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The Galaxy Series #1
Beyond the Milky Way
Are we alone?
Three astronauts go to space in search of a planet that probably has water—one of the basic elements for humanity to survive. Do they find it? What else do they find? They encounter something—something strange—beyond their wildest imaginations, and their mission-to-explore becomes a mission-to-survive.
They experience something that makes them question their beliefs. All the things they had taken for granted, everything they had seen and learned, don’t seem to apply any longer.
Something happens along the way that makes them yearn to come back to Earth. After all, home is where the heart is.
This is not just another science fiction. Rather, it will make you question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.
In the first installment of The Galaxy Series, find out about the strange world they discover.
Three astronauts go to space in search of a planet that probably has water—one of the basic elements for humanity to survive. Do they find it? What else do they find? They encounter something—something strange—beyond their wildest imaginations, and their mission-to-explore becomes a mission-to-survive.
They experience something that makes them question their beliefs. All the things they had taken for granted, everything they had seen and learned, don’t seem to apply any longer.
Something happens along the way that makes them yearn to come back to Earth. After all, home is where the heart is.
This is not just another science fiction. Rather, it will make you question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.
In the first installment of The Galaxy Series, find out about the strange world they discover.
382 pages, Paperback
Published January 4, 2016
26 people are currently reading
501 people want to read
About the author
Aithal
8 books50 followersI've written several books covering various genres, including international thrillers and memoirs.
I'm also the author of four science fiction books. Well, I'd not really call them science fiction as I think it may disappoint science fiction fans if they are expecting hard-core books in that genre. It's more of 'political science fiction'. It's a dystopian look at our future (environmentally) if we stay on our path. They involve space-travel and take a deep-dive into political psychology.
It's a journey into space and back to future Earth that spans across these books.
Follow me on Instagram, where I post regularly, including all the artworks created for the books.
Here are few of the artworks used in the books:
The books' website has more information (including excerpts) of all four books.
My next book is an international thriller, the story starting in the beautiful Orange County in the US and ending at India/Pakistan border.
My lates book is a memoir where I have penned down my journey from Mumbai, India to the US.
I'm also the author of four science fiction books. Well, I'd not really call them science fiction as I think it may disappoint science fiction fans if they are expecting hard-core books in that genre. It's more of 'political science fiction'. It's a dystopian look at our future (environmentally) if we stay on our path. They involve space-travel and take a deep-dive into political psychology.
It's a journey into space and back to future Earth that spans across these books.
Follow me on Instagram, where I post regularly, including all the artworks created for the books.
Here are few of the artworks used in the books:
The books' website has more information (including excerpts) of all four books.
My next book is an international thriller, the story starting in the beautiful Orange County in the US and ending at India/Pakistan border.
My lates book is a memoir where I have penned down my journey from Mumbai, India to the US.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 18, 2016
Beyond The Milky Way (The Galaxy Series #1) by Aithal is such a wonderful sci-fi book that once I started reading it I had to stay up during the night to finish it! I absolutely loved it! It is filled with such rich imagination that it was a true delight to read, I didn't want it to end! The plot was awesome with so many little twists and turns, surprises everywhere. The characters were totally unique in every way. I loved the world he created and the societies. The only problem I had was it was a cliff hanger! Ugh, I hate that!!! No cliff hangers should be allowed, ever! Have the book longer or second book ready. ugh. Anyway, the book is super awesome except for that minor detail. Worth reading for sure even with that little glitch. I am sure you will remember this book when the second book comes out, it is very memorable. Loved it!!!
May 17, 2021
Well, i probably should say a word or two about this. I am waiting to give my full thoughts on this book until i read #2, but it is taking me longer to get to that than i was anticipating. So i will pass judgement on both, as a whole, when i finish that, and star both as well then too. Until then, to sum up this book.... NASA has sent 3 people (2 astronauts and an expert on rare and extinct foliage) out into space, to a planet they believe similar to Earth, to explore the possibility of a human colony there. This is the last mission for the space agency, and things do not go as planned. They accidentally go through a portal, end up in the future, in another galaxy, on a different inhabited planet. The beings there believe they have a true utopia, as compared to Earth, for they are aware of Earth's history and struggles from watching us from afar. But all is not as it seems. I await to see what happens in #2 to see how this pans out.
December 1, 2016
Are We Alone?
Aithal's BEYOND THE MILKY WAY Giveaway Blitz
Click on Banner to Enter - INTL
It’s an age-old question, one that seems both improbable and incomprehensible! Are we alone in the universe? Aithal brings one answer to the table in an intriguing and creative way that feels both entirely possible and kind of a relief to know that aliens do not have to be hostile, but are they always honest?
The Earth is dying, mankind has taken and taken and survival is almost impossible. Where else to turn than to neighboring planets? Three astronauts are sent on a mission to explore Mars for human viability, but from the start, the mission is in danger and NASA has lost contact. Where did the ship go? What of the brave souls aboard? They were the last hope for mankind to discover another planet to inhabitant in our galaxy, the Milky Way. Have we been too limited in our search? Beyond the Galaxy takes us to another galaxy where Earth has a twin, and its inhabitants are humanoid, far advanced and live in a world with no government. Discover what these aliens are keeping secret, what their world is like in a completely entertaining way that does NOT rely on violence and battles!
Aithal has done a wonderful job of creating a vision of our first encounter, as these three very human astronauts crash onto a world so very similar, yet different from Earth as they discover new truths of survival, secrets kept from them and attempt to find a way back through a portal to their own world! Looking for a non-violent and non-terrifying glorification of aliens? A quick read that doesn’t get caught up in too much scientific jargon, but brings out the humanity and flaws of all peoples and the hopes for peaceful coexistence. Low on heavy action but high on interaction, let your imagination spin out of this world and beyond!
I received this copy from Aithal in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Galaxy Series - Book 1
Publisher: Season Ball (November 25, 2015)
Publication Date: November 25, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction
Print Length: 362 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Aithal's BEYOND THE MILKY WAY Giveaway Blitz
Click on Banner to Enter - INTL
It’s an age-old question, one that seems both improbable and incomprehensible! Are we alone in the universe? Aithal brings one answer to the table in an intriguing and creative way that feels both entirely possible and kind of a relief to know that aliens do not have to be hostile, but are they always honest?
The Earth is dying, mankind has taken and taken and survival is almost impossible. Where else to turn than to neighboring planets? Three astronauts are sent on a mission to explore Mars for human viability, but from the start, the mission is in danger and NASA has lost contact. Where did the ship go? What of the brave souls aboard? They were the last hope for mankind to discover another planet to inhabitant in our galaxy, the Milky Way. Have we been too limited in our search? Beyond the Galaxy takes us to another galaxy where Earth has a twin, and its inhabitants are humanoid, far advanced and live in a world with no government. Discover what these aliens are keeping secret, what their world is like in a completely entertaining way that does NOT rely on violence and battles!
Aithal has done a wonderful job of creating a vision of our first encounter, as these three very human astronauts crash onto a world so very similar, yet different from Earth as they discover new truths of survival, secrets kept from them and attempt to find a way back through a portal to their own world! Looking for a non-violent and non-terrifying glorification of aliens? A quick read that doesn’t get caught up in too much scientific jargon, but brings out the humanity and flaws of all peoples and the hopes for peaceful coexistence. Low on heavy action but high on interaction, let your imagination spin out of this world and beyond!
I received this copy from Aithal in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Galaxy Series - Book 1
Publisher: Season Ball (November 25, 2015)
Publication Date: November 25, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction
Print Length: 362 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 17, 2017
I have had a liking for good science fiction since reading Stranger in a Strange Land in high school. More recently I thoroughly enjoyed The Martian and Seveneves.
I received an ebook copy of this book from the author for an honest review. Thanks, Aithal! It was enjoyable and quite imaginative. The author is very concerned about prejudice, violence and global warming, as he should be with the new head of the EPA, who is a climate change denier.
To summarize the plot: A three-man crew blasts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a last-ditch mission to explore a faraway planet in our galaxy that NASA hopes will be habitable and have drinkable water because Earth is drying up. Two men on the mission are career astronauts and the third crew member is a woman scientist whose specialty is plant life.
They run into problems early on which cause the crew to pass out. When they come to, they are orbiting an unknown planet and are forced to land. There they meet an alien population who are surprisingly human-like and speak English. What they learn from them will shock the crew.
The book ends with a 'to be continued' note as one problem is solved but we are left to wonder: can the crew ever make it back to Earth? I am looking forward to finding out.
My main quibble with the book was that I thought the characters were flat and two-dimensional. There is only one female character in the entire book and she is a screamer. I got very tired of her screaming or screeching when anything scary happened. I expect modern females to be strong and brave--even if this WAS her first time in space. She always took a step back when the men rushed forward to save the day. She did use her brain in one situation (that I won't disclose)and was a great help; thank goodness for that. It was just hard to picture someone who is terribly afraid of heights agreeing to go on a space mission in the first place. :)
As I said, it was an enjoyable read with an interesting plot, not bad at all for a self-published author, trying his hand at a new sci-fi series. I want to mention that each chapter begins with a very well-done drawing and a poem, which is a nice touch, I thought, and adds to the enjoyment
I received an ebook copy of this book from the author for an honest review. Thanks, Aithal! It was enjoyable and quite imaginative. The author is very concerned about prejudice, violence and global warming, as he should be with the new head of the EPA, who is a climate change denier.
To summarize the plot: A three-man crew blasts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a last-ditch mission to explore a faraway planet in our galaxy that NASA hopes will be habitable and have drinkable water because Earth is drying up. Two men on the mission are career astronauts and the third crew member is a woman scientist whose specialty is plant life.
They run into problems early on which cause the crew to pass out. When they come to, they are orbiting an unknown planet and are forced to land. There they meet an alien population who are surprisingly human-like and speak English. What they learn from them will shock the crew.
The book ends with a 'to be continued' note as one problem is solved but we are left to wonder: can the crew ever make it back to Earth? I am looking forward to finding out.
My main quibble with the book was that I thought the characters were flat and two-dimensional. There is only one female character in the entire book and she is a screamer. I got very tired of her screaming or screeching when anything scary happened. I expect modern females to be strong and brave--even if this WAS her first time in space. She always took a step back when the men rushed forward to save the day. She did use her brain in one situation (that I won't disclose)and was a great help; thank goodness for that. It was just hard to picture someone who is terribly afraid of heights agreeing to go on a space mission in the first place. :)
As I said, it was an enjoyable read with an interesting plot, not bad at all for a self-published author, trying his hand at a new sci-fi series. I want to mention that each chapter begins with a very well-done drawing and a poem, which is a nice touch, I thought, and adds to the enjoyment
Read
October 2, 2020 (I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
BLURB
Are we alone?
Three astronauts go to space in search of a planet that probably has water—one of the basic elements for humanity to survive. Do they find it? What else do they find? They encounter something—something strange—beyond their wildest imaginations, and their mission-to-explore becomes a mission-to-survive.
They experience something that makes them question their beliefs. All the things they had taken for granted, everything they had seen and learned, don’t seem to apply any longer.
Something happens along the way that makes them yearn to come back to Earth. After all, home is where the heart is.
This is not just another science fiction. Rather, it will make you question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.
CHARACTERS
The story is filled with realistic, compelling characters who keep the readers hooked. Even the 'otherworldly' characters have been well crafted by the author. Honestly can't say more without giving out any spoilers.
PLOT
Can we talk about how absolutely awesome the plot is? Since this is a spoiler-free review I can't tell you about the exact things that were awesome about the plot, so you'll just have to take my word for it. The plot make me go into self-introspection. True to what the book's blurb says, the story makes one question a whole lot of things that we generally take for granted. This is a science fiction book yes, but philosophy is interspersed with the plot in a really interesting manner. Also it is the first book of a series and ends with a cliffhanger! I really want to know what happens next and also the answers to various questions that have popped up throughout the book.
WRITING
The writing is clutter free and the descriptions are vivid without getting overtly descriptive. The social commentary and discussions throughout the book are written in a very intriguing manner and play an important role in the shaping of the plot. The writing is in such a way that it helps the reader connect to the story.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The highly interesting plot
-The characters
-The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-Ends in a cliffhanger!! ( Its not a huge complaint at all. I'm just incredibly impatient!)
CONCLUSION
It is a thought-provoking book with a unique plot and compelling characters. I would recommend this book to everyone looking for a unique sci-fi storyline.
BLURB
Are we alone?
Three astronauts go to space in search of a planet that probably has water—one of the basic elements for humanity to survive. Do they find it? What else do they find? They encounter something—something strange—beyond their wildest imaginations, and their mission-to-explore becomes a mission-to-survive.
They experience something that makes them question their beliefs. All the things they had taken for granted, everything they had seen and learned, don’t seem to apply any longer.
Something happens along the way that makes them yearn to come back to Earth. After all, home is where the heart is.
This is not just another science fiction. Rather, it will make you question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.
CHARACTERS
The story is filled with realistic, compelling characters who keep the readers hooked. Even the 'otherworldly' characters have been well crafted by the author. Honestly can't say more without giving out any spoilers.
PLOT
Can we talk about how absolutely awesome the plot is? Since this is a spoiler-free review I can't tell you about the exact things that were awesome about the plot, so you'll just have to take my word for it. The plot make me go into self-introspection. True to what the book's blurb says, the story makes one question a whole lot of things that we generally take for granted. This is a science fiction book yes, but philosophy is interspersed with the plot in a really interesting manner. Also it is the first book of a series and ends with a cliffhanger! I really want to know what happens next and also the answers to various questions that have popped up throughout the book.
WRITING
The writing is clutter free and the descriptions are vivid without getting overtly descriptive. The social commentary and discussions throughout the book are written in a very intriguing manner and play an important role in the shaping of the plot. The writing is in such a way that it helps the reader connect to the story.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The highly interesting plot
-The characters
-The writing
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
-Ends in a cliffhanger!! ( Its not a huge complaint at all. I'm just incredibly impatient!)
CONCLUSION
It is a thought-provoking book with a unique plot and compelling characters. I would recommend this book to everyone looking for a unique sci-fi storyline.
October 25, 2017
Beyond The Milky Way book one in The Galaxy Series a new series by Aithal. Beyond The Milky Way is science fiction story about survival and the first contact of people living on other planets. Flight Commander Donald Stockton, Mission Pilot Terence Carter and Mission Specialist Kimberly Williams where three astronauts who went into outer space to find planets that have good drinking water. However, what they found was not what they expected. The Readers of Beyond, The Milky Way, will follow the twist and turns to see what happens to light Commander Donald Stockton, Mission Pilot Terence Carter and Mission Specialist Kimberly Williams.
I did enjoy reading Beyond The Milky Way it was different to other science fictions books I have read. I like the way Aithal describes the plots and especially his portrayal of his characters. I love the way Aithal adds drawings at the beginning of each chapter.
The readers of Beyond, The Milky Way, will start to think about is there other life forms that could be living in outer space. Also, The Readers will think about being an astronaut and travel outer space visiting new places.
Thanks to the Author for my ARC copy for an honest review. I recommend this book
I did enjoy reading Beyond The Milky Way it was different to other science fictions books I have read. I like the way Aithal describes the plots and especially his portrayal of his characters. I love the way Aithal adds drawings at the beginning of each chapter.
The readers of Beyond, The Milky Way, will start to think about is there other life forms that could be living in outer space. Also, The Readers will think about being an astronaut and travel outer space visiting new places.
Thanks to the Author for my ARC copy for an honest review. I recommend this book
December 28, 2015
Aithal has done a great job presenting questions and possibilities with regards to our planet, our race, our galaxy and our universe. The subjects he presents are matters that I have been discussing with my husband and close friends for a number of years. Regardless where people are, there are challenges facing us - all of us. These challenges must be considered and decided upon where to move next, moving forward rather than backward. Focusing on what was and what is doesn't always allow us to take the necessary steps to solve such challenges - so where do we go from there?
That dang cliffy! AHHH! It was great and I look forward to see where the next book goes. It's funny that I've read this - aside from the romance novels I'm writing, I'm actually working on a sci-fi fantasy that poses similar ideas for readers to ponder and more.
A great second book by the author after the first novel, India Was One that is very different but still strong. You'll learn a lot about the author by reading both books. :)
That dang cliffy! AHHH! It was great and I look forward to see where the next book goes. It's funny that I've read this - aside from the romance novels I'm writing, I'm actually working on a sci-fi fantasy that poses similar ideas for readers to ponder and more.
A great second book by the author after the first novel, India Was One that is very different but still strong. You'll learn a lot about the author by reading both books. :)
March 29, 2017
I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi but I really enjoyed this book. I liked the whole concept of it and the imagination it took to conceive of it.
We've all wondered at one point or another if we're alone in the universe or if there are others somewhere out there. This book explores that idea and takes it to a whole new level.
But this book is so much more than a science fiction novel; woven throughout the story are issues that are relevant today like climate change, discrimination, and many others. It poses the questions of what will our species do when we have exhausted our resources here on Earth. Do we sit around waiting for our doom? Or do we actively seek out a solution?
The three astronauts in this book are chosen for seeking out an alternative for the extinction of the human race, and the journey they go on is different from the one they had prepared for. The author does a great job in portraying their fear and uncertainty in their new surroundings.
Would recommend.
We've all wondered at one point or another if we're alone in the universe or if there are others somewhere out there. This book explores that idea and takes it to a whole new level.
But this book is so much more than a science fiction novel; woven throughout the story are issues that are relevant today like climate change, discrimination, and many others. It poses the questions of what will our species do when we have exhausted our resources here on Earth. Do we sit around waiting for our doom? Or do we actively seek out a solution?
The three astronauts in this book are chosen for seeking out an alternative for the extinction of the human race, and the journey they go on is different from the one they had prepared for. The author does a great job in portraying their fear and uncertainty in their new surroundings.
Would recommend.
June 30, 2017
Decent read, great environmental message. Faded when it "got too sci fi."
November 22, 2015
It’s been a long time since I last read a science-fiction novel, so I welcomed the opportunity to dive into the ARC of “Beyond the Milky Way” by Aithal. And the book certainly didn’t disappoint me.
The story starts with a bang – almost literally – and keeps up the thrilling pace. I didn’t find a single page boring or superfluous, and that isn’t the case about all sci-fi books out there. What I liked straight away is that we know a bit more about what is going on than the protagonists, and that makes it all the more nerve-wracking. I’m also pleased that that the author has included a woman in the main trio.
The story takes us into space and to another planet, and it combines the thrill of new discoveries, doubtful friends and exotic threats with a nice philosophical touch. You can feel that the author has put a lot of thought into what kind of message he wants to convey, and I echo his sentiments and outlook on life. A lot of issues crop up in the book, cleverly – but not overly – criticizing human behaviour with its many dangerous aspects.
This book is Book 1 of a series, and I will certainly pick up Book 2 when it comes out. Although the story ends on a cliffhanger, it didn’t leave me frustrated, only thoughtful and entertained in equal measure. The lovely illustrations and quotes / poems added to the appeal of the book, as was also the case with “India Was One” by An Indian.
The story starts with a bang – almost literally – and keeps up the thrilling pace. I didn’t find a single page boring or superfluous, and that isn’t the case about all sci-fi books out there. What I liked straight away is that we know a bit more about what is going on than the protagonists, and that makes it all the more nerve-wracking. I’m also pleased that that the author has included a woman in the main trio.
The story takes us into space and to another planet, and it combines the thrill of new discoveries, doubtful friends and exotic threats with a nice philosophical touch. You can feel that the author has put a lot of thought into what kind of message he wants to convey, and I echo his sentiments and outlook on life. A lot of issues crop up in the book, cleverly – but not overly – criticizing human behaviour with its many dangerous aspects.
This book is Book 1 of a series, and I will certainly pick up Book 2 when it comes out. Although the story ends on a cliffhanger, it didn’t leave me frustrated, only thoughtful and entertained in equal measure. The lovely illustrations and quotes / poems added to the appeal of the book, as was also the case with “India Was One” by An Indian.
November 25, 2015
When this book was offered to me I was really excited having read Aithal's other amazing book India Was One, I knew the writing and story would be fantastic. This book is available today and if you are a fan of the Martian I think this book will give you a lot of pleasure as well.
When I read the summary, my first thought was hmmm I am not sure how that will deliver. Well I can tell you that the story will have you questioning many things, beliefs, existence, can we survive on another planet? That is just the tip of the iceberg. This book engages your mind in a way that not many books will do. This book is deep. What is home? That question ran through my mind multiple times.
The book moves at such a pace, that if you do not have a few hours to read this book I wouldn't recommend starting the book until you do. The book makes a running start and does not let up.
I can't help but smile because while this book often made me think whoa, it was so well done I can't help but wait for for book 2 and the continuation of this amazing story.
Do yourself a favor and go get this book today, it is amazing.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, as always the opinions are my own.
When I read the summary, my first thought was hmmm I am not sure how that will deliver. Well I can tell you that the story will have you questioning many things, beliefs, existence, can we survive on another planet? That is just the tip of the iceberg. This book engages your mind in a way that not many books will do. This book is deep. What is home? That question ran through my mind multiple times.
The book moves at such a pace, that if you do not have a few hours to read this book I wouldn't recommend starting the book until you do. The book makes a running start and does not let up.
I can't help but smile because while this book often made me think whoa, it was so well done I can't help but wait for for book 2 and the continuation of this amazing story.
Do yourself a favor and go get this book today, it is amazing.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, as always the opinions are my own.
August 28, 2017
Introduction:
As always, firstly I would like to thank the author for giving us an opportunity to read and review this unique book. Since I am not a sci-fi buff, I was a bit sceptical before accepting this book. However, I finally decided to go for it and it came as a surprise for me. ‘Beyond The Milky Way’ is a very different book with an interesting plotline.
Writing style:
Since the book is a science fiction, I had expected it to be complicated with jargon words and difficult-to-understand sentences. But to my surprise, the book is written in a very simple language with very little use of jargon so that every layman can easily understand it.
My perception:
For a sci-fi book, this one is pretty adventurous and interesting. In fact, with every chapter, I found my interest rising in the adventures of the astronauts. It isn’t a book that will bore you with scientific and astronomical theory and terms. In fact, it is more of an adventure book that keeps the reader’s attention intact right till the end.
Read full review at: http://www.haloofbooks.com/beyond-the...
As always, firstly I would like to thank the author for giving us an opportunity to read and review this unique book. Since I am not a sci-fi buff, I was a bit sceptical before accepting this book. However, I finally decided to go for it and it came as a surprise for me. ‘Beyond The Milky Way’ is a very different book with an interesting plotline.
Writing style:
Since the book is a science fiction, I had expected it to be complicated with jargon words and difficult-to-understand sentences. But to my surprise, the book is written in a very simple language with very little use of jargon so that every layman can easily understand it.
My perception:
For a sci-fi book, this one is pretty adventurous and interesting. In fact, with every chapter, I found my interest rising in the adventures of the astronauts. It isn’t a book that will bore you with scientific and astronomical theory and terms. In fact, it is more of an adventure book that keeps the reader’s attention intact right till the end.
Read full review at: http://www.haloofbooks.com/beyond-the...
March 9, 2017
I received an ebook of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I quite liked this book. It was interesting, mature, and relevant, which are the reasons I love sci-fi so much. Sci-fi is a genre which can allow authors comment on current and modern societal problems whilst keeping at a safe distance.
Many important themes were explored in this book such as discrimination, gun control, and global warming. Introducing aliens allows the author to give two sets of opposing opinions in an interesting way. For example, looking at gun control from being in a country which allows the right the bear arms, and the outsider's perspective.
The only negative about this book was that it tended to drag a bit and repeat itself, therefore conciseness is key. Other than that, I liked Tom the best as a character and look forward to reading more about him in the sequel!
I quite liked this book. It was interesting, mature, and relevant, which are the reasons I love sci-fi so much. Sci-fi is a genre which can allow authors comment on current and modern societal problems whilst keeping at a safe distance.
Many important themes were explored in this book such as discrimination, gun control, and global warming. Introducing aliens allows the author to give two sets of opposing opinions in an interesting way. For example, looking at gun control from being in a country which allows the right the bear arms, and the outsider's perspective.
The only negative about this book was that it tended to drag a bit and repeat itself, therefore conciseness is key. Other than that, I liked Tom the best as a character and look forward to reading more about him in the sequel!
January 19, 2017
This is an excellent, well written story set on an alien planet where human astronauts have crash landed. The characters, human and non human alike, are brilliantly portrayed and the interaction between them all is excellent. The readers imagination is captured and taken on a roller coaster adventure from very early on in the book and keeps the pages turning faster than realised right through to the end.
If you like a space/time travel adventure this is definitely the book for you!
I chose to review a free copy of the book
If you like a space/time travel adventure this is definitely the book for you!
I chose to review a free copy of the book
June 30, 2017
Really did enjoy this book. It tells what is the most possible future of this planet we live in. Best character is Don, he can really think. He can argue to learn not to prove who is right. I recommend this book to everyone. Even if you do not pay attention to the characters (who by the way are awesome), then pay attention to their environment., there is something to learn.
March 22, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Astronauts attempt to travel to another planet to find water, and a suitable place for humans to live. They accidentally fly through a portal and discover something more.
Almost seems like something out of the 1970's.
Astronauts attempt to travel to another planet to find water, and a suitable place for humans to live. They accidentally fly through a portal and discover something more.
Almost seems like something out of the 1970's.
July 16, 2017
Well it's a science fiction, with lots of twists and turns. Personally I found this book very intriguing. It was hard to stop. The story begins with a space expedition with three astronauts to find life on some other planet as earth's resources are slowly depleting. Meanwhile due to a ongoing sopqr flare they enter a different galaxy. They have kept the concept of aliens very different from the general. This book offers you a lot. It's thought provoking and the language is very straightforward.
I loved this also now looking forward to finish part 2.
Il reccomend this if you want to read some light fast paced science fiction book.
Happy Reading.
I loved this also now looking forward to finish part 2.
Il reccomend this if you want to read some light fast paced science fiction book.
Happy Reading.
September 2, 2017
First of all I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy.
Beyond the Milky Way is the story of three astronauts and their search for life on another planet in the galaxy. Their space shuttle crashes mid way so they accidentally go through a portal and are forced to eject themselves and land up on a planet in a different galaxy which is similar to our planet Earth.
The subject of aliens, parallel universe and another earth really do interest me, a lot. But I found this book pretty weak and not as exciting as I thought it'd be.
Beyond the Milky Way is the story of three astronauts and their search for life on another planet in the galaxy. Their space shuttle crashes mid way so they accidentally go through a portal and are forced to eject themselves and land up on a planet in a different galaxy which is similar to our planet Earth.
The subject of aliens, parallel universe and another earth really do interest me, a lot. But I found this book pretty weak and not as exciting as I thought it'd be.
February 15, 2017
“We have to find a way to prolong our existence.’
Upon the publishing of his first book in 2011 - INDIA WAS ONE - the author simply used the name ‘An Indian’ and this reader stated the following: An Indian is the author of this short book – no name is offered. He was born and raised in Mumbai, India, came to the US in 1989 to New York and currently resides in Los Angeles. His book contains illustration drawings by Darshini. Now we know is name is Aithal and BEYOND THE MILKY WAY and was published in 2015 and is part of a series he calls The Galaxy Series. Once again he wisely uses the illustrations of Darshini that add to the beauty of his book.
Aithal understands the importance of initiating a novel with a commanding opening and in this case of a space novel that offers a ‘blast off’ – ‘“T minus twenty minutes and counting.” It was a typical Florida day at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral: hot and muggy. Although it was only ten o’clock in the morning, people were already sweating. Many folks held umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching sun. Others were wearing various kinds of hats and caps, and their shirts and tees were wet with sweat. Their armpits— and wherever else their garments touched the skin— were showing dark patches of sweat. Almost everyone was wearing shorts. They didn’t care whether they suited them or not; they just wanted to be comfortable. The combination of sunscreen and sweat made their skins glisten, and sunglasses covered their eyes. A big crowd had gathered to watch the launch live. All sorts of vehicles were parked haphazardly on the flat meadow. Many spectators had climbed on the roofs of their RVs to get a better view. Some, with flatbed trucks, had brought lawn chairs with attached umbrellas were sitting in them, enjoying chilled beverages. Every once in a while, some of them would roll their cold cans over their faces to get some temporary relief from the sweltering heat.’
Aithal’s book introduces all manner of galaxy mysteries and his synopsis gels these well: ‘Are we alone? Three astronauts go to space in search of a planet that probably has water—one of the basic elements for humanity to survive. Do they find it? What else do they find? They encounter something—something strange—beyond their wildest imaginations, and their mission-to-explore becomes a mission-to-survive. They experience something that makes them question their beliefs. All the things they had taken for granted, everything they had seen and learned, don’t seem to apply any longer. Something happens along the way that makes them yearn to come back to Earth. After all, home is where the heart is.’ And he adds, ‘this book will make you question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.’
While not an epic novel it is a most entertaining science fiction adventure that does indeed provide food for thought. We all realize we are approaching the time when we must consider other modes of existence and Aithal’s book opens some of those windows for us.
Upon the publishing of his first book in 2011 - INDIA WAS ONE - the author simply used the name ‘An Indian’ and this reader stated the following: An Indian is the author of this short book – no name is offered. He was born and raised in Mumbai, India, came to the US in 1989 to New York and currently resides in Los Angeles. His book contains illustration drawings by Darshini. Now we know is name is Aithal and BEYOND THE MILKY WAY and was published in 2015 and is part of a series he calls The Galaxy Series. Once again he wisely uses the illustrations of Darshini that add to the beauty of his book.
Aithal understands the importance of initiating a novel with a commanding opening and in this case of a space novel that offers a ‘blast off’ – ‘“T minus twenty minutes and counting.” It was a typical Florida day at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral: hot and muggy. Although it was only ten o’clock in the morning, people were already sweating. Many folks held umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching sun. Others were wearing various kinds of hats and caps, and their shirts and tees were wet with sweat. Their armpits— and wherever else their garments touched the skin— were showing dark patches of sweat. Almost everyone was wearing shorts. They didn’t care whether they suited them or not; they just wanted to be comfortable. The combination of sunscreen and sweat made their skins glisten, and sunglasses covered their eyes. A big crowd had gathered to watch the launch live. All sorts of vehicles were parked haphazardly on the flat meadow. Many spectators had climbed on the roofs of their RVs to get a better view. Some, with flatbed trucks, had brought lawn chairs with attached umbrellas were sitting in them, enjoying chilled beverages. Every once in a while, some of them would roll their cold cans over their faces to get some temporary relief from the sweltering heat.’
Aithal’s book introduces all manner of galaxy mysteries and his synopsis gels these well: ‘Are we alone? Three astronauts go to space in search of a planet that probably has water—one of the basic elements for humanity to survive. Do they find it? What else do they find? They encounter something—something strange—beyond their wildest imaginations, and their mission-to-explore becomes a mission-to-survive. They experience something that makes them question their beliefs. All the things they had taken for granted, everything they had seen and learned, don’t seem to apply any longer. Something happens along the way that makes them yearn to come back to Earth. After all, home is where the heart is.’ And he adds, ‘this book will make you question your own beliefs—may they be scientific, religious, political, or something else.’
While not an epic novel it is a most entertaining science fiction adventure that does indeed provide food for thought. We all realize we are approaching the time when we must consider other modes of existence and Aithal’s book opens some of those windows for us.
December 22, 2018
“Their notion of justice is very different here. You saw how they were shocked when they found out that we didn’t have laws on our planet. I didn’t want to tell them anything else to jeopardize this—” Rick replied, and then he hesitated, “—mission.”The Aliens
The subject of the story is humans destroying Earth, and finding a way to be better humans to our planet and each other. But..I had way too many head slaps reading this... It is so cliche and General Sci Fi.
Anyways,"The Last One"is a space shuttle, sent with 3 people (Don, Terry and Kim), to check out a new planet, because it has water and no oxygen. Scientists want to know if Life can be sustained without oxygen because our Earth...doesn't have much left, water is another resource that is scarce. Our population is overflowing, famine is widespread..but ppl are buying ice cream and trying to drink beer at the launch like nothing's happening...just entertainment. The first 17% of the book is filled with Space/Science jargon, and a flimsy reason for the last launch, before NASA loses funding..which would go where instead? I don't know..because if the shuttle was the last option before the world goes permanently thirsty.. Uh..head slap. The people and politician's seem completely oblivious.
But then..after loosing the shuttle's equipment and crashing due to a star flare..they crash on a new Earth! Not only in another galaxy far- far away, but in the future...
Ok..when you travel in space...and come back..time moves slower in space right??
A New Earth With : animals that roamed around in the Dino age, a "darker" colored jungle, sectioned human inhabitants that don't cooperate, general aliens called.."aliens" that look like humans..they sure aren't very advanced if they can't even build a new space ship, and live in domes. Not very new.
I liked the last 10% of the book, which had action..our Trio plus Tom were on a mission to re-capture "the aliens" only ride from the "Shadow People".
I think the "Aliens" should have a name besides the aliens. Also they look human, and all have similar names...I had trouble remembering who was who.
I have had problems with the story/ Plot from the beginning. It seems so cliche, towards the science fiction genre. I understand what the author is trying to say, but I just don't think that this genre is the way to explain his idea.
** The essay at the end = Perfect! "Ostriches vs Believers" Loved it! But some suggestions on what to do would be nice :) So my star goes for the essay!
I was given a copy by the author, all opinions are my own. I really enjoyed "India Was One" by this author but this story just wasn't my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2017
“Beyond the Milky Way” is a book by a new author who has a good future ahead of him as a Sci-Fi writer. The book was self-published. But, unlike a few self-published books I’ve recently read, Aithal did a good job editing “Beyond the Milky Way”. There were a few areas in the eBook version where phrases were repeated. But, this was a minor distraction when compared to the misspellings and lack of capitalization that I see in other self-published books.
As a criticism of the author, I think that his description of the books female character is behind the times. In the 40’s and 50’s, it was common to portray a woman as weak and easily frightened. But that is not how a typical woman brought up on a Texas ranch is seen today. Actually, no American woman wants to be thought of as such.
To further show this disconnect, Aithal’s female astronaut is squeamish about being in space and in high places. She screams whenever startled and macho male characters, like in a 50’s Sci-Fi book, quickly jump to defend this delicate creature. Also, there were no female characters among the alien leaders or their lieutenants. In the enlightened society that these aliens supposedly have, such a manifestation would be unlikely.
A female astronaut today, like a female executive, a female soldier, or a policewoman, is expected and trained to be confident when faced with uncertainties. American women do read Sci-Fi; portraying them as weak could turn them off to this author.
I sense that I’m being too critical, because, I liked the book! It’s about a team of astronauts who are on a mission to another planet in hopes of finding water for a parched Earth. They accidentally get sucked into a vortex that sends them across the galaxy to another planet inhabited by aliens that look like us but are more advanced with superior technology and communication skills. The astronauts begin to wonder if they’ve found Eden but soon become aware of problems among the aliens that are not spoken of.
The book ends with the astronauts taking the aliens’ only starship and returning to Earth. On escaping with the ship from a population of mutant aliens, some of these mutants get on board. Also on board is a stranded normal alien. These stowaways will undoubtedly be addressed in the second book in this series as it will start with the spaceship’s arrival on Earth.
Each chapter started with an illustration depicting a scene from that chapter, a nice touch. The illustrator, Darshini, has my compliments.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in “The Galaxy Series”, “Return to Earth”. I noticed that it’s already listed on Amazon.
As a criticism of the author, I think that his description of the books female character is behind the times. In the 40’s and 50’s, it was common to portray a woman as weak and easily frightened. But that is not how a typical woman brought up on a Texas ranch is seen today. Actually, no American woman wants to be thought of as such.
To further show this disconnect, Aithal’s female astronaut is squeamish about being in space and in high places. She screams whenever startled and macho male characters, like in a 50’s Sci-Fi book, quickly jump to defend this delicate creature. Also, there were no female characters among the alien leaders or their lieutenants. In the enlightened society that these aliens supposedly have, such a manifestation would be unlikely.
A female astronaut today, like a female executive, a female soldier, or a policewoman, is expected and trained to be confident when faced with uncertainties. American women do read Sci-Fi; portraying them as weak could turn them off to this author.
I sense that I’m being too critical, because, I liked the book! It’s about a team of astronauts who are on a mission to another planet in hopes of finding water for a parched Earth. They accidentally get sucked into a vortex that sends them across the galaxy to another planet inhabited by aliens that look like us but are more advanced with superior technology and communication skills. The astronauts begin to wonder if they’ve found Eden but soon become aware of problems among the aliens that are not spoken of.
The book ends with the astronauts taking the aliens’ only starship and returning to Earth. On escaping with the ship from a population of mutant aliens, some of these mutants get on board. Also on board is a stranded normal alien. These stowaways will undoubtedly be addressed in the second book in this series as it will start with the spaceship’s arrival on Earth.
Each chapter started with an illustration depicting a scene from that chapter, a nice touch. The illustrator, Darshini, has my compliments.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in “The Galaxy Series”, “Return to Earth”. I noticed that it’s already listed on Amazon.
March 31, 2017
I liked this book. I do not generally read SyFy so when I started reading it I almost didn't finish because it started out slow because of the technical parts but I kept going and really got involved with the characters and the whole outer space idea. I don't want to say to much and give away all the good parts you will enjoy when you read it. It was an exciting and fun read and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
September 14, 2016
Having read this author's work before I've come to expect writing that has a deeper meaning than on the surface. I like that in literature. It prompt one to ponder. I gathered the author is saying we humans do not need another planet, we need to take care of the one we already have for if we do not change, even shall we find another one we will mess that one up too.
August 28, 2017
I feel really bad for leaving two stars here, but my review will explain why this one dropped from three to two practically in an instant as I read. I don't like leaving negative reviews but I'm thorough and I'm honest about why I do.
The author asked me to review this book, and I agreed with a little hesitance—the glowing four- and five-star ratings on GR and Amazon were in complete opposition to the one- and two-star reviews which mentioned important (negative) issues. I’m sorry to say the lower ratings were the accurate ones.
I liked the premise of the book: a small crew of astronauts goes on a mission to explore a distant planet in the hopes of finding more sustainable resources. However, a lot of things are left unexplained. The mission is a last resort (“Colonizing this unknown planet is our only option”), the narrative talks about famine being “widespread” and yet everything that describes the community on launch day doesn’t seem to show any of it. People are going about their business, watching it as a carnival event with ice cream and snack vendors, not looking and acting like a society that is desperate for a last-ditch mission to save their planet.
The beginning is a multi-page info dump, brought to us in the form of a TV announcer at the launch. It reads as if portions of a science textbook were simply pasted verbatim. I’m in favor of factual inclusions, but this was a poor way to do it; the information was unnecessary to the storyline and none of it sounded like what a TV announcer would even bother with.
<<“We know there is water on this unknown planet, and where there is water, there is life. Without water, no life has ever been sustained. We all know how dangerously low our water resources are. Sure, we have plenty of seawater. But it is salty and is not meant for human consumption. A few companies have tried to develop technology to convert it into fresh water by spending billions of dollars on desalination plants. However, it’s way too expensive and not practical. The Resources are dwindling, and famine is widespread. This is it folks—it’s now or never. Colonizing this unknown planet is our only option,” he said, trying to sound dramatic. “And by water, I mean liquid water. Water can be in other states too: frozen solid or evaporated into a gas. Take Enceladus, the sixth-largest moon of Saturn. We have discovered a water-rich plume venting from its south-polar region. It shoots geyser-like jets of water vapor that are about one hundred miles long. Think of it as a volcano, but instead of lava, it’s pouring out steam…a cryovolcanic eruption. So, even though we know it has water, life is not possible for us humans—primitive microbial life may be possible—but not for us. Saturn has twenty-six million times the water on Earth. Yes, you heard it right, folks…twenty-six million. Liquid water is just one of the components required for us to survive. There are two more components that a planet needs to have—the right atmosphere and temperature. The planet cannot be too hot or too cold, only just right. Our neighbor, Venus, is around thirty percent closer to the sun and eight hundred degrees hotter. Then, there’s the atmosphere. It should have the right amount of oxygen for us to breathe. Of course, making a huge air-conditioned capsule can control these two to a certain degree. But not water. We need natural, liquid water that a planet can produce.”>>
The announcer goes on to say a lot more. About ten more pages, at least. And that’s the beginning of the book.
The science here has issues, as other reviewers have mentioned. The fact that they’re going into deep space in a shuttle (not a rocket or large spaceship) with a crew of only three is the first red flag, and it’s not the only one. There is an event that gets them into not only a different galaxy but a period of time in the future, and we’re told this happened through a “stellar flare” but no real details are created to explain how or why.
Technical writing mentions other than the info dump: the book needs a heavy copyedit and a solid proofreading afterward. The writing is not developed and reads choppy in many places. Here’s the description of Kim, the biologist/astronaut:
<<"She packed up and moved to the city. She was hired as an assistant researcher. She rented a one-bedroom apartment. She hated driving in the city. Her workplace was merely a brief walk from her home. She actually enjoyed the walk and was very relieved she wouldn’t have to buy a car. Her research involved rare plants and animals. Being a neat freak, she enjoyed the sterile environment and the white lab coats. They made her feel very secure.">>
There were many typos, missing words, and verb tense issues. About 44% through on my Kindle there was this:
<<“Which species?” Don was keen to find out (but you need to insert why), but Kim promised to tell him after they had eaten.>>
I don’t know if that was a note from the author to himself or what, because it didn’t make sense as part of the story.
There’s a lot of telling of what’s felt. People ask pleadingly, or anxiously. They grunt sarcastically. There is no action to show these things. There was head-hopping, and for some reason, the only person whose emotions are consistently mentioned is Kim, the only female in the book. Unfortunately, most of her emotions and reactions are fear, screaming, and some odd dynamic with one of the alien men which implies a closeness that isn’t shown or developed anywhere else.
Kim is a story deterrent all on her own, as the only female in the book, an astronaut with a horrid fear of heights, a screamer, and not very sure of herself. It doesn’t fit with anything one would need in an astronaut/explorer/biologist, and throughout the story, I kept wondering why she even had the job she had—most times it seemed as if she’d had no training at all, considering the severity and technicality of the mission. No one else seems inept, or afraid, or shows much of any other emotion.
The deciding factor that knocked this review from three stars to two is this: I was expecting a sci-fi journey, full of space-type things, perhaps aliens, something unusual and unique. What I got was an unexplained transport to a different galaxy with human-looking men who didn’t seem to have alien characteristics (other than the transfer of information through a drop of blood during a handshake, though it was never mentioned how the blood was there, through pinprick or seeping through the skin or what), who spoke English flawlessly, and who had secrets they never fully explained. There was buildup of a mysterious, dangerous journey that didn’t live up to the secretive hype.
What turned me off completely, though, was the constant preaching. The author makes no bones about his political leanings and works them into the book in such a way that they are overbearing and off-putting. This is marketed as a space science fiction book, but it is a thinly veiled push for a liberal agenda, and no stone is unturned. There is a portion on how terribly humans are abusing the environment. Race is mentioned. There is constant preaching about gun control and how bad guns are, no matter the reason for owning them. There is mention of how humans destroyed the ozone. There is a monologue about how much trash is produced (one section has trash floating in space because the humans had nowhere else to put the massive quantities on Earth). There is even a section in which “future” Earth is shown with a broken oil pipeline down its middle—the “good” Democrats had successfully thwarted it but then a “bad” Republican took office and built it and basically ruined the Earth.
If I want to read a liberal agenda (and I do not), I will pick up someone’s manifesto or autobiography. Had I known this was what the book was about, I would have never agreed to read it for review. I mentally tuned out around the 75% point because the constant social commentary was unavoidable and was actually making me angry. I made myself finish because I felt it was the right thing to do as per the agreement to review, but the writing errors combined with the lack of space science fiction aspects and not-so-hidden agenda really turned me off, and I won’t be continuing the series.
The author asked me to review this book, and I agreed with a little hesitance—the glowing four- and five-star ratings on GR and Amazon were in complete opposition to the one- and two-star reviews which mentioned important (negative) issues. I’m sorry to say the lower ratings were the accurate ones.
I liked the premise of the book: a small crew of astronauts goes on a mission to explore a distant planet in the hopes of finding more sustainable resources. However, a lot of things are left unexplained. The mission is a last resort (“Colonizing this unknown planet is our only option”), the narrative talks about famine being “widespread” and yet everything that describes the community on launch day doesn’t seem to show any of it. People are going about their business, watching it as a carnival event with ice cream and snack vendors, not looking and acting like a society that is desperate for a last-ditch mission to save their planet.
The beginning is a multi-page info dump, brought to us in the form of a TV announcer at the launch. It reads as if portions of a science textbook were simply pasted verbatim. I’m in favor of factual inclusions, but this was a poor way to do it; the information was unnecessary to the storyline and none of it sounded like what a TV announcer would even bother with.
<<“We know there is water on this unknown planet, and where there is water, there is life. Without water, no life has ever been sustained. We all know how dangerously low our water resources are. Sure, we have plenty of seawater. But it is salty and is not meant for human consumption. A few companies have tried to develop technology to convert it into fresh water by spending billions of dollars on desalination plants. However, it’s way too expensive and not practical. The Resources are dwindling, and famine is widespread. This is it folks—it’s now or never. Colonizing this unknown planet is our only option,” he said, trying to sound dramatic. “And by water, I mean liquid water. Water can be in other states too: frozen solid or evaporated into a gas. Take Enceladus, the sixth-largest moon of Saturn. We have discovered a water-rich plume venting from its south-polar region. It shoots geyser-like jets of water vapor that are about one hundred miles long. Think of it as a volcano, but instead of lava, it’s pouring out steam…a cryovolcanic eruption. So, even though we know it has water, life is not possible for us humans—primitive microbial life may be possible—but not for us. Saturn has twenty-six million times the water on Earth. Yes, you heard it right, folks…twenty-six million. Liquid water is just one of the components required for us to survive. There are two more components that a planet needs to have—the right atmosphere and temperature. The planet cannot be too hot or too cold, only just right. Our neighbor, Venus, is around thirty percent closer to the sun and eight hundred degrees hotter. Then, there’s the atmosphere. It should have the right amount of oxygen for us to breathe. Of course, making a huge air-conditioned capsule can control these two to a certain degree. But not water. We need natural, liquid water that a planet can produce.”>>
The announcer goes on to say a lot more. About ten more pages, at least. And that’s the beginning of the book.
The science here has issues, as other reviewers have mentioned. The fact that they’re going into deep space in a shuttle (not a rocket or large spaceship) with a crew of only three is the first red flag, and it’s not the only one. There is an event that gets them into not only a different galaxy but a period of time in the future, and we’re told this happened through a “stellar flare” but no real details are created to explain how or why.
Technical writing mentions other than the info dump: the book needs a heavy copyedit and a solid proofreading afterward. The writing is not developed and reads choppy in many places. Here’s the description of Kim, the biologist/astronaut:
<<"She packed up and moved to the city. She was hired as an assistant researcher. She rented a one-bedroom apartment. She hated driving in the city. Her workplace was merely a brief walk from her home. She actually enjoyed the walk and was very relieved she wouldn’t have to buy a car. Her research involved rare plants and animals. Being a neat freak, she enjoyed the sterile environment and the white lab coats. They made her feel very secure.">>
There were many typos, missing words, and verb tense issues. About 44% through on my Kindle there was this:
<<“Which species?” Don was keen to find out (but you need to insert why), but Kim promised to tell him after they had eaten.>>
I don’t know if that was a note from the author to himself or what, because it didn’t make sense as part of the story.
There’s a lot of telling of what’s felt. People ask pleadingly, or anxiously. They grunt sarcastically. There is no action to show these things. There was head-hopping, and for some reason, the only person whose emotions are consistently mentioned is Kim, the only female in the book. Unfortunately, most of her emotions and reactions are fear, screaming, and some odd dynamic with one of the alien men which implies a closeness that isn’t shown or developed anywhere else.
Kim is a story deterrent all on her own, as the only female in the book, an astronaut with a horrid fear of heights, a screamer, and not very sure of herself. It doesn’t fit with anything one would need in an astronaut/explorer/biologist, and throughout the story, I kept wondering why she even had the job she had—most times it seemed as if she’d had no training at all, considering the severity and technicality of the mission. No one else seems inept, or afraid, or shows much of any other emotion.
The deciding factor that knocked this review from three stars to two is this: I was expecting a sci-fi journey, full of space-type things, perhaps aliens, something unusual and unique. What I got was an unexplained transport to a different galaxy with human-looking men who didn’t seem to have alien characteristics (other than the transfer of information through a drop of blood during a handshake, though it was never mentioned how the blood was there, through pinprick or seeping through the skin or what), who spoke English flawlessly, and who had secrets they never fully explained. There was buildup of a mysterious, dangerous journey that didn’t live up to the secretive hype.
What turned me off completely, though, was the constant preaching. The author makes no bones about his political leanings and works them into the book in such a way that they are overbearing and off-putting. This is marketed as a space science fiction book, but it is a thinly veiled push for a liberal agenda, and no stone is unturned. There is a portion on how terribly humans are abusing the environment. Race is mentioned. There is constant preaching about gun control and how bad guns are, no matter the reason for owning them. There is mention of how humans destroyed the ozone. There is a monologue about how much trash is produced (one section has trash floating in space because the humans had nowhere else to put the massive quantities on Earth). There is even a section in which “future” Earth is shown with a broken oil pipeline down its middle—the “good” Democrats had successfully thwarted it but then a “bad” Republican took office and built it and basically ruined the Earth.
If I want to read a liberal agenda (and I do not), I will pick up someone’s manifesto or autobiography. Had I known this was what the book was about, I would have never agreed to read it for review. I mentally tuned out around the 75% point because the constant social commentary was unavoidable and was actually making me angry. I made myself finish because I felt it was the right thing to do as per the agreement to review, but the writing errors combined with the lack of space science fiction aspects and not-so-hidden agenda really turned me off, and I won’t be continuing the series.
March 12, 2018
This is a science fiction and fantasy adventure which has a lot going for it but, sadly, it has also been compromised a little by forces which drag it back like unnecessary luggage. I’ll try to explain.
The best elements of this novel are the imaginative interludes on a strange planet, the world building and unusually sustainable plan for future society, the science fiction architecture of mushroom-like habitations that rise out of reach when the twin moons flood the land, the use of hoverpods and the concept of brability. With caveats, I have to acknowledge the by now traditional use of science fiction as a vehicle to force introspection in us; to make us re-evaluate what we are doing to the world, our mistakes and where we are going. That is science fiction’s job, absolutely, but the message has to be approachable and subtle as preaching openly tends to put readers off.
One of the arguably good or bad elements of this novel must be the information dump at the beginning. I quite like information dumps because I learn a lot in a condensed form and I think it was a good tool in this story to have a broadcaster reading from NASA’s detailed press information release, as that was a good excuse for technical context that would not normally be in a conversation. I don’t object to this element personally but I know readers often dislike information dumps as they can sound dry, like cut-and-pasted material from the internet, so that may or may not be your thing.
The negative aspects were on show as well and some of them can be attributed to the author being clever enough to have learned multiple languages, of which English is not the first tongue. I would never have the confidence to write in a different language and would be astounded if people didn’t suspect it wasn’t my first, so have to make an adjustment for some imperfections. An independent second pair of eyes is recommended if you are brave enough to do this though.
Having said that, a conveyor belt of short sentences reads unimpressively and an average of 8.3 words per sentence is poor when compared to the supposed average of 14 in literature. The average number of characters per word in this is also unusually low at 4.2. Then there’s the repetition. My analytical toy tells me that this 86,000 word text uses the word “he” 1,917 times and that the word “He” is the first word in 699 sentences, “His” accounts for another 89 and “The man” scores 27. All of this could be fixed and some of that work can be done by simply turning two short sentences into one with a conjunction. As a footnote, the sequel to this book does not have the same readability problem.
I do wonder why a surface to orbit space shuttle is used here as a deep space exploration vehicle and I also wonder how a vessel that small sent off in search of water might return with a supply copious enough for anyone to bother with. If much of the water on Earth has been spoiled, wouldn’t the new supply also become contaminated once it enters the water cycle? If the shuttle can make water from hydrogen, why doesn’t it just park on the runway and do that instead? Maybe I misunderstood. Another thing I didn’t follow was why a layer of poison gas beyond the atmosphere of a planet would be a problem, as no one would be out there unprotected to breathe it. I think it would also be torn away at the first sign of a solar flare. The character called Kim is essentially an emotional reactor, i.e. the boys do something and she registers a reaction like Faye Wray in King Kong. With the success of feminism, many writers have tried to even the balance for female characters and I see the author has attempted this by making her an expert in two subject areas, but the squealing is still a bit old fashioned.
Some simple typos appeared as I read through this, so there were issues left over after the copy editing. “The Untied States” was amusing, but there are also unnecessary double spaces in a few sentences, a couple of full stops and commas badly positioned or with gaps in front of them (e.g. “It was disc shaped with what looked like , rivets, on its edge”) consecutive repetition of words such as “whether whether”, “down down” and “on on”, then one “splitt up”, a “truely” and “It’s fur was black”. Another unintentionally funny line was “They are far more inferior than we are”, which suggests the aliens accept that, like humans, they are inferior to something else but not as much as the humans are.
The other issue which a fraction of the readership will find hard to stomach is the Christmas Carol (Dickens) effect. To be fair to the author, this book can be regarded as a snapshot in world history because he’s been writing a science fiction story at a time when heavy political events were unfolding in the background – specifically, the appointment of a divisive and undeniably polarising American president. I don’t want to get into the political rights and wrongs because the US is not my country and I though both candidates were worrying but I can observe that the author got distracted by this very political time and had very strong feelings against one side, which crept highly visibly into the story. The story therefore started as enjoyable and imaginative sci-fi adventure but the author’s voice became formidable when lecturing on gun control, pollution, global warming, religion, over population and the election, to the point where the reader has natural sympathy for those points but wonders what happened to the lovely sci-fi adventure. I’m not against conveying an educational message, but this was strong stuff and detracted from the enjoyment. In London, there’s a place called Hyde Park Corner where you can stand on a box and say these things for as long as you like, if anyone cares to listen. In case you wondered, the Christmas Carol technique is to show a future disaster to the characters and then give them an opportunity to go back to a previous point in time and lecture us all to not go down that alley (meaning not vote for that particular figure). If that real life figure turns out on balance to be beneficial, emphasising the if, by signing a huge peace treaty for example, it’s too late because the book is in print, so following this strategy is always a gamble.
On the whole, this is a good science fiction story, written by a capable imagination and told by a very committed voice, which means well but isn’t subtle. Richard Dawkins similarly pitches his views in and angry style, although on a different subject. Most of the flaws I’ve picked up could be fixed or softened in a second edition if the writer was concerned, in hindsight, about the possibility of alienating a few readers. If the author is not particularly bothered about annoying people who hold opposing views to his own, then that’s fine too. There is a history of free speech delivered as an undercurrent in fiction books and that right must be protected. No matter what else you believe, believe in that.
The best elements of this novel are the imaginative interludes on a strange planet, the world building and unusually sustainable plan for future society, the science fiction architecture of mushroom-like habitations that rise out of reach when the twin moons flood the land, the use of hoverpods and the concept of brability. With caveats, I have to acknowledge the by now traditional use of science fiction as a vehicle to force introspection in us; to make us re-evaluate what we are doing to the world, our mistakes and where we are going. That is science fiction’s job, absolutely, but the message has to be approachable and subtle as preaching openly tends to put readers off.
One of the arguably good or bad elements of this novel must be the information dump at the beginning. I quite like information dumps because I learn a lot in a condensed form and I think it was a good tool in this story to have a broadcaster reading from NASA’s detailed press information release, as that was a good excuse for technical context that would not normally be in a conversation. I don’t object to this element personally but I know readers often dislike information dumps as they can sound dry, like cut-and-pasted material from the internet, so that may or may not be your thing.
The negative aspects were on show as well and some of them can be attributed to the author being clever enough to have learned multiple languages, of which English is not the first tongue. I would never have the confidence to write in a different language and would be astounded if people didn’t suspect it wasn’t my first, so have to make an adjustment for some imperfections. An independent second pair of eyes is recommended if you are brave enough to do this though.
Having said that, a conveyor belt of short sentences reads unimpressively and an average of 8.3 words per sentence is poor when compared to the supposed average of 14 in literature. The average number of characters per word in this is also unusually low at 4.2. Then there’s the repetition. My analytical toy tells me that this 86,000 word text uses the word “he” 1,917 times and that the word “He” is the first word in 699 sentences, “His” accounts for another 89 and “The man” scores 27. All of this could be fixed and some of that work can be done by simply turning two short sentences into one with a conjunction. As a footnote, the sequel to this book does not have the same readability problem.
I do wonder why a surface to orbit space shuttle is used here as a deep space exploration vehicle and I also wonder how a vessel that small sent off in search of water might return with a supply copious enough for anyone to bother with. If much of the water on Earth has been spoiled, wouldn’t the new supply also become contaminated once it enters the water cycle? If the shuttle can make water from hydrogen, why doesn’t it just park on the runway and do that instead? Maybe I misunderstood. Another thing I didn’t follow was why a layer of poison gas beyond the atmosphere of a planet would be a problem, as no one would be out there unprotected to breathe it. I think it would also be torn away at the first sign of a solar flare. The character called Kim is essentially an emotional reactor, i.e. the boys do something and she registers a reaction like Faye Wray in King Kong. With the success of feminism, many writers have tried to even the balance for female characters and I see the author has attempted this by making her an expert in two subject areas, but the squealing is still a bit old fashioned.
Some simple typos appeared as I read through this, so there were issues left over after the copy editing. “The Untied States” was amusing, but there are also unnecessary double spaces in a few sentences, a couple of full stops and commas badly positioned or with gaps in front of them (e.g. “It was disc shaped with what looked like , rivets, on its edge”) consecutive repetition of words such as “whether whether”, “down down” and “on on”, then one “splitt up”, a “truely” and “It’s fur was black”. Another unintentionally funny line was “They are far more inferior than we are”, which suggests the aliens accept that, like humans, they are inferior to something else but not as much as the humans are.
The other issue which a fraction of the readership will find hard to stomach is the Christmas Carol (Dickens) effect. To be fair to the author, this book can be regarded as a snapshot in world history because he’s been writing a science fiction story at a time when heavy political events were unfolding in the background – specifically, the appointment of a divisive and undeniably polarising American president. I don’t want to get into the political rights and wrongs because the US is not my country and I though both candidates were worrying but I can observe that the author got distracted by this very political time and had very strong feelings against one side, which crept highly visibly into the story. The story therefore started as enjoyable and imaginative sci-fi adventure but the author’s voice became formidable when lecturing on gun control, pollution, global warming, religion, over population and the election, to the point where the reader has natural sympathy for those points but wonders what happened to the lovely sci-fi adventure. I’m not against conveying an educational message, but this was strong stuff and detracted from the enjoyment. In London, there’s a place called Hyde Park Corner where you can stand on a box and say these things for as long as you like, if anyone cares to listen. In case you wondered, the Christmas Carol technique is to show a future disaster to the characters and then give them an opportunity to go back to a previous point in time and lecture us all to not go down that alley (meaning not vote for that particular figure). If that real life figure turns out on balance to be beneficial, emphasising the if, by signing a huge peace treaty for example, it’s too late because the book is in print, so following this strategy is always a gamble.
On the whole, this is a good science fiction story, written by a capable imagination and told by a very committed voice, which means well but isn’t subtle. Richard Dawkins similarly pitches his views in and angry style, although on a different subject. Most of the flaws I’ve picked up could be fixed or softened in a second edition if the writer was concerned, in hindsight, about the possibility of alienating a few readers. If the author is not particularly bothered about annoying people who hold opposing views to his own, then that’s fine too. There is a history of free speech delivered as an undercurrent in fiction books and that right must be protected. No matter what else you believe, believe in that.
May 5, 2017
This review was originally posted on The Review Court
My Review
I found it hard to review this one. I was thinking about what I would say for days. There were things that really bothered me about this book. So much that my husband told me to just stop reading it. However, I got stuck at the doctor for hours one day, and ended up reading half the book.
I haven’t reviewed a book in this style in a long time, but I felt it was necessary for this book.
Plot: 4 stars
Let me talk about the plot first. Overall, I really liked the story and out of sheer curiosity about the ending, I kept pushing forward. I wanted to know what the big secret or plot-twist would be. However, there are some holes in this one. Generally, I don’t like to criticise fiction books too much when it comes to “accuracy” and I say this loosely because I can’t stand when someone makes a comment like “this isn’t the uniform soldiers wore in that time” simply because I feel like it’s kind of petty. Knowing this doesn’t make or break the story. It might not even change anything at all. However, my problem with this story is that the author had two main things in here (that fuels the plot along) that just didn’t make any sense to me.
As if that weren't enough, .
Writing: 2 stars
The story didn’t have too many spelling errors, and I really appreciate that, but it was lacklustre. There was a lot of narrative sections. It just kind of droned on and I wanted to just skip it and move on. A whole explanation of what happens while we wait for the rocket to launch. . Also, character descriptions are almost non-existent. One character is described simply as “a big man”. We get a few background details for him but, appearance wise, it's not there. We don’t find out one of the main character’s hair colour until 18% into the book. As for the others, let’s assume they are all bald. Something else I found overbearing was that all listings ended with “and many more”.
Honestly my biggest problem with the writing style is that it felt like someone was relating the story to me, and not like I was reading a novel. I don't know if you understand what I mean.
Characters: 2 stars
There is literally one female character. Everyone else is male. Kim is annoying. She can’t think for herself. All she can do is grin “sheepishly”, scream and cower. All the characters are one dimensional and I don’t really feel any interest in their well-being. To top this off, all our characters are named "Joe", "Tom", "Don", etc. Nothing exotic or original as one would expect from a story set . The author explains this as them using it for the visitor's benefit but even we have unique names.
Final Thoughts
The plot was really good, that alone carried the story forward and that alone kept my interest. I think the book could benefit from an edit. I wished that the author would use other descriptive words instead of the same ones over and over. The ultimate message in the story is one worth listening to.
The Verdict
It was ok.
My Review
I found it hard to review this one. I was thinking about what I would say for days. There were things that really bothered me about this book. So much that my husband told me to just stop reading it. However, I got stuck at the doctor for hours one day, and ended up reading half the book.
I haven’t reviewed a book in this style in a long time, but I felt it was necessary for this book.
Plot: 4 stars
Let me talk about the plot first. Overall, I really liked the story and out of sheer curiosity about the ending, I kept pushing forward. I wanted to know what the big secret or plot-twist would be. However, there are some holes in this one. Generally, I don’t like to criticise fiction books too much when it comes to “accuracy” and I say this loosely because I can’t stand when someone makes a comment like “this isn’t the uniform soldiers wore in that time” simply because I feel like it’s kind of petty. Knowing this doesn’t make or break the story. It might not even change anything at all. However, my problem with this story is that the author had two main things in here (that fuels the plot along) that just didn’t make any sense to me.
As if that weren't enough, .
Writing: 2 stars
The story didn’t have too many spelling errors, and I really appreciate that, but it was lacklustre. There was a lot of narrative sections. It just kind of droned on and I wanted to just skip it and move on. A whole explanation of what happens while we wait for the rocket to launch. . Also, character descriptions are almost non-existent. One character is described simply as “a big man”. We get a few background details for him but, appearance wise, it's not there. We don’t find out one of the main character’s hair colour until 18% into the book. As for the others, let’s assume they are all bald. Something else I found overbearing was that all listings ended with “and many more”.
Honestly my biggest problem with the writing style is that it felt like someone was relating the story to me, and not like I was reading a novel. I don't know if you understand what I mean.
Characters: 2 stars
There is literally one female character. Everyone else is male. Kim is annoying. She can’t think for herself. All she can do is grin “sheepishly”, scream and cower. All the characters are one dimensional and I don’t really feel any interest in their well-being. To top this off, all our characters are named "Joe", "Tom", "Don", etc. Nothing exotic or original as one would expect from a story set . The author explains this as them using it for the visitor's benefit but even we have unique names.
Final Thoughts
The plot was really good, that alone carried the story forward and that alone kept my interest. I think the book could benefit from an edit. I wished that the author would use other descriptive words instead of the same ones over and over. The ultimate message in the story is one worth listening to.
The Verdict
It was ok.
February 14, 2016
I should point out straightaway that this is a ‘to be continued’ book. Now, I’m really not too fond of books that don’t ‘end’. I don’t mind the hint of sequel, but I just don’t want to have to read another book to get to the conclusion. A personal bug, but if you like books in a series to stand lone, perhaps you'll want to know that this one doesn't!
That aside, the book was a rather compelling read: a sci-fi adventure but a story with social commentary. One that has you feeling a little uncomfortable (because you know it's true) at the message being conveyed.
Three astronauts are on an important mission. It’s the last for one of them and the first for another. They are heading for a planet that may have water, and if there’s water, there may be other discoveries to be made. The journey is bumpy. Very, very, very bumpy. Loss of contact with control is beyond distressing, but they manage to land, albeit unconventionally. They've landed somewhere. Not back at base—it’s obvious from their surroundings—but terra firma at least. American terra firma. Or is it? All they have to do is find some people, some civilization, some means of communication to let base know the mission was incomplete but that they are safe. That’s all. Can’t be too hard, can it, despite the unfamiliar terrain?
Despite the fact I couldn't engage with the characters—they were a little bland—it wasn't hard to be drawn into the story. The author has obviously thought very hard about something he needed to say and used his creativity and imagination to do so. It worked.
And of course, it perpetuates that ever-present question…do we really know what's out there?
That aside, the book was a rather compelling read: a sci-fi adventure but a story with social commentary. One that has you feeling a little uncomfortable (because you know it's true) at the message being conveyed.
Three astronauts are on an important mission. It’s the last for one of them and the first for another. They are heading for a planet that may have water, and if there’s water, there may be other discoveries to be made. The journey is bumpy. Very, very, very bumpy. Loss of contact with control is beyond distressing, but they manage to land, albeit unconventionally. They've landed somewhere. Not back at base—it’s obvious from their surroundings—but terra firma at least. American terra firma. Or is it? All they have to do is find some people, some civilization, some means of communication to let base know the mission was incomplete but that they are safe. That’s all. Can’t be too hard, can it, despite the unfamiliar terrain?
Despite the fact I couldn't engage with the characters—they were a little bland—it wasn't hard to be drawn into the story. The author has obviously thought very hard about something he needed to say and used his creativity and imagination to do so. It worked.
And of course, it perpetuates that ever-present question…do we really know what's out there?
March 27, 2016
Beyond the stereotypical thinking!
This book reviews our future as a global society and raises some uneasy questions about our self-awareness and psychological makeup, while exploring how far the limits of humanity could stretch overall, irrespective of time and space. Honestly, I was really intrigued by these concepts that are in a way quite cliched at the current stage of development, including the chasm between 'machines' and 'humans', or alien intellect and earthly one. By this I am not suggesting the author has developed his narrative on this plain, but somehow, intuitively the reader is provoked to think along those lines.
As for the author's style, I could say it sounds well educated and diverse, although it may seem a bit foreign to some native speakers due perhaps to his multicultural background. The latter I find even more enriching, as the story is told from a slightly different angle, in fact.
Moreover, the perspective the writer is taking is actually slightly away from the 'mainstream' and more toward 'specificity' and 'personal' experiences; combined with some substantial scientific research, however.
In summary, it is an accessible and enjoyable read with some thought provocation for the more intellectually inclined readers.
This book reviews our future as a global society and raises some uneasy questions about our self-awareness and psychological makeup, while exploring how far the limits of humanity could stretch overall, irrespective of time and space. Honestly, I was really intrigued by these concepts that are in a way quite cliched at the current stage of development, including the chasm between 'machines' and 'humans', or alien intellect and earthly one. By this I am not suggesting the author has developed his narrative on this plain, but somehow, intuitively the reader is provoked to think along those lines.
As for the author's style, I could say it sounds well educated and diverse, although it may seem a bit foreign to some native speakers due perhaps to his multicultural background. The latter I find even more enriching, as the story is told from a slightly different angle, in fact.
Moreover, the perspective the writer is taking is actually slightly away from the 'mainstream' and more toward 'specificity' and 'personal' experiences; combined with some substantial scientific research, however.
In summary, it is an accessible and enjoyable read with some thought provocation for the more intellectually inclined readers.
June 9, 2016
This story begins as a fast paced journey into space. The description of the space odyssey is exciting with powerful elements of suspense. Throughout the book, there is an underlying theme that highlights the faults and merits of human civilization. Yet, there is enough action to keep the reader fully engaged in the story.
January 10, 2016
This book has me thinking. It was an interesting book and it was good. I think anyone wanting something different to read should check this book out. * I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
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