The Truth Beyond the Sky

The Epic of Aravinda #1

by Andrew M. Crusoe

Twelve years after his mother's disappearance, Zahn makes his annual hike up to Zikhara Peak to sleep above the clouds -- only to be awoken by a monstrous roar.

He watches as an extraordinary object thunders down from the sky and impacts onto the silvery beach below, changing the course of his young life forever.

What he recovers is more than a mere meteorite, and Zahn is swept up into an adventure to the galactic core, encountering a stunning pilot, 5th-density creatures of light, and an ancient chthonic evil, bent on consuming every star in the galaxy by tearing the fabric of spacetime itself. Only the Tulari, a stone that can heal these fissures, offers any hope. Unfortunately, it's been missing for aeons...

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Amazon

310 pages, ebook

First published December 12, 2012

About the author

Andrew M Crusoe is an author and world traveler who writes books that expand the mind, heart, and spirit. His work blends adventure, science fiction, and memoir, often exploring out-of-body journeys and visionary experiences inspired by his travels across Hawaii and around the globe.

His debut novel, The Truth Beyond the Sky, launched the Epic of Aravinda series — a Tropical Sci-Fi trilogy, now with over 500 positive reviews on Amazon alone, that draws on mythology, esoteric exploration, and cutting-edge science. The novel was also featured on UPR radio for predicting gravity waves years before their official discovery in 2016.

The series continued with The Island on the Edge of Forever and concluded with The Mirage on the Brink of Oblivion, both praised for their vivid landscapes and bold mix of science fiction and spiritual adventure.

Andrew has also written the Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise trilogy, a true-to-life account of his years in Hawaii, where he learned about Hawaiian healing traditions and Vipassana meditation. These experiences went on to shape both his nonfiction and the spiritual undercurrents of his fiction, giving his work a unique blend of grounded practice and visionary scope.

When he isn’t writing, Andrew loves connecting with readers. You can discover more of his work — including a set of free books to get started — at AndrewCrusoe.com

Reviews

[Powder River Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story. There’s not too much in the way of hard-core techie sci-fi, and definitely an amazing adventure for all. Myth, fantasy, a little transcendental regrouping and one amazing ship along with a host of interesting forms of life; some are “down-to-earth” though not from earth at all and some are, well, quite evil, and then there are those intriguing minor creatures that fill a scene or are only hinted about and all create the basis for “The Truth Beyond the Sky: The Epic of Aravinda.”

So who wouldn’t want a spaceship that is alive, or the chance to explore space? What would you do if an alien asked you for help? Ahhhh, you think you know but at the moment of truth would you open up your heart and hands to save another in need? From planets far, far away these opportunities, or dilemmas as you might see them, and many more are presented to one young man who sets out to save his planet, his family, and maybe even himself.

It’s not really a coming of age story, but more finding out the truth about oneself and what one is capable of achieving. The protagonist has suffered a horrible loss and is haunted by strange and often terrible nightmares, also he has only known space through a telescope and then he’s confronted with the reality of the galaxy and all that lives there. The descriptive scenes captivate the imagination and one truly feels a part of the story.

The Truth Beyond the Sky has a rather fast but even pace that is easily followed and the narrator gives an incredible performance. There’s nothing choppy, just smooth sailing throughout the ocean of space….ok the characters might have to fight their way through some amazing battle scenes but the narrator just keeps a great flow and his voices are perfect. To get a feel for the story and see narrator Jeff Hays in action, here’s a link to a YouTube trailer for the book

http://youtu.be/lw01D7-YE-E

I truly enjoyed it and think others will too.

My thanks to the author, Andrew Crusoe, for providing this audiobook for me to review. It was a pleasure to listen to and I look forward to the next installment in the series.

[Allies Opinions · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AWESOME! It was AWESOME! AWESOME! Ok, now that I got that out....let me tell you why.

This book embodied the wonder of space and yet inspired a connectedness to the cosmos that all of us should feel. After all, we are all made of star dust. "The Truth Beyond the Sky" is aptly named. Aren't we all searching for the truth of what's out there? Whether it be a personal truth or a truth of origin?

My heart went out to Zahn. I couldn't imagine the terror a small child must feel whilst watching his beloved mother lifted away and disappear. The hole that type of uncertainty can leave is undeniable. The character development was so well done with Zahn. Honestly, it was well done with all the characters.

The descriptions of space travel and the different planets was mesmerizing! I found myself able to make clear images of these places in my head. It was fascinating. Space is such a place of wonder for me already. I wish I could jump on a ship and see what's out there for myself.

Some elements I really enjoyed were the descriptions of the different technologies. Especially Navika ( the ship ). I really liked that the ship had it's own awareness and was alive. It brought a very interesting aspect to the story. Especially since our tech is becoming more and more a part of our lives. It brings an interesting side to the AI moral debate. After all, is something a machine or a person at that point?

I have found with Sci-fi novels it can go one of two ways. They are either amazing or horrible. This book had all the elements you need for it to be successful. It had just enough explanation of the tech that it felt believable instead of ridiculously impossible. It brought in actual aspects of science and used them in believable and possible ways. Who hasn't wondered about wormholes? The characters were humanoid and therefore relatable. At the same time, there are creature descriptions that are not humanoid but are so well done they ignite curiosity.

[Bill Chapello]

Epic sci-fi adventure engaging and emotional. Very moving and riveting story. One of my top ten new reads. I read ten a week!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zahn sets out on a quest through time and space that he hopes will solve the mystery of his mother’s disappearance.

This is a great original scifi story with a well-thought-out universe. During the course of the book, the travelers find themselves visiting different worlds and encountering strange new beings. There was never a moment where I suspected any race was copied from other scifi (such as Romulans, Klingons). Everyone seemed to be original and fresh, and I truly appreciated that in this story.

I was immediately drawn in by the vivid descriptions at the beginning of the story. The author has a knack for fully immersing a reader into the hero’s plight, and I felt like I was hurtling through corridors of light alongside Zahn. There is some techno jargon that I had to just accept and move past, as I’m not a student of physics. Just like with Star Trek, I accept these moments and move on. It does not get bogged down by this language, and I felt it added nicely to the scifi effect.

Zahn is your typical young guy who desperately wants to help. He was a little easily convinced to travel alongside an unkown alien, just as one might expect from a headstrong young man. His father made more sense in his worry and questioning, but he was unable to make his son see reason. I felt both characters were very realistic in this sense. My only complaint is that Zahn had to be attracted to the female Asha once she comes aboard ship. Can’t a male and female work together without falling in love? I get tired of the same old thing happening between major characters.

Oonak had to be my favorite character. His first appearance was almost comical and brought a smile to my face. Though he doesn’t quote logic, his mannerisms and way of speaking reminded me of a Vulcan. That’s probably why I liked him so much, but he is an original and not a copy of Spock. I also enjoyed that he drove his sentient ship through the power of his mind.

All in all, this is a great scifi adventure story. It has new worlds to explore, and it does not feel in any way that it copies from other major scifi franchises (Star Trek, Star Wars). This story is new and exciting and I enjoyed the escape from my own world while reading it.

I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this book several years ago and kind of forgot about it until I realized that more books in the same series had come out. After reading the second one and then reviewing this one I am pleased to say that I think reading them was definitely worth my time. This (the first book) was good, and I think that the second book was even better. There were moments when the characters felt less than real, but overall I felt like it was both an engaging and creative take on the universe of science fiction.

Science Fiction is no longer a new genre of literature that is waiting for the world to notice it. However, I think that this book series and its author are. I look forward to reading the last one.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been mulling over my feelings about The Truth Beyond the Sky for a few days now. It's been quite a while since the last time I read a science fiction epic. It took me a bit to get back into the groove. Following stories like these is never easy at first but, once you are fully immersed, they have the power to drag you away into their worlds. That was true in this instance as well. Once I was really into the story, it was tough to look away.

What's really interesting about this book is how multi-layered it is. At its base, this is a book about a boy who is in search of his mother. However it's so much more than that. Zahn's story manages to pull from the world around us, while also incorporating elements of mythology and hero epics. This is a coming of age story of the highest caliber. The Zahn we meet at the beginning is much different from the one we find at the end.

My biggest issue with this story, and the reason I was so unsure about my rating, is that Zahn's characterization wasn't always my favorite. I completely understood the need to make him seem young and unformed, especially since he was only beginning his journey. Still, I can't deny that he was very tough for me to fall into step with at first. I'm glad I stuck with him. I just want readers to know that he truly does grow.

On the flip side, the world building in this book is gorgeous. Andrew Crusoe has managed to create a beautiful setting for his characters that he allows them their adventures. I was truly impressed at the writing style in The Truth Beyond the Sky. The descriptions are informative, without being overbearing. The writing allows the reader to see the world being build around them. It's an easy, flowing story that is honestly a pleasure to read.

So, despite any qualms I may have had, this did ultimately end up being a book I enjoyed. Many thanks to Andrew Crusoe for reminding me why I have loved science fiction for so very long. There's something about being lost in another world that is without compare. I hope you'll enjoy being lost in Zahn's world as much as I did.

[Michael Coorlim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I obtained a copy of The Truth Beyond the Sky from its author. This review contains light spoilers.

The Truth Beyond the Sky by Andrew M Crusoe is a mythic science fiction epic heavily influenced by its author’s Hawaiian environment and elements of Vedic tradition. It’s a multi-layered story that not only draws from mythology itself, but has a mythic quality to its telling without resorting to archaic prose.

The Truth Beyond the Sky is, on the surface, the tale of Zahn, a young man in search of his mother. He is very much an outsider among his people while remaining very much a part of the land of his homeworld, more comfortable in isolation atop the mountain than at lunch with his peers. His experience follows the Hero’s Journey template strongly, and obtains a mythic resonance as a result.

Crusoe manages to construct a wholly un-Earthlike setting for his characters that he manages to showcase to the reader in such a way that they don’t feel lost. His descriptions are at once both informative and evocative; he does a good job of showing, rather than telling. Importantly, unlike many independent authors, his manuscript is well edited and easy to read without any jars to knock you out of the narrative.

Any flaws within The Truth Beyond the Sky are minor enough that, after finishing, none of them come readily to mind. There is perhaps a small bit of needless repetition where we’re shown the same elements several times, weakening their impact rather than strengthening it, but this is minor and doesn’t mar the reading experience.

Overall The Truth Beyond the Sky is a swift and compelling read. It’s fun, and I recommend it if you enjoy science fiction epics.

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I would listen to any audiobook that Jeff Hays has narrated in the past or will narrate in the future. He either used technology to help with the various voices or he is absolutely amazing at voices, even the female voices sounded like actual people and not caricatures like so often happens with opposite gender voices. I seriously cannot say enough good things about the narration for this book.

I believe this book is targeted to slightly younger than me science fiction fans, so it skips over detailed descriptions of exactly how the technology works, which I appreciate. Although some people will likely argue that the way that is done is a copout, I liked it and felt that it made perfect sense for the story, and it kept the story from feeling bogged down by descriptions that would likely have bored me to tears.

I felt like the story moved along at a fairly fast pace, but it didn't feel unrealistically fast if that makes any sense. There was quite a bit of action, but a fair amount of "down" time too, so it didn't feel like the characters were just being bombarded with one thing after another. I guess I could say it was well balanced.

Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and the narration 7 out of 5 stars because it was that good. I definitely recommend this book to sci-fi fans and if you have any interest in audiobooks at all, spring for the audio. You won't regret it.

Reviewed on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog
http://www.justanothergirlandherbooks...

[Unorthodox Mama · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. It's not a bad book, I just found I couldn't connect with the characters. I felt like I knew nothing about them for too long and it made it impossible for me to care about them or their story.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Truth Beyond the Sky is the first book in the Epic of Aravinda series. This can be read as a standalone. There is violence. This was an interesting start to the series. It starts off slow but picks up as you get farther into the book.

[Stafford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Juvenile

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Might make a "good" made for ScyFi channel movie.

[Silver Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! Totally left the planet and went on an adventure into worlds unknown.
never boring, always another twist or turn in the story to keep you interested.

[Thomas Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable tale of friendship,challenges and space lore. Who is to say none of this could be real? Looking forward to the continuation.

[Katie Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I thought this book was great. the story line was great and it kept moving. there was no pauses in it, it just kept going. Thank you for writing such a great book...

[Lucy McCoskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

spiritual sci fi! it's fun to see the hero stumble into his powers, while remaining humble & humbled

[Katie salvucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

The truth

Very interesting book to read
I'd like my friends and family to read it.
I give this book 3.5 stars

[Thomas Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy stories that have heroes and heroines and this did not disappoint. Such a total story about the universe and all that it entails both good and bad makes me want more.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read

Slow start, but decent read. Mix of fantasy and science fiction elements. It sure if I would read the story.

[Timothy Burbage · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I have ever read, but it was a learning experience. Everything I didnt like, I could analyse why and how it can be better in another book.

The opening was cliche, but why? Because it started with a dream. In fact there were 3 dreams in the first 30 pages, and then hardly any others throughout the book.

This book starts in the wrong place. 30 pages in we go to the mountain on the anniversary of his mothers disappearance. This should be the start of the book.

Why are the characters flat? This is because we never go inside their heads. All the book involves is descriptions of what the characters are doing, but never what they are thinking. We are never experiencing their emotions, only being told about them. This is because of all the filter words separating the reader from the character.

Why is the prose so poor? Because we jump heads. Because of the filter words. Because of strange sentences that dont fit what the characters are feeling.

Why is the plot so boring? Because we never have a ticking clock. We never see the villains. We have deus ex machina, literally, several times. Most of the plot feels like a side quest.

This is a very bad book. But it is a good lesson.

[David A. Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Truth Beyond The Sky is well- written, with characters I fully enjoyed and plan to follow into their futures. The science bends my mind enough to be quite satisfying and makes me wish I could visit these worlds. Good twists and plot turns kept me happily devouring to the well-ended finale with an enticing glimpse of more to come. My especial delight in Andrew M. Crusoe’s storytelling is his perceptual ground; I find strong resonance with what I have come to understand about the nature of reality, both time space and quantum manifest. I love this book! I’m looking forward to reading much more by Mr. Crusoe! Bravo!

[Anne Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging tale

This book, suitable for youth readers, I liken to a written ballad where the tales of multiple encounters within a bigger journey are told. Our main character, Zahn, finds himself immersed in a quest, along with an alien, Oon, and Oon’s ship - itself a living entity. It becomes a classic tale of good and evil, portrayed in a galactic setting as Zahn helps newfound friends and together they fight an aggressive alien race. Hidden within this tale are lessons in understanding others and selfless sacrifice. If you’re looking for an engaging book for your sixth through high school reader, this is a good choice.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventurous space novel.
We follow our character Zahn which life changes with the crash-landing of a space craft on his home planet. He gets catapulted into a mission to not only finding out if his lost mother is still alive but also to get an important message out. And an alien species that is trying to swallow up all galaxies. On his way he finds new friends, fascinating new worlds and a great adventure.

Great suspense, interesting science concepts and a great time. I enjoyed it a lot. 😀

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

This book has a nice plot,interesting action,diverse characters, and plenty of cliff hangers. What I didn't like about the book is the writing. The author has written this book in a sort of jarring narrative that takes getting used to. As this is the first in the series, I'm assuming his writing will get better.

[MGB · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a different type of science fiction story. It had a lot of the action and adventure one comes to expect. However it seemed a slog to read through it. A lot of waiting and hoping for the magical mystery tour to show up and save the day. It all worked out in the end, but only due to outside forces beyond our comprehension.

[Yrag Notsew · Rating 3 out of 5]

O.K. It's a bit of a fun book. It's not great. It's got some interesting twists and unexpected turns. But it is childish. It isn't tightly written or specific enough to really get the reader to inhabit it's world. It's fine. It's entertaining. It's an adventure. It picks up some religious themes. Doesn't convincingly do anything with them. I enjoyed it.

[Shaun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zahn is haunted by his mother’s mysterious disappearance. 12 years later is contacted by an alien, and after that...I'm sorry to report I lost interest. Not much “epic” here: the writing, characters and plot were all muted. I gave up at what should have been an intense moment of drama that was rendered in flat beige midway through chapter 8 of 38.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story!

A fun story with interesting characters and unexpected plot twists.

I liked the way the author unfolded the plot so that you really couldn't guess where it was going.

I heartily recommend!

[J.D. Schechter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good science fantasy

An amusing and well written (although the author has a little problem with plurals) story. It does plod a tad bit at first but soon hits its stride and provides entertaining reading

[Wayne McKirdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So long that it could have easily been 2 or 3 interconnected stories. For all that, it was interesting to see Crusoe's ideas for a future cosmos. Maybe my 90 year old brain should stay away from Sci Fi, but I really did enjoy it.