Offworld by Robin Parrish

Reviewed by Cory Clubb

"Offworld is big sci-fi fun, layered with mystery, characters with depth, and cross-country disasters."

Just because summer is coming to a close it doesn’t mean that the blockbusters are over. Enter Offworld, the newest release from author Robin Parrish. Parrish, known for his Dominion Trilogy, doesn’t let the pace stop with this stand-alone title.

Christopher Burke and his crew of NASA astronauts are the first human beings to walk on the surface of Mars. Their return to Earth was supposed to be a momentous day. But a surprise is waiting for them there that is beyond imagining. Safe after a treacherous landing in Florida, the crew emerges to find the unthinkable: every man, woman, child, and animal has vanished without a trace. It's not a dream. It's not a trick. It's real. Alone now on their home planet, the crew sets out to discover the extraordinary secret behind the disappearance of mankind. And whether or not everyone can be brought back. But they may not be as alone as they thought.

Sounds like a high budget action movie synopsis doesn’t it? Well, it reads like one with edge of your seat excitement, hairsbreadth escapes, and cunning adventure. Offworld is big sci-fi fun, layered with mystery, characters with depth, and cross-country disasters. The scope of this novel is huge; something the author handles with ease. He covers aspects of the characters's lives that are intensely emotional and compelling considering their sudden worldly dilemma. Parrish’s intimate knowledge of space exploration and technology gives you the impression he’s been to outer space before.

The storytelling is fluid and fun creating a well explained read for such a large concept. Parrish keeps things real with the characters making life-threatening decisions with real human emotions. Hope in the form of faith is clear through the small group’s hazardous trek. The book’s ending is bit of a stretch, but satisfying.

This being my first Robin Parrish novel and he doesn’t disappoint with this effort. Offworld is quite the wild ride and well worth a look for new readers or fans of sci-fi action/adventure. With more on the horizon I’ll be watching this author very closely.

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Cory Clubb is author of the novel Saved by Grace and currently working on his first thriller. He holds a degree in Graphic Design and is always seeking to advance his talent as a writer. He is an avid reader, movie buff, and music enthusiast, tools he uses to infuse his imagination. He lives in central Illinois with his wife and three sons. You can find out more about his projects at his blog.