his mother, hit harder than I expected. The mystery of the solar anomaly builds nicely, and while the ending leaves things open I never felt cheated. I was actually glad not everything was wrapped up neatly because it gave it a sense of realism and weight.
Final Eclipse is a great ride for anyone who likes smart sci-fi with a human core. I’d recommend it for teenagers who love science, adults who grew up reading Michael Crichton, or anyone curious about space weather and likes the idea of kids being thrown into global crises.
September 16, 2024
As modern science fiction has become more and more farfetched, the Final Eclipse honors the roots of the genre, while also breathing new life into it. With its exciting, earth-shattering plot, the reader will be gripped by the inspiring characters in the book and their efforts to survive and fight the darkness that has fallen across the globe. With the true heart of a teacher, Huddleston grounds his book in plausible scientific ideas, explaining them in a way that will fascinate the reader instead of falling into tedium. With its firm basis in science, high-stakes original storyline, and compelling characters, the Final Eclipse is one of the best Science Fiction works I have ever read.
January 11, 2025
This novel is well written. The book was interesting from start to finish. I was always curious to find out what was going to happen next. I can't say much more about it without giving parts of it away. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews