What do you think?
Rate this book
Unbound Duology
Prophet: The Sequel to Melody
The Beacon has been activated, and only a child can challenge what comes through...Astrobiologist Megan McCullough, a member of the council that built the alien device known as the Beacon, now leads an international consortium to detect a second extraterrestrial transmission. What she uncovers defies understanding and thrusts a mysterious church into power.
Stevie Fisher, a young boy haunted by dark deeds from a forgotten past, is drawn into a confrontation with an old foe. Racing against time, he and Megan must overcome their deepest fears, protect the people they love, and awaken an oblivious world to a demagogic leader’s plan to transform Earth into a staging ground for universal conquest. But to stand against an invincible adversary, they’ll need to find the courage to forge a new path for themselves and all humankind.
Can they stop the Prophet before it’s too late?
Dive into this thrilling sequel to MELODY, an award-winning tale of first contact gone wrong, and join the desperate fight for Earth’s future.
Stevie Fisher, a young boy haunted by dark deeds from a forgotten past, is drawn into a confrontation with an old foe. Racing against time, he and Megan must overcome their deepest fears, protect the people they love, and awaken an oblivious world to a demagogic leader’s plan to transform Earth into a staging ground for universal conquest. But to stand against an invincible adversary, they’ll need to find the courage to forge a new path for themselves and all humankind.
Can they stop the Prophet before it’s too late?
Dive into this thrilling sequel to MELODY, an award-winning tale of first contact gone wrong, and join the desperate fight for Earth’s future.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2024
46 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
David Hoffer
8 books18 followersA vibrating multitude of entangled strings on a quantum plane floating within space and time. Likes dogs. Author of MELODY, PROPHET, and currently working on the prequel novella. #SPSFC3 Judge. He/him.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Read
December 21, 2025I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC5 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Yes
Read: 30%
While I was aware early into this book it clearly states it is a sequel, I didn't realize until after finishing the sample that book 1 was a SPSFC semifinalist. Technically, sequels are disqualified from entering the contest. For the most part, it is sufficiently self-explanatory that I didn't feel lost because I never read book 1.
This book has strong Contact vibes. Yes, that popular Jodie Foster film where she gets hyped for locating an outer space radio transmission that is the blueprints of a wormhole machine. A film I enjoyed immensely and felt annoyed with the ending. In a way, I suspect this book took those annoyance elements into account and wanted to subvert them a bit. Whoever is the communicator from the other side does a John Carter and 'perishes' to teleport their consciousness into a human body.
With this basic premise, Prophet veers a bit into a different direction where we have the aftermath of not one but 2 friendly aliens inhabiting human bodies. We can also notice some overlapping themes from the 1994 Stargate film (sorry, I have never seen the tv series, so I don't know the lore that well). While this book and Stargate are arguably different, there is a clear overlap with the initial 15 minutes of that film. Mostly pertaining that the US military has secured the communication device and the chief story protagonists are involved with the military in variable ways. One key difference however is that humans have not discovered how to teleport themselves using the 'Beacon' device. From what I have read so far, this book focuses on how a second hidden message embedded with the original has some mechanism that serves as the key. Which apparently brings the story focus back to the 2 aliens in human form.
All the military adjacent characters know at least one guy named Stephen isn't human, but they let him live a somewhat ordinary life. Since I haven't read book 1, I cannot discern much about the story mechanics. Only that he operates the Beacon control center and got into a rift with a General. Long story short, this book commences with a strong bang where an acquaintance named Meg ends up thrown into endless problems.
The story seemingly overlaps with a key focus on a fringe religious cult that is obsessed with the Beacon and believes the 2 aliens hiding among humans are some kind of rapture guides. Reminiscent from Contact once again, I liked how this book explored the religious cult in greater detail. Contact's cult merely played a role as an anti alien domestic terrorism organization. Which left it as a secondary plot conflict that would not have altered the course of the ending and only expanded the film an additional 15-20 minutes. This book's cult meanwhile, plays a pivotal plot role, which does a nice job of pitting religious fervor with Meg's agnosticism. All signs this book at least within the first 30% will appeal to Incensepunk readers that enjoy a bit of religious magical realism undertones in their First Contact alien stories.
Despite being a bit of an unusual story with some meandering, the plot is in motion within the 30%, it does feels gripping enough to count as a thriller and I am voting Yes for itto continue in the competition.
Status: Yes
Read: 30%
While I was aware early into this book it clearly states it is a sequel, I didn't realize until after finishing the sample that book 1 was a SPSFC semifinalist. Technically, sequels are disqualified from entering the contest. For the most part, it is sufficiently self-explanatory that I didn't feel lost because I never read book 1.
This book has strong Contact vibes. Yes, that popular Jodie Foster film where she gets hyped for locating an outer space radio transmission that is the blueprints of a wormhole machine. A film I enjoyed immensely and felt annoyed with the ending. In a way, I suspect this book took those annoyance elements into account and wanted to subvert them a bit. Whoever is the communicator from the other side does a John Carter and 'perishes' to teleport their consciousness into a human body.
With this basic premise, Prophet veers a bit into a different direction where we have the aftermath of not one but 2 friendly aliens inhabiting human bodies. We can also notice some overlapping themes from the 1994 Stargate film (sorry, I have never seen the tv series, so I don't know the lore that well). While this book and Stargate are arguably different, there is a clear overlap with the initial 15 minutes of that film. Mostly pertaining that the US military has secured the communication device and the chief story protagonists are involved with the military in variable ways. One key difference however is that humans have not discovered how to teleport themselves using the 'Beacon' device. From what I have read so far, this book focuses on how a second hidden message embedded with the original has some mechanism that serves as the key. Which apparently brings the story focus back to the 2 aliens in human form.
All the military adjacent characters know at least one guy named Stephen isn't human, but they let him live a somewhat ordinary life. Since I haven't read book 1, I cannot discern much about the story mechanics. Only that he operates the Beacon control center and got into a rift with a General. Long story short, this book commences with a strong bang where an acquaintance named Meg ends up thrown into endless problems.
The story seemingly overlaps with a key focus on a fringe religious cult that is obsessed with the Beacon and believes the 2 aliens hiding among humans are some kind of rapture guides. Reminiscent from Contact once again, I liked how this book explored the religious cult in greater detail. Contact's cult merely played a role as an anti alien domestic terrorism organization. Which left it as a secondary plot conflict that would not have altered the course of the ending and only expanded the film an additional 15-20 minutes. This book's cult meanwhile, plays a pivotal plot role, which does a nice job of pitting religious fervor with Meg's agnosticism. All signs this book at least within the first 30% will appeal to Incensepunk readers that enjoy a bit of religious magical realism undertones in their First Contact alien stories.
Despite being a bit of an unusual story with some meandering, the plot is in motion within the 30%, it does feels gripping enough to count as a thriller and I am voting Yes for itto continue in the competition.
Read
January 3, 2025David Hoffer’s Prophet is everything I hoped it would be and more. After reading Melody and enjoying it immensely, I was so excited to finally get my hands on the second book—and it absolutely delivers. What I love about both books is that, while they’re science fiction, they don’t fall into the typical tropes of the genre. This novel brings something fresh and unique to the table, and it’s such a breath of fresh air.
Without giving too much away, Prophet takes a fascinating deep dive into cults—how they shape their members, how they affect society, and the dynamics of belief and control. On top of that, the book weaves in themes about aliens and what they might truly be—good, bad, or something entirely different. It’s smart, layered, and thought-provoking in ways that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.
The writing is top-notch, with a story that flows so smoothly you’ll fly through it. And while the themes are deep, the book never feels heavy—it’s as entertaining as it is insightful. As someone who reads a lot of sci-fi, this series stands out for how different and refreshing it is.
If you’re even a little curious, do yourself a favor and read it. You won’t be disappointed. Trust me, this is science fiction done right.
Without giving too much away, Prophet takes a fascinating deep dive into cults—how they shape their members, how they affect society, and the dynamics of belief and control. On top of that, the book weaves in themes about aliens and what they might truly be—good, bad, or something entirely different. It’s smart, layered, and thought-provoking in ways that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.
The writing is top-notch, with a story that flows so smoothly you’ll fly through it. And while the themes are deep, the book never feels heavy—it’s as entertaining as it is insightful. As someone who reads a lot of sci-fi, this series stands out for how different and refreshing it is.
If you’re even a little curious, do yourself a favor and read it. You won’t be disappointed. Trust me, this is science fiction done right.
January 28, 2025
A simple and good read. The science was nominal and believable. No astrophysics degree needed. The concept was exciting and not exceedingly unbelievable. Not a lot of action but enough moments to keep it interesting, and the emotions expressed by the characters was realistic.
An easy and steady read.
An easy and steady read.
April 11, 2025
Swept me up.
I enjoyed this, as an ex member of a cult, I felt that this story touched on what can happen to anyone when they allow their foundation to be built on fear instead of love and personal freedom.
I enjoyed this, as an ex member of a cult, I felt that this story touched on what can happen to anyone when they allow their foundation to be built on fear instead of love and personal freedom.
June 4, 2025
Prophet:sequel to Melody
Really enjoyable book,I really liked the ideas
an interesting take on possible alien visitors
and humanities misinterpretations of
knowledge acquired and also misused.
I found the family setting very relatable...
Really enjoyable book,I really liked the ideas
an interesting take on possible alien visitors
and humanities misinterpretations of
knowledge acquired and also misused.
I found the family setting very relatable...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews