G.L. Douglas Reviews

Added January 1, 2009

Alpha Rising

Author: G. L. Douglas
Publisher: iUniverse
Available At: Bookstores everywhere
Publishing Date: Available now
Genre: Fiction/Speculative
Format: Trade Paperback, Ebook download
Price: $17.95 paperback, $6.00 ebook
ISBN-13: 978-0-595-41100-9 paperback, 978-0-595-85459-2 ebook
Author Email/Website: http://www.alpharising.net
Reviewer: Joyce Handzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Alpha Rising soars to the top of my list of great books. This science fiction storyline expertly reaches beyond the physical realm to an otherworldly dimension that gently taps on reality. As readers are transported to another galaxy, key issues of faith, trust and love come into clearer focus.

When Commander Bachman "Bach" Turner is commissioned by NASA to find four astronauts lost beyond Earth's solar system, he encounters turbulence of a terrifying kind. Bach's spacecraft enters a segment of the universe where alien kingdoms vie for total control. An evil army captures Bach's crew members, exerting pressure on the Commander to save them. Yet, as the full scope of this intergalactic contest is revealed, a sense of urgency battles against an air of defeat. Bach investigates a path of hope, but his limited understanding and ability may make it impossible for him to succeed.

The author's fascination with the outer limits of the universe and her attention to details makes this novel credible and compelling. Although a work of fiction, there is a startling sense of reality in this book, as if this story could actually happen one day in the distant future. The space travel and the technology that accompanies it are drawn with a desire for readers to experience this drama, without overwhelming them with complicated issues and terms. The author successfully straps readers into the cockpit, giving them a clear view of the story, as each turn of the page accelerates them deeper into a new dimension.

Yet, the uniqueness of this novel is not so much in the setting, but in how the author weaves a profound spiritual message. The characters and the cosmos merge into a story line that has eternal significance. The vastness of the heavens is the perfect backdrop for a tale that turns readers inward and then onward. The writing is subtle, but the conclusions are sublime. The final pages are like riding a shaft of sunlight into a place long forgotten but easily remembered.

Alpha Rising is a thrilling taste of the extraordinary!

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This page was last updated on May 7, 2009

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