Out of This World

by Douglas E. Richards

The latest from New York Times bestselling author, Douglas E. Richards, Out of This World is a wildly entertaining science fiction/fantasy adventure for kids and adults alike. Ages 9 to adult. To save their parents they will have to travel to unknown worlds. Too bad the natives on each world all seem to want them dead . . .Zachary and Jenna Lane are a brother and sister pair who would much rather tease and trick each other than work together. But when their parents vanish before their eyes through a mysterious shimmering portal, the two kids join forces and adventure through a series of fantastic worlds in an effort to rescue them. But each world is more treacherous than the last, and staying alive for even a day will prove to be the ultimate test of their wits, courage, and determination. And when they finally puzzle out what is happening to them and why, the impossible things get even worse. Because far more is at stake than just their lives. And the odds against them could not be any greater . . .Out of This World is a fast-paced adventure sure to delight young and old alike, packed with breakneck action, brilliant escapes, thrilling cliffhangers, and plenty of heart.
For a simple list of all novels by Douglas E. Richards, see "About the Author" below.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Science Fiction Fantasy, Thriller

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2012

About the author

Write to Doug at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and visit the author's website to be notified of new releases.

Douglas E. Richards is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science-fiction thrillers that have sold more than three million copies (see list below). Richards has been celebrated for his gripping, thought-provoking works that blend cutting-edge scientific concepts with heart-pounding narratives.

Richards burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, WIRED, published in 2010. The novel garnered widespread acclaim for its ingenious combination of scientific speculation and thrilling storytelling. This success set the stage for a series of bestselling novels, each marked by meticulous research, riveting plots, and characters that resonate with readers.

Known for his ability to translate complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives, Richards has become a go-to author for readers seeking an intellectually stimulating and adrenaline-fueled reading experience. His works delve deeply into the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific breakthroughs and the potential impact of technology on society.

A former Director of Biotechnology Licensing at Bristol Myers Squibb and a former biotechnology executive, Richards earned a BS in microbiology from the Ohio State University, a master's degree in genetic engineering from the University of Wisconsin--where he engineered mutant viruses now named after him--and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

The author has two grown children and lives in San Diego, California, with his wife and dog.

Richards loves hearing from readers, and always replies, so feel free to write to him at douglaserichards1 at gmail dot com, and address him as "Doug". You can also Friend Richards on Facebook at Douglas E. Richards Author, or visit his website, where you can sign up to be notified of new releases.

SCIENCE FICTION THRILLERS BY DOUGLAS E. RICHARDS

SERIES

WIRED (Wired 1)
AMPED (Wired 2)

MIND'S EYE (Nick Hall 1)
BRAINWEB (Nick Hall 2)
MIND WAR (Nick Hall 3)
UNLEASHED (Nick Hall 4)

SPLIT SECOND(Split Second 1)
TIME FRAME (Split Second 2)

THE ENIGMA CUBE (Alien Artifact 1)
A PIVOT IN TIME (Alien Artifact 2)

STANDALONE NOVELS

QUANTUM LENS
GAME CHANGER
INFINITY BORN
SEEKER
VERACITY
ORACLE
THE IMMORTALITY CODE
UNIDENTIFIED
PORTALS
THE CURE (To become KU eligible for the first time in 2023)
THE BREAKTHROUGH EFFECT

Kids Science Fiction Thrillers (9 and up, enjoyed by kids and adults alike)

TRAPPED (Prometheus Project 1)
CAPTURED (Prometheus Project 2)
STRANDED (Prometheus Project 3)

OUT OF THIS WORLD

DEVIL'S SWORD

Reviews

[Ginifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't typically read middle grade books, but I am so glad I read this one. Just. Wow. Out of This World is incredible! It's chock-full of adventure, creatures, different worlds, portals, teleportation, action, and, best of all, two children learning life's lessons along the way.

The positive messages in this book are very well-written, without being after-school-special-ish. Not only do Zachary and Jenna learn not to judge based on appearances or assumptions, but they also learn to appreciate each other, their parents, the miracle of life and living things, and really just everything people typically take for granted. Zack and Jenna also realize their flaws and work to overcome them. I adore Zack and Jenna. It's so sweet that Zack helps his little sister overcome her self-doubt.

The descriptions and world-building are wonderful; I was able to "see" the creatures and surroundings as though I were there with them. The siblings visit several different worlds, but my absolute favorite was the pitch-black cave. The trees there are described as having "white branches with delicate, perfectly formed transparent leaves, outlined in silver along their edges." And the leaves glow from within and are shaped like butterfly wings. Sounds gorgeous, right? I think so. :)

And here is my daughter, Anna, giving an 11 yr old's opinion...
"This book was great because there were many life lessons to be learned. There were also many adventures and brave feats accomplished along the way. One of my favorite ones was when Jenna and Zachary answered the riddles to save their lives. My ABSOLUTE favorite world was Tular's world. My favorite characters were: Zachary, Jenna, Wyland, Tular, and Lisgar. Oh, and the cover is AWESHOME! This is a book for young readers [especially 11 year olds] ;). But my mom loved it, too, and it's definitely a book I will reread throughout my life."

She knows awesome is misspelled, but it's a kid thing. Anyway, she actually rated it 6 out of 5 stars and devoured it in less than 24 hours. She had my iPod in one hand while loading the dishwasher with the other!

We both love this book and highly recommend it!!!

*The author provided me with this ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review. My rating of this book was not influenced in any way by receiving the review copy. I did not receive, nor did the author offer, any incentive for a favorable review.

This review is a shorter version of the original on my blog. To see the full review, click HERE.

[Cordenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of This World is an awesome book. Zachary and Jenna are both bright kids who after witnessing their parents fall into a giant hole in the middle of their kitchen, decide to go in after them. Trying to find their parents, Zachary and Jenna go through portals exploring many diverse worlds all varying significantly in some way. They learn to work together to help themselves in any danger that appears. Towards the end of their journey Zachary sees an important lesson and helps Jenna realize it for herself. Simultaneously, Zachary makes an important discovery about where they are and why. This lively boos includes lovely riddles, thoughtful tricks, wonderful metaphors, terrific palindromes, and other grand puzzles.[return][return]The author, Douglas E. Richards, has created other literary works both for children and adults alike. And I'm positive- considering I found this book so excellent- that his other books are just as fun and entertaining and I hope to read them all!

[Emil Girardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Suspense, thrills, and 10 riddles (as well as countless other clever solutions to "out of this world" problems) are in store for you when you pick up and read this gem by Douglas E. Richards. My 11-year old son and I both thought this book was great fun for both adults and kids. Similar to The Prometheus Project, Book 1: Trapped and the rest of the Prometheus Project series, the two main characters face alien technology and problems in this off-world adventure.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I'm not usually a fan of science fiction, but I won a copy of this book as an author giveaway over at LibraryThing and thought I'd give it a go.
First, the author has an incredible imagination and gift of being able to show the reader exactly what he's seeing. Every chapter had a twist or turn, and I could picture in my mind everything from the landscape to the new life forms as the plot progressed. Second, the ending was totally unpredictable, at least for someone who isn't familiar with the sci fi genre. The book is middle-grade but I am confident that adults will enjoy it as well.

[Tona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a Librarything giveaway.

I loved this book. I read it in a day. I think my 9 yr old nephew is going to love it too. I can't wait for him to read it. It made me chuckle a few times and it brought back memories of my brother and I. Great book with great lessons.

[Andy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, especially for the audience it was intended for.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Richards is truly an amazing writer who has such an imaginative mind, that he can create stories that are wild. Yet these stories tell an amazing tale with life values we can all use. Reading his books ones minds enlarge with thoughts and ideas that are self expanding. I really enjoyed this wild book, what a great read. 5

[Rich Bisanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very imaginative and great sci fi

I first read the authors trilogy, the Prometheus project. Those were a great read, this time Mr Richards wrote and even better novel which is based on portals and traveling from one to another. The brother and sister learned how to work together to keep moving amongst portals all the while looking for their parents. Thanks for a great book.

[Peter Gendusa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sibling rivalry has its upside!

This story is about two kids that are as typical as two kids can be. They learn to work together to overcome some impossible odds and at the same time learn to appreciate and respect each other.
Through their cunning and wit, they solve many puss lies and foil some diabolical plans to triumph and save the day.

[Marlene M. Oaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siblings to Dream Of

All of my life I wanted a brother or sister, to no avail. Here are two amazing siblings, the siblings of hopes and dreams. Their challenges were fascinating, scary, and inspiring. The theory of portals is fun to consider, but could be terrifying in actuality. Thanks for the trip.

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!

This is REQUIRED reading for every family!
I can’t wait to read it with my Grandkids. It presents the ABSOLUTE definition of a family. Please join me in spreading the word. It is worth it’s weight in gold!

[Terry Mcmullen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Love the author this story was just too adolescent for me.

[Gary Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a scanner

Not my type of sci-fi. I hope the next book of his I read is one of those where he shows me his research.

[Eric Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun book geared toward a younger audience, but still enjoyable as a quick read. I would reccomend this to any young sci-fi reader.

[Sherry McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Read!!!

Two young heroes, dangerous alien worlds, life and death situations, what more could you ask for. Maybe a little magic....

[Daniel R Haight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read even for adults

Great story for adults and teens both. Even some younger ones. What an imagination to come up with this. Salamat po.

[Paul Hoekema · Rating 5 out of 5]

This man is brilliant !

I have read every book he has written and look forward to many more. Bravo Douglas Richards I love your work. Thank you

[Robert Spellmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, easy and exciting reading

Great 'youth' reading. My youth is 50 years ago. But this quality story is what I'd prefer to read as opposed to the last three book I deleted off my Kindle without completing them. In truth, I almost cancelled my Kindle Unlimited subscription. Glad I found Mr. Richard's works.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

juvenile sci fi age 9 and up.

[D.L. Morrese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zachary & Jenna are having breakfast when suddenly there is a shimmering in the air and their parents disappear. What are two bright middle school kids to do but jump through after them? Well....
It’s certainly noble but they are just kids, so they don’t even pack a lunch, a change of clothes, a flashlight, or even a toothbrush (which made me wonder how bright they really were).
They find themselves transported to another world and almost run over by a pair of transparent (literally) people who seemingly don’t welcome their presence and encourage them to leave through another shimmering portal. Thus, their adventure begins, jumping through portals in search of their parents, and finding themselves in different worlds populated with strange and often dangerous creatures.
Each encounter provides a simple, ethical lesson about cooperation, overcoming prejudice, positive thinking, intelligence, loyalty, caring, responsibility, or understanding. These aren’t quite ‘bang you over the head’ morality tales, but they are definitely geared toward younger readers. Still, they are endearing and entertaining to even older readers.
So far, so good. The characters are simple but believable, the settings are well constructed, the plot flows smoothly and logically... for about 80% of the way through.
If you don’t want a spoiler, stop reading this review now.
Still with me? You sure? I’m going to reveal the ending. I don’t often do this, but this one rather bugged me. If you don’t want to know, stop reading this.
Okay. You can’t say I didn’t warn you.
It’s all ‘magic.’ The beings that abducted their parents used ‘magic,’ and they don’t know how it (or much of anything else) works. That’s about all the explanation we get. It’s not quite as bad as saying it was all a dream, but it’s close. There is nothing about parallel worlds, multiple dimensions, or holes in space-time. All we get for an explanation for how all this happened is that it was ‘magic.’ Humans can do magic too, but the Earth has an anti-magic field around it that makes it almost impossible. Oh, and the San Andreas fault is not really a geological fault line between continental plates, it’s a magically sensitive area that will rupture if the aliens prevent portals from opening between their world and ours.
After the first 80% of the book in which our two heroes act with bravery, reason out problems, and demonstrate a considerable amount of highly ethical behavior, to have this all trumped by ‘magic’ was something of a letdown and, at least to me, seemed to nullify the moral lessons in the book. Yes, learning, reasoning, and ethical behavior are fine, but magic is easier and so much more convenient. If you have magic, you don’t need all that other stuff. That’s how the aliens live, in any case, and humans can be just like them.
I found the first part of this book engaging and well done for a middle grade book. The ending, I felt, was something of a cop out.
This is, of course, my personal opinion, and I do tend to be a bit tough when it comes to fantasy novels.

[Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect read for someone who appreciates witty humor and wants a quick, fun read. This book is suited for 9 year olds and adults (so not totally restricted to young adults).

The Good:

-I liked the sibling rivalry between Zachary and Jenna. At their age, there is no way you have siblings that don't fight or at least tease each other. I fight with my sis and bros everyday (in good fun of course). The teasing and rivalry made this book more realistic, more grounded.

-They have a brain! I am sick and tired of main characters who just can't grasp common sense. Example plot: 25% of a book will be them making the mistake and the other 75% will be them regretting their mistake and not doing anything about it until the last 10 pages of the book!! Not only do these two kids understand the simplest things, they even solve ridiculously twisted riddles (I have new riddles to tell people now >:D). It was entertaining to see how this duo solved all the obstacles in this story.

-I also applaud Richards for his plot twists. They definitely surprised me and kept me on my toes.

Me while going through intergalactic portals with Zachary and Jenna:



The Bad:

-It's normal for arrogant main characters to be cocky and regret their decisions, but the way Zachary's remorse over his actions seemed so forced. A normal kid his age wouldn't really contemplate that deeply over his actions especially all the wrong-doings he's ever done to Jenna. His thoughts vs his actions really confused me. Like a 13 going on 40 year old. Parents would LOVE their kids to self-reflect the way Zachary does (not gonna happen moms and dads).

-The chapter formula became redundant. Except for the last part of the story, it seemed that the end of every chapter introduced a new (apparently) life-changing crisis for Zachary and Jenna. They would solve that problem in the beginning/middle of the next chapter. What annoyed me was that Zachary and Jenna treated each problem in the beginning as an obstacle they could never overcome. Introducing Drama Prince Zach and Drama Princess Jenna. The formula goes: problem, [next chapter] drama moment (hopelessness), revelation, solution (happiness), problem [next chapter]. Over and over again, in every new planet/world they went to, this endless cycle continued to bore me.

Overview: If you have some time on a Sunday Afternoon (my favorite time), I would recommend reading this light and humorous book. Al ages will enjoy it. Lots of creative ideas and new world to explore!

This review is also on my blog: Hidden Adventures of a Teenage Reader

(book given free in exchange for an honest review)

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of This World follows the tradition of young adult classics such as "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Chronicles of Narnia." While not as laden with symbolism or complex narrative structure as these well-loved gems, "Out of This World" evokes the same wonderment of worlds familiar and far, and of characters for whom it is who are easy to cheer and with whom it is easy to sympathize. The pacing of the story encourages the reader to continue on into the next chapter and leaves one waiting for the next novel anxiously.[return][return]The action engages as its main characters, Zachary and Jenna, jump from world to world and from one civilization to the next with only a few pages in between. However, the true compulsion of the novel derives from its narrative themes. Zachary and Jenna begin the story in competition with each other and with the rest of the world. As the story progresses, they continually are forced to choose: will they be adversaries or teammates? This challenge heightens in each new world. Should they assume each new being they meet is friend or foe? And, how does one tell the difference? Is it possible to ignore one's instincts? The dilemma of how to recognize friends from enemies is one with which each of us struggles each day. During the age group at which this novel is targeted, this issue becomes urgent and identity-defining. As we use art to help us understand the questions we face, a novel which both reassures and coaxes an emerging adult into becoming a fair, kind, and just person is not only important, but pivotal.[return][return]The novel's other central theme revolves around the question of how one learns to trust and value one's self, despite or perhaps because of each person's different gifts and weaknesses. Far from celebrating uniformity, Out of This World embraces the disparate abilities between people and cultures, demonstrating how these differences create texture and strength, and even more importantly, how we can chose to allow these unique characteristics to destroy us - or to fortify us.[return][return]Finally, the novel is fun. It is pure pleasure to watch Zachary and Jenna mature, solve riddles and puzzles, overcome obstacles, and explore each other and themselves. In our culture where books are often assigned and dissected by schoolwork, rendering them tedious and uninspiring, a good read keeping kids on the edge of their seats and gasping in surprise is a lovely gateway into a lifetime of reading, just for the fun of it.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zachery and Jenna are having their usual morning breakfast when out of no where, shimmering appears in the air and their parents are gone. They've disappeared into thin shimmery air. Of course, just being young middle school children, they jump in after their parents.

Suddenly they find themselves in another world run by transparent people who don't seem to happy that they are there and try to convince them to leave their world. This is where the adventure begins, by jumping through portals to find their parents.

Since they are young children they find themselves making mistakes that seem so common sense, and then regretting their decision, but learning from it none the less. Each world they jump through they find new and interesting characters that become more and more dangerous.

Each encounter they fall into they learn something about overcoming prejudice, thinking more positively, loyalty, responsibility, and understanding others pain. In order to succeed in finding their parents they must use their cleverness and continue to be brave.

This reminds me of an old ninety's sit com where each episode ended in learning something vital that you can apply to your own life. The morals aren't shoved in your face quite as much, but they definitely get the point across.

This was a great book that mixes science fiction and fantasy for middle aged children. Richards has many twists and turns throughout this book which definitely kept me on my toes, guessing what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this to children ten and older. I'd rate this a 4/5.

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right away you can tell there is some between tension siblings Zachary and Jenna. Zachary comes off as a know it all, trickster. And Jenna comes of as younger, naive and ready to finally outsmart him.

When their parents disappear into a portal that appears in their house. Zachary and Jenna end up going on a mission out of this world and having to rely on each other to rescue their parents.

There were just a few moments in the story that I felt things were moving way to fast. The reader doesn't have a chance to try to figure out what will happen next before it happens.

As it is a very fast paced story that has lessons to learn and morals that tie in with the plot. It is a non stop adventure that combines science fiction and fantasy.

[Bandora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I have come to expect from this author

Having read Amped, Wired and the Prometheus Project by Douglas E Richards, I was expecting quality of the same level. Sadly I was disappointed

The storyline was interesting and there was lot of imagination but the narration and dialogue didn't flow as smoothly as in the author's other works. While I was tempted to stop reading halfway through, I am glad that I stuck to it as the story improved.

The book those have some positive for a young adult and while I wasn't enjoying it much for most of the time I read, I am curious enough to check out a sequel to see what happens with the other portals and the conquering race.

[Iwaswondering · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read

This was a fun read, though not the most exciting I have read recently.

The plot starts out like a Wizard of Oz book but twists into something unique about 70% through the book.

The author spends too much time explaining the obvious. The last few pages is just a summary of what each character felt they learned from the adventure and is totally unnecessary.

The book ends before it even develops the characters' discoveries of their own powers. Just a quick incident is devoted to it and nothing more. There is not enough to make me curious about the next book.

The concept behind the storyline is good and can really be developed into an excellent series.

[Roger D. Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to get young readers hooked on science fiction.

Great read for the entire family. Consider reading it to your middle age kids to have some thought provoking discussions. Limitless imagination used to create the different worlds and challenges. Good demonstration for needed teamwork. Enjoy.

[Maciek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was ok, but not what I expected. It was more of a children's book, more fantasy then sci-fi, something like Alice in Wonderland. It's a story of siblings looking for their parents going through portals to other worlds making friends, enemies, solving problems.

[Mary Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puns and Riddles!

Quick and fun read. Enjoyable world-play although as a "duller" sibling I personally did not enjoy the teasing and disparagement dished out. Entertaining overall.