Enceladus Station: Fountains by
Douglas Alexander
My rating:
4 of 5 stars
A twisty tale of murder and corporate cover-up on a 22nd-century lunar outpost of Saturn. Enceladus Station: Fountains by Douglas Alexander is a twisty tale of murder and corporate cover-up at a frozen research outpost on one of Saturn’s moons. The combination of science fiction, mystery, and a near-future setting created an intriguing story that kept me reading until the satisfying, clever conclusion.
By the 22nd century, space travel is routine, with humanity living, working, and visiting remote parts of the galaxy in only hours rather than years. Lt. Mark Grant is sent to the corporate research outpost on one of Saturn’s moons, Enceladus, to investigate the murder of one of the medical doctors stationed there. But on his arrival, he’s greeted by the disturbing scene of yet another attack; this time in the Research Center, where scientists have been studying the moon’s precious water resources. The amount of blood pooled on the floor and smeared on monitors, keyboards, and access keypads of the locked facility indicates someone has been gravely wounded, yet the body has somehow vanished without a trace, and Dobson Pharmaceuticals, the corporate partner of the outpost, has suspiciously sent their own team of deadly clones to locate and eliminate the victim.
Part sci-fi, part action/adventure, and part riveting mystery and corporate cover-up, I was grabbed by the story from the start. The setting, an underground research facility on the outermost edge of our settled galaxy, is atmospheric with the seeping condensation on its walls and floors, constant cold infiltrating one’s very bones, the dim to suddenly clinically bright lighting, decrepit behind the scenes maintenance passageways, and the ubiquitous presence of the Pricklies, small alien insect-like creatures labeled pest, yet clearly displaying signs of awareness and intelligence.
The story is told from multiple points of view, not just that of the investigating officer, Lt. Grant, which gives the reader insight into the many working parts of the plot. However, the shared perspective also seemed to prevent me from really connecting with Grant himself or his investigation. There is some emphasis on a couple of minor characters, perhaps as possible red herrings, but their presence is not followed up on, so the opportunity is not taken. Characters with critical involvement early in the book disappear and a secret meeting with shadowy operatives goes nowhere. A couple of characters change names from introduction to reappearance, such as Dr. Eric Harris, who is later called Jonas, and there are more typos and errors than I was comfortable with in a finished book. However, the resolution is excellent and serves up a well-done Agatha Christie drawing-room-style reveal, with Grant gathering together all the players and presenting his conclusions.
I recommend ENCELADUS STATION: FOUNTAINS to readers of science fiction mysteries.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from
Reedsy Discovery.
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