Monday, March 20, 2023

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Moon Life by Marlene Fabian Stiles & Hank Fabian


MOON LIFE
by
Marlene Fabian Stiles and Hank Fabian


Science Fiction
Publication Date: July 8, 2021
Page count: 398 pages


SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!


SYNOPSIS:

It is the year 2051 and the International Space Institute has just sent two rival astrobiologists to search for extraterrestrial life on Europa, the mysterious ice moon of Jupiter. What they encounter could not only revolutionize science, it might make one of them the most famous person on Earth. Or does the Universe have other plans?




AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH HANK FABIAN: 



READ AN EXCERPT:

Charlie found himself drifting on a cosmic wind toward a mound of skulls that looked curiously familiar. His pain had vanished, but he felt disoriented. The skulls appeared to be gigantic but he couldn’t be sure if they were large or if he had become exceedingly small. A swift, turbulent wind carried him into one of the skulls, through the orbit of an eye then its optic canal. 

A dazzling light appeared before him, gradually fading into an aerial view of Sleeping Woman Mountain. Now he discovered he was a mere speck riding between what he perceived to be two enormous insect eyes. He immediately thought of the Ngala totem and concluded these were the eyes of a dragonfly. 

Rainforest shadows parted below him to reveal the ruins of his former camp filled with soldiers lounging casually near the bloodstone, the site of Gnesh’s murder. Their arrogance fueled Charlie’s rage. 

On his command, thousands of wasps flew out of the forest and descended on the soldiers. 

The men screamed as the insects stung them. They swatted at the horde, firing their weapons uselessly. Desperate to escape the swarm, they dived into the river where they met a pack of hungry crocodiles. The waters ran red with blood. 

Now Charlie saw Prime Minister Jahuara’s distinctive helicopter appear, hovering above the carnage. Charlie directed his dragonfly into the cockpit. The insect buzzed up to the head of the prime minister sitting at the helicopter’s controls, repeatedly biting the tyrant’s eyes with its great mandibles. Jahuara tried to swat it away but the dragonfly was too quick. He shrieked in pain as blood flowed from his sockets. 

Flying blind, he lost control and the helicopter plummeted into the trees. Charlie and the dragonfly escaped the craft in time to watch it explode in a mass of flames. 

Charlie found himself drifting above the forest canopy. He turned his gaze toward the black sky shimmering with starlight. One by one, stars fell from the night like droplets of a celestial mist. The Pleiades constellation was the last to fall. Merope lingered for a moment, then disappeared into the darkness. A feeling of immense tranquility settled over him as he relished the embrace of this sacred void. 

The world was back in balance. He closed his eyes…and succumbed to peace.


REVIEW:
5 stars!

With its fascinating dual storylines and engaging characters, this science fiction story mixes in mystery, adventure, and intrigue.

Moon Life is an exciting and entertaining Sci-Fi novel by authors Hank Fabian and Marlene Fabian Stiles, a brother-sister writing team. With its easy-to-read delivery, engaging group of space-traveling characters, and intriguing plot, it is easily one of the best stories I’ve read this year. This science fiction tale will appeal to a wide range of readers, even those who think they don’t care for the genre.
 
The book has an interesting dual storyline: one, the scientific mission to Europa and the other set within a primitive tribe in Papua New Guinea, and both kept me completely drawn in and turning pages to find out what would happen next. The story opens in Papua New Guinea and hits the ground running with an attack by an unknown force of armed men. People are killed, and Dr. Charlie Adamson, the main character, is wounded. When his partner, who is leading their study, is murdered and the same men destroy their field station, Charlie finds himself on the path to becoming a reluctant astronaut.
 
The long preparation and eventual journeys force the small crew of the Merope into close proximity for many months at a time. Inevitably, Charlie’s professional nemesis on the mission ends up on the same spacecraft and multiplies the stress for everyone. I liked that the characters all got together for their meals and devised different ways to bond and pass the time, including some in-depth conversations regarding life, death, the existence of God, and an afterlife. I liked that the crew members weren’t in complete agreement with each other but displayed a range of opinions and reactions. Naturally, there are opposing views, which is particularly significant because, in their world, there is a powerful Earth First or Firster movement who are adamant that Earth is the only planet with life in the universe.
 
The writing flows well, and the action starts early and maintains a fast pace. As a science fiction book, technical topics are broached throughout the story. However, the authors do a fabulous job of working in explanations as needed, and a handy and useful guide or glossary is included at the end of the book. It even lists the bird species Charlie mentions that he associates with all the characters he encounters. There is enough tech talk to satisfy those who enjoy it but not too much to confound those that do not. Descriptions of the surroundings are vivid, and I clearly visualized the various settings on land or space. This was just a darn good adventure story. 

With its fascinating dual storylines and engaging collection of interesting characters, I recommend MOON LIFE to readers who enjoy science fiction mixed with mystery, adventure, and intrigue.



ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

The family that writes together stays together, so siblings Marlene Fabian Stiles and Hank Fabian co-authored a science fiction adventure that explores Jupiter’s moon Europa as two rival astrobiologists race to be the first to find extraterrestrial life. This discovery should ensure the winner fame and fortune, but the Universe has other plans.

Hank Fabian -

Hank is the guy walking around with a long lens camera and binoculars, a tourist of the world fascinated by every creature that moves and every plant that grows. He teaches biology and helped devise a college genetics program. As a scientist he likes to work with facts, so there's a possibility that the creatures he’s created actually exist!

- Marlene Fabian Stile 

Marlene is the president of a nonprofit, The I Will Projects, dedicated to advancing educational venues that include a middle school aquaponics program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club which received a NASA grant. She writes in multiple genres and also has published “Elderchild,” an Alzheimer’s narrative written in the first person. She shares Hank’s love of the natural world and is dazzled by the interconnectivity of all living things.


GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

One randomly-drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN Gift Card.


5 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for joining us on our adventure from the wild rainforest of Papua New Guinea to Jupiter's mysterious ice moon Europa. The universe is interconnected in strange ways and actions have unexpected consequences!

Bea LaRocca said...

Thank you for sharing your awesome review of Moon Life, sci-fi is my favorite genre and this sounds like a story that I will truly enjoy reading

Sherry said...

Sounds like a good book.

pippirose said...

Thanks for the great review. The book sounds fascinating.