Book Review/ Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden. #SpeculativeFiction worth #amreading

Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden

by D. W. Vogel

I was recently in a group promotion where this was one of the books. I had to buy it because of the dinosaur on the cover.

Here's the blurb:

Two hundred years ago, the great Ark Horizon Alpha escaped a doomed Earth and went searching for a new home. The passengers landed on Teu Ceti e expecting paradise, but instead they discovered a planet stuck in its own version of the cretaceous period. The humans’ one defense against the dinosaurs ravaging the planet is an electric fence, built from the remains of the shuttles that brought them there. 

But Eden base has only days of power left. 

With most of the adult men dead, rookie soldier Caleb Wilde and his unit of teenage boys leave the electric fences of Eden in search of a reactor core lost deep in the jungle. 

The last remnant of the human race waits behind the electric fence for their return. The dinosaurs wait, too--for the electricity to die and the feast to begin.

Honestly, the prologue had me worried. It wasn't bad, just basically feeding me information about what happened before the story starts.

The story itself is fantastic. It's like Jurassic Park in space. It was suspenseful and fast-paced. It combined my love of dinosaurs, exploration, and discovery. The creatures go beyond dinosaurs as we know them, because, after all, they are aliens.

The author added in mystery along with the dino feast. I felt as if I experienced the planet alongside the main character: the fear, the wonder, the horror, the relief. It was a terrific ride.

Great job, D. W. Vogel. I want more!

One Way to Mars Anyone?

Lately there has been a lot of buzz about Mars One.

This organization has a plan and that plan is to put the first human colony on Mars by 2024. Over two hundred thousand people applied and already the list has narrowed to just 1,058 individuals making the first cut.

Can we just pause for a second.

*Pause*

Okay. This is amazing. It's been our next "man made" actual step since putting humans on the moon. There's just one downside to being the first few humans to colonize the red planet. It's a one way trip. Yep, if you sign up and make the final cut you aren't coming back.

I've been following this mission since it was first announced. Honestly, I could never part with my life here on Earth. I love it too much. But, how fun would this be?

What will they learn?

What will they find?

Will my children or their children be taking regular trips to Mars in the future?

Space is something we as humans will never get enough of. We will constantly strive to explore the unknown and to reach new areas of the cosmos. Our curiosity is never satisfied and I personally think that is a great thing.

Mars can teach us so much. If everything goes according to plan and this actually happens on schedule, I will be watching. I will be waiting with bated breath with the rest of the world to learn what we discover on this seemingly dead planet.

Also, this is a great book idea! The muses and plot bunnies are hopping around in my head. They're even dressed in little martian suits.

Could you do it? Could you give up your life here on Earth and make history colonizing Mars?

Sometimes this is how writing a book feels. You're on a one way trip not knowing what to expect until you reach the other side. Will it be worth it? You'll never know unless you try. So put on your space suit and let the adventure begin. (Just don't watch Gravity before you go).

Bonnie Rae