Anomaly

by David Kazzie

THE PAST IS NEVER PAST. Twelve years ago, NASA researcher Peter Abbott disappeared while on a mission to study a meteor that had crashed on an uncharted island in the South Pacific.His wife Claire Hamilton, a scientist herself, picked up the pieces of her broken life and started over. Now a professor of astrobiology at the University of Washington, Claire has remarried and is raising six-year-old twins with her husband Jack. But her idyllic life is shattered once again when NASA shows up at Claire's door with incredible news - Peter is alive, and they want her to join a mission to rescue him from the island. And the most stunning revelation - it wasn't a meteor that Peter had gone to study, as they had told her a dozen years ago, but an extraterrestrial artifact. Torn between the love for her family and the prospect of being part of the most important discovery in human history, Claire struggles with the decision join the dangerous mission. Meanwhile, sinister forces begin aligning to prevent her from rescuing Peter or uncovering the mystery of the alien object. And as the danger mounts, she will make a shocking discovery, one with the potential to alter the course of her life - and of mankind - forever.

Genres: Science Fiction

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2018

Reviews

[Ronald SmithJr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope

Really not very good, poor story development, inconsisten, quite boring on the whole. I apologize to be so harsh, but this was a waste time. I kept thinking the author has to be going somewhere with this. I was wrong about that.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, let’s talk about the issue of why Claire didn’t go on the first expedition but gets invited on this one. She’s an astrobiologist, so the issue of alien contact is within her wheelhouse. There are two separate excuses given for why she gets invited now but didn’t before. One, the sciences are a good old boys’ club and the previous expedition was set up in a sexist manner. Hard to argue for this when we’re told in passing that the original expedition had four women on it. Sure, that was less than half of the expedition, but not nearly as anti-female as the narrative insists it is. Two, the folks running this expedition think she deserves to go since she’s suddenly finding out her husband is alive after twelve years. Uh, sure, but we’re talking about a thing that’s so secretive that, including Claire, only 96 people in the world supposedly know about it. The idea that someone would let her on the expedition out of pity is a little hard to swallow. Ultimately, the whole thing feels artificial and convenient–just a little sleight-of-hand to arrange the setup the author wanted.

I don’t like the characters very much. Jack’s reaction to everything seems to be to get drunk. Claire is kind of narcissistic, and Peter… well, I should avoid going into that to avoid spoilers, but it suffices to say that Claire’s memories of him seem to be tinted by rose-colored glasses. One of the few good parts to this book is the depiction of Claire trying to reconcile herself to the fact that Peter is still alive while she now has a husband and children, but it goes on forever. Most of the narrative is given over to this, and it gets to be a bit much. The anomaly itself ends up relegated to the very end of the book. While advertising copy concentrates on the exciting stuff, the actual meat of the story is almost entirely about Claire and her struggle to make sense of what’s going on. Thus I thought I was getting one kind of book, when in reality it turned out to be another.

There are some bits and pieces that don’t really add up. Peter and the rest of his team had implants transmitting their vital signs back to the project; that’s how they believe he’s still alive. His vital signs suddenly got picked up again after having gone silent for twelve years. So… why aren’t they asking how come the implant is still working after all these years? Why did the signal suddenly start up again (no, that’s never addressed)? If they had this technology twelve years ago, how come they don’t use it on Claire and her team? (Yes, it’s true that they now believe no electronics will work on the island, but they did just receive Peter’s signal again after all these years, so that clearly isn’t entirely true. It would have been better than nothing, at least.)

There’s also a weird sequence in which Claire gets caught in a traffic jam and ends up getting arrested for assault and battery, only to get bailed out by a DIA agent who was one of the people who told her about Peter still being alive. This whole sequence felt very random, and regarding the agent in question just left me with more questions than answers. Speaking of questions without answers, there are a couple of characters that never get explored or explained well enough for my taste. There’s also a completely random memory of Claire being scared of a clown when she was a kid. Huh?? Also, her men-vs-women thoughts get really tedious, particularly since they get echoed by everyone around her. She seems to believe men and women can’t be friends without there being more to it; Peter seems to think women are inherently unreasonable… I mean, am I actually supposed to like any of these people? Claire is so out-of-step and in conflict with both of the men in her life that it’s hard to believe she has had happy marriages.

The details surrounding the alien artifact get confusing. Peter’s seen it, but he hasn’t seen it, but there’s some other weird orb thing, which first I thought was the anomaly, but apparently it wasn’t? Only they just left it there and moved on? And… oh never mind. There are also a lot of lectures about how this alien artifact must necessarily lead to war. We don’t need to be told at that much length.

The ending is far better than this book deserves, even if it is still a little confusing and odd. I won’t go into more detail that that, because it would be rude to spoil it. Ultimately though, I can’t really recommend this book.


Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/12/r...

[Elisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad giving negative reviews but I didn't like this book. First, it spends almost the first part talking about the main character's life, her family, her children's activities and many other details that I didn't care about at all. I wanted to know what the alien artifact was. Then there is the (spoiler!) fact that if I saw my husband tomorrow and he looked like my grandpa, I'd probably have some questions. At some point I completely lost interest and by the time we got some alien action I was done.

[A Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't live up to its potential.

Hated the dangling ending. Too much build up, too much back story, not enough plot substance. This isn't a sci-fi book, it's just a book about human relations. Not what I was looking for. Would have liked more interaction with the 'object', and/or more about her return to the 'real' world.

[Michael Echols · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this book was written by a crazy woman.

No male I know would have written a story with so must potential and allowed it to devolve into a psychotic tale of female introspection. Skip this book as it is a waste of time.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

Conceptually pretty awesome. Suffers from a lot of overwriting. Beautiful writing but so much unnecessary writing. There are literally pages and page between any action and times where there is dialog that isn’t responded to until 2-4 pages later.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off interesting enough and had some great buildup including some unexpectedly profound moments of insight, but unfortunately the ending really fell short.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I am struck with a book that is pushing me towards a 5-star rating. I hate handing those out like they should be common, but I loved this book! The story was completely engrossing, the writing was expertly spun into a story that had substance and a backstory. Period. I loved it! It has twists, turns, and some really wild science/science-fiction that will bend your mind.

[Melissa Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great pleasures of reading is imagining yourself *into* the story -- what would you do if you were in the main character's place? ANOMALY transported me so effectively into the mind of the protagonist, astrobiologist Claire, that I was gripped from the very first chapter.

ANOMALY is not really a book about aliens, but about a scientist and mother forced to reckon with the toughest decisions possible. To pursue adventure or choose the safer path? To claw her way back to her kids or accept that it's kinder to let them go? The descriptions are cinematic, and the plot twists in unexpected and satisfying ways.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-fi for me is at its best when it dives deepest into the characters' hearts and minds, when the inner journey is even more fascinating than the futuristic marvels that drive the plot. ANOMALY delivers on that score. It was impossible to put down, not just because of the questions that kick off the story--what is that object, the anomaly, that fell to Earth, and what really happened to the protagonist's husband--but also because of the gut-wrenching decisions the protagonist must make in seeking those answers. The consequences of the sacrifices she chooses to make only grow more devastating as we learn what's really happening on the island where the object is located.

Anomaly is a lean, primal story that fans of "Arrival," "Interstellar," and TV shows like "Lost" and "Manifest" will enjoy. It doesn't ask you to like the characters, it doesn't ask you to agree with their decisions, and it doesn't take the easy way out with its ending. But it will make you think long after you reach the end.

[Christophe Anagnostopoulos · Rating 2 out of 5]

So.. I began reading this book without knowing the story or having checked before the goodreads ratings.

It was an interesting ride till the middle of the story but after that it was bad.
It was really bad.

I can try to understand to a point why it took around 1/3 of the book to analyze the character of Claire but I was disappointed both with Claire's decision and mostly about the plot.

Ok, the author build some tension and mystery about the interstellar alien object, but instead focusing more to that especially after Claire's decision, he chose to show how Peter reacted and how obsessed and selfish he was to make first contact.

So sad, this story could have been good, but unfortunately its disappointing.

Not recommended.

[Kathryn Pharis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!

Don’t understand some of the criticism of this book. I felt everything written was necessary to the importance of this story. I felt it was very well written and appreciate that the author used a female approach to how our planet would receive an alien presence. I totally agree with the ending and highly recommend this book!

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out really good

But unfortunately it really dragged in the 2nd half. An interesting premise but when Claire got to the remote island, I expected more action. Yes, there was some (explosions, running, swimming) but such a lot of exposition, memories, that the actual action was just background noise. I really wanted to like this more. The ending was also a bit baffling.

[Carol Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!

Just finished this book, and I need a day to come back to reality. The characters are beautifully written, and the plot was strong.
If you love a good book and you like science fiction, this is definitely worth reading!

[Leila Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

David does it again

Another great, thought provoking book. David succeeds once again in making us question what we would do in the situations he puts the characters in.
Really hope there is going to be a sequel to this book.

[Elizabeth Louitus Moncur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line was good but there was to much blah blah blah and I skimmed over a lot of it. I did not like the end...it left me hanging and I really don't know what actually happened.

[DONNA WOOSTER · Rating 1 out of 5]

f bomb

Would have enjoyed the story but the language kept getting worse so gave up at about page 23. To bad, it seemed interesting.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

ANOMALY is, first and foremost, a First Contact story. But it is not, as one might expect from the blurb, hard sci-fi. It is much more character-driven and psychologically centered. Claire Hamilton is a successful University Professor of "Astrobiology" in the near future, happily married to Jack with two small kids. One day she gets a visit from NASA telling her that her first husband, Peter, lost and presumed dead 12 years ago on a mission to an island in the middle of nowhere to examine an odd meteor, is in fact alive. NASA is mounting a rescue operation and they want her to come, not as his ex-wife or widow, but as the world's leading astrobiologist. They also let her know that there have been several previous rescue attempts, in in all cases there were no survivors. Torn between her present life and her past with Peter, plus the scientific curiosity and resentment that she wasn't chosen for the mission 12 years ago, Claire agonizes for a week before deciding to go.

Of course, nothing is as it seems, no one has been telling the whole truth, and things are far more mysterious than they were first presented to Claire. The meteor is of course not a meteor, but something else. And when Claire finally gets to the Island and finds Peter, there are still many mysteries all over the place.

This is not hard sci-fi. We don't get too much info about the Anomaly. There are no physicists telling us about hidden dimensions or FTL or anything like that. Much of the novel concerns Claire's thinking about Jack and the kids, and Peter, after discovering an incredible truth about the Anomaly and putting all her efforts into getting off the island and back to her family as soon as possible. There are a few plot holes (the one that has Peter lost and presumed dead 12 years ago only to have evidence of his survival at the novel's beginning is a huge one) and some red herrings, but all in all it was an interesting read. The writing was better than average and there more than a few surprises along the way. I am stuck between 3 and 4 stars but have rounded up for originality and quality of writing.

JM Tepper

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

A science fiction novel about a 40 something scientist that reads more like a Young Adult love triangle oopsy daisy. One husband dies and 12 years later she's remarried with a couple of 6 year old twins. Unfortunately now she finds out that her previous (ex?) husband isn't quite dead and there is an alien pressence of some sort involved. It was a coverup.

So rather than focusing on the earth shattering implications of an actual confirmed extraterrestrial visit and disappearing investigators, the book spends more than 40% of it's introduction focused on bemoaning the difficulty of her marital situation. It makes plenty of sense to focus on this. It's really a quite relevant and serious matter to think about. But it goes on and on to the point that the book really reveals itself to not be about an anomaly at all.

This is even further hammered in as you finally get to the later portion of the book and all the reveals are held intentionally in obscurity. It's kept an anomallous question mark for you so that all of the arduous crawling through all that drama leads to nothing worthwhile in an alien/science fiction/mystery focus.

The book really is just about the love triangle and the difficulty between them all oh and some kids that are not quite an afterthought, but mostly just there as a plot tool.
There is nothing deceptive about the book, but I felt lied to by it. Like I kept rolling it over and over looking for the "good part" and it never came.

Oh well. Kinda hated it because I felt deceived.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a few plot oddities and unanswered questions which really didn't bother me at all until I read the negative reviews, I found much to love about this book. Imagine a combination of Star Trek, Lost, and Outlander. Throw in some of the worst "what if" questions a wife/mother can imagine. Mix in a few stereotypical problems expected by women working in a male-dominated profession. Serve with well-described angst and very readable prose. It may not be haute cuisine, but I found it quite satisfying. Based on the overall reviews, so did most other readers. I'll definitely read more from this author.

[Nancy Isebrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you could be the first to have contact with a being from another galaxy? Scientists have discovered that a meteor may not be a meteor, but a unit from another world. Peter is one of many scientists sent to inspect it, only to go down with the copter. 12 years later, NASA shows up at his widow's house with the news he is still alive and they ask her to help rescue him, which means leaving her current husband and her twin children. If she goes, will she ever see them again? And, where has Peter been all this time. A great sci-fi mystery that kept me listening until the end. Slow at times, but I still wanted to know what would happen and why.

[Anne Esposito · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was good. It was believable and had an interesting premise. The second half of the book seemed rushed, in that the actions of some of the characters made no sense. Some explanation was given later, but not enough to really understand why they did things. Without wishing to spoil the end, all I can say is that it came too quickly and left me very unsatisfied. There may well be a future book in the making, but that’s no excuse for properly ending the first.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aliens?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Couldn't put it down..
The characters were nicely developed & the storyline was interesting & thought provoking.
I'm kind of ambivalent about the ending...did she get back home or was time changed? Another book or novella to let us know?😉
I've read some of the author's books and he never disappoints..I would gladly try this book to anyone that likes a good read😀

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Compelling characters & plot. I listened to the audible book and read it at the same time because I couldn’t stand to wait until I was able to listen some more. For me, the story was a perfect blend of authentic character development & fascinating time travel concepts. There were plenty of surprising plot twists & I was sad when the book ended. I would love to see its sequel!!! Highly recommend.

[Linda Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Now?

I'm not sure how I feel about this story! This is definitely not a feel good or happy ending kind of book; however, it's one that kept me engrossed right til the end, and left me wanting more answers! What did her family think happened to her? What if anything had they been told? Who else knew? What did they know? What happened next?

[Aubree · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is an irresponsible use of the human language. It could have been written on 1/4 of the amount of pages it was printed on. The sheer amount of excessive, non useful information was more droning and whining than entertaining. I will make sure to go out of my way to NOT read another book by this author. His creative licensure should be taken away.

[patricia robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anomaly

This book is really different to others David Kazzie has written,,it took me a chapter to really get into ,,but after that I flew through it ,
It left me feeling that if we have any kind of extra terrestrial contact ,,would we be ready ,,or be our normal human selves th to destroy things we don't understand.
Really good book ,,give it a go

[Dream Always · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad...could of been better.

The first book i read from this author. I didnt hate it. I enjoyed the style of writing enough that I will try reading his Immune Series. A short Sci-FI read.

[Strider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-fi with depth.

This is the most intriguing alien encounter book I have read in quite some time. It starts out like you expect but quickly takes you down a very challenging rabbit hole of self awareness. A great read for those who not afraid of a little introspection.

[Dennis Keefe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concept turns into bad romance

So disappointing on every level. What should have been a great scientific revelation ended up boiling down to people being bitter about romances gone bad. Ugh.