Science Fiction novel by Frank M. Robinson, Dark Beyond the Stars, revolves around a multi-generational starship sent from Earth in the Milky Way to find out the presence or absence of life on other planets.
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Author: Frank M. Robinson
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 408
Good reads rating: 4.06 of 5
My Ratings: 8.12 of 10
Published: 1991
Publisher: Orb Books
Language: English
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***Warning Spoilers Below This Point***
Astron, a multigenerational starship sent from earth to different planets of the Milky Way aim to discover life on different planets. Sparrow falls down a cliff during an excursion and suffers from amnesia. Subsequently, he cannot remember anything but familiarise himself with the crew, Captain Kusaka, and mission Astron. This ship is in space for over 2000 years.
As time passes, the ship shrinks in size because of cannibalism and selective breeding. Captain Kusaka wants to take the ship towards the galaxy where there are dense stars and more chances of life on other planets. To reach that galaxy, the ship moves between the spiral arms known as the Dark.
Most of the crew members know that they will not survive the journey. Kusaka is immortal and obsessed with the exploration of stars and planets. The crew secretly tries to plan a revolt and return to Earth.
Sparrow refuses to join the revolt against Captain. He knows that most of the crew members will die and maybe only the Captain may live to explore the stars. Also, a limited chance of life on other planets exist. Another thing, Sparrow finds out that similar to the Captain, he also is immortal, and they have erased his memory on the command of the leader. He lived his previous lives with many identities on the same ship.
Sparrow originally volunteered for the role of a mimic for every crew member. Kusaka finds about the mutiny and tries to suppress it. Sparrow explains the original government changed, and according to law, Kusaka is not in power anymore. The crew members leave the ship.
Sparrow fights Kusaka in a hidden room, where all his memories return, and he comes to know that his name is Raymond Stone. Raymond fatally injures Kusaka and takes command of the Astron. He returns Astron to earth, which takes 400 years to arrive at. The book ends as Astron reaches earth after almost 2500 ship years. During their return to earth, Raymond and the leftover crew celebrates the event and discover another alien ship on the planet.
Dark Beyond the Stars is a must-read for fiction lovers. The story remains interesting and presents an exceptional storyline. Different turns and events in this novel offer multiple surprises for its readers. The book is surely enjoyable and justifies my rating of 8.12 out of 10. Would I re-read this novel? Yes. Am I glad I read it? Yes.
For The Latest Price: Dark Beyond the Stars
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