What do you think?
Rate this book
The Atacama Incident: Hard Science Fiction
When the sky is nearer than you thought
Young american astronomer Jessica Malusky is looking forward to her internship at the Alma Observatory in the Chilean Atacama Desert. When she learns that she is not allowed to enter the site of the huge antennas for health reasons, she accepts the doctor's decision, even though she has never had any problems with her heart before.
But then inexplicable incidents start to Measurement data loses its meaning, vehicles break down, astronomers fall to their deaths and even the black donkeys roaming freely across the site behave in an unusually aggressive manner.
Jessica investigates, and the greater the mysterious hurdles that pile up in front of her, the more resourceful she becomes - unaware that she is not only putting herself, but also humanity, in unprecedented danger.
The Atacama Incident is a fantastic story based on real science and researched on site in the Chilean desert. Read it if you like a twisted adventure that revolves around our strongest wishes, deepest fears, and our place in the universe.
Young american astronomer Jessica Malusky is looking forward to her internship at the Alma Observatory in the Chilean Atacama Desert. When she learns that she is not allowed to enter the site of the huge antennas for health reasons, she accepts the doctor's decision, even though she has never had any problems with her heart before.
But then inexplicable incidents start to Measurement data loses its meaning, vehicles break down, astronomers fall to their deaths and even the black donkeys roaming freely across the site behave in an unusually aggressive manner.
Jessica investigates, and the greater the mysterious hurdles that pile up in front of her, the more resourceful she becomes - unaware that she is not only putting herself, but also humanity, in unprecedented danger.
The Atacama Incident is a fantastic story based on real science and researched on site in the Chilean desert. Read it if you like a twisted adventure that revolves around our strongest wishes, deepest fears, and our place in the universe.
Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2025
385 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Q. Morris
132 books466 followersBrandon Q. Morris is a physicist and space specialist. He has long been concerned with space issues, both professionally and privately and while he wanted to become an astronaut, he had to stay on Earth for a variety of reasons. He is particularly fascinated by the "what if” and through his books he aims to share compelling hard science fiction stories that could actually happen, and someday may happen. Morris is the author of several best-selling science fiction novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 6, 2025
Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2025
Format: Kindle
The Atacama Incident is an enjoyable sci-fi novel that explores the concept of life so alien we humans wouldn't necessarily recognize it as life at all. The book is a bit slow in terms of action, but is thought provoking enough to keep it interesting, as is usually the case with hard science fiction as opposed to sci-fi thrillers. The characters are good, the narrative quality is high and descriptions of both the environment and the "objects" is clear. Overall, 4/5 stars, recommended for hard science fiction aficionados!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2025
Format: Kindle
The Atacama Incident is an enjoyable sci-fi novel that explores the concept of life so alien we humans wouldn't necessarily recognize it as life at all. The book is a bit slow in terms of action, but is thought provoking enough to keep it interesting, as is usually the case with hard science fiction as opposed to sci-fi thrillers. The characters are good, the narrative quality is high and descriptions of both the environment and the "objects" is clear. Overall, 4/5 stars, recommended for hard science fiction aficionados!
August 21, 2025
The question behind this book is, "How would we recognize alien life?"
Morris builds an answer that surrounds the Atacama observatories and a conspiracy that will shake the political world. The main character is a graduate student in Astronomy from America that comes to the observatories for an internship. She is aided by a local family and ignored by the observatory staff. She is soon involved with her local friend, a security guard at the observatory and a strange rock he finds while on his rounds.
She soon is overwhelmed by the conspiracy at the facility and the wall to keep everyone away from the radio telescopes. Sometimes she is certain about her path but then swings to a hapless college girl.
The story pushes some of the theories of the extraterrestrial origins of life and what is intelligence.
I gave it a 3 because the ending was not satisfying and worked only by a mystery character showing up at the last minute.
If you enjoy Brandon Morris, this is one of his books.
Morris builds an answer that surrounds the Atacama observatories and a conspiracy that will shake the political world. The main character is a graduate student in Astronomy from America that comes to the observatories for an internship. She is aided by a local family and ignored by the observatory staff. She is soon involved with her local friend, a security guard at the observatory and a strange rock he finds while on his rounds.
She soon is overwhelmed by the conspiracy at the facility and the wall to keep everyone away from the radio telescopes. Sometimes she is certain about her path but then swings to a hapless college girl.
The story pushes some of the theories of the extraterrestrial origins of life and what is intelligence.
I gave it a 3 because the ending was not satisfying and worked only by a mystery character showing up at the last minute.
If you enjoy Brandon Morris, this is one of his books.
June 26, 2025
What causes the unrest at ALMA?
Mateo works as a security guard for The visitor center of the ALMA array and while investigating a security breach discovers an embryo-like rock. Jessica is an intern, starting work at the ALMA who , unexpectedly, is not allowed to visit the array itself (above 5000m) but is only allowed to work on verifying that the new controller will work the same as the old and flag any discrepancies. Mateo and Jessica's paths cross in an unexpected fashion as they both seek (together and separately) explanations for the strange embryo-like rock and why access to the ALMA array has been severely restricted in the past few weeks...
This intriguing adventure provides us with a flavor of the Chilean Atacama region including their love for astronomy, along with a sprinkling of suspense, possible romance, military security, investigative curiosity, and a new 'life-form'... An entertaining read .
Mateo works as a security guard for The visitor center of the ALMA array and while investigating a security breach discovers an embryo-like rock. Jessica is an intern, starting work at the ALMA who , unexpectedly, is not allowed to visit the array itself (above 5000m) but is only allowed to work on verifying that the new controller will work the same as the old and flag any discrepancies. Mateo and Jessica's paths cross in an unexpected fashion as they both seek (together and separately) explanations for the strange embryo-like rock and why access to the ALMA array has been severely restricted in the past few weeks...
This intriguing adventure provides us with a flavor of the Chilean Atacama region including their love for astronomy, along with a sprinkling of suspense, possible romance, military security, investigative curiosity, and a new 'life-form'... An entertaining read .
November 24, 2025
Fun story!
I really enjoyed this story! I love reading every now and the a story about space, aliens and have the story that could be the real deal. Stories such as this one, open your mind to what could happen. Curious people, amazing story.
I really enjoyed this story! I love reading every now and the a story about space, aliens and have the story that could be the real deal. Stories such as this one, open your mind to what could happen. Curious people, amazing story.
August 27, 2025
The Atacama Incident
This was quite interesting in its exploration of ideas about alien life. I really liked some of the descriptions of the observatories that abound in Chile.
This was quite interesting in its exploration of ideas about alien life. I really liked some of the descriptions of the observatories that abound in Chile.
September 24, 2025
eine sehr spannende Science-Fiction-Story !
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews