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The Guest

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On September 5th, 1977, Voyager 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. For over forty-two years the space probe has raced away from Earth at thirty-eight thousand miles per hour—past Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, cruising past Pluto and the furthest fringes of our Solar System. On August 25th, 2012, Voyager 1 accomplished what no other human designed device had ever done. The probe ventured into deep interstellar space. Over thirteen billion miles away!

Impossibly, now the spacecraft is returning to Earth, traveling at nearly one/thirty-seventh the speed of light. In thirty-one days, Voyager 1 will arrive home.
And it’s bringing an uninvited guest!

https://www.amazon.com/Guest-Alan-Nay...

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2020

211 people are currently reading
144 people want to read

About the author

Alan Nayes

25 books379 followers
Alan Nayes is the author of numerous novels and short stories. He resides in Southern California.


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5 stars
452 (51%)
4 stars
300 (34%)
3 stars
99 (11%)
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23 (2%)
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7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Susan.
1,030 reviews19 followers
September 18, 2024
I enjoyed reading this, just your basic invasion of earth by aliens with a few twists thrown in.
38 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2022
Very impressive & interesting.

This book grabbed my interest and held it from beginning to end. Well written and fast moving. Great technical development. Kind of a 'War of the Worlds' ending, but the good guys (humans) had to win somehow. Thanks, Alan, for your fine work.
Profile Image for M.J. Edington.
Author 3 books4 followers
December 22, 2021
Glad I Didn't Quit This Novel Early

Let me state clearly, this was an outstanding read. Great story and I am glad I didn't give up on it early,

Science Fiction, in particular, requires an ability of the reader to suspend disbelief. The author is not simply a story teller, but acts as an authoritative source of information that, while existing outside the bounds of 'reality' must position the narrative within plausibility.

The author almost caused mt to abandon his novel in an early chapter due to the following blunder, which I quote:

"Briefly, he gazed at the myriad twinkling stars filling the endless dark sky overhead, easily picking out Capricorn, the Big and Little Dippers, Hydra and Ursa Major. One didn't spend decades collecting rocks and quartzite and meteorite fragments on the ground and not become somewhat familiar with what lay millions of miles overhead."

That paragraph was so badly flawed that I almost gave up the book in favor of a different novel. Did you catch the error in the quoted portion above?
He refers to the Big Dipper and Ursa Major as though they were two different things. As I learned in elementary school (literally) Ursa Major IS the Big Dipper. They are the same thing.

As our authoritative source should know this as certainly as his referenced rock collecting meteorite hunter. The author got very basic facts wrong, and lost credibility with the reader.... me.

After some internal debate, I decided to slog on in hopes it was a fluke, and not indicative of what would follow.

The rest of the novel was a wonderful tale, as creative as it was imaginative. It was clever and highly entertaining. By the time I finished the book, I was, and remain, impressed.

Give this sci-fi tale a whirl, and you will be rewarded with a dandy story filled with relatable characters and smart writing.

Overall, well done!
Profile Image for Hugo S.
174 reviews5 followers
October 13, 2020
War of the worlds 2.0!

A pageturner from the start. The action and the science take place in familiar places, such as JPL in Pasadena, California and meteor crater a national landmark in Arizona, places I've been to, so as I read it felt as if I was there where the events narrated in the book were unfolding. As in H. G. Well's novel, in The Guest humans face an uphill battle against what seems to be a highly advanced and seemingly indestructible alien menace but in this case the aliens underestimated humans, and though it was a stroke of genius on the heroine's part to crack the aliens armor, literally, the solution to a sounding human victory over the aliens is simple and that is why I liken it with The War of The Worlds. Five stars as I consider this book one the best books I've had the joy to read this year in my favorite genre!
Profile Image for Nanette Mitchell.
377 reviews
January 20, 2022
fantastic story of an alien or Guest

Really enjoyed the plotting and also the science behind this story. If you like a book that you can’t put down with a ton of action this one will fit the bill!
Profile Image for Jill James.
Author 32 books96 followers
September 11, 2025
Loved this book! Loved the characters, loved the plot. Excellent book!!
81 reviews
July 18, 2024
I enjoy and good sci-fi book and this one didn't disappoint. I've not read a book by Alan Nayes, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The scenario was realistic in that people died, bad stuff happened, and mistakes were made. Human nature was shown well a few times that sometimes ended in tragedy and other times in success - just like real life. The characters were well developed, and I became attached to several of them. It's always a good sign of a good book if you miss the characters when the book is done. As for the plot, lots of things happen right up until the end of the book. I was 90% done and the solution still wasn't there. I kept thinking of what could kill the Guest(s) but then I got to thinking maybe this book had a sequel. Is it going to end in a cliff hanger which I dislike? Could they really find what kills the Guest(s) by the end of the book? It turns out I didn't need to worry. The book's conclusion came as I was on the edge of my seat. It was a good ending, not rushed and quite satisfying. If you like a good sci-fi alien story, this is a great choice.
Profile Image for Terry and dog.
1,010 reviews36 followers
May 1, 2022
Right from the beginning I was so riveted by what was happening to Voyager 1, realized I was holding my breath. I passed out and died...no, wait, I mean I couldn't put the book down. I loved the characters. For those that want to know there is a bit of romance/flirting, and some beautiful, insanely smart people. As for the science, there was a bit of a slow spot where they were trying to figure out what this thing was and it may have been a bit unrealistic, but I say science schmience, it was fun. It had cool creatures and suspense and actually had an ending that m̶a̶d̶e̶ s̶e̶n̶s̶e̶ was satisfying, like an old B movie.
I really loved it.
Profile Image for Michael Smith.
1,929 reviews66 followers
July 6, 2024
This is a not-bad science fiction adventure that reminds me of an updated version of the alien invasion films produced in the 1950s. I’ve never heard of the author, but he appears to have more than a dozen previous novels out. However, the fact that all of them are self-published also means that this one would have benefited from the attentions of an experienced line editor. (There are numerous instances of the sort of overwriting and narrative redundancy and jarringly weird punctuation that one would ordinarily expect in a first novel.)

The lead-in is pretty straightforward. Those of us of a certain age remember the launch of the Voyager 1 space probe in 1977, which checked in with all the outer planets, one after another on its way out of the solar system, and produced an enormous amount of new and important data. At the time this book was published, Voyager had reached interstellar space and was still functioning and reporting back after forty-two years -- half a century now, because it’s still plugging away -- and that’s pretty amazing.

Astrophysicist Kayla Storm (who wasn’t even born yet when the probe was launched) has been with the Voyager mission at NASA’s JPL lab in Los Angeles for some years and has now inherited its directorship, with dozens of other specialists and data analysts under her. Her younger postdocs think it’s all pretty boring -- “ancient tech” -- but Kayla is dedicated to the mission and understands every facet of it intimately. And things are humming right along until the day, the probe’s periodical reports seem to indicate it’s slowing down and changing course. Must be a software glitch, right? Nope. Voyager is reversing course and heading back to Earth and now it’s increasing its velocity at an enormous rate, so it should reach its point of origin in only a month or so. And its mas has doubled, as if it has picked up a passenger.

The narrative is unhurried and very detailed as it follows the perplexed mission staff, and especially Kayla, in trying to figure what’s going on. The military soon gets involved, naturally, and also a personable young astrobiologist from SETI. I won’t introduce major spoilers by revealing more than that, except to say that that Meteor Crater in Arizona plays a major role in the story and the author’s conception of the nature of alien life is quite original, yet still ’50s-style cinematic. The narrative style is also pretty decent -- if only he would hire an editor to clean it up a little.
Profile Image for James Hecker.
64 reviews5 followers
July 30, 2024
It’s been quite a while since I have read a Science Fiction novel, and it was at one time my genre of choice. This book was a good choice as the setting was based on things familiar and interesting to me. The main protagonist is the JPL director of the Voyager probes. At the time they were launched space exploration was something I was quite passionate about.
The story is a thriller in the sci fi genre. Voyager I makes contact with an alien life form that takes over the probe and turns it around, bringing it back to Earth. The manner in which the Voyager returns brings tension to the science community and to the world, especially as they realize the probe is being controlled by an intelligent alien being that is “hitching” a ride as it returns.
The tension builds as it becomes obvious that the alien possesses technology that we initially cannot begin to understand. The tension builds further as it becomes apparent that the superior intellect and technology is being used to colonize the planet to the detriment of life currently residing here as the alien species is terraforming the Earth for their needs.
My favorite sci fi has always been the stories that explore the human condition over the hard science in other sci fi works. This book is definitely more hard science sci fi with the story depending on the technology more than its effect on human thinking and the psychology of the challenge at hand. The manner in which the protagonists fight to defend the planet and all current life upon it, does speak to the determination and ingenuity of our human species.
Nayes expertly navigates the narrative through a series of escalating events that reveal the complexities and dangers posed by “The Guest”. The plot is layered with twists and turns, ensuring that readers are constantly guessing and eager to turn the next page. The blend of scientific detail with imaginative elements enhances the realism of the story, making the presence of the alien feel plausible.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I would have likely rated it higher if it concentrated more on the human condition over the technology. Another thing I enjoyed is that the story being set in very familiar areas and concepts, it is much like the historical fiction novels that I enjoy so much, just with the focus forward in time rather than to the past.
578 reviews
May 6, 2022
This was very good science fiction novel with an emphasis on science, which is the way I like them. The story is basically about an ET hitching a ride back to earth on a probe (Voyager 1) that was sent out decades ago to explore our own solar system and then proceeded beyond it into interplanetary space...the first man made object to do so. Unusual signals coming from the probe begin to transform into unexpected actions and measurements from the probe that lead to the realization that it has gained mass and is following the probe's trajectory back toward earth.

The probe arrives at earth and that's when the real fun begins. Good characters with relatable science that makes for a few scares and a reasonable threat that is eventually languished due to good scientific instincts on the part of one of the lead characters, an astrophysicist.

Enjoyable book...it made me remember how much I like well done science fiction.
Profile Image for Margaret Jones.
113 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2021
Real Thriller

Voyager1 was sent to send information about the universe to mankind. It was well advance into unknown space when all of a it went dark.when it started broadcasting again it was different. It turned around back to earth and it was much faster and heavier. It broadcast several words,telling that it was coming,e got the wrong message. When Voyager arrives going at unimaginable speed it is treated by 6 jets that get destroyed and Voyager is destroyed. The entity is no where to be found. The story shifts to Arizona to a ancient meteror site.The Guest proceeds to multiply and turn the air into cyanide gas. The message was this world is ours you go away.It becomes very plain that they are going to turn our world into a toxic stew that won’t support the whole of the world. The story continues as humans try to fight back. It is a really good book
Profile Image for Joy.
1,409 reviews23 followers
Read
April 28, 2022
Voyager 1, chugging smoothly through interstellar space, suddenly turns around and whizzes at impossible speeds back to earth – with additional mass. It has acquired a passenger, intentions unknown. Physicist Kayla Storm, in charge of monitoring Voyagers 1 and 2, joins forces in Arizona at the Meteor Crater with astrobiologist Eric Bowen of SETI to evaluate the incomer.

There is quite a bit of scientific narrative, which slows the action. The US President has to deal with the danger as a political problem, even after it has become clear that the Guests’ goals don’t include a living earth population. Crazies and disinformation are touched on. Straightforward action by the military seems to be the only solution. Finally, however, a deadly standoff is solved by physics and chemistry.
43 reviews
November 16, 2021
Exciting, but...

The story is fun to read once it gets started. It's unique in that its main military character is not a jerk (they always are in this kind of story). The author states at the start that he's not great at scientific accuracy, but the only blatant errors are referring to the International Space Station, the ISS, as the ISP (twice) and saying that Roosevelt was president when the U.S. nuked Japan at the end of WWII (it was Truman). I'm not sure I believe the gimmick that allows the Guest to communicate would be possible, and the solution to the crisis is a bit too easy. Yet...it's exciting and engaging throughout.
21 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2024
Great StoryA very readable sci-fi story

A very readable adventure in a somewhat believable sci-fi story. Is there life elsewhere in our solar system or beyond? Would it then look like us? This story centers on the belief that no, probably not given that their environment is totally different than ours. But yes, the building block of life would probably consist of the same basic elements we all know. And perhaps, their molecular makeup might be arranged in such a way that they would appear different. All possible but yet unknown to us!
Profile Image for Stephen McCutchan.
Author 12 books5 followers
April 26, 2022
Hospitality is at the core of Life

The essential key to all life is relationships. This is a fun book to read. It uses science artfully. It probes human fascination with the possibility of another form of life in our universe. And in a final scene, it reveals the power of relationships to transcend our differences and liberate us for the core value of life.
Good science fiction opens the mind to deeper truths.
2 reviews
September 1, 2024
Predictable Journey's End, but the ride was worth it.

Well researched science combined with above average literary skill make this an enjoyable diversion. Capializing on the popular theme of supposedly invincible foes this seem to be a modern interpretation of H.G.Wells "War of the Worlds". The enemy, greatly diminishedin numbers, survives to perhaps plague future generations with it's extraordinary intelect and scientific accumen. Feels like a sequel is inevitable.
Profile Image for Brendan Powell.
426 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2025
This was a fun read ... an interesting idea (Aliens finding on our our probes and tracking it backwards to Earth ...) The story was good and while there was a lot of "hard" science in the story, it was presented well and worked nicely with the plot.

The characters seemed a little "flat" at times ... clearly just moving the plot along, vs. really focusing on things that would be important to you and me.

Still, a fun read.

Recommended.
33 reviews
June 6, 2022
Enjoyable, but rather simplistic even though the author keeps the pace going. The ending is a bit too easy and the author really needs to do more research on military ranks, structure, crew size, equipment, etc. Still, if you want an easy book to read, this will do if you are having a hard time finding something.
Profile Image for Philip Atkinson.
30 reviews
February 12, 2023
Captivating SF Tale

I am not usually a SiFi reader but this was a good story with good rounded characters. Pretty good plot and easy to read. Wish all SiFi was as interesting. Good beginning and plot developed very quickly, and a good ending which came as a surprise. I will be reading Alan’s other books starting with Abominable.
Profile Image for Pamela.
2,011 reviews95 followers
July 8, 2024
Stuck with it to a bit over 15% but that was as much of the clunky writing and adolescent ‘ boy friend—girl friend’ as I could take. And come on! MC has no assistant to help with email, essentially has no boss, and is surprised that this situation is as important as it is? A great premise ruined.
8 reviews
August 1, 2024
disappointing end

This is well written at the beginning to build up the suspense and interest with the return of Voyager 1. However, it then becomes a bit too predictable and the end game for the Guests is farcical in my opinion. Plus it’s just one more book where the US of A is determined to annihilate visitors from another planet.
130 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2025
U LEAVE ERTH

A Guest visits Earth, hitching a ride on Voyager 1, with the sole intent of taking over the planet! Earth scientists struggle to find a way to stop the Guests. The military also attempts in vain to contain the rapidly expanding number of Guests. Is there a way to stop them?
8 reviews
October 8, 2025
So many science holes

The science holes in the story are so huge it's clear the writer didn't pass high
school chemistry. But otherwise the story moves along and dialog is natural enough. The 'romance' element comes across as what an emotionally constipated product of a 40's British boarding school would imagine was tender. But I finished it!
116 reviews
December 4, 2021
Better than Independence Day

The level of detail here is impressive. Whether science or military the story never misses on either.
Then add in the human side of the story and it’s hard to put down.
Definitely needs to be made into a movie.
75 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2022
Brilliant!

Loved the story line. Kept fascinated from star to finish. Lots of ups and downs for the characters. Not knowing how they would win the battle with the aliens. Look forward to more from Alan. Keep up the good work! 👍
7 reviews
May 4, 2022
Good book

The book held my attention and I enjoyed the way the book moved the story along. I had the feeling that a detail not overly discussed would lead the Guests demise. All in all a good, enjoyable read.
19 reviews
May 30, 2022
Interesting alien invasion

This story is pure science fiction with an interesting premise. The inclusion of the Voyager one spacecraft was a good touch. I couldn't stop myself from calling it V'ger.
7 reviews
June 15, 2022
Not all et's are nice

Nice blend of science, mystery and action. Story moves right along with a little side-story between the characters. The story takes place in familiar setting, think Starman.
Profile Image for Farhan.
310 reviews4 followers
December 16, 2022
A straight-forward sci-fi action thriller with evil, invading aliens and the U.S. military throwing everything at them but the kitchen sink. Yet, this is not a run-of-the-mill military space mindless shoot-em-up.

Maintains an undercurrent of excitement throughout the narrative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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