The Ultimate Adventure

At some point in time, every author wishes he/she could rewrite that first book. Daniel Pekarek had the guts and discipline to do just that. The completely revised edition of this wonderful story has greatly enhanced the reading value. It's a wildly imaginative tale set in an incredible place--i.e., a planet that still sports a dinosaur population. This first book in the The Alcent Series introduces you to all the main characters and whets your appetite for further adventures on that magnificent planet. Even if you're not a big fan of Science Fiction, it's worth your while to read it. If you are a Sci Fi fan, then you'll enjoy the science as much as the story line. There's a little bit of something in it for everyone--adventure, romance, paleontology, aliens, space travel, and technology. The characters are fun and memorable. Do yourself a favor and set aside some time to read this tale of heroic adventures and see if you don't find yourself reaching for the next book as soon as you finish this one. The good news is that there are already two more books in the series available and more promised in the future.

I got Mr Pekarek's book a couple years ago as a gift, but didn't read it until recently - delaying was a big mistake! "Ultimate Adventure" is one of a handful of recent books bringing Science Fiction back into the realm of hard science -- finally, after a quarter century! Perhaps it is a good reflection of our society, or part of a new inspiration for it... From 1960 through about 1972, imaginations were fired by real-life Mercury, Gemini, and especially Apollo adventures, and by make-believe science fiction tales written from the 1930s through the moon race decade. Then in the '70s, Sci-Fi turned from the laws of physics, into unreal wizardry and magic. Sadly, this genre's turn coincided with real-life Apollo events giving way to uninspiring near-Earth-orbit ventures. But Mr Pekarek's novel explores, as a solidly scientific Science Fiction work, the path Apollo could have led to -- and may now again reorient towards, with President Bush's new space initiative. On the negative, Mr Pekarek's characters sometimes seem to have contrived conversations, and there are some side stories that I wish had been more fully developed; at times his work is two-dimensional, from a purely literary view. But these literary negatives are minor compared to the overwhelming positive that is the thrust of his story: realistic interstellar travel with all its inherent real-world politics, emotions/psychology, engineering, geography, orbitology, biology/chemistry, and physics. Therefore, Mr Pekarek's book is an inspiring literary turn back into the real universe, upliftingly contrasting against the unreal wizardry and sometimes purely evil mysticism that seems to have nearly taken over the Sci Fi genre in recent decades. Like Heinlein's "Starship Troopers", "Ultimate Adventure" explores today's social norms within the multiple facets of a story of humanity in space. Mr Pekarek's story may not be as well told, literarily, as some of it's recent peers (such as Homer Hickam's "Back to the Moon"), but Mr Pekarek boldly pushes today's technology much farther into the cosmos! The other reviews inform me a sequel is planned; I'll certainly buy it. Perhaps I hope his book(s), and others like it, will inspire my children and our country to reach for the stars, and in their generation actually grab on to one or two, like I never could (but at least now can again read about) ... to paraphrase Apollo-13 astronaut Jim Lovell: who will it be, and when will they go? Mr Pekarek's "Ultimate Adventure" does its share to realistically re-kindle that human drive to explore space.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's wonderful to see this life affirming story. I have long been a fan of science fiction, but lately much of it has been rather depressing. This book brings back the wonder of the possibilities that might exist and how healthy, rational, intelligent people would deal with the difficulties of being pioneers. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a pick-me-up! As a first time author (of literature other than text books) this is an absolutely amazing accomplishment! I congratulate Mr. Pekarek and hope he continues to write! I am eagerly awaiting the sequel and will buy it.I met Mr. Pekarek and bought his book after talking to him. He really believes that life is wonderful! His book reaffirms his life views. Please keep writing Mr. Pekarek!

I am a fan of SCI-FI and found this work to contain a little bit for everyone. SCI-FI enthusiasts, romantics, adventurists and the technical types will find something here. The dialog is a little stiff and formal, but the story is great. How would you plan, travel, and establish a new community on a new planet teeming with everything from dinasoars to microbs? Read this and find the answers and a few twists to keep things interesting.

I have never been a fan of science fiction, but that's all changed now, after reading The Ultimate Adventure. It is a gripping story. I had a difficult time putting it down, and I could hardly wait to get back to it to experience the next adventure scenario. This book, while of course fantasy, seems so realistic, so scientific, so romantic, and so daring that it must have been written by a person of many talents. If you want to feel that you are experiencing space travel at "warp speeds", adventurous characters, aliens, a mechanical man, dinosaurs, and much more -- read this book.