Silent Altitudes

by Michael James Emberger

"From takeoff to landing, I was on the edge of my seat. This is an incredible story of a race against time to survive."--Colleen Chenpilot and owner, Vertical Ventures AviationThe world looks up to the sky in hopeful anticipation as the Pennychuck Atmospheric Carbon Reduction System comes online. Finally the chance to eliminate global warming will be obtainable.Within moments, something goes terribly wrong. Dr. Milford Pennychuck races to find the underlying problem that caused so much destruction. Yet when an assassination attempt and system sabotage blindsides him, he has to rely on a surprising ally.Together they delve into a conspiracy deeper than they can fathom. As the system operates at progressively higher altitudes, the two scientists must find a way to shut it down...or die trying.Additional "Silent Altitudes provides a thoughtful introspection as to what may lay ahead unless we change our ways."Brian Jeffreyauthor of Adventures from the Coldest Part of the Cold War"Author Michael Emberger offers an exciting ride in this race against time to stop a hijacked project from destroying the human race."Anne Wilsonbestselling author of HOVER, anneawilson.com"Silent Altitudes intertwines heart-wrenching loss, greed, the bonds of family, and the strength of a mother's love to save the climate from catastrophe. A cli-fi page turner."Dan Bloomeditor, The Cli-Fi Report, cli-fi.net

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

About the author

Michael James Emberger is an author of thrillers and suspense residing in Wilton, NH. He enjoys weaving narratives of conspiracy and misguided intentions around divisive topics. Where there is debate, there is always room for a villain with goals far out of alignment from either side. Michael is a graduate of Messiah College, where he studied Engineering and met his wife racing solar cars cross-country. When he’s not working on home renovations or writing, he enjoys visiting the ocean and exploring the majesty of God’s creation on the summits of New Hampshire’s mountains.

Reviews

[Rachel Berros · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was fun, interesting, intriguing, and entertaining even as an early rendition. I'm confident it's even better in polished form!

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual genre but I really enjoyed it! It was full of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat! I listened constantly to see how it would end. If you listen to an audible version, the narrator had a nice voice and was nice to listen to!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to think that those in authority over us have our best interest in mind when they make decisions. However, I am not naive enough to think that that is what actually happens. Silent Altitudes explores what could happen when they don’t
Climate Change is a hot topic in our world - what is the best way to respond to it? I appreciated these words in Michael James Emberger’s note at the end “My intent in writing this story was not to address that debate but to explore the problems that can be created when the people trusted to provide solutions bring other priorities into the mix.”
Emberger did a fabulous job of crafting likeable (and despisable) characters - some who put others first and some who were very selfish in their motives. I do not know if the path to solving climate change described in the book is a scientific possibility, but the way it was used for personal gain probably is a real possibility. If people get nothing else out of this book, they should come away understanding that thinking people can NOT blindly trust the decisions of those in authority. I John 4 talks about testing the spirits as does I Thessalonian 5:21. I think that can also be applied to decisions being made which will affect our lives.
I don’t know if Michael James Emberger has another book planned - but I would love one that further explores the lives of the characters going forward. There is an epilogue which takes place three years later but I’d love to read what happened in those 3 years and beyond.
Silent Altitudes would be a great addition to the Science Fiction section of a K-12 Christian school library. I think that high schoolers and maybe some middle schoolers would enjoy this science fiction novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Silent Altitudes. This is my honest review.

[Tee-Hee Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I was expecting, but in the best possible way.

Admittedly, the book did take a few chapters to get me into it. It contains a large quantity of scientific words and explanations that were quite honestly above my head. But you don’t *have* to know science to enjoy this book!

I kept going, and boy am I glad I did, because it ended up being quite the page turner, and I finished it within two days time.

There was so much action, intelligent plot and climax building, in addition to depth filled characters and interwoven storylines. It keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat, needing to know why something happened, what is going on, and who is behind it all.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, the topic of climate change/ global warming, thrillers, and Christian fiction. The author includes his faith in this book in a subtle and well done manner that gets the point across without being all in your face about it.

P.S.- Milford just wants more snackies.

Overall Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. It was interesting subject matter that is on the forefront of so many people’s minds, and the storyline took quite a turn and kept you entertained and guessing until the end.

[Bobby Hoyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel provides a jarring take on when solutions carried out with the best intentions in mind go completely awry. A fun and harrowing tale full of intrigue, espionage, raw emotion, and family values. I was on the edge of my seat the entire journey! And you will be too!

[Leah Herr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading this author in the past and this latest book meets those expectations! It's a good read for those who like action, suspense and weaving story together with complex themes. Highly recommend!

[Stephanie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! So many twists and turns, engaging characters, and surprises at every turn! I was sucked in from the beginning, I could not put it down! If you like a fast paced read that keeps you guessing, you will love this book, I cannot say enough good things about it!

[Tina Emberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was thrilling and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Excellent read!

[Karla Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Silent Altitudes from Prism Book Tours.

What would it look like if scientists were able to develop a solution to the “global warming” problem? And what would it look like if the project went horribly wrong? That’s the premise of Silent Altitudes.

Naturally, there’s a whole lot of science (much of it over my head) in a story like this, but the characters, intrigue, and politics take the forefront. It’s an “end of the world as we know it” scenario. The twist to this one is that the survivors are mostly all above a certain altitude. How they happened to be there is part of what makes the story so interesting. The tension comes when they realize that even at high altitudes they aren’t going to be safe for long.

As the characters begin realize that sabotage is at play and that there is a slim chance that it can be stopped, they have to figure out creative ways to get where they need to be at just the right time, and figure how to work together and who can be trusted.

While the science was a little “out there” (isn’t that the definition of sci-fi?), I found the characters and story line to be completely relatable. I appreciated the element of faith that was included and that it was a clean read. Definitely a page-turner for me.

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books that asks the question , “What if?” In this story the topic is about climate change and what happens when the solution becomes dangerous with sabotage, deceit, death and destruction. The scenes are so vivid that I could see the snow falling and the fog taking over. What everyone thought would be the answer to a problem facing the world becomes a life and death situation. The intrigue was just enough to keep me reading and when it became obvious who was behind everything I wanted them to caught.

The scientific talk in the story did lose me somewhat and I wished the author would have made that part a little easier to understand. Most of us don’t know about reactors and currents so when the explanation started I got lost. But it didn’t deter me much because the story is explosive and it is obvious that there is a group of greedy people who didn’t think about what would happen when they mess with the system. The destruction is catastrophic and is felt in big states as well as little towns.

Valentina is smart but insecure. I was so upset when she was tricked into doing things she knew was wrong. She really had no choice and I could feel her pain as the years went by with promises that never happened. It all comes down to that one moment in time when a button is pushed and the world is never the same. Her character is well written and she became a very vital part to this exciting story.

There is a lot going on in the book with different groups trying to stay ahead of the disaster and I found it to be realistic enough to cheer on the efforts to save the world. The dynamics of the people who were working so hard to stop the device were different but had one thing in common. They all wanted to stop what was meant to do harm. Overall a good story that explores “what if,” in a way that makes you think that if we don’t work together, disaster could happen.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just knew I wasn't going to like "Silent Altitudes" by Michael James Emberger but again I was wrong! I really liked this book, but I can't say the same for some of the characters. I kept reading because I had to know why Kathleen and Valentina was so evil.
This is a good book about conspiracy theories and climate change.

This book has it all, love, betrayal, science, forgiveness and death and friendship. There is violence but it isn't over the top with graphic details. The science part of this book was not overly done as is in some book of this type so it was easily to follow. The characters ( most) are person I think most of us would like to be friends with. Okay, there is one scene, that a character gave his life to save another. And yes, it make me sad, but then it make me think that is what Jesus did for all of us. No, the book doesn't say that this character is God or Jesus or does it even mention that. The thought was my own.

There is no swearing or sex scenes so I would say that this book is a adult book but I think an mature older teen who reads would like this book.

I was really surprised at how two of the characters were connected. I just know you want to know now, so I say get yourself a copy and found out and then we will both know the secret!

I would love to read an sequel to this book because the epilogue shows three years into the future but it does mention another character's death and I want to know if this character died from old age or from something else. You know, readers want to know everything!

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a timely novel as it deals with both the current climate issue and conspiracy theories. Emberger explores the possibility of a fix for the excess carbon in the atmosphere. An innovative scientist has a potential answer featuring a combination of technology and nuclear power. But the well designed technique encounters a problem.

That brings in a secret society. They have been making use of social unrest and political controversy to further their plan to rule the world. This climate fix is a perfect opportunity to further their agenda. A compromised and blackmailed scientist is forced to change the parameters of the computer program controlling the fix, ultimately endangering the entire world.

Emberger has crafted good characters, heroes to fight the destruction and villains to further their cause no matter the human cost. The secret society conspiracy is chilling as members take a good scientific project and sabotage it. The plot moves well as we are taken to various locations in the US as the project runs wild. The action builds to a suspenseful climax.

This is a good novel for those who would enjoy an engaging story about the possibilities of scientific progress in dealing with climate problems countered by the possibility of projects being sabotaged by a secret and powerful society.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Carol Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tale the powers that be set about to "fix" what they thought was broken. That doesn't usually go as planed, does it? As if God didn't know how to put our planet together to start with. So in a slightly dystopian bend, this book managed to use the aftermath of a planet altering issue to give us a book to make people think. It some ways, it reminded me of scary books like 1984 and Brave New World. It's defiantly timely and drives home the point of blindly believing the "narrative" that has been given. I adored the science worked into this book, that part was fun, as well as the suspense and how well driven the plot became. It has heroes and villains, and greed. Power hungry people who don't care who suffers, and yet, redemption and salvation remain. I so deeply loved the theme of trusting God and not necessarily the powers that be, or the narrative, or what has been popular, or... quite a list.

This book will not bore you, it will cause many to think, and it will help many to pray, and think through things.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my digital copy of this book. This review is my own, and contains my thoughts and options of this book. A positive review is not required.

[Becca Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I signed up for the tour, I definitely wanted to read something different. This is not really my type of book, but I was willing to step out of my comfort zone. And I am happy that I did.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. While not my favorite, it had some great characters. Valentina was particularly my favorite. While cold and distant, she carries a heavy past around with her and I appreciated how the author wrote the character.

I found the idea of the book in and of itself interesting, as well. Not knowing what was going to happen or how they were going to stop the impending doom kept me on the edge of the seat.

The book doesn't contain a lot of action, so it felt slow to me at some points. Quite a few of the technical terms went over my head. However, neither of those took away from the story too much.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for more of a sci-fi book with Christian elements. It is well-written with solid characters and an interesting premise.

I had received a copy of this book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.

[Connie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silent Altitudes is written by Michael James Emberger. This is my first exposure to this author. While this is not my normal genre to pick up and read, I did enjoy this book. It took a few chapters to get into this book, but once I did get hooked, I did not want to stop reading.

The book is a "What if?" story. This also talks about climate change - and the way that the author wrote the scenes I could see the fog rolling in when I closed my eyes. Such vivid descriptions. I appreciate that the author noted that he was writing a story, not add to the debate. Since Climate change is such a hot topic right now among other topics. There is a lot of suspense in this book - who could be trying to sabotage others? Who could be using the climate change to further their agenda?

I did get lost a bit with some of the scientific terms - that was not my strong point in school. However, I learned a lot as I discovered some new words. The characters are well written, the story is interesting and I hope to read more from this author.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I have never heard of climate fiction before. Totally new genre and idea for me. But really this book is suspense pure and simple. It’s going to keep you in suspense and if you like suspense you won’t be able to put it down.

This is an author who is new to me. I think he did a great job creating the story and the characters. The plot was one I personally would never have thought of. Scientists are looking out for the greater good. They are creating something that will help the world but then evil overtakes it and they must race to save what they’ve worked for.

Great story of good vs evil but also just wonderful suspense as well. Well-developed plot and characters who will keep you reading until the end.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This climate fiction thriller starts off with an interesting story that improves through the pages of this book. One character behaves in a way that caused me to dislike her from the very first page. Another character starts off likable, becomes detestable, but then receives a redemption arc that makes me understand her. The author masterfully addresses what happens when climate control goes horribly wrong.

Another character starts off with good intentions but finds his or her life work destroyed by others with evil intentions. A set of parents with college-aged twin girls bring an interesting twist to the story. I found myself unable to put this book down. I needed to find out how the story would end.

Rather than spoiling the ending for you, I will only say check out this book for yourself. It definitely warrants reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silent Altitudes is my first introduction to books written by Michael James Emberger. I am not a huge fan of fantasy or science fiction genre, but I thought this was a good read. I thought the writing style was different and unique. There were times I had a hard time following but was able to catch on quickly and continued to keep reading. I am happy that I went outside my comfort zone and gave this one a chance. It was definitely worth a read.

I am giving Silent Altitudes three and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading inspirational science fiction and fantasy. I would like to read more by Michael James Emberger in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Silent Altitudes from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this story when I read the blurb, but when I got it I will say it took me a couple chapters to really get into it. It is a 'end of the world' type or 'what if' story. The author did a good job with the characters and the suspense in the story.

There was a lot of science and some of it I didn't entirely follow but it didn't hamper my reading the story. Once I got into it, I had to know why everything was happening and who. I got the feels with some of the things that were happening and I absolutely loved some of the characters. I will absolutely read more from this author.

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Silent Altitudes to be relevant, intriguing, and action packed and perfect for adult or YA readers. The premise of being able to heal the effects of global warming once and for all without making the book overly political was such an interesting premise. Both heroes and villains were well developed- making us feel like we were on the trek with them and getting to know them better all the time. The gospel theme was naturally weaved in without being overbearing. The climax of all the action really was worth waiting for and the scenes took us all over the country. I believe anyone who enjoys reading about environmental change, adventure books, action books, as well as the general YA audience would enjoy this read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own

[Randi Sampson]

Silent Altitudes is not my typical read. It's more of a science fiction story than I am typically into and admittedly probably a little above my head in some places as well. As such, I struggled to really get into the story as much as I would have liked.

Still, I thought it was an intriguing idea and was happy to give it a chance. The story was well written with characters that drew you in and a unique world that was well developed too. While I cannot say that this book was my personal style, I definitely appreciated the storytelling what went into it. I feel like those who are more into science fiction will definitely appreciate this unique story all that much more!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

[Brett Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant at first because I don't buy into the "humans have to save the world from climate crisis" propaganda. Sorry, but God created this Earth, and humanity is arrogant to think they could possibly destroy what He created. That said, I'm so glad I picked this one up. The action wasn't over the top but enough to keep me interested. I thought it was interesting to read a scenario about how such a process of "saving a world in climate crisis" could happen and what happens when egotistical, overinflated, greedy humans try to overstep into "saving the world." For readers who don't like books with heavy Christian themes, this is subtle, limited to prayers and other light mentions, so you might enjoy it. I highly recommend this one!

[Amanda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this slightly futuristic story of what happens when the efforts to help our world fall into the wrong hands and are corrupted with greed and ambition. The characters are well written and, over all, I thought that the author did a wonderful job developing both the characters and the story. The premise fascinated me and I thought that the author did a fabulous job of writing a story about climate change and what happens when those in power don't put the needs of the people first. This is a wonderful story to pick up and enjoy.

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of this genre and this book was a great read. I'm somewhat new to this author and am finding that I am looking forward to the next book I find written by him. This book is filled with tragedy, adventure, realistic events that are speculative views of what our future could look like, and then adds in a little romance as well. I appreciate that there is no inappropriate language or content!

The narration is well done and brings the characters and story to life.

I requested this audio book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure if I would like Silent Altitudes, especially since it is marketed as a climate fiction book. I was worried about how the author would handle a controversial topic like climate change without alienating readers on either side of the topic. However, he did a great job of making it not be a debate or diatribe one either argument, rather I found it balanced, and the focus to be very much on corruption and what can happen when those in power cause more harm for their personal gain rather than solving or addressing the problem. And I loved it! I flew through it and found myself unable to put it down. In fact, is probably going to be on my favorites of 2021 list.

Besides stating that I loved Silent Altitudes, I am actually having a hard time trying to convey what I exactly enjoyed because it was pretty much everything. I am realizing I enjoy fiction that involves some sort of speculative aspect to it – I think that term can be used here, I don’t know. But what I mean is involves something like the System… which doesn’t exist but could, but probably not yet. If that makes sense. Although I hope nothing like the System is developed because I can just imagine how it could be abused and tampered with. If I could think of something somewhat similar (but not) is The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton (as far as Sci-Fi), but in some ways this is a lot better.

Besides the speculative aspect of it, I also found the writing very addicting. Typically, I am not a fan of books told from multitude POVs, but the author makes it work and he does so in a way that I enjoyed. I also enjoyed getting to know most of the characters and their motives for the things they do, as well as their determination to survive, but also figure out what is going on.

I don’t know what else to say except I really enjoyed Silent Altitudes and I highly recommend it! I am looking forward to reading more of the author’s work in the future. 5/5 Stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit in exchange for an honest review.