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Paradox: The Alien Genome
In 2150, genetic engineering abruptly terminated on Earth after children begin to perish by the millions. The cure, a reversed string of amino acids, is non-existant on Earth. Captain Thomas Jackson, an intrepid, space veteran is sent to space with a small crew of scientists to find the essential DNA among the nearby stars.
After a disaster in orbit, Jackson finds himself and his crew shipwrecked on a planet with three moons, indigestible food, and aloof humanoids hiding in the brush, except for one curious, exotic female. Rianya takes an interest in Jackson and his noisy clan as they struggle to survive. To everyone’s shock, a hybrid girl is born between them. Remarkably, she’s possesses the miracle, reverse DNA molecule they came hunting for.
But located 24 light years from Earth, a rescue is uncertain; the native peoples consider the half human baby a jinx to be destroyed. If Jackson can’t keep her safe, if they are never rescued and returned to Earth, if he can’t complete his mission, a dwindling gene pool will force humanity to face their extinction.
After a disaster in orbit, Jackson finds himself and his crew shipwrecked on a planet with three moons, indigestible food, and aloof humanoids hiding in the brush, except for one curious, exotic female. Rianya takes an interest in Jackson and his noisy clan as they struggle to survive. To everyone’s shock, a hybrid girl is born between them. Remarkably, she’s possesses the miracle, reverse DNA molecule they came hunting for.
But located 24 light years from Earth, a rescue is uncertain; the native peoples consider the half human baby a jinx to be destroyed. If Jackson can’t keep her safe, if they are never rescued and returned to Earth, if he can’t complete his mission, a dwindling gene pool will force humanity to face their extinction.
- GenresScience Fiction
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2016
57 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 30, 2016
It took me a week to read this book and I found it hard to put down. There are three main characters and I found all of them believable. The captain is what you'd expect: a strong leader with some very human flaws. The doctor is smart, but not huge on bedside manner and she has a jealous streak that weaves in and out of the story. She 'grows' the most over the story. The alien woman is curious, patient, intelligent, but also passive and stubborn at the same time. This might sound a little stereotypical but they are characteristic for their roles and the genre, and they are not flat or one dimensional. I was moved to tears a few times!
The setting is an interesting world and the author describes it pretty well, and the science seems well researched. It's not hard to believe in this fiction planet and I was able to see both sides of the story - the paradoxes. There is a romantic component that was charming, a bit of the West Side Story, but in the end it focuses on the baby with the mysterious genome more than the couple.
I would have liked the "aliens" a little more alien. They were somewhat Native American and ancient Roman, with minimal technology and superstitious religion. They are peaceful but don't know what to make of the half human baby that comes along. I would love to have more of their culture and background, but since it wasn't central to the story I guess there wasn't much point in elaborating on it. The reptilian alien is interesting.
The writing is professional, with proper use of grammar, punctuation, a nice variety of sentences and the point of view is primarily the captain's but with clearly defined occasional shifts into the other two main characters. As someone who has read hundreds books, those kinds of mistakes stand out and I only ran across one small typo. Here and there the writing might have been more concise but 99% is done very well. The story ends nicely but also seems to leave open the possibility of a sequel or series. I look forward to them if that is the case. If medical science about molecules, and space travel or alien worlds is your kind of book, you will not be disappointed in this story.
January 20, 2019
Today I am reviewing H.S. Rivney's book Paradox: The Alien Genome. The year is 2160 Captain Thomas Jackson and his crew is aboard the starship S. S. Linus Pauling, a science vessel.. There's a virus back on Earth slowly wiping out humanity. After being hit by an asteroid, the Linus Pauling and her crew are slowly losing altitude. They are in the orbit of a planet that is going to quickly become their home away from home. Come follow their adventures and get swept away.
I really enjoyed this book. The author kept it mostly clean and very little profanity. She's a promising author that can deliver a good story. The book is a little long at 361 pages but it's worth it.
I really enjoyed this book. The author kept it mostly clean and very little profanity. She's a promising author that can deliver a good story. The book is a little long at 361 pages but it's worth it.
January 4, 2019
Rose
What an enjoyable story! Not so many characters to keep caught up with and following the main characters was extremely fun. Meeting the newest character halfway through the story was sooo good, it made the whole book explode with a new and wonderful expansion.
What an enjoyable story! Not so many characters to keep caught up with and following the main characters was extremely fun. Meeting the newest character halfway through the story was sooo good, it made the whole book explode with a new and wonderful expansion.
July 6, 2017
Scientific Sophistication~A Promise of Hope for Future Generations
If you long for the days of Gene Roddenberry’s soulful Star Trek, or hope the Avatar movie might one day become a reality, then you are in for a treat with H.S. Rivney’s Paradox The Alien Genome. The suggestion of a genetic cure from the world beyond captivated my imagination, as did the author’s writing style. For me, the vivid, unique descriptions illuminated this space odyssey to movie-screen proportions. A healthy dose of dialogue keeps the pace at warp speed with lots of techie jargon. But what really impressed me was the author’s sophisticated scientific knowledge—I would believe her to be an astronaut or a physicist in a previous life to dream up the concepts presented throughout the novel. The author creates a totally convincing world from ecosystems to geology, animal species to alien beings. One graphic scene was tasteful, accurate and evocative. But there’s a touch of intrigue and danger, as well as a softer side to this story, too. A great ending wraps up this exciting futuristic journey after traveling back to a nostalgic era of Kirk, Spock, and Sulu— I highly recommend the ride!
If you long for the days of Gene Roddenberry’s soulful Star Trek, or hope the Avatar movie might one day become a reality, then you are in for a treat with H.S. Rivney’s Paradox The Alien Genome. The suggestion of a genetic cure from the world beyond captivated my imagination, as did the author’s writing style. For me, the vivid, unique descriptions illuminated this space odyssey to movie-screen proportions. A healthy dose of dialogue keeps the pace at warp speed with lots of techie jargon. But what really impressed me was the author’s sophisticated scientific knowledge—I would believe her to be an astronaut or a physicist in a previous life to dream up the concepts presented throughout the novel. The author creates a totally convincing world from ecosystems to geology, animal species to alien beings. One graphic scene was tasteful, accurate and evocative. But there’s a touch of intrigue and danger, as well as a softer side to this story, too. A great ending wraps up this exciting futuristic journey after traveling back to a nostalgic era of Kirk, Spock, and Sulu— I highly recommend the ride!
June 4, 2017
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
First Impression: I'm a sucker for space travel and futuristic science.
Characters: The astronauts contrast in a natural way with the other world species. Relationships between the two tribes of people develop towards an interesting surprise or two!
World Building: Little touches like flora and fauna on a new planet paint a vivid picture in Paradox. The science and medicine are intriguing to contemplate, and I really enjoyed understanding Earth's biology while being transported elsewhere.
Writing Style: Rivney has great imagination and an understanding of giving characters backstory. The dialogue is sometimes lacking, but the characters communicate and grow in other ways...much like learning a new language. This isn't always easy to accomplish in sci-fi.
What I Enjoyed: I would like to spend some time on Beta Hydri IV, to get away from Earth awhile. Hopefully I could come back with something wonderful to share. I also enjoyed the science and genetics discussions.
Deal Benders: Sometimes the alien language was a bit distracting. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to make the villagers different. I would have liked more description of Beta Hydri IV - not only the villagers and plant life. The moons and other scenes were a good start in that direction, but were over too soon.
Overall Rating: 3 stars because I liked the science and characters.
First Impression: I'm a sucker for space travel and futuristic science.
Characters: The astronauts contrast in a natural way with the other world species. Relationships between the two tribes of people develop towards an interesting surprise or two!
World Building: Little touches like flora and fauna on a new planet paint a vivid picture in Paradox. The science and medicine are intriguing to contemplate, and I really enjoyed understanding Earth's biology while being transported elsewhere.
Writing Style: Rivney has great imagination and an understanding of giving characters backstory. The dialogue is sometimes lacking, but the characters communicate and grow in other ways...much like learning a new language. This isn't always easy to accomplish in sci-fi.
What I Enjoyed: I would like to spend some time on Beta Hydri IV, to get away from Earth awhile. Hopefully I could come back with something wonderful to share. I also enjoyed the science and genetics discussions.
Deal Benders: Sometimes the alien language was a bit distracting. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to make the villagers different. I would have liked more description of Beta Hydri IV - not only the villagers and plant life. The moons and other scenes were a good start in that direction, but were over too soon.
Overall Rating: 3 stars because I liked the science and characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews