Official Review: Alien plauge by Christopher Koehler
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Samantha Gayle
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Official Review: Alien plauge by Christopher Koehler
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Alien plauge" by Christopher Koehler.]
Imagine a world where hunger, disease, and war do not exist. Space travel and stations are commonplace. Humanity has successfully ended the threats that we have come to fear today. Eyes are on the sky and the discovery of new life. Earth is thriving; humanity couldn't possibly encounter anything on land or space that would shatter this near-perfect existence.
Dr. Avery Hutton has studied microbes from other solar systems, so when another batch from a world that contains complex life comes in, he is one of the scientists tasked to their study. While on Earth, he oversees the research as it occurs on space station Randleman. Elia is on the station, excited to be a part of something bigger than himself. The study begins like any other, and to Avery and Elia, it's business as usual. However, Avery's superior, Dr. Diane Victorvich, can't shake the feeling that things may not go as smoothly with the study of this third Beta Strain they've discovered. As a result of their previous successes, relaxed protocols are in place on the station, and the slightest error with handling could cause a medical disaster. Luckily, this study is in orbit, so a viral outbreak on Earth isn't possible. It's not possible, right?
Christopher Koehler's Alien Plague plays upon some of our worst fears. A virus that can rage out of control before any scientists can find treatments in time. As a result, there are shutdowns, food rations, and decisions that nobody wants to make. What I like most about this novel is the fear that the plot elicits. There is this terrible foreboding that this one incident can end the world. The tone used makes this viral outbreak feel cold and scientific, and I think that beautifully illustrates how a virus operates. I also appreciated the research done regarding viruses, lab studies, and the spread of a pathogen.
There are several things that I believe would elevate this novel. There are no physical descriptions of the characters or several central locations. This prevents a reader from creating the character or world in their mind and connecting to them. The novel is dialogue-heavy, making the story feel shallow and hollow because of that lack of character development. The dialogue gets us through the plot versus strong writing and plot building. The conversations also feel unnatural at times. The use of contractions would make it feel as if it were a real conversation. "Ok," said Elia, "I will go put my suit on." Most people would not say I will, but rather I'll. As a result of the above issues, I give this book a 2 out of 4 stars. I believe the potential is there, but this edition feels like a first draft requiring heavy revision and intense character and world development.
This book needs a thorough revision. There is an excessive amount of grammatical errors, which made the read difficult and played a large part in the rating. This book is suitable for all ages, as there is no profanity or overly disturbing themes. However, if the subjects of viruses and illnesses are too upsetting due to our current pandemic, I would caution the reader.
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Alien plauge
View: on Bookshelves
Imagine a world where hunger, disease, and war do not exist. Space travel and stations are commonplace. Humanity has successfully ended the threats that we have come to fear today. Eyes are on the sky and the discovery of new life. Earth is thriving; humanity couldn't possibly encounter anything on land or space that would shatter this near-perfect existence.
Dr. Avery Hutton has studied microbes from other solar systems, so when another batch from a world that contains complex life comes in, he is one of the scientists tasked to their study. While on Earth, he oversees the research as it occurs on space station Randleman. Elia is on the station, excited to be a part of something bigger than himself. The study begins like any other, and to Avery and Elia, it's business as usual. However, Avery's superior, Dr. Diane Victorvich, can't shake the feeling that things may not go as smoothly with the study of this third Beta Strain they've discovered. As a result of their previous successes, relaxed protocols are in place on the station, and the slightest error with handling could cause a medical disaster. Luckily, this study is in orbit, so a viral outbreak on Earth isn't possible. It's not possible, right?
Christopher Koehler's Alien Plague plays upon some of our worst fears. A virus that can rage out of control before any scientists can find treatments in time. As a result, there are shutdowns, food rations, and decisions that nobody wants to make. What I like most about this novel is the fear that the plot elicits. There is this terrible foreboding that this one incident can end the world. The tone used makes this viral outbreak feel cold and scientific, and I think that beautifully illustrates how a virus operates. I also appreciated the research done regarding viruses, lab studies, and the spread of a pathogen.
There are several things that I believe would elevate this novel. There are no physical descriptions of the characters or several central locations. This prevents a reader from creating the character or world in their mind and connecting to them. The novel is dialogue-heavy, making the story feel shallow and hollow because of that lack of character development. The dialogue gets us through the plot versus strong writing and plot building. The conversations also feel unnatural at times. The use of contractions would make it feel as if it were a real conversation. "Ok," said Elia, "I will go put my suit on." Most people would not say I will, but rather I'll. As a result of the above issues, I give this book a 2 out of 4 stars. I believe the potential is there, but this edition feels like a first draft requiring heavy revision and intense character and world development.
This book needs a thorough revision. There is an excessive amount of grammatical errors, which made the read difficult and played a large part in the rating. This book is suitable for all ages, as there is no profanity or overly disturbing themes. However, if the subjects of viruses and illnesses are too upsetting due to our current pandemic, I would caution the reader.
******
Alien plauge
View: on Bookshelves
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Abdullh Ali
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This book needs a thorough revision. There is an excessive amount of grammatical errors, which made the read difficult and played a large part in the rating. This book is suitable for all ages, as there is no profanity or overly disturbing themes. However, if the subjects of viruses and illnesses are too upsetting due to our current pandemic, I would caution the reader.
