As a sci-fi author myself, I don't know how Peter Cawdron manages to take write so many novels on first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence without being repetitive. He's done it again with The Oracle: a suspenseful, engaging story with another fresh take on first contact.
The Oracle shakes things up by being set in Greece during World War II, with references going back to ancient Greek mythology. Woven throughout the story is the thought-provoking, underlying theme of the horror and futility of war, as Private Meier transforms from an idealistic follower of Hitler to a man facing the reality of war and the pointless suffering resulting from it. This anti-war sub-plot reminded me of Peter's outstanding 2024 novel, The Anatomy of Courage, which I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
As with Peter's previous First Contact novels, The Oracle includes a detailed afterword that explains the story's historic references, the supporting scientific data, the geography of the setting, ancient Greek Mythology, and much more information to satisfy even the most strident wonk. This bonus information serves to enhance the book's plausibility as well as the author's detailed research and credibility.
Karl Meier is a private in the German Army. He's been sent to occupied Greece on a secret mission in late 1944 as the Wehrmacht is withdrawing from the country. Karl has been assigned to support Professor Hans Schmidt in the excavation of the ruins at Delphi, searching for a wunderwaffe—a wonder weapon that could help Germany win the Second World War. Deep within a cave, he finds a golden orb. On touching it, Karl connects with an alien intelligence that has lain dormant on Earth for thousands of years—the Oracle.“The German soldier has not learned to retreat. He stands,…
As a fan (and author) of first contact science fiction, written from the extraterrestrial's perspective, I was eager to read Raq and I was not disappointed.
Raq is a reptilian warrior of the Hlad race on a planet that humans had set out to colonize. When a follow-up mission is sent to find the colonists, the humans are killed by the Hlad, with the exception of a man named David.
Raq is assigned to guard David (known as "The Dayyid" among the Hlad). At first, Raq is ashamed to be given the assignment of caring for such a repulsive, inferior creature, whose existence threatens the foundations of the Hlad's religious beliefs. For his part, The Dayyid only wants to run into the desert and die there to escape captivity. Over the course of the story, the relationship between Raq and The Dayyid evolves and deepens in unexpected ways.
T.K. Toppin has written the majority of the story from Raq's perspective, with just a few excerpts from David's personal journal, which are effectively used to provide additional context. The story takes us into the inner workings of Raq's mind, and it does so plausibly and with great empathy and depth.
I wholeheartedly recommend Raq to my fellow sci-fi fans.
Lies that become truths…The Hlad are one race, the only race beneath the Great Abyss. The great Fire King deemed it so when the Great Mother birthed the Fire King’s children from the dry lake beds. All know of His power and scorn, and praise Him with each rising so He may shine down gently and with kindness.Warrior Class Lieutenant Raq of the Imperial Guard is a proud soldier, an adoring father to his sons, brave, dutiful and honour-bound, a devout servant of the Fire King. He is a true Hlad. But his faith is shattered when an alien craft…
I became aware of Lessons in Chemistry through the Goodreads bestseller list and frequent emails recommending it. Based on the cover and even the description on Amazon, I dismissed any thoughts of reading the story, thinking it would be a lightweight tale of workplace romance. I was wrong.
Recently, my wife borrowed a copy from a library and, after reading it, told me the story was deeper than I had assumed. Curious, I thought I'd read the first few pages, expecting I would soon lose interest.
What I found was a fascinating story of a brilliant female scientist, struggling for access, recognition, and professional success in 1960's America, while dealing with dismissive male colleagues, abusive supervisors, and the challenges of being single and raising a child. Though the themes may seem heavy, Lessons in Chemistry shines a light on historic injustices with charm, poignant wit, and an inspiring ending.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heat” (The New York Times Book Review).
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads
"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —Seattle Times…
Kelvoo is overcome with wonder at the arrival of the humans.
With flawless memories and innate curiosity, Kelvoo’s community embraces the benevolent humans and their knowledge of the boundless universe beyond the cloud-covered sky.
After the departure of the first contact mission, an unscrupulous human lands in Kelvoo’s village, inviting Kelvoo and eight others to join a “goodwill mission” to faraway worlds. Lured into a trap and enslaved by an outlaw gang, Kelvoo’s group is forced to participate in an interstellar crime spree, and subjected to the worst of human nature.
Realizing that the mission is destined to end with their murder, Kelvoo’s team must use their limited insight into human nature to understand and escape the brutality of their captors. With Kelvoo’s world and species vulnerable to exploitation, failure would have devastating consequences far beyond Kelvoo’s own death.
Kelvoo’s Testimoninal is equal parts action, philosophy, and hard science fiction. Written as Kelvoo’s personal account, Kelvoo’s Testimonial provides an outsider’s view of humanity in all its beauty and savagery.
