Audible Book Review: Fear the Sky by Stephen Moss

This is a well written, engaging, first contact sci fi filled with alien technology and spies.
Fear the Sky
The Fear Saga, Book 1
By: Stephen Moss
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 03-03-15
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Fantasy, Hard Science Fiction, Military
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
"Real science in Science Fiction. This is a must read for fans of SF." >(John S. Gertsch, Amazon Reviewer)
Perfect for fans of Peter F. Hamilton, Iain M. Banks, and Orson Scott Card, Fear the Sky is a hard-hitting sci-fi thriller that will have you looking at the stars in a different way.
In eleven years' time, a million members of an alien race will arrive at Earth. Years before they enter orbit, their approach will be announced by the flare of a thousand flames in the sky, their ships' huge engines burning hard to slow them from the vast speeds needed to cross interstellar space. These foreboding lights will shine in our night sky like new stars, getting ever brighter until they outshine even the sun, casting ominous shadows and banishing the night until they suddenly blink out. Their technology is vastly superior to ours, and they know they cannot possibly lose the coming conflict. But they, like us, have found no answer to the destructive force of the atom, and they have no intention of facing the onslaught of our primitive nuclear arsenal or the devastation it would wreak on the planet they crave. So they have flung out an advance party in front of them, hidden within one of the countless asteroids randomly roaming the void. They do not want us, they want our planet. Their Agents are arriving.
©2014 Stephen Moss (P)2015 Podium Publishing.

Review:
Neal Danielson is a civilian scientist who is monitoring space data. He identifies an object of question a distance away and requests military clearance for additional data. Although a handful of military leaders questions the data and conclusions, they initially set the report to the side. When eight meteor “rocks” spread out and fall to earth, Neal thinks this is more ominous than anyone will admit. Neal and a new friend scientist friend, Dr. Laurie West, step outside of authority to try to retrieve one of the objects. Laurie is on the investigating ship offshore while Neal waits in the hotel with the boat captain’s girlfriend, Dr. Madeline Cavanaugh.

Neal and Madeline are excited when they get an encrypted message that the scientist suspensions are correct. But then they listen as voices are cut off when the boat is vaporized. Neal and Madeline could report this to the Government authorities, but they realize they would be but into seclusion and no one would be able to share information with the public. Instead, they agree to go into hiding. This decision is affirmed when they get a secret note and then a visit from one of the eight aliens who have landed to infiltrate military levels before the invasion of their forces. Agent John Hunt does not agree with his alien leader’s decision to invade and take over Earth. He is only one against seven others, but he will do what he can to try to help the humans protect themselves.

The secret team is in a race against time to develop a vaccine to fight the biological weapon that the aliens plan to use. They have to risk pulling a General into their team to begin to develop a military weapon to target the alien satellites.

The aliens are each progressing in their assigned task. One agent, Lana, would just as soon begin to destroy the humans. She wants the aliens to target Neal and Madeline but is unable to prove they have knowledge of the alien presence. What will happen when the aliens realize they have been betrayed and have to move up their hostile attack? Do the humans stand a chance against the superior technology?

This is a story of alien technology and spies. I was fully engaged and enjoyed the ultimate team of scientists, doctors, military leaders, committed military officers, and aliens with superhuman abilities. I enjoyed the way the story developed and moved about different characters to keep the reader aware of what is going on. I expect that I will continue the series. I recommend this to readers who enjoy first alien contact and spy stories.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray is a wonderful narrator who delivers strong voices and fitting energy for the characters. His narration always enhances my enjoyment of the work.

Source: 3/14/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.