Review: Best of both worlds
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2014
Being both a sci-fi and adventure story fan, I find myself reading the two genres hoping that any given story will include both. Often I find a routine military-based story whether in the future or the present that is somewhat predictable, somewhat interesting and a pleasant read. I hit the jackpot occasionally when I get a story that fully engages the reader with a well-developed plot and which happens to take place in the future and also includes these two genres. This is the case with this story. The plot is set in Central Africa where a doctor is working to help the African people in the middle of an armed rebellion and accompanied by American ranger troops. The author grabs the reader almost immediately by starting the story where the American troops are pulled out leaving the medical staff unprotected. We become very interested in the personalities and the risks they face. As a group of soldiers decides to stay and help the doctor evacuate her staff and patients, it turns into a real nail biter. In the middle this appears a large in spaceship circling the earth. I found it amazing to be totally wrapped up in the African struggle only to be equally wrapped up as the discussion centers around the impact of this alien spaceship. It created an amazing dichotomy. The story goes on to outline the struggles faced by the characters both in exiting Africa and, of course, when they come face-to-face with an alien. We experience the obvious challenges one would face communicating, understanding etc. an alien species. It is a great read with an unexpected ending. It was quite a treat and I will certainly read more from this author.