In 2014 a mysterious, monstrous space entity is discovered entering the solar system and after consuming both Pluto and Neptune it sets its sights on Earth. Scientists, International Industrialists and Governments scramble for answers but soon discover they have only ten years to put aside centuries of cultural and societal differences in order to save the world.
ETERNAL SHADOW, Trevor Williams’ thrilling debut, is an edge-of-your-seat near future space odyssey. Williams has created a science fiction gem filled with enough existing earthbound and space technology to make his fiction scarily realistic. He draws readers right into the story while allowing techies and non-techies alike to understand each terrifying scene. Williams gives his audience a flawless fast-paced plot presenting the “big picture” while not forgetting the importance of the minutia of everyday life. There may certainly be instances when readers feel the hair on the backs of their necks stand on end.
ETERNAL SHADOW expertly integrates politics, prejudices and social issues, in addition to including just enough humor to take the sting off. All of humanity is represented in Williams’ unforgettable cast of characters. There are those in favor of saving the world as well as the nay-sayers and end-dayers bent on preventing it. His central characters are amazing—two incredibly strong female role models, both scientists—who own the pages of the novel. In addition, he gives readers a stable of supporting characters who are equally hard to forget, especially an elusive South African space tycoon.
Among the many standouts in the novel are Williams’ combining government agencies and private sector space companies to try to solve the space entity problem and how the partnership(s) change over his ten year time frame. He also presents an interesting example of AI (artificial intelligence) and first contact, and his intriguing Band-Aid fix for the planetary problem.
Fans of the hard science fiction of Andy Weir (The Martian) and Isaac Asimov—of epic tales and strong female lead characters—will have their eyes glued to the pages of ETERNAL SHADOW, waiting for the Big Bang and wondering where on earth (or above it) inventive author Trevor Williams will take them.
~Debbie Haupt for Indie Reader