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3 out of 4 stars
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Imagine arriving home from work to find out that a spaceship has just landed in New York. An alien named Micah, looking like a pale asexual human, announces they have come in peace. They desire to aid our civilization and guide us in our evolution. The next morning, a general, escorted with armed soldiers, shows up at your house and orders you to accompany them. You have no choice.
That is what happened to Jason and his girlfriend, Sarah. They are flown to a resort in Hawaii to meet with the six other people who were selected by the aliens. After a terrifying demonstration of the extraterrestrials’ powers, the world leaders no longer think they can oppose anything the aliens want. However, the leaders have convinced them to also accept six U.N. ambassadors (to keep an eye on the others and to try to influence the decisions). Now, there are 13 participants who are from various countries, with a mixture of religions, sexes, and economic backgrounds. Meeting for a maximum of three days, their decisions will determine Earth’s future.
On the first day, the “chosen ones” are informed that they need to select the most dangerous threat to Earth. They are to reach their decision and inform Micah by 10:00 p.m. that night, at which time procedures will commence that will take care of the problem. Their answer will determine what happens the next day. If they choose to not participate, the aliens will depart and will no longer offer any help to the people of Earth, leaving them with a bleak future.
The Decision by Michael D. Komeshak is a thought-provoking science-fiction novel that will have the readers questioning their beliefs and morals. How far would you go to ensure the survival of Earth? Would you trust the aliens or do you think they have an ulterior motive?
The author possesses a vivid imagination and has written a book that immerses readers into the story, having them waiting with bated breath to learn about the decisions and their consequences. The plot, written in a clear, easy-to-understand style, represents my favorite aspect of the book. You can feel the tension as the group tries to come up with the best solution in an extremely brief amount of time. Trying to reach an answer pits country against country, religion against religion, the poor against the rich, and ultimately, blurs the lines between morality and immorality. Told from the third-person point of view, we usually perceive things through Jason’s perspective, although it is described occasionally through his girlfriend’s point of view. We frequently see their thoughts printed in italics. I thought this was a little distracting, and it didn’t add anything to the novel; however, that is just my own personal feeling.
The characters are diverse with distinct personalities, with some very religious and moral and others not at all. They are so varied that it seems impossible for them to all come together to decide what is best for Earth.
My least favorite aspect of the story is the ending. I do not want to provide a spoiler, so I will just say, even though I understand the author’s thought process, I was disappointed with it.
Regrettably, I discovered too many errors in the tale, mostly in the form of missing or misused commas. This is not distracting; however, there were too many to overlook. It could use another round of editing.
As I found this novel intriguing with a unique plot, The Decision achieves a rating of three out of four stars. One star is deducted because of the errors and the ending. I heartily recommend this story for book clubs, as it is great for philosophical discussions. Science-fiction lovers who enjoy moral dilemmas would appreciate it as well. There is profanity in the book. Therefore, it is unsuitable for children or anyone bothered by cursing.
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The Decision
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