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by Richard Sutton

Forty-two teachers, scientists, engineers and their children, have just completed a twelve year deep-space journey to escape the war and drought ravaged Earth. A carefully selected band of hardened survivors, they are to be colonists on the planet Nakis. Lying at the edge of the galaxy, it’s a new world that they hope will let them build a safe life together. Unfortunately, within two days, their ship, all their supplies, tools and technology are destroyed in an unforeseen melt-down of the crystalline core of their laser-driven vehicle.

Scrambling up to take shelter in a rough cave above the valley floor, those watching the melt-down find that survival will mean resurrecting the ancient technology and forgotten skills of their Paleolithic ancestors. If dodging the lurking predators isn’t hard enough, soon they discover the uninhabited planet they are marooned on, isn't exactly uninhabited. Nakis has not provided the home they had willingly traded their old lives for. They have been reduced to foraging for subsistence. No strength, no defenses and now: powerful, potential enemies waiting in the darkness.

If lasting peace with the native humanoid species eventually comes, it will not be without incidents that try their empathic hosts’ patience. Rigid, bunker-mentality and religious stubbornness prevails among many of the original mission founders and a growing anger emerges that may doom the human colony. But a breakthrough cooperative experience binds them all together in a completely unexpected way from a source no one considered. Will this illuminate their path to finally finding the home they had hoped for, or will it drive a deeper and darker wedge between them and the Naku?

Unknown Binding

First published August 5, 2012

About the author

From San Rafael, California on a windy January in 1952, it's been a wild ride. My folks never settled down until long after I'd moved to a cabin I built on a commune in Oregon, but I couldn't sit still -- the wanderlust was in my blood. I hitchhiked to New York City in 1973. There I met my wife on Canal Street and finally found a home.

I learned my craft post-college, spending 20-plus years in the trenches of NYC advertising and publicity as a graphic designer, marker-pen-jockey, art director and copy writer. I served the needs of a wide range of clients from corporate multinationals to non-profits and small retail businesses. I now limit my design and marketing work to book covers and collateral marketing for authors.

Our other family business, since 1985 has been trading and retail in the authentic American Indian arts, primarily Southwestern cultures. Indigenous cultures world wide, have an amazing resilience. We could learn some lessons from them. Much of my work deals with intolerance, diversity and the clash of cultures.

I've worn lots of different hats and hung them all over the place. Finally, I have the chance to concentrate on what I really love about being alive; to read and write what I like, when I like; and to listen to and make the kind of music that gives me peace.

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science fiction was one of my first loves, and it was so wonderful to be able to delve back into my roots in this classic sci-fi adventure. Told through journal entries, we follow the struggles of a group of colonists on a new home planet.
I'm sure that I'm about to commit some kind of sci-fi blasphemy by likening Richard Sutton to Ray Bradbury, but it's true. This is not so much a blockbuster nail-biter. It's more about human nature at its best... and worst... and not strictly "human". Reminiscent of the Martian Chronicles.
I did have an issue with too many ellipses. I completely understand that pauses are common, especially when there is a language barrier, but it became a distraction, and did not taper off even long after the languages should have been learned.
Even with the ellipses, however, the world building made the story worth it. It's phenomenal! Sutton painted a picture of life on another planet, to the point of believablility. Awesome!

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read one of this author's other, thought provoking story titled 'Troll', I was curious to see how he would tackle a Sci-fi story.
I was not disappointed!
Forget fighting, ray guns and vicious aliens in flying saucers.
Welcome instead, a small remnant of humanity who have landed on a compatible planet many light years from a war-torn Earth.
However, their ship and most of its supplies are quickly destroyed, leaving the technically advanced humans without their technology.
When every creature on the new planet seems to be out to eat or destroy them, the discovery of a native hominid species forces the 'Earthlings' to decide between flight or fight.
This is another thought provoking story.
When Humans finally reach another world and discover 'Aliens' what can they REALLY offer them to show they come in peace?

See my review also at:

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