The Abduction of Joshua Bloom

by Michael Thal

A high school track star is abducted by aliens, explores strange worlds, uncovers genocide on a planetary scale, and is thrust into extraterrestrial politics that decides the fate of an Earth on the brink of war or unification.

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom tells the story of a teen abduction by an alien race who justifies their act in an attempt to save their people. Joshua finds himself in a world dominated by women, and men are subjugated to their whims. He travels to a dinosaur world, visits a water planet, and a world doomed by a star about to nova.

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2014

About the author

Michael L. Thal, an accomplished freelancer, is the author of The Legend of Koolura and Goodbye Tchaikovsky. He has written and published over eighty articles for magazines and newspapers including Highlights for Children, The Los Angeles Times, and San Diego Family Magazine.

Michael lives in Sherman Oaks, CA. He's the proud father of two adult daughters, Channie and Koren, and the grandfather of Arielle and Shaye. You can reach him at michaelthal@sbcglobal.net.

Reviews

[Bob Rich]

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom is a fun SF story for young adults. I can’t think of any teenager, male or female, who wouldn’t enjoy it. Sixteen year old boy is taken by aliens with amazingly superior technology. Surprisingly, they are humans with only minor differences from us, but this is satisfactorily explained by the lovely Anita.

Through the device of an alien culture, Michael presents the moral code humanity needs in order to survive. It is fully believable and workable, and hopefully will influence some youngsters to look at society with different eyes: compassion, decency and cooperation instead of greed and aggressiveness.

Here is a wonderful quote from near the end: “the world will be at peace only when the people of our planet love their children more than they hate their neighbors.”

I won’t give away even a bit of the plot, but will say that the book is an excellent combination of exciting action and thought-provoking ideas. Despite the philosophy, there is not a shred of preaching or lecturing. It is an exciting science fiction story, and as I’ve said, it’ll be enjoyed by any young person able to read. And, like all good stories for youngsters, it will also entertain an adult.

[Peggy Tibbetts]

One minute 16-year old Joshua Bloom was in Central Park running for his life from the zoo’s escaped lion and the next instant he awoke on board a spaceship. Joshua soon learned he was abducted by a group of teen aliens from Oceana, a doomed planet. They are on a mission to find a new home for the remaining members of their civilization. They have their sights set on Earth and they have tapped Joshua to be their ambassador. Not only has he been abducted by aliens but he is inducted into the Oceanian Space Corps. While adapting to the routine and duties of everyday life on a spaceship, Joshua must also cope with a command structure dominated by women – the positive and the negative. In “The Abduction of Joshua Bloom” author Michael Thal boldly goes where no other YA authors dare go these days in his creation of a utopian world where smart young space travelers work together toward solutions to the Universe’s most challenging puzzles – as opposed to a dystopian world where teens struggle to survive. Go ahead and teleport yourself into this intergalactic adventure of a lifetime for one brave young Earthling. Fans of the TV series “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” will like this book.

[Latisha J.]

I loved how ambitious this novel is. It takes readers far beyond a simple alien encounter and creates a universe filled with fascinating cultures difficult decisions and genuine emotional moments. The adventure never feels repetitive because every chapter introduces something new.

Joshua grows in believable ways and I enjoyed watching his confidence develop as the story unfolded. The world building is one of the strongest parts of the book.

This is an imaginative story that stayed on my mind after I finished it. from Discussing Books in English in Madrid Book Club

[Danessa Violette]

Great book!!
This is a page Turner. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to read a good, well written, thrilling book! I found myself lost in the story line. I'm not sure why this book hasn't made it to the top seller list yet but I'm certain that it will! # Masterpiece

Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy H.]

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom was such an imaginative and entertaining read. What begins as an alien abduction quickly unfolds into an exciting journey across fascinating worlds filled with danger mystery and unexpected discoveries. Joshua is a relatable protagonist and watching him grow through every challenge made the adventure even more rewarding.

I especially enjoyed the creative world building. Each planet feels unique and adds another layer to the story while the larger themes of survival leadership and understanding different cultures give the novel real depth. It is the kind of science fiction that keeps you turning the pages while also giving you something to think about.

This is a fun and thought provoking adventure that blends action imagination and heart. I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction with memorable characters and inventive storytelling.

Nancy from Discussing Books in English in Madrid Book Club

[Suzanne Collins]

I have read many science fiction novels, but I can honestly say I have rarely encountered a story as creative and thought provoking as The Abduction of Joshua Bloom.

From alien politics to time travel and worlds on the brink of destruction, the scope of this book is extraordinary. The concept of a society where traditional roles are reversed adds an intriguing layer that keeps the reader constantly engaged. Every new world Joshua visits feels fresh and unpredictable, and the tension surrounding Earth’s potential fate keeps the stakes high.

Michael Thal has created something truly special here. The imagination, the pacing, and the emotional depth combine to form a reading experience that is both entertaining and memorable. This is a standout novel that showcases the author’s remarkable creativity.

[Dean]

In The Abduction of Joshua Bloom, Michael Thal transforms a familiar alien-abduction premise into a thoughtful meditation on power, survival, and moral ambiguity.

Joshua’s removal from Earth is more than physical it’s ideological. Thrust into alien societies, including a matriarchal world that inverts familiar hierarchies, he is forced to confront how easily dominance justifies itself. The novel’s sweeping settings dinosaur planets, water worlds, civilizations facing stellar extinction serve not merely as spectacle, but as ethical terrain.

What lingers isn’t the scale of the cosmos, but the discomfort of its questions: If a species faces extinction, what becomes permissible? And who decides?

Expansive yet introspective, this is science fiction that values conscience as much as imagination.

[Giedre]

I went into this expecting a straightforward alien adventure but it turned out to be so much more. Joshua's journey is packed with action yet it also explores questions about power identity and the choices we make when everything familiar is taken away. I found myself completely invested in his story.

The different worlds were imaginative and each one added something fresh to the adventure. I especially appreciated that the characters kept the story grounded even as the scale became much bigger. It is the kind of science fiction that entertains while making you think.

A creative and engaging read that surprised me in the best way.

Giedre from Discussing Books in English in Madrid Book Club

[Horpsy Alpha]

This book reminded me why I enjoy science fiction so much. It is full of imagination without losing sight of the people at the center of the story. Joshua feels like a real teenager trying to make sense of an impossible situation and that made it easy to connect with him.

The pacing kept me interested from beginning to end and every new setting brought another unexpected twist. I never knew where the story would go next and that made the experience even more enjoyable.

Definitely a memorable read for anyone who loves adventurous science fiction.

Horpsy from Discussing Books in English in Madrid Book Club

[Madeline Collins]

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom by Michael Thal is an ambitious and imaginative space opera that never stops surprising. Michael Thal builds entire civilizations with depth and purpose, blending alien politics, ethical dilemmas, and cosmic stakes into a story that feels both vast and personal. The scope of imagination on display is remarkable, and it’s clear the author has a deep love for science fiction. This is inspiring work, and I truly hope Michael Thal continues creating stories in this universe his voice is a valuable one in modern sci-fi.

[Juanita S.]

What impressed me most was the creativity behind this story. Every destination Joshua visits feels carefully imagined and filled with its own challenges. It kept my curiosity alive all the way through.

Beyond the adventure there are thoughtful themes about courage responsibility and understanding people who are different from ourselves. Those moments gave the novel more depth than I expected.

A fun science fiction adventure with plenty of heart. From Discussing Books in English in Madrid Book Club

[Susan M.]

This was such an enjoyable escape into another universe. The story balances exciting action with moments that make you stop and think. Joshua is an easy character to cheer for because he faces incredible situations without ever losing his humanity.

The imagination behind the different planets really stood out to me and made every part of the journey feel fresh.

I closed the book hoping there would be more adventures waiting for these characters.

Discussing Books in English in Madrid Book Club

[Williams Ritch]

What makes this novel so compelling is how quickly it pulls you into the unknown. From Joshua’s abduction to his travels across a dinosaur world, a water planet, and a civilization facing stellar annihilation, the story never slows down. The exploration of a society ruled entirely by women is especially intriguing and thought provoking, adding a sharp social edge to the adventure. Every new world feels purposeful and vividly imagined, making it impossible not to keep turning the pages.

[Shea Denham]

I honestly can’t remember the last time I read a science fiction novel this original. The Abduction of Joshua Bloom stands out not just for its creativity, but for its confidence it dares to tackle genocide, power, gender dynamics, and interstellar politics without losing its sense of wonder. Michael Thal deserves real praise for crafting such a daring and inventive story. This is the kind of book that reminds you why science fiction exists in the first place.

[Charlotte Ace]

A truly enjoyable read with engaging storytelling and memorable characters. I was hooked from start to finish and would definitely recommend it!

[T.R. Horne]

I couldn't finish this book even though it has an interesting concept. The writing style was a major problem for me. It was very cliche and somewhat elementary in its portrayal of places, feelings and objects. I liked the idea of the story, from what I gathered, which consisted of a young boy who was cloned and taken by aliens onto their ship. They are searching for a new habitat and traveling to different planets to test whether they are suitable. They are studying his kind because they seem suitable mates for habitation of their planet. They have the young boy working with the crew of the spaceship. There is a funny play on power where men are considered weak and unintelligent while women are leaders and decision makers. I liked that twist. Unfortunately, the writing needs a bit of work to really give the readers a sense of camaraderie with the characters and to really appreciate the outer world that is created.

Raging Book Reviews