Escape From Desolation: Book Two: Resolution

by Robert F Glahe

When an earth exploration vessel explodes, a captain takes an escape pod with a handful of the crew. The pod goes off course and crashes on a desolate and uncharted planet. After an initial cataclysmic clash with locals, the captain is the only survivor. He encounters an ancient alien society that has forgotten their history and relies on strict laws to protect marginal natural resources. Those laws doom his shipmates but lead him on an ironic path towards integration within their society. Although they regard their world as utopian, he struggles to accept the sterility and stagnation of their everyday life. While he is welcomed into their world, not everyone is happy he is there. Something is not right, and his arrival begins a change of events that threatens the entire society. While he searches for a way to escape the planet, he also finds reasons to stay.

321 pages, eBook, paper back

Published September 22, 2023

About the author

Rob is a scientist, corporate lawyer and systems manager with a passion for art and writing. Rob was taught painting by his grandfather and did most of his work for family and friends. He began creative writing after law school. Writing became a way to pass the time on long train commutes, where he wrote a full-length novel, not about trains. After becoming a stay-at-home Dad his artwork intensified, leading to active participation in art shows around Chicago for many years. His whimsical themes centering on penguins was a big hit, especially with kids. Writing is now the primary focus, often inspired by his interests in science and law.

Reviews

[Erin Dydek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape from Desolation Book 2 Resolution continues right where Book One left off. Readers already familiar with Yoni Arduus know the extent of his journey after crash landing on the isolated plant named DeSolus. Captain Yoni has come a long way since the loss of his crew in terms of character growth and adapting to the strange cultural traditions of the planet’s occupants. While Yoni still has flaws to overcome, he manages to begin making some headway into discovering the mystery behind the existence of the Barren Plain and why the DeSolans seem so complacent about the conditions of their dying planet.

I loved digging deeper into the climate anomalies and having the opportunity to explore the Under-City of DeSolus this time around. Prig, the Smeagle-like mischief maker, returns to add new layers of deception to Yoni’s ongoing search for a way to escape the planet. The lizard-rat-like alien reveals some juicy morsels that explain the anomalies responsible for the planet’s severely diminished supply of resources. It was exciting to see Yoni follow up on the breadcrumbs left by Prig to discover the depth of the planet’s plight and uncover even more secrets as the book progressed. Of course, the trail of clues leads to a shocking discovery that complicates the situation enormously.

While these events lead to a gut-wrenching cliffhanger, the plot leaves some must-be-answered questions. I eagerly await the next installment in this series to find out what consequences await the cast of characters. I continue to enjoy the various personalities of the DeSolans that Yoni has befriended and appreciate how those relationships created opportunities for Yoni’s character growth. Escape from Desolation was an engaging read that was hard to put down. The setting and characters are reminiscent of those in the classic television series Stargate SG-1 and its spin-off series. The exploration of a fascinating alien race, the consequences of advanced technology, and the development of interpersonal relationships are all present and create a satisfying novel.

I received a copy of the book through Reedsy Discovery.