Offworld

Christopher Burke and his crew are on their way back from the first ever mission to Mars, sometime in the year 2030. The only aspect of the mission that went wrong was a period of time in which Burke had disappeared on Mars and somehow reappearing, this being just as much as a mystery as the initial incident. Then, they suddenly can not contact NASA, their radio going silent. In fact, there is no radio communication from Earth. After a intense crash landing, the crew finds that there is in fact no one on Earth...at all.
Until they meet Mae. Who is some sort of street kid who is incredibly strange. They meet her on their way to investigate an intense light somewhere in Texas. Soon, they find that Mae is not the only one left behind (so to speak). Their is a rogue battalion that is trying to get in the groups way. Not to mention all the antics mother nature is offering the crew.
Thus we are thrown into Offworld. Too many questions, and for those who come to read this book, you will find that the answers will not come until the last hundred pages, most of which come in the last thirty.

In this way, the book is incredibly interesting and is quite the adrenaline rush from the crash forward. I found at times it was too much, so many events happening right on the heals of one another. Even the characters make this observation. Later, though, this is explained as well. Which was probably one of the better parts of the book. Parrish, and his editors, realized how much Robin was putting the reader through and laced it into the story. I enjoyed this aspect immensely.

Parrish, is labeled Christian, which is evident in his writing. He has noted in a blog that some people think his books are too spiritual, and others think its not enough. I say it is very much in between. The tension between fact and faith is evident and it is up the reader to believe in the faith aspect of this story, or not. Yet, the greatest part of this story comes with the sacrificial lamb, which you realize a good thirty pages before it happens.

Jesus, was always an alien to this world. He didn't fully belong, yet his adaption to the people's need has been incomparable to any who came before or have followed. He knew his time had come, and he accepted it even though he had no desire to endure it. Yet he did. And humanity was saved. So also, does a character in this book do the same. Good job Robin.

All in all, I give this book a B. I think there were too many instances where I was reminded of the Dominion Trilogy, specifically the first novel when the main hero is learning about the greater plot he has become the main character in. I was also reminded of Parrish's first trilogy in the shock factor of much of what was going on. In pushing the parameters, Parrish crosses over to the unknown, much of which was hard to understand until you were told. Overall though, this is a very strong peace of sci/fi fiction that is a page turner. Parrish is a young author, and I look forward to what he writes next.