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The Nominal Echo Chronicles
The Nominal Echo Chronicles thoughtfully explores the idea that humanity may be destined to thrive beyond Earth. Is a chance at a new beginning for humanity worth the incredible cost in lives and resources? Can drastic actions be justified to achieve fundamental goals for the common good? Can humanity unify under a common objective?
In the year 2005, two scientists find a planet in the Alpha Centauri system that could have the conditions to support human life. Their finding triggers a series of events that unfold over almost a century, pitting the ideals of space colonization and Earth-bound environmentalism against each other.
In this context, human tales address complex, earthly, and contemporary issues. The characters' stories link to the main narrative to highlight the joys, sorrows, and challenges to be faced during this global endeavour, the fate of which is not guaranteed. The reader will follow along, feeling the friction between ideas, and gaining new perspectives.
The Nominal Echo Chronicles offers a glimpse into the lives of the characters as they struggle to find their path in the midst of the biggest technological drive since the beginning of the industrial age.
In the year 2005, two scientists find a planet in the Alpha Centauri system that could have the conditions to support human life. Their finding triggers a series of events that unfold over almost a century, pitting the ideals of space colonization and Earth-bound environmentalism against each other.
In this context, human tales address complex, earthly, and contemporary issues. The characters' stories link to the main narrative to highlight the joys, sorrows, and challenges to be faced during this global endeavour, the fate of which is not guaranteed. The reader will follow along, feeling the friction between ideas, and gaining new perspectives.
The Nominal Echo Chronicles offers a glimpse into the lives of the characters as they struggle to find their path in the midst of the biggest technological drive since the beginning of the industrial age.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2021
About the author
Manuel Panchana Moya
5 books8 followersI am a Chilean-born Canadian author. Though I have been interested in writing since my youth in Montreal, The Nominal Echo Chronicles is my debut novel. Father and husband first, I enjoy the outdoors, indoors, writing, thinking, travelling, doing things and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 22, 2021
To take on such a vast subject as the discovery of the first viable Earth-like planet for human colonization is an ambitious undertaking. The author has demonstrated an appreciation of how such an event might play out in a realistic fashion. The scientific, political, economic, and socially disruptive responses caused by an event such as this were explored in detail through a wide variety of characters, backgrounds, opinions and actions. These ran the gamut from youthful excitement, to guarded secrecy, religious zealotry, unscrupulous researchers, and public protest for the sake of protest along with the standard authoritarian notion that, "If we say we are doing it for all Mankind, then we can get away with even more plunder and secrecy".
The scope of this book was like something from a James Michener novel. This could be taken as an argument in either of two ways, depending upon the reader's preference. Many do not appreciate the wordiness of Michener, but at the same time find much of the background he provides for his epics appealing. The same could be said here. This reviewer struggled with the number of characters and scenarios covered in just enough depth for the reader to identify with them. Then, we are forced to move on to another set -- though those are just as interesting with a whole new viewpoint. I believe Michener would have covered fewer scenarios with more depth at each way point for the same time frame.
That being said, this reviewer feels that all of the characters and situations were believable and well covered within the limited space allowed. The many deep questions posed by the premise of The Nominal Echo Chronicles were explored carefully and eloquently. This reviewer had difficulties with the approach of the author in expectation of a more action oriented book. It would be unfair to rate it as low as three stars. I have to give this novel four stars for treatment of the ethical difficulties not explored in other works with a similar aim. This could not have been a simple task.
A complimentary copy of this book was sent to me by the author.
The scope of this book was like something from a James Michener novel. This could be taken as an argument in either of two ways, depending upon the reader's preference. Many do not appreciate the wordiness of Michener, but at the same time find much of the background he provides for his epics appealing. The same could be said here. This reviewer struggled with the number of characters and scenarios covered in just enough depth for the reader to identify with them. Then, we are forced to move on to another set -- though those are just as interesting with a whole new viewpoint. I believe Michener would have covered fewer scenarios with more depth at each way point for the same time frame.
That being said, this reviewer feels that all of the characters and situations were believable and well covered within the limited space allowed. The many deep questions posed by the premise of The Nominal Echo Chronicles were explored carefully and eloquently. This reviewer had difficulties with the approach of the author in expectation of a more action oriented book. It would be unfair to rate it as low as three stars. I have to give this novel four stars for treatment of the ethical difficulties not explored in other works with a similar aim. This could not have been a simple task.
A complimentary copy of this book was sent to me by the author.
April 15, 2021
The chronicles are an ambitious undertaking spanning nearly a century, sharing a multitude of different perspectives along the way and confronting the reader with the potential costs (monetary, psychological, political, social, environmental and other) and benefits of interplanetary and interstellar travel. Broken up into easily digestible snippets of the characters lives and paired with plausible scientific explanations throughout that lend credibility to the narrative, it made for a fun read! Looking forward to the next instalment.
March 3, 2021
More challenges for Musk!
A really good read,big in scope and story- line. Panchana has created a saga covering many decades and generations,and has managed to keep everything flowing and utterly believable,scientifically, politically,morally and philosophically. There are no questionable or implausible lapses. there is lots of science, but science- faction,rather than science- fiction,and thankfully the author has very cleverly interspersed the technical stuff with well observed personal and emotional content and believable characters.The Mars segment very touchingly conveys the family pain when the son is one of the Muskateers on the early settlement on the Red planet and is only able to communicate every few months with family back on Earth, knowing they will never see each other ever again . dead ,but still alive in another world!
The story is after all about the evolution and survival of the Human race,and the author never let's us forget the humanity aspect of the journey.As a physicist myself,albeit graduating 60 years ago,I can see this novel being just as good and pertinent in another 60 years.
Heavily recommended ,and better reading than similar stuff from the likes of Stephen Hawking.
A really good read,big in scope and story- line. Panchana has created a saga covering many decades and generations,and has managed to keep everything flowing and utterly believable,scientifically, politically,morally and philosophically. There are no questionable or implausible lapses. there is lots of science, but science- faction,rather than science- fiction,and thankfully the author has very cleverly interspersed the technical stuff with well observed personal and emotional content and believable characters.The Mars segment very touchingly conveys the family pain when the son is one of the Muskateers on the early settlement on the Red planet and is only able to communicate every few months with family back on Earth, knowing they will never see each other ever again . dead ,but still alive in another world!
The story is after all about the evolution and survival of the Human race,and the author never let's us forget the humanity aspect of the journey.As a physicist myself,albeit graduating 60 years ago,I can see this novel being just as good and pertinent in another 60 years.
Heavily recommended ,and better reading than similar stuff from the likes of Stephen Hawking.
April 19, 2025
I'm not a fan of short stories, and while each of these chapters reads as a short, I could not put it down. I cried my eyes out, especially as a mother. I felt this book as if I had lived it. As a huge fan of sci-fi and straight up space science, but also as a Pisces, ballerina, parent and kid who used to dream of becoming an astronaut, this book hit from so many angles. And he's a local author for me. Inspiring! I will buy this for people as holiday gifts, after I send the author my notes for some proofreading that slipped through the cracks (he independently published!). Definitely read this book!
February 4, 2026
Incredible to read a book written by a friend and it is so massive in scope!
August 23, 2021
I guess as an author one would probably never rate one's own work as perfect or 5 stars. My own rating is a reflection of how happy I am to have put this out there, how much I enjoyed the process, and my own opinion of its final quality; but also of the fact that writing is a practice, so hopefully future my works are even better than this one.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews