The Orb: This is truly a great sci-fi read

by Tara Basi, Chris Coady (Illustrator), Graeme Maughan (Editor)

A massive alien artifact, the Orb, abruptly appears over London. In the following decades the shock of the uncommunicative, motionless and enigmatic Orb’s arrival triggers a global economic collapse leading to war. After nations fall into a new Dark Age, the Orb is worshiped as a god by the Pilgrims of the Church, triggering a genocidal religious conflict. Pilgrims’ access to the Orb is controlled by the secular Orb Industries who are in a cold war with the Church for control of their deity. Under the shadow of the Orb, Peter, a renowned computer scientist, is desperate to discover who murdered his daughter and why. The authorities believe it was suicide and have closed the case. With no clues, Peter uses his skills to resurrect his daughter, who directs him to Zip, a sixty-year-old woman who has recently been medically transplanted into the corpse of a teenager. After decades of blood and war, Zip just wants to have fun. Peter wants to prove his daughter didn’t commit suicide. Together, their search for the killer will reveal the awful truth of the Orb. A revelation so shocking it brings the cold war between Orb Industries and the Church to boiling point, threatening a global conflagration.

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2018

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is best to be avoided.
interesting concept, poor execution.

the problems i had with this story:

- the world building. it's confusing and what is explained is explained through dialogue and not through descriptions. we are told everything. and because we're just told stuff it makes it very difficult to remember because the impact is not there. there are also like a bajillion names for everyone and everything and it is extremely difficult to keep track of.

- the characters.
peter is an utter and absolute ass, and extremely possessive. wasn't fond of him when the book started, but the longer it continued the more i hated him.

zip is inconsistent. she has converted to a pilgrim but i still don't remember if her reasoning is explained because she just said she underwent the conversion. and before becoming a pilgrim she believed there was no god. after becoming a pilgrim ... she still does not believe there is a god. so what was the purpose in converting to a pilgrim? she was drawn to the tramp's revelation but hated the church. this was a sort of explanation but makes 0 sense so someone explain what that one means please. she also is so back and forth between 'oh i'm done with this i'm out' and then immediately goes and continues doing it. logic.

- their slang is weird. 'jesus and the tramp' what even is that? 

- the two government / religious rivals are the church of the orb and orb industries. they do not like each other. for reasons i do not remember. our characters go back and forth working for both of them. both are horrible and i suppose "antagonists" but our characters have 0 independent will power so i support no one and have no idea who i'm supposed to be rooting for.

- the ending. the supposed climax. the orb ... turned into ... A CUBE!!!!!!!!! the absolute horror!!!!!!!! literally it makes absolutely no sense i do not understand. honestly they made it seem like it was going to change the entire world but it literally only changed shapes. whatever alien force put it on this planet is just coming up with ways to fuck with humans and because we're so stupid the mere change of shape sends the world into another economic collapse. ridiculous.

- tension. or complete lack thereof because there is none. any time they have a timeline or something it's like no big deal? they have to get something done quickly and zip takes the time to fuck someone. i mean okay cool. also there is no one to root for. i gave zero shits about every single character and plot event. 

[Vier (Ri) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review first appeared on and was written for OnlineBookClub.org. It has been trimmed here and the rating has been adjusted for a 5-star system, which is more common.

Tara Basi's The Orb is a sci-fi novel that talks about the clash of The Church and The Orb Industries. The book brings us to a world who views an alien blue orb as its god. Early on in the story, we meet the Pilgrims who are devoted believers, the Ungodly who do not believe, and then the Pilgrimists who aim to hurt and bring terror all around. This book is guised as a science fiction but I seriously believe that it's actually a satire, dropping social and moral takes here and there.

[Letitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this book 4 out of 4. The story is tight. The characters develop and change, the stakes are clear and significant. The book is expertly altered. I tracked down just a single minor blunder. The writer writes in an exceptionally English style, which especially adds to the sensation of being in London. The Orb is an extraordinary story that takes an intriguing setting and idea, and runs with them.

What I detested most was that the consummation felt somewhat hurried. The book is as yet a 4 for me, as the completion actually works. I would have quite recently favored somewhat more time and wrap-up toward the end. It's as yet a fabulous story.

What I enjoyed most was the world and the manner in which the characters live in it. The story questions what truly makes somebody "alive", and assuming individuals truly living on the off chance that they stay in VR constantly. It likewise investigates the profundities that enterprises and coordinated religion can sink to when the general population aimlessly follows them. The creator investigates these subjects well indeed. The inquiries and subjects are essential for the story without detracting from the general account.

[Raju Tikale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Orb is Tara Basi's sci-fi literary thriller about a weird blue orb that appeared over London 42 years ago. Humanity examines its own interpretations and fights two major wars over its own results. The author has perfected the ability of maintaining the orb's mystery and suspense till the very last page. He also deconstructs many of the misconceptions that come with reading such novels, making even the most ardent sci-fi fans laugh. This work excels in terms of literary quality, subject, and plot.

Tara Basi's The Orb earns 5 stars from me for its wonderful finale, engrossing and thought-provoking writing style, and superb characterization. The plot of the entire world falling in love with and being divided between two factions is not belivable but lovable.This book is for mature sci fi readers who like strong sci fi thrillers like Isaac asimove's I, Robot.