Offworld

I would like to say that Robin Parrish is my new favorite author. The Dominion Trilogy was fantastic, to say the least, and this latest story proves that Parrish is here to stay. I don't know how this guy is not better-known. I'm not going to rehash the plot as I see that others have already outlined it pretty well. When I first started reading it, I thought, "Oh, no, not another 'space gone wrong' book". That idea was quickly dispelled and I was immersed in the tale of these astronauts, their hidden secrets, and the surprising twist on the mass-disappearance idea. I was completely riveted to every page, and I thought the entire book was flawless. The ending was perfect. I almost wish there were some loose ends so there could be a sequel, but this book was so perfect that to add on to it may diminish it somehow. I'm not usually a sci-fi fan, so I think that whether you are or not you will still enjoy this gripping story. As for those who would say this book isn't "Christian" enough, I would say that only reading "Christian" books is like only having "Christian" friends. I don't read books with sex or foul language in them, and there's none of that in here, but if you feel the need to be evangelized with every book you read, you might want to stick to the Bible.

Fresh off of his ground-breaking Dominion Trilogy, in which he tackled Comic Book styled heroes, Robin Parrish moves his thrilling action packed fiction to a more hard science fiction realm. Don't get me wrong, this isn't Harlan Ellison or Isaac Asimov, Parrish is too pop-culture savvy to be called truly hard sci-fi, but that takes nothing away from the story. Imagine the first manned Mission to Mars returning to Earth after years cooped up in atmospheric gear of one sort or another, with only 3 other human faces to gaze upon. These folks are ready to get back to Earth and as tight a team as they are, they're ready for some time apart. Only one problem. When hit the Terran atmosphere, they find themselves in wrapped up in an unusually spooky crash landing - one that may have ties to something that happened (or didn't?) on the red planet - and they discover that they are the only living beings on Earth. Thus the psychological thriller begins. Forced to continue their team existence with nerves already frayed, only held together this long by the light at the end of the tunnel - the end of their journey. Not surprisingly, the team finds themselves at odds with each other and as they fight to determine just what happened to the rest of the 6-Billion population, situations force them to learn more about themselves and each other than they garnered from the Mars Mission. Parrish writes with a dramatic flair and a cinematic sense unrivaled in speculative fiction these days - reminiscent of his love of comics, movies and TV, Parrish manages to plot out, in startling detail, fight, chase and action scenes worthy of John Woo or the Wachowski (Matrix) Brothers. This is the alternate universe to ABC's short-lived Defying Gravity - with better writing. It's no wonder producers are sniffing around the book - here's hoping Parrish won't let them ruin it the way they did with Dekker's Thr3e. Although there were a couple times where the exposition bogged down the action - most significantly, the explanation of what did happen - and a couple of convenient character twists, Parrish keeps things moving throughout the book and readers will be hard-pressed to stop enjoying escape of the well-told story to get back to their "real" lives. And probably the best part of this story - it's all told in one shot - no waiting 12-14 months for the next part of the trilogy. All told, Parrish makes the transition from comic storytelling to science fiction storytelling virtually seamlessly and Offworld is another book to treasure on your shelf (when you're not rereading it to discover something you may have missed)

I grew up on Star Trek and the King James Version. I love Sci-fi, but most science fiction - nearly all - was anti-religion/God/Christianity and was like watching an R-rated movie written on paper. Parrish is able to spin a good science fiction tale while not falling into either the trap of being anti-Christianity or Christian campy. While his book does include a few violent acts, they are necessary to move the story along, it does not waste time on vulgarity of any sort. The book is well written, and finely detailed. It was as if the author had traced the pathway of the book himself. He creates warm characters, and even a few unlikeable ones, while leaving few clues to what was coming. It was refreshing not to know what would happen at the end of the book after the first chapter. Further, while the book is clean, it does not disappoint on the action. Nor does it give to the campiness that is usually associated with Christian fiction. It allows the story to be told, with God in the far distant, but does not diminish Him. As a matter of fact, a portion of the book is deeply theological - sneaking up on you in a most unexpected way. For the science fiction fans among us, I would recommend this book.

OffWorld by Robin Parrish is a sci-fi fiction book that melds fiction with the real world. It is one of the best Sci-fi books I have read in a long time. The basic premise of the book is the first manned mission to Mars is headed back and when they get back to Earth... no one is there to welcome them home. In fact, they are the only people left on earth. So they set off to find out what happened, why it happened, and if they can fix it. I don't want to say anymore less I ruin the story for you. If you are looking for a great fiction book to read - this is it. I am looking forward to reading more of Robin Parrish's books. This was a very nice surprise. I highly recommend this book.

Two years into a mission to Mars, and some 60-days before their scheduled return to Earth, the crew on Ares loses contact with Houston. After a near fatal landing, the four member team steps out of the shuttle to find there is no one on Earth. No one-including animals-have inhabited Earth since the very day Ares lost contact with ground control. What should be a celebration turns into a pulse quickening adventure as they try to find the source of the disappearances. Chris, the Commander of the mission remains in charge as he leads Terry, the youngest and most dramatic astronaut, Owen, the smartest and most level-headed of the bunch, and Trisha, the only woman who is the fiesty mother hen on board. They encounter Mae-a homeless teenager-who appears to be the only one left on Earth. And what's up with the flash backs Chris keeps having related to a blackout he encountered during their mission on Mars? What of the hovering black hole the crew sees periodically that temporarily transports them to odd places? What about the fact that they all harbor secrets? The answers prove to be far more complex than the questions. Don't be lulled when the pace slows for a page or two. That is when the action takes off like a rock catapulted from a sling shot and you will be back to chewing your nails and reading at break neck speed. I have never been a fan of Sci-Fi. The storylines are typically unbelievable-eye rolling drama at best. OffWorld has single handedly piqued my interest in Christian Sci-Fi as it could never fall into the same category as its predecessors. Believable action with a backdrop of non-stop suspense, you will understand why I state that OffWorld does for novels what The Fugitive did for the silver screen. The biggest surprise being that I was spellbound and in tears as the pages dwindled down. There are no outright conversations about Christianity but the implied twist of circumstances leaves the reader knowing beyond a shadow of doubt what Parrish wants you to know. And what that is......will leave you contemplating long after you close the cover. A book like this doesn't cross your path often. OffWorld is a journey for everyone. Spiritual insights can be subtle yet strong. And when you get it, you will be left with a sense that the pieces fit together in an almost poetic fashion. As for Parrish, well, I'll have to admit to really liking the guy. Between the tone of his acknowledgements, his unique writing style and imagination, he presents his work as a modern Steven Spielberg. Cliché? No. OffWorld really does keep you on the edge of your seat and well worth your time. Although don't be surprised if once you've read the first page, life goes on hold until you close the back cover.