CSFF Blog Tour – Offworld, Day 1

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m having “car issues” so I was away from my computer all morning. This is not ideal during a blog tour, yet here we are, beginning the CSFF August tour for Robin Parrish‘s Offworld (Bethany House Publishing).

I’ve decided the best approach will be for me to do my review in pieces, a la Steve Rice. Today, the Story.

Best described as a science fiction suspense, Offworld takes place in the not-too-distant future. In many ways, a new TV program “Defying Gravity” reminds me of the opening of Offworld.

In the book, four astronauts are returning to Earth after a successful, first manned visit to Mars. However, as they approach re-entry, things start going wrong.

There’s a mysterious black cloud, or void, that appears for moments, then disappears. Then communication with Earth suddenly stops. Finally there is near failure of all the vital system needed to land the space craft.

Despite near blind flying, the crew brings their vessel to ground, but rather than finding a welcome of any kind, the Florida space landing strip and surrounding buildings is deserted.

The crew begins to investigate, and unearths video that shows the sudden disappearance of everyone on the base. And on the world, they assume.

Through Internet feeds of satellite pictures of Earth, they see an incredibly powerful beam coming from somewhere near Houston. So, to Houston they go. Or try to.

The simple cross-country trip is fraught with more dangers than they encountered in space, and all the time, the questions mount. What happened to the people? Are they still alive?

The weary astronauts are determined to get some answers.

But of course, I’m not going to pass along any of the answers to you. That’s for readers to discover.

Take some time to read the views of the other CSFF participants in the Offworld tour:

√ Brandon Barr
√ Jim Black
√ Justin Boyer
√ √ Keanan Brand
√ Canadianladybug
√ Melissa Carswell
√ √ √ Valerie Comer
√ Karri Compton
√ Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
√ Stacey Dale
√ D. G. D. Davidson
√ Jeff Draper
√ April Erwin
√ Karina Fabian
√ Linda Gilmore
√ Beth Goddard
√ Todd Michael Greene
√ Katie Hart
√ Ryan Heart
√ Becky Jesse
√ Cris Jesse
√ Jason Joyner
√ √ √ Julie
√ Carol Keen
√ Krystine Kercher
√ Dawn King
√ Mirtika
√ Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
√ Nissa
√ √ John W. Otte
√ √ √ Lyn Perry
√ √ √ Steve Rice
√ Cheryl Russell
√ Chawna Schroeder
√ James Somers
√ Speculative Faith
√ √ √ Rachel Starr Thomson
√ √ Steve Trower
√ √ √ Fred Warren
√ √ √ Dona Watson
√ √ √ Elizabeth Williams