(I received a copy of this novel for review from the publisher via NetGalley.)I’m a bit of a sucker for novels like Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Orbs. It’s got some cool speculative science, action, monsters, and a team comprised of military and scientists struggling to survive against impossible odds while finding themselves way out of their environment.In Orbs, the setting is near-future Earth, in the year 2061. The US is recovering from the devastating solar storms of 2055, which left much of the midwest a radioactive wasteland. A plan is in place to evacuate to Mars before our little blue dot becomes completely uninhabitable. A team of scientific researchers are gathered to test a biosphere, tucked away in a Cheyenne Mountain base.Of course, it’s not long before things go terribly wrong and the researchers have to scrub their mission and reopen the doors to the outside world. What they find is a desolate world in the midst of an alien invasion that is sucking up the Earth’s water content. The lakes, oceans, and rivers are sucked dry, and blue orbs dot the landscape, along with some very strange, very foreign creatures.Orbs is a fast-paced read that gets by on pure enjoyment and seat-of-your pants thrills. The characterizations are a little bit thin, but the premise is top-notch and exciting. I had a hard time putting this particular read down, and found myself eagerly tapping away at my Kindle’s screen so I could find out what would happen next.This book hit a particular sweet spot for me, blending together the spirits of Michael Crichton and James Rollins by way of the alien invasion video-game X-COM. Orbs is truly fun romp and well-worth the read. Now, onto Orbs II: Stranded! Absolutely loved this book except it ended too soon...right when it was getting to the most exciting part of the story. The author probably wanted to save some story for a sequel but I think he could have had a sci-fi classic if he'd fleshed this one out fully. Definitely recommend this book to any sci-fi fans.Update:------I have to revise my review of this book. I've been plotting a dystopian sci-fi action recently, and it's made me think about other books in the genre that I particularly enjoyed. I realise how unfair I was to criticise the book for ending at the most exciting part - this book was filled to the brim with excitement and I was just being greedy. Already pre-ordered the sequel. Can't wait!
What do You think about ORBS (2013)?
This was an EXCELLENT book. Riveting, exciting - I couldn't put it down. Eager to start #2.
—Nola
Couldn't put it down. Terrifying and believable aliens. I'm have to know what happens next.
—Snata
Predictable but fun. Probably will become a movie. Might read the next installment.
—gdcruz
B-level sci-fi, but engaging enough to continue the series.
—booklover
