Official Review: Impact by Mark D. Owen

[Guda Lydia]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Impact" by Mark D. Owen.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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An irrational response to a minor error has resulted in a self-sustaining cascading debris field throughout the earth’s orbit, destroying all satellites. The International Space Station (ISS) has exploded, global telecommunication systems have been impaired, and countries can barely handle the falling space debris. Tamarind Chase, Flax Venture, Almond Brighten, and Dr. Kohlrabi Trust are best friends and graduates of the prestigious Pan-National Leadership Institute (PNLI). Kohlrabi dies in the ensuing chaos as he and other scientists from fourteen nations are stuck on the moon in an extraterrestrial research base. Tamarind feels responsible for Kohlrabi’s death and has trouble dealing with it. He leaves DroneTech, a company that he co-owns with Flax and Almond, and decides on a new path.

Tamarind later founded Dark Matter Venture, which focused on space clean-up and eventual asteroid mining. He came up with a revolutionary solution to clear up the debris in orbit, give way for new satellites, and help restore global communications. With the world watching, he launches a powerful laser into space to vaporize the debris. Skeptics notice the size of his rocket ship and question its contents. Tamarind downplays their concerns as conspiracy theories. Things move as planned, and all goes well. However, everything changes when a seemingly natural object, moving at an unnatural speed, is detected. Calculations generate more confusion and questions, and time is suddenly severely limited. What is this object? What is its implication for the human race? Most importantly, how does all this connect to Tamarind?

Mark D. Owen seamlessly introduces each character and exquisitely describes their distinct personalities and physical attributes. They each develop as the story progresses, and each chapter reveals new information on their roles and backgrounds. The author uses current global situations and technological advancements to bring out a world of advanced engineering, science, and extraterrestrial explorations. These accurate depictions enable one to visualize and experience every scene and setting, including the awe and stress of space exploration, making Impact a fascinating and curious read. There are also elements of mystery, secrets, and conspiracy theories. These keep the reader constantly yearning for more and glued to the pages.

My favorite aspect of the read is the names of the Pan-National Leadership Institute graduates, like Tamarind and Flax. Their names are a combination of a plant and an action word, adding to the mystery of the institute. I equally love the realistic and accurate depictions of timelines, for instance, the years it took to clean up the debris or the amount of time needed to restore communication systems. There are no outrageous exaggerations, and everything seems plausible. The book is action-packed right from the introduction, and the twists, suspense, and mysteries begin in the first chapter, carrying on to the last.

There is nothing to dislike about the book; I did not find any grammatical or spelling errors, evidence of its exceptional editing. The language employed is intelligible, free of profanities, and every scientific phenomenon, event, or concept is satisfactorily explained. The book slightly references Christianity through Flax’s belief in God’s supreme power. Impact is an ingenious book that showcases extraordinary human capabilities and groundbreaking research. It also includes some romance and love triangles that add to the tension and intrigue of the story. The book concludes with revelations that leave more questions and a craving for the next book in the sequel. I confidently give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend Impact to readers looking for a thought-provoking and mind-bending science fiction novel that will entertain, educate, and leave you amazed by human ingenuity and the question of extraterrestrial life.

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Impact
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[Kennedy NC]

An intriguing scientific plot I'll definitely be interested in. Great review.

[Ondijo Junior]

This is a scientific novel, I'll skip this , it's not my genre. Otherwise thanks for sharing, your review was amazing.

[Peace Odii]

This sounds like a novel about outer space. So much to learn.

[Sou Hi]

Thanks for your informative review. This book shows us the danger of working in space. Even a minor error can cause several disasters, some of which are irreversible or cost lives. I hope Tamarind will be able to compensate for his mistake.

[Becca Olsson]

This sounds quite interesting and full of so many different aspects. I’m intrigued to know what’s so mysterious about the ship they sent to clean up the debris and what the object is that’s speeding through space. Thanks for the great review

[NetMassimo]

The destruction of all satellites seems unlikely thinking that the ISS is at an altitude of less than 500 km while communications satellites are at an altitude of 36,000 km. Otherwise, this novel seems intriguing with many technical and scientific developments that might become reality in the coming years. Thank you for your great review!

[El_limitless]

Interesting plot. I'm definitely checking this out. Thanks for the interesting review.

[Jean-Levi BADI]

Very interesting it shows how working in space is really dangerous that's why the astronauts have all the training before going a simple mistake is irreversible.

[Pallavi Lakra]

Would love to read a science fiction book which has relevance to the reality. Thanks for the review.

[Leen282]

This science fiction book feels like it is describing a real possibility. What happens with all the debris in space? Where will technological development take us? What is Tamarind's role and position in all this? I can already feel the mystery and suspense throughout the book.

[Lauren Stjohn]

The book is a bit of a stretch with accurate details consistent with mathematical principles. The review is appreciated and discloses quite well the essence of the novel within the first paragraph of the review. Tamarend Chase continues on his extended journey after the death of his friend. Great review, interesting and convinces me this is not a book I would enjoy reading about the subject of outer space.

[rabi b]

Thanks for this detailed and insightful review! I really appreciate how you highlighted both the scientific realism and the emotional depth of the story. Tamarind Chase’s journey sounds compelling, and the scenario of space debris threatening humanity feels chillingly plausible. It’s great to hear that the book balances technical accuracy with an engaging narrative. Looking forward to diving into Impact myself—sounds like a must-read for fans of intelligent sci-fi!

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

Sci-fi adventures are always popular with many people. I like the found of this one’s plot, and the first few pages are intriguing. The reviewers write-up is well-written and explanatory.

[Kibet Hillary]

I am glad that the author did not include any outrageous exaggerations, especially on restoring communication capabilities and also cleaning the debris. Apart from the rhetorical questions piquing my curiosity, this book just shows how vulnerable our modern systems are, and hence I am adding it to my shelf.
Many thanks for the review, @Guda Lydia.