Trials

by Thane Keller

Trials is a science fiction thriller that follows Jonah Shepherd, a wrongly accused retired soldier that has been exiled to the planet Mars by a corrupt and totalitarian government. As Jonah’s world descends into chaos, he is forced to rely on his ingenuity and military training to escape the red planet and reunite with the love of his life, Evie. Standing in Jonah’s way is a megalomaniac named Malek, the shadowy mining company Unicore, and one hundred and forty million miles of empty space.

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2015

About the author

Thane is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in psychology and a minor in English. Following college, Thane married his high school sweetheart Sarah and started his career as a cavalryman in the United States Army. Over the course of his career, he has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan where he was personally engaged in ground combat. His service has thus far earned him two Bronze Stars and numerous other awards and decorations.

Relying on his background in psychology, military experience, and Christian faith, Thane writes novels that seek to explore human nature under dire circumstances, the reality of pain and suffering, and the resilience of individuals to accomplish superhuman feats. Thane’s hopes are that as readers experience his character’s journey through the gift of reading, they will be greater equipped to endure the inevitable ups and downs in life itself and dream to accomplish grander things.

In addition to his wife Sarah, Thane is blessed to have four wonderful children that do all they can to keep him from pursuing his love of writing.

Reviews

[Rhys Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often I come across a book that I don't want to put down. Trials, Book 1, is a ticket to Mars, but not the Mars I expected to find, nor the Earth I expected to leave. Author Thane Keller has created a riveting space for any reader to become lost and consumed in. The dark depravity of human intentions are lifted, if ever so subtly, by the heroic and self-sacrificing Jonah - a soldier far removed from the conventional war he was trained to fight, thrust into a political nightmare of choosing which side is the lesser evil, all the while being relegated the caretaker of all human weakness. Is Jonah so different from us as we hold to a mustard seed of faith and morality as we navigate the dark tunnels of worldly evils? Or do we more resemble Jillian, a scientist that captures conceptual justification - the greatest good being all that matters? One thing is for certain, I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel. You won't regret letting yourself be immersed in the world of Trials.

[James Griffes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm lucky I got to have the opportunity to read this book before most as it was recommended by a friend. Trials has an original premise and produces a very realistic take on Planet colonization/nuclear war/ social response to apocalypse. I very interested in seeing any future work that the author or any sequels/prequels in this series.

[Katie Babbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I wasn't sure I would enjoy a book about a former Soldier ending up on Mars, but once I started...I was hooked. Thane's characters are interesting and compelling. You like them or hate them and for me, that makes for the best books.

[robert a bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Good read for any science fiction lover. Author paints a picture that is easy to visualize. Already purchase his other books.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trials was a jarring tale of a man who was wrongfully convicted by a corrupt government and sent to Mars to serve his time.
I really enjoyed this novel for many reasons:
1) The characters were likable
2) The plot is strong and holds a lot of promise
3) It's straight to the point

I appreciate Keller's style of writing. There isn't any extra "fluff" and characters are quietly developed while seeing things from their personal point of view. With that being said, I wish each chapter was a little longer in order to savor the time with individual characters.
I think it's important to note that Trials is the first book in a projected series-- this is important to the plot. Towards the end of the book (I had 10 pages left) I was wondering how the story lines besides Jonah's were going to wrap up in such a short span of the book, but! They did not. And that's okay, because we get to find out what happens next when book two rolls out.
It's also very clear that despite this book having a sci-fi feel to it, there was a notable amount of research done to complete this novel. Personal military experience by the author is obvious in military references and characteristics portrayed.

Worth picking up and checking out, and definitely looking forward to the sequel(s)!

*I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*