Review of Exodus
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Kshitij Chandra Prasad
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- Latest Review: Exodus by Jean Hackensmith
Review of Exodus
[Following is a volunteer review of "Exodus" by Jean Hackensmith.]
Book Review of Exodus by Jean Hackensmith & Joseph McDowell
The world’s end is imminent, and humanity does what it does best—survive.
This trope serves as both the premise and the plot of Exodus, a science fiction novel.
A neutron star, Ulysses, is collapsing and about to decimate our solar system. The best minds on Earth have been working in secret for over 50 years to create a Noah’s Ark capable of saving the best of humanity, allowing them to repopulate habitable planets far beyond our solar system. It’s a race against time to find those planets, build capable ships, and leave before the neutron star Pac-Mans the Earth.
The story begins with a death that catapults the protagonist, Garrett, into the role of a supposed saviour.
Garrett is one of those great minds, a "smart cookie"—an oft-repeated phrase in the book used to describe a genius. He assembles a team under the supervision of the coolest and humblest U.S. president ever. While managing one of the most crucial projects in human history, he also falls in love with a team member. Along the way, he grapples with difficult decisions, weighing the greater good against the fate of a few. Will he succeed in finding love, saving Earth's people, and making the right decisions? If these questions intrigue you, this novel is worth reading.
The story spans about five years, excluding the epilogue, moving at a breakneck pace. The language and prose are simple, making this an easy and relaxed read. However, at times, the novel glosses over pivotal moments, which, in my opinion, are missed opportunities. I would have loved to read more about what a character returning from the edge of the solar system for the first time has to say instead of just fleetingly mentioning how beautiful it is.
As I kept on reading, I realised that the majority of the problems posed in the novel to the protagonist and his team are solved easily and immediately without significant challenges. The authors rely on readers' familiarity with key technology and science like antimatter. These concepts are crucial to the plot, so I wonder if expanding upon them could have strengthened this novel’s claim to the science fiction genre. The romance between the protagonists felt forced and shallow, likely due to Garrett's self-professed love stemming from nothing more than Jennifer's physical beauty.
As I mentioned earlier, things work out too easily for Garrett and his team.
However, towards the final act, by which time I had completely suspended disbelief and logical reasoning, I found myself enjoying the book greatly. Certain characters achieve heroic feats, which make the novel play out like half a blockbuster. I particularly appreciated the epilogue, which provides closure to the story while leaving room for a potential sequel.
All in all, the novel unfolds like a straight-to-DVD movie and, in a best-case scenario, is picked up by Netflix for your next casual watch. The plot, though a familiar trope, has promise, but the execution falls a bit short. I rate this effort from the mixed team of experienced and new authors 3 out of 5 stars. Science fiction purists may want to avoid this, but as a relaxing weekend read, it might earn a spot on your bedside table.
******
Exodus
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Book Review of Exodus by Jean Hackensmith & Joseph McDowell
The world’s end is imminent, and humanity does what it does best—survive.
This trope serves as both the premise and the plot of Exodus, a science fiction novel.
A neutron star, Ulysses, is collapsing and about to decimate our solar system. The best minds on Earth have been working in secret for over 50 years to create a Noah’s Ark capable of saving the best of humanity, allowing them to repopulate habitable planets far beyond our solar system. It’s a race against time to find those planets, build capable ships, and leave before the neutron star Pac-Mans the Earth.
The story begins with a death that catapults the protagonist, Garrett, into the role of a supposed saviour.
Garrett is one of those great minds, a "smart cookie"—an oft-repeated phrase in the book used to describe a genius. He assembles a team under the supervision of the coolest and humblest U.S. president ever. While managing one of the most crucial projects in human history, he also falls in love with a team member. Along the way, he grapples with difficult decisions, weighing the greater good against the fate of a few. Will he succeed in finding love, saving Earth's people, and making the right decisions? If these questions intrigue you, this novel is worth reading.
The story spans about five years, excluding the epilogue, moving at a breakneck pace. The language and prose are simple, making this an easy and relaxed read. However, at times, the novel glosses over pivotal moments, which, in my opinion, are missed opportunities. I would have loved to read more about what a character returning from the edge of the solar system for the first time has to say instead of just fleetingly mentioning how beautiful it is.
As I kept on reading, I realised that the majority of the problems posed in the novel to the protagonist and his team are solved easily and immediately without significant challenges. The authors rely on readers' familiarity with key technology and science like antimatter. These concepts are crucial to the plot, so I wonder if expanding upon them could have strengthened this novel’s claim to the science fiction genre. The romance between the protagonists felt forced and shallow, likely due to Garrett's self-professed love stemming from nothing more than Jennifer's physical beauty.
As I mentioned earlier, things work out too easily for Garrett and his team.
However, towards the final act, by which time I had completely suspended disbelief and logical reasoning, I found myself enjoying the book greatly. Certain characters achieve heroic feats, which make the novel play out like half a blockbuster. I particularly appreciated the epilogue, which provides closure to the story while leaving room for a potential sequel.
All in all, the novel unfolds like a straight-to-DVD movie and, in a best-case scenario, is picked up by Netflix for your next casual watch. The plot, though a familiar trope, has promise, but the execution falls a bit short. I rate this effort from the mixed team of experienced and new authors 3 out of 5 stars. Science fiction purists may want to avoid this, but as a relaxing weekend read, it might earn a spot on your bedside table.
******
Exodus
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Exodus by Jean Hackensmith
