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Return to Alpha : The Beta-Earth Chronicles: Book Six
Return to Alpha: The Beta-Earth Chronicles, Book Six by Wesley Britton
Forty years in the future, planet Earth suffers from horrendous climate changes due to global warming, and survivors are recovering from waves of decimating plagues from uncontrollable biological weapons. A strange spaceship lands on a Jamaican beach carrying six aliens, as Dr. Malcolm Renbourn’s journey reaches a thrilling conclusion.
Renbourn, the only man to have lived on three Earths in the multi-verse, began his astounding flight in The Blind Alien, when he was unwittingly transferred to a parallel Earth and forced to adapt to new cultures and a new language. In The Blood of Balnakin, Tribe Renbourn traveled to a new continent, where even stranger adventures awaited. When War Returns caught Tribe Renbourn in a brewing war. A Throne for an Alien found Tribe Renbourn on the run and preparing for a final showdown. The Third Earth forced to them to cross the multi-verse once again, this time as outcasts in a strange world.
Now, how will our future generation react to the unexpected awareness that our planet shares cosmic space with at least two other Earths?
Return to Alpha is the sixth and final book in the critically-praised Beta-Earth Chronicles series.
Forty years in the future, planet Earth suffers from horrendous climate changes due to global warming, and survivors are recovering from waves of decimating plagues from uncontrollable biological weapons. A strange spaceship lands on a Jamaican beach carrying six aliens, as Dr. Malcolm Renbourn’s journey reaches a thrilling conclusion.
Renbourn, the only man to have lived on three Earths in the multi-verse, began his astounding flight in The Blind Alien, when he was unwittingly transferred to a parallel Earth and forced to adapt to new cultures and a new language. In The Blood of Balnakin, Tribe Renbourn traveled to a new continent, where even stranger adventures awaited. When War Returns caught Tribe Renbourn in a brewing war. A Throne for an Alien found Tribe Renbourn on the run and preparing for a final showdown. The Third Earth forced to them to cross the multi-verse once again, this time as outcasts in a strange world.
Now, how will our future generation react to the unexpected awareness that our planet shares cosmic space with at least two other Earths?
Return to Alpha is the sixth and final book in the critically-praised Beta-Earth Chronicles series.
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Published November 8, 2017
6 people want to read
About the author
Wesley Britton
29 books108 followersImmerse yourself in an extraordinary universe revealed by the most original storytelling you’ll ever experience. “Science fiction yes, but so much more.”
Besides his 33 years in the classroom, Dr. Wesley Britton considers his Beta-Earth Chronicles the most important work he’s ever done. “I suppose an author profile is intended to be a good little biography,” Britton says, “but the best way to know who I am is to read my novels.”
Still, a few things you might like to know about Wes include the fact he’s the author of four non-fiction books on espionage in the media, most notably The Encyclopedia of TV Spies (2009). Beginning in 1983, he was a widely published poet, article writer for a number of encyclopedias, and was a noted scholar of American literature. Since those days, for sites like BlogCritics.org and BookPleasures.com, Britton wrote over 500 music, book, an movie reviews. For seven years, he was co-host of online radio's Dave White Presents for which he contributed celebrity interviews with musicians, authors, actors, and entertainment insiders.
Starting in fall 2015, his science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted with The Blind Alien. Throughout 2016, four sequels followed including The Blood of Balnakin, When War Returns, A Throne for an Alien, and The Third Earth. Return to Alpha will be the sixth volume of this multi-planetary epic.
Britton earned his doctorate in American Literature at the University of North Texas in 1990. He taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College until his retirement in 2016. He serves on the Board of Directors for Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania. He lives with his one and only wife, Betty, in Harrisburg, PA.
Find out more about the Beta-Earth series on the official website -- http://www.drwesleybritton.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 18, 2021
Return to Alpha is one of these books that opens up a window to another reality inhabited by
other volumes about the universe that sprang from his writer's imagination, Dr Wesley Britton
The book is a rather unique take on the aliens visiting earth concept. Fiction of course is no stranger to this concept, from ET to war of the worlds and many other works.
This time however there is a twist, we, the readers, or at least me, feel like we have more in common with the "aliens", than with the earthlings around them.
The story is set in a dystopian, post pandemic earth some 20 years in the future.
Population reduced, countries are broken apart. Covid-19 and other plagues ricked havoc on the planet and the result is a weakened humanity, riddled with fear and isolation.
Into this earth, 6 visitors arrive from parallel earths with different names, hence the title, "return to Alpha".
works that come to mind with similar themes are "water world". Star gate" and the Sci Fi classic "winter" by Ursula Le Guin.
RTA however is different as I said as we are immediately feel connected to the so called aliens and develop
empathy towards them. There is a good reason for the way we feel towards the aliens. I will not disclose it here as it is a bit of a spoiler.
The main character, Malcolm Renbourn the 2nd, is portrayed with strong colors and bold hand, accompanied by a compelling supporting cast of family members,
Of note is also the character of Major Mary Carpenter from Texas, and the unfolding of her relationship with Malcolm is one of the main and colorful threads of the story.
Dr Britton pays great attention to details, which makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, in their landing, in the gilded prison called the "citadel" they are being placed at by suspicious earth security and law enforcement officials and elsewhere in their journeys and adventures.
I also like the rich assortment of secondary characters the main heroes of the story run into, the not-so Christian orphan Brian is a good example of that, pay attention to him when you get to this part of the story.
RTA has a rather clear message for humanity. and good messengers to deliver it. the message is especially relevant and poignant in our post pandemic, deeply divided current reality.
i enjoyed reading the book and I recommend it to anyone who like science fiction with more than just the science and more than just the fiction.
other volumes about the universe that sprang from his writer's imagination, Dr Wesley Britton
The book is a rather unique take on the aliens visiting earth concept. Fiction of course is no stranger to this concept, from ET to war of the worlds and many other works.
This time however there is a twist, we, the readers, or at least me, feel like we have more in common with the "aliens", than with the earthlings around them.
The story is set in a dystopian, post pandemic earth some 20 years in the future.
Population reduced, countries are broken apart. Covid-19 and other plagues ricked havoc on the planet and the result is a weakened humanity, riddled with fear and isolation.
Into this earth, 6 visitors arrive from parallel earths with different names, hence the title, "return to Alpha".
works that come to mind with similar themes are "water world". Star gate" and the Sci Fi classic "winter" by Ursula Le Guin.
RTA however is different as I said as we are immediately feel connected to the so called aliens and develop
empathy towards them. There is a good reason for the way we feel towards the aliens. I will not disclose it here as it is a bit of a spoiler.
The main character, Malcolm Renbourn the 2nd, is portrayed with strong colors and bold hand, accompanied by a compelling supporting cast of family members,
Of note is also the character of Major Mary Carpenter from Texas, and the unfolding of her relationship with Malcolm is one of the main and colorful threads of the story.
Dr Britton pays great attention to details, which makes you feel like you are right there with the characters, in their landing, in the gilded prison called the "citadel" they are being placed at by suspicious earth security and law enforcement officials and elsewhere in their journeys and adventures.
I also like the rich assortment of secondary characters the main heroes of the story run into, the not-so Christian orphan Brian is a good example of that, pay attention to him when you get to this part of the story.
RTA has a rather clear message for humanity. and good messengers to deliver it. the message is especially relevant and poignant in our post pandemic, deeply divided current reality.
i enjoyed reading the book and I recommend it to anyone who like science fiction with more than just the science and more than just the fiction.
July 31, 2021
That was different! I started the book thinking it was science fiction, but by the end there were enough fantasy elements to put it firmly in the scifi fantasy genre.
Genre-bending aside, it's a good book. The characters are unique, distinct, and interesting. My favorite was the female lead, Mary Carpenter.
The premise is a group of alien/human combinations travel to our world from a parallel universe. They are commissioned by a trio of gods to spread the knowledge of the multiverse.
Sadly, the US has disintegrated into a four nation dystopia, each of the nations ruled by a quasi dictatorship. The aliens land in Bermuda, proclaim their mission to the world and their adventures begin.
Dr. Britton has written five other books about the multiverse, but it's fine to start with book six, since it's a new generation of the family he been chronicling.
Genre-bending aside, it's a good book. The characters are unique, distinct, and interesting. My favorite was the female lead, Mary Carpenter.
The premise is a group of alien/human combinations travel to our world from a parallel universe. They are commissioned by a trio of gods to spread the knowledge of the multiverse.
Sadly, the US has disintegrated into a four nation dystopia, each of the nations ruled by a quasi dictatorship. The aliens land in Bermuda, proclaim their mission to the world and their adventures begin.
Dr. Britton has written five other books about the multiverse, but it's fine to start with book six, since it's a new generation of the family he been chronicling.
February 19, 2026
Return to Alpha is a rare example of generational science fiction executed with emotional intelligence and structural precision. Britton does not simply continue the saga of Malcolm Renbourn, he examines what it means to inherit myth. The younger Renbourns are not replicas of their legendary father; they are shaped by his absence, by stories, by expectations, and by prophecy. This thematic exploration of legacy transforms what could have been a conventional “return to Earth” narrative into a profound meditation on responsibility, identity, and moral courage. The interplay between multiversal cosmology and deeply personal conflict is handled with sophistication. It is speculative fiction that respects both intellect and emotion.
February 19, 2026
What struck me most while reading Return to Alpha was the psychological realism embedded within its grand premise. The arrival on Jamaica’s shore is cinematic, yet Britton immediately shifts from spectacle to consequence. The Renbourn descendants are not greeted as saviors, they are detained, questioned, doubted. This choice grounds the novel in political plausibility. The Citadel scenes, in particular, reveal a nuanced understanding of institutional fear and post-collapse nationalism. The book asks: how does a wounded planet respond to cosmic revelation? The answer is neither simplistic nor sentimental, and that restraint gives the novel its power.
February 19, 2026
Olrei Renbourn is one of the most beautifully realized characters in contemporary speculative fiction. Her inherited prophetic awareness never feels like a gimmick; it feels like a burden she carries with grace. Through her, Britton explores quiet strength, the kind that does not shout, but endures. Her connection to Lorei’s legacy deepens the mythic continuity of the series while allowing her to remain entirely herself. I found myself reading her scenes with particular attention, knowing that every gesture and line of dialogue held layered significance. It is rare to encounter a character written with such spiritual subtlety.
February 19, 2026
Return to Alpha succeeds because it refuses to simplify complexity. It treats political authority, spiritual prophecy, generational legacy, and cultural difference with equal seriousness. The emotional sincerity of the Renbourn family remains intact, yet the stakes feel broader than ever. It is both a continuation and a transformation of the series. Readers who appreciate speculative fiction that engages philosophy, sociology, and human psychology will find this novel deeply rewarding. It invites reflection long after the final chapter.
February 19, 2026
What distinguishes this sixth installment from earlier volumes in the series is its emphasis on generational transition. The mythic presence of the original Malcolm Renbourn lingers, yet the story unmistakably belongs to his descendants. The tension between inherited expectation and personal agency is palpable. Malcolm II’s awareness of his mother’s genetic legacy contrasts with Malcolm III’s exploratory courage. This intergenerational dialogue enriches the saga and ensures that the narrative never stagnates in nostalgia.
February 3, 2026
Return to Alpha isn’t just science fiction. It’s a story about family, faith, and what it really means to rebuild humanity after everything falls apart. I expected aliens and action. I didn’t expect heart. This book stayed with me long after the last page.
February 19, 2026
What distinguishes Return to Alpha is not merely its multiverse premise, but its generational depth. The emotional gravity carried by Malcolm II, Kalmeg, Olrei, and Malcolm III reveals an author who understands legacy not as inheritance, but as burden, calling, and transformation.
February 19, 2026
This novel is a remarkable meditation on identity across worlds. Watching the Renbourn descendants confront Alpha-Earth’s fractured 2044 society felt intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant in equal measure.
February 3, 2026
WOW. This book completely surprised me. It’s got multiverse travel, prison breaks, survival journeys, and deep emotional moments all in one. I couldn’t put it down.
February 3, 2026
I honestly didn’t expect to get emotional reading science fiction, but some moments hit hard.
February 3, 2026
Mary Carpenter is one of the strongest female characters I’ve read in a long time. Tough, smart, believable. She steals every scene.
February 3, 2026
Every chapter made me want to know “what happens next.” That’s the sign of great storytelling.
February 3, 2026
A richly layered multiverse narrative that balances political tension with intimate character moments. Highly recommended for serious sci-fi readers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews