Review of Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g" by Charles P. Graham.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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After crash-landing on Tau Ceti g, Chris Elliot was relieved that his escape pod had safely navigated the meteor storm that struck Copernicus. Aboard the space exploration ship, he knew he was the first person to reach his escape capsule. Watching the sky, he saw at least three more pods drifting into the grassy plains about twenty-five kilometers away. Meanwhile, Ron Layman had been in the medical bay with Dr. Rhodes. She had just finished bandaging Ron’s arm when the abandon ship sirens sounded. Dr. Rhodes and Ron leave the ship in their individual escape pods. Later in the day, Chris reached their location. Others had escaped, and they planned to find the other people the following day. When everyone was accounted for, only seven individuals survived.

Jay had managed to make friends with a female carnivore that resembled a cross between a large dog and a pig. He named the animal a pidogg. While the group was making plans to survive, they noticed Jay’s pidogg was part of a pack. The animals adopt the humans, bringing them meat from their kills and forming a protective guard around the people. The pidoggs became vital to everyone’s survival against the dangerous elements on the planet. None of the survivors felt confident about the possibility of being rescued. They were aware that it would take twelve years before their emergency beacon would reach Earth.

Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g is a survival story of seven individuals facing the unknown. Charles P. Graham skillfully depicted why Copernicus’ crew was orbiting Tau Ceti g while building tension. The vivid details of what each person experienced from the moment the first meteor struck to their escape made the danger evident. The carnage was believable and horrifying. The hardships the survivors faced showed both their strengths and flaws. For instance, Ron had a large second-degree burn on his right arm and shoulder. The risk for infection was high even with Dr. Rhodes' training. The medical supplies were limited and may not help as he had endured more trauma from the harness in the escape pod. Sandy's mental health was another issue that could set the group back. She quickly went into depression and hysterical outbursts whenever an obstacle arose. Jay was the only one able to console her. Without Jay’s help, some of the tasks became more challenging.

Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g does not need anything changed. The character development was exceptional. The inclusion of the symbiotic relationship between the crew and the pidoggs was intriguing. The danger of unpredictable wildlife, finding water, and suitable shelter were just some of the issues they faced. The pidoggs' protectiveness extended to the excursions made for hunting and water. The actions of the pidoggs gave the crew the added advantage of an early warning of danger. The ending of the story was bittersweet but left an opening for a sequel. I rate this science fiction adventure story five out of five stars.

Fans of science fiction and survival novels will find Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g appealing. Discovering the multiple types of wildlife and the innovative ways the crew came up with to get their needs captivated my full attention. Due to the complex scientific explanations, particularly regarding achieving faster-than-light travel using quantum physics, this book may be more suitable for young adults and mature readers.

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Survive! Marooned on Planet Tau Ceti g
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[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

It's fascinating to see how different people cope with the same life-threatening situations. Books like this, aside from being exciting, teach us a lot about our psyches, what makes us different, and what unites us.
Congratulations on another successful review!

[Elizabeth Humberstone]

This is a very interesting review. I wish this book talked more about the mental strain of survival with all the characters, it seemed to me like Sandy was the only on really affected.