I bought this book because Amazon recommended it to me and it got good reviews. There’s a lesson there somewhere. You see, I didn’t realise when I bought it that the book is self published, and its a little bit… awkward. Its little things, like clearly needing an editorial pass to make the phrasing flow better, and the fact that the text on the spine of the book is upside down. Literally the first line of the book has a weird justification that looks like Microsoft Word at its worst.
Now, I’m not opposed to self published books — the Silo series (Wool, Shift, and Dust) are self published for example, as is Unix: A History and a Memoir and I liked all of those. That said, first impressions do matter I think.
Overall I’d say the sort is interesting, if a bit shallow. The level of plotting is probably in line with what you’d expect from a talented teenager. For example there’s not much foreshadowing, characters instead just outright state their nefarious intentions. In the end, I got 85 pages in and realised I just don’t care, so I stopped. This book is definitely going in the charity pile.
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
March 21, 2016
252
All contact is lost with the first human colony on Mars during a long and destructive sandstorm. Satellite imagery of the aftermath shows extensive damage to the facility. The fifty-four colonists who called it home are presumed dead. Three years later, a new mission sets down on the planet to investigate what remains of the derelict site. But, it's not long before they realise the colony is not as dead as everyone thought. Someone is still alive -- hiding out somewhere. Yet, before they can find the elusive colonist a fatal illness starts to affect the crew. Pressure now mounts on Biologist, Dr. Jann Malbec, to locate the source of the illness and find a way to fight it. However, as she investigates she begins to suspect a dark and deadly secret lurking within the colony. A secret that threatens not just the crew but the entire population of Earth. With limited resources and time running out, she must find some answers and find them fast. Because if she doesn't, none of them will ever see home again.