The Dark Side

Alex Hunter #9

by Greig Beck, Sean Mangan (Reading)

Hundreds of thousands of miles away on the dark side of the moon, the Russian lunar base has self-destructed – all personnel are dead, except one. Olga Sobakin, the lone survivor, seeks refuge at the rival American base.

Olga tells the Americans her base was attacked by a horrifying and nightmarish creature – the pattern was the same – people vanished, leaving nothing behind but shredded clothing and an unidentifiable waste product. The Americans are sceptical of her story at first, but then people begin to disappear …

Back on Earth, just before the American lunar base went completely dark, a single message is received – ‘Lifeform’. Intercepted whisperings from Russian intelligence indicate a deadly spreading attack and a rising global threat. Escalated to priority one, there’s only one team up for the task.

Alex Hunter and his elite group of HAWCs are on a rescue mission to the desolate and darkest unknown. Who or what, awaits them on the dark side?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Horror, Adventure, Action

Audio CD

First published August 1, 2021

About the author

Hi GoodReaders, I’m an Australian author residing in Sydney with my wife, son and a mad Golden Retriever named Jessie. My novels are now available globally, also in Large Print and now in full AUDIO format.

I grew up spending my days surfing at Bondi Beach before entering a career in Information technology which took me around the world. After completing an MBA, i was appointed both an Australasian director of a multinational software company, and tasked with setting up the USA arm of the organisation.

Today, I spend most of my time writing... with plenty left over for surfing.

More information about me and my works can be found at either www.greigbeck.com, or join me on FaceBook (Greig Beck Author).

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was interested to see where things would go given how the last book ended. The Dark Side didn't disappoint. It not only delivered a fantastic follow-up to the cliffhanger at the end of book 8, but it also took Alex Hunter to the dark side of the moon for a John Carpenter-like adventure.

[Janey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this latest instalment in the Alex Hunter series. Can’t wait for the next book.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not has good has previous books. The story seemed a little rushed this time round. And how Amy and Alex still can't see that the military is after Joshua I have no idea.

[Raqual Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uh oh!

I'd really hate to live inside Greigs mind! Where the hell he gets these idea's from is not something for mortal man to know. As always when you read one of his books...leave your sense of reality at the door and buckle up!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, great characters and the thing was something that Dr Matt Kearns would love. I did feel sorry for Sophia but I think she will reappear in another book. I hope that the next book is a is a collaboration between The Arcadian and Matt Kearns whilst dealing with the offspring of the thing they though the shuttle destroyed maybe even Joshua comes into his own.

[Jacques Hollands · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "The Dark Side" by Greig Beck, readers are treated to an enjoyable and distinct entry in the Alex Hunter series. One of the most striking aspects of this book is its lunar setting, which marks a departure from the usual terrestrial landscapes of the series. This unique backdrop adds an element of novelty, offering a refreshing change of scenery.

A notable departure from the previous book is the reduced emphasis on "The Other," the alternate persona of Alex Hunter. This shift allows the primary storyline to take centre stage, resulting in a more focused and engaging storyline. "The Dark Side" carries a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic 80s sci-fi TV series and the "Species" film series from the 90s and 2000s. This nostalgic quality elevates the story with a sense of familiarity and charm, creating a memorable and fun reading experience.

While the book's pacing may initially test some readers' patience, it's akin to the traditional introductory scenes in James Bond movies before the main storyline starts. This slow build-up ultimately contributes to a rewarding and thrilling narrative.

Additionally, while satisfying in many respects, the book's ending leaves a sense of unfinished business regarding the ultimate fate of the module headed for Earth. This conclusion hints at the possibility of future storylines. In summary, "The Dark Side" is an enjoyable addition to the Alex Hunter series. Its lunar setting, reduced focus on "The Other", and nostalgic elements make it a unique and memorable read. Beck strikes a nice balance between originality and familiarity, ensuring that readers are entertained and left eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the series.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recomendable : Si

Nota obligatoria : Es una novela de ficción militar, con ligeros toques de ciencia ficción y poderes sobrenaturales se requiere amplia supresión voluntaria de incredulidad.

Temática por orden de importancia : 1) Horror el espacio 2) Ficción Militar 3) IA

Temática :
Thriller / Suspenso : 3/5 Después de #8 entregas donde jugamos al juego de que ver que personajes secundarios se muere primero es repetitivo.

Horror : 3/5 Humanos licuados y un ente cambia formas, nuevamente es una tematica presentada en entregas previas.

Acción y Aventura 3/5 : El desarrollo en las secuencias de acción es alternado y no tan intenso como entregas anteriores.

Ciencia ficción 2/5 : Hongo modificado con capacidades de duplicación de la victima, autoconsciente , asimilación de todos los conocimientos de las victimas y con interés por regresar al planeta tierra.

Ficción militar 2/5 : El armamento no es tan importante en esta entrega, se presentan armas especializadas para el combate espacial.


Espectivas altas para trama de la IA desquiciada, no obtuve lo que esperaba; tal vez en futuro de las siguientes entregas vuelva a aparecer el personaje. Considero que se desperdicio completamente una oportunidad de crear toda una novela con el proceso de búsqueda, cacería, enfrentamientos y evasiones de la IA Sophia.


Mencionare que no fue de mi agrado la manera en que terminan con la amenaza en la Luna, era la oportunidad para las escenas de acción, llevar la circunstancia hasta un punto limite pero no sucedió así.

Continuare con la lectura del #10 de la saga

[Dale Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the moon! Okay, I think I mentioned in a previous review that the only place Alex Hunter hadn't gone was into space - tada!

Alex Hunter is in paradise, loving the beach and spending time with Amy and Josh. Or is he? It's been two years, and no one alive has seen him. His rescue is tragic, resulting in the loss of a familiar face.

Only a few weeks later,
Russia loses contact with their lunar station, and a member of their station is found outside of the American lunar station unconscious, and the Russian station has been destroyed. Soon thereafter, the American station goes silent as well, so call in the HAWCS! Alex, Sam, Casey and the requisite number of expendables are sent to the moon. There, they find the situation is dire indeed - will they make it back to Earth, will Earth even be there in a form they recognize, stay tuned for the next episode.

Once again, an interesting story, rapid paced and no real danger to our core group, but believe me you don't want to be a random HAWC thrown in with them on their missions. Let's play a game, what will be the monster in the next book - I'm voting for a mythological slime mold, with an artificial intelligence and maybe a bionic body.

[Beth White · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great finale to the series so far! I loved the combination of some of the best elements of Beneath the Dark Ice as well as the sci-if space aspects of The Void. The only weird part of that was the minimal and barely there references to those two books despite the similarities. Casey at one point says a vague “this seems familiar” as I guess a nod to that, but beyond that Greig chose not to align the books any further which just felt a bit…well, odd. The continuation from the cliff hanger ending to From Hell was done really well and Sophia had an interesting character arc that I am intrigued to see if any of the unanswered questions around her get any conclusion in future books. Nevertheless I still enjoyed Alex’s continued journey and his son’s development as well which I am certain is staged to become the main focus of future books. I will follow future releases with great interest.

[N.L. McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is yet another phenomenal book in the Alex Hunter series, not only does the series keep on growing and evolving, getting better and better with each read, but this book literally takes you out of this world... Missions gone wrong; failed experiments, past battles, physical battles, psychological battles, threats from every direction, hard choices, loss, love, war, 'lifeforms', this book has it all and more. I really enjoy the way the story evolves as time goes on and you really grow to know the characters deeper than just the book you are reading, you are there through every battle and turmoil and I find myself willing the characters to not go a certain way or to not save a certain person, to accept or decline a proposition and to me that is a brilliant read when it becomes more than just words and descriptions.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this addition to the Alex Hunter series, this time set on the Moon. A lot of the basic premise of this seems surprisingly plausible when you really break it down, which led to a satisfying read of the Arcadian and the HAWCS trying to take down a life form on the Moon. There were several ways this story could have went, and whilst it didn’t quite go in the direction I expected (there were three ideas in particular in my mind), I was still very satisfied with the story and the outcome overall. My guilty hope is that a couple of the things teased in the book will be explored in more depth later on, but that is for Beck to decide and for me to consume when another book by the author comes out.

[Chance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly forgot I had this book on my kindle looking and saw a 19% on it. Can’t believe I forgot to finish it has I truly injoyed the author’s many books, but has began to read I found why I stopped is because I just didn’t take seriously has at times the coco android just seem unimportant I just felt she was a bigger adversary then she should’ve been and then the end of we resulted it just didn’t seem real compared to every thing she did.

In the end the story just felt to mad to be realistic and I felt the story was too… way too mugh like the movie The Thing. Also the author way of detecting the life form shouldn’t have work that fast to actually get a reaction with the amount give maybe they overdosed but just seem to cut and dry to get a win.

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all. I loved this. I haven't read all the Alex Hunter books before this, but had read a few, so I knew something about the characters before I read. That is a good idea, I think, but even if you haven't read any of them, it's probably fine, you can pick up bits and if you are intuitive, which I believe sci fi readers are, you will be fine. Characters are great, even though a lot are ...disposable. It has a great plot and I loved it. I said that before, but this is in space, horror in space and it don't get better than that. One of my favourite childhood memories, other than not having to pay bills, is watching sci fi movies on TV in the afternoon, and this reminded me of that. I would definitely read any continuation of this story.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have so many things going through my mind with this one that I’m afraid to write something that might be a spoiler. Needless to say I LOVED IT!!!!! I had no idea what was going to happen after the last one and I’m sad about the time lost. As much as I love the action and adventure of a Grieg Beck book and how much I’m in love with Alex Hunter I just want him to have some more time with his family. So having said that, OH MY GOSH, this was action packed and had me on the edge of my seat listening to the gorgeous Mr Sean Mangan narrating (he is the best). I laughed, felt my eyes going wide with fear and my heart stop with the action and drama. Again I loved it!!! Bring on the next one.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apart from the Alex Hunter stories that are not available in print format, I have read all of them. They are easy to read, full of action and mad science. I really enjoy them for what they are, light entertainment with a dark twist. My only proviso is that someone needs to take a grip on the editing, these might be light reads but some of the typos make me want to scream. However, on the whole another good outing for the Arcadian, suspend your disbelief and enjoy, while trying to avoid losing your patience with the typos.

[James G Frost]

Frighteningly Possible!

What a read! Why does the military not project the ramifications of their theoretical projects. It's unfathomable. I can totally see this plot playing out in real life. The zombie ant? Scary. What research could do with the fungi causing it - even more frightening. Thank you Greig for nightmare, this one is great. I can't wait for the next installment of the Arcadian! The Valkeryn series mentioned at the end of The Dark Side is a good series and I recommend it.

[Philip Spick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

I like Greg's work but this is quite poor.by his standards. My only thought eas, he was writing Lemuria, Mysterious Island but he was pestered into doing another Alex Hunter story. So he stopped for an afternoon, tipped off a quick story and then got on with Lemuria. This is just cheap comic book rubbish compared to Lemuria. Greg, you have fun out of ideas for Hunter stories, don't ruin your reputation with a cheap story of you can't put your heart and time into it. I regret I paid for this story.

[William (Mr. Bill) Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dark Side - excellent!

I have read several of author Greig Beck's book, all have been excellent adventures. This is my first of the Alex Hunter series. I may have to backtrack to find out more about this unique hero. If you are new to the series, I assure you that this is a complete story. At no time did I feel as if I was in the middle of some other story. The Dark Side is excellent in my opinion and difficult to stop reading which is why I also recommend the Audible book performed by Sean Mangan.

[Maggie Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of Man's Reign....

Through our own knowledge of science and warlike nature, man almost destroys the future of all humanity from two lunar bases.... one belonging to Russia and the other to the USA. In the name of global politics a deadly weapon is developed on the lunar surface and " escapes " headed for Earth.... Only time will tell if the intervention was a total success or doom was only delayed....Truly a frightening depiction of man's penchant for self destruction...

[Elise Dufour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Arcadian.

Glad to see Alex back with his team of HAWCS back in action . At first I kinda thought this was a little to close to the Aliens story line but it had its twists and differences. Hoping there's more to come. I have followed this series from the beginning . Not a bad one in the bunch.

[Debbie Ellicott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best author ever ❤.

Greig Beck does it again. His Alex Hunter series the best. You are totally drawn into the story. It's like watching a movie in your head. The narrator is excellent he is the best I've heard wish he read all my books. The way he brings life to the characters is exceptional. He and Creig make a great team.

[Susan Mulcahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as some of the others

While I enjoyed the book, it felt somewhat formulaic, following the previous ones. It got better as the plot came together, but not one of my favorites. I do like this author and respect the amount of research he always puts into his work and I'm sure I'll continue to read him.

[John OBrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome as usual

Love it. Wow I wonder if they’ll be a sequel to this one. I’m upset about Sophia though. I really liked her. I’ll can’t wait to read the next Alex hunter book number 10. Hollywood really need to make some original new movies get off their ass was fast and furious 93. Unbelievable.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beck does it again

Greig Beck does it again! The Alex Hunter series is one of my favorite series that I've read!
Something happens when reading these books, I lose track of time, you don't want to stop reading, the world around you just fades into the background.
Every book that I've read of Greg's I've enjoyed immensely. This is another one of those books!

[Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thing... but on the moon

Another awesome book by Grieg Beck. A couple editing issues popped up, but that happens sometimes. Sophia the psycho robot is back and just doesn't know when to stay down. Overall I was pretty impressed with everything in it

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arcadian is back!

Greig Beck never disappoints. His books are filled with suspense, action and mighty battles. But, he never neglects his characters, who change and grow with each book.

[Christopher Piehota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story in this line.

This was a good installment in the Arc Asian series. I liked the ending and I have a feeling that Sophia will be back again. This was an enjoyable story.

[Angella South · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Beck did it again!

I keep wanting this book to never end! But , I had to finish it to find out what happened. Talk about gripping thrill! Cannot wait fir the next one😱😱🤔🤔😍😍😍😍😍😍😍👍🏾👍🏾

[kevin powell sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome as expected.

The only problem I have with books in this series is how long in between they come out. Grieg Beck is really good at his job and is my favorite author. If you're new to this series I suggest starting at the beginning. I guarantee you'll fly thru each book.

[Kung Sing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book. Greig Beck should write the next James Bond franchise. Hello, Amazon are you listening?

Love the actions. Greig Beck understands his audiences. Jeff Bezo
should hire him to write the next James Bond franchise.