Review: Very Good Short Sci-fi Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 16, 2011
"Crystal Crypt" is a short story that takes place in unspecified future where Mars and Earth (or "Terra" as it is called) are two antagonistic civilizations that are precipitously headed for a war. The last spaceship of Terrans has departed Mars, but before it reaches its interplanetary course it is intercepted by Martian military. The Martians believe that on board of the spaceship are three saboteurs that destroyed one of their major cities. Whether this is in fact the case and how this may influence the Terran journey home is the principle plotline of this story.The story is very well crafted, and it has all the elements of classic sci-fi genre: interplanetary travel, clash of civilizations, and fantastic advanced technology that is at the crux of the plot development. The story can also be viewed through the prism of the Cold War, as two radically different civilizations are vying for supremacy and are willing to use underhanded tactics to gain an upper hand in future negotiations. The plotline holds well together, and provides enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. This is a good, solid sci-fi story that will be appreciated by all fans of this genre.