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Gliese 581g #1
Gliese 581: The Departure
In the final days of the 21st century, Daniel Medry and a crew of brilliant and talented scientists and researchers leave Earth on a mission to the Gliese system - the first extra-solar journey of its kind.
Shortly after their departure, a terrible virus is unleashed upon Earth, highly infectious and nearly 100% fatal.
Soon the colonists will learn that they are some of the last unaffected humans left.
And if the challenge of establishing a colony on a distant alien world and re-creating the human race wasn't enough, someone on board is trying to kill them all.
Will Daniel and the rest of Calypso's crew survive the journey?
Shortly after their departure, a terrible virus is unleashed upon Earth, highly infectious and nearly 100% fatal.
Soon the colonists will learn that they are some of the last unaffected humans left.
And if the challenge of establishing a colony on a distant alien world and re-creating the human race wasn't enough, someone on board is trying to kill them all.
Will Daniel and the rest of Calypso's crew survive the journey?
- GenresScience Fiction
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2021
168 people are currently reading
755 people want to read
About the author
Christine D. Shuck
26 books24 followersFueled by homemade coffee ice cream, a lifelong love of words, and armed with strong female (and male) characters I cross genres like the Ghostbusters crossed the streams in pursuit of the question.
"What is the question?" you ask.
The question is simple. It asks, "What would you do, if..."
What would you do if you were fifteen years old and the world as you knew it fell apart? Would you run? Would you fight? Would you survive? - Meet Jess and her brother Chris in War's End.
What would you do if you had a chance to live your life over? Not just once, but twice? - Meet Dean Edmonds in Fate's Highway
What would you do if everyone you loved was lost to a terrible virus and you faced the real possibility of the extinction of the human race in the dark void of space? - Meet Daniel Medry in G581: The Departure
What would you do if hitmen were after you and you had no idea why? - Meet Lila and Shane in Hired Gun
If I don't keep you turning pages late into the night, desperate to know what happens next, then I have failed at my job. I'm a Taurus and born in Missouri. That makes me bull-headed and stubborn to boot. I don't believe in failure or mistakes, only learning opportunities and clever conversation. There's not much I won't do to make you burn the midnight oil reading my words while you suffer sleep-deprivation the following day. It's my secret superpower.
Born in flyover country, I've also lived in Arizona and northern California. I am an eclectic mix of snark and oddball humor. My colorful metaphors would make a fishwife blush. I'm an incompetent gardener, a dreamer and doer, in love with old houses and shooting pool, and chief organizer of all thing's household and financial. Feed me tiramisu and I'm yours forever.
Find me on all major platforms by visiting Linktree: https://linktr.ee/christinedshuck
"What is the question?" you ask.
The question is simple. It asks, "What would you do, if..."
What would you do if you were fifteen years old and the world as you knew it fell apart? Would you run? Would you fight? Would you survive? - Meet Jess and her brother Chris in War's End.
What would you do if you had a chance to live your life over? Not just once, but twice? - Meet Dean Edmonds in Fate's Highway
What would you do if everyone you loved was lost to a terrible virus and you faced the real possibility of the extinction of the human race in the dark void of space? - Meet Daniel Medry in G581: The Departure
What would you do if hitmen were after you and you had no idea why? - Meet Lila and Shane in Hired Gun
If I don't keep you turning pages late into the night, desperate to know what happens next, then I have failed at my job. I'm a Taurus and born in Missouri. That makes me bull-headed and stubborn to boot. I don't believe in failure or mistakes, only learning opportunities and clever conversation. There's not much I won't do to make you burn the midnight oil reading my words while you suffer sleep-deprivation the following day. It's my secret superpower.
Born in flyover country, I've also lived in Arizona and northern California. I am an eclectic mix of snark and oddball humor. My colorful metaphors would make a fishwife blush. I'm an incompetent gardener, a dreamer and doer, in love with old houses and shooting pool, and chief organizer of all thing's household and financial. Feed me tiramisu and I'm yours forever.
Find me on all major platforms by visiting Linktree: https://linktr.ee/christinedshuck
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 19, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I liked the combination of space science fiction and planet fiction. The characters were engaging and brought fully to life even if only in one chapter. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
May 21, 2025
pure Sci Fi. interesting seeing it from different perspectives. switching back and forth each chapter. Space travel and colonazation.
July 4, 2025
Amazing book
This is by far one of the BEST BOOKS I have ever read. The layout of the story, the varied characters and scenarios, and the development of the primary characters was all amazingly well done. My one criticism is the editing was only so-so. There were a lot more grammatical and punctuation errors than I would expect in a book as well-written as this. Still, I very highly recommend it. I’m moving right onto the next book in the series!
This is by far one of the BEST BOOKS I have ever read. The layout of the story, the varied characters and scenarios, and the development of the primary characters was all amazingly well done. My one criticism is the editing was only so-so. There were a lot more grammatical and punctuation errors than I would expect in a book as well-written as this. Still, I very highly recommend it. I’m moving right onto the next book in the series!
July 4, 2025
Fantastic read
What a great read, non stop from start to finish.
A great plotline, really well drawn character development .
Read it in one sitting ,you will be glad you did .
What a great read, non stop from start to finish.
A great plotline, really well drawn character development .
Read it in one sitting ,you will be glad you did .
November 10, 2017
It’s the later part of the 21st century, and our planet has all ready experienced a second Civil War. Monsanto has become EcoNu, and America is readying the Calypso, a space ship to take 250 top scientists to Zarunina’s world, a newly located planet identified as Gliese 581, where humans might live and start a new civilization. EcoNu hopes to conquer the pork market on Earth by introducing genetic viruses into pigs. The project goes awry after Calypso leaves the Earth for space, and the virus decimates the population left behind. It’s a Level 5 extension event, killing 99.95 percent of the population, which hasn’t occurred since the Permian-Triassic extension over 250 million years ago. Now it’s up to the men and women of Calypso to start that new civilization on a distant planet, if they can survive the voyage, while the 15 million survivors left on Earth try to repopulate the planet. And the virus in interfering with births at an alarming rate.
The author did her research on many subjects, including viruses and their effects among world population. The story begins on the Calypso after someone has sabotaged the bay where 200 men and women rest in stasis. And if the system can’t be corrected, they will die. From there the story jumps back and forth to different people and places before the virus and after, and back and forth to the Calypso, also before the sabotage. Normally, I don’t like stories that jump around so much. It’s too easy to forget characters and why we met them in the first place, but the story line keeps the reader involved, and the pure immensity of the situation makes you want to learn more. This was a chilling prediction of what could actually destroy the human race, if we aren’t careful. I highly recommend this to fans of apocalyptic science fiction. You won’t be disappointed.
The author did her research on many subjects, including viruses and their effects among world population. The story begins on the Calypso after someone has sabotaged the bay where 200 men and women rest in stasis. And if the system can’t be corrected, they will die. From there the story jumps back and forth to different people and places before the virus and after, and back and forth to the Calypso, also before the sabotage. Normally, I don’t like stories that jump around so much. It’s too easy to forget characters and why we met them in the first place, but the story line keeps the reader involved, and the pure immensity of the situation makes you want to learn more. This was a chilling prediction of what could actually destroy the human race, if we aren’t careful. I highly recommend this to fans of apocalyptic science fiction. You won’t be disappointed.
January 22, 2021
“G581: The Departure” by Christine D Shuck is the first installment in a sci-fi/dystopian series that follow the journey of the science-starship Calypso to Gliese 581g (aka Zarmina’s World) with the purpose to explore that brand-new world and its possible civilization. Daniel Medry is the leader of a crew composed almost in its totality by scientific personal, intended on exploration and knowledge gain, but his assignment changes dramatically as the latest news from Earth reach the flight. Earth has been struck by a deadly virus which has dramatically reduced the population, rendering the survivors sterile. Humanity is on the blink of extinction and the only hope for survival lies in the efforts of Medry’s crew to reach G581, and create a viable colony able to save the human race.
The book is set at the turn of the 21st century and offers a very credible view of Earth’s possible evolution, this is a gripping science fiction thriller, very well-constructed, that offers a thrilling mystery, relatable characters that rise to the adverse circumstances, and still preserve their own credibility and exciting, captivating story that already makes the reader interesting in the future installments of the series.
Finally, let us address the elephant in the room; the book might seem oddly opportunistic due to actual events (2020), it is not, the book was originally released in November 2016, with in fact makes the whole story even more uncanny.
The book is set at the turn of the 21st century and offers a very credible view of Earth’s possible evolution, this is a gripping science fiction thriller, very well-constructed, that offers a thrilling mystery, relatable characters that rise to the adverse circumstances, and still preserve their own credibility and exciting, captivating story that already makes the reader interesting in the future installments of the series.
Finally, let us address the elephant in the room; the book might seem oddly opportunistic due to actual events (2020), it is not, the book was originally released in November 2016, with in fact makes the whole story even more uncanny.
July 11, 2016
Great post-apocalyptic meets space colonization story!
This book has everything I love, the thrilling thought of venturing into deep space to a habitable planet out of our solar system and the colonization thereof AND the excitement/horror of an extinction level event on Earth. This particular virus was something new as far as these things go from any books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen; very imaginative and all too frighteningly plausible if you ask me. I loved this for the same reason I loved the Mars Trilogy series by Kim Stanley Robinson – all the details involved in a venture like this, in the preparation for leaving, the journey there and then on planetfall – but this also had the added bonus of being a totally new planet, thus new and imaginative descriptions of its environment, flora and fauna that absolutely thrilled me. My only complaint would be that it was far too short. I would’ve loved to have gotten more concerning the Moon and Mars colonies, as far as when things started to go sideways, and loved the tidbits we were given about Mars after the fact. I can’t wait for more of this story and will be sure to check out Ms. Shuck’s works mentioned in the Note to Reader concerning War’s End: The Storm and War’s End: A Brave New World.
This book has everything I love, the thrilling thought of venturing into deep space to a habitable planet out of our solar system and the colonization thereof AND the excitement/horror of an extinction level event on Earth. This particular virus was something new as far as these things go from any books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen; very imaginative and all too frighteningly plausible if you ask me. I loved this for the same reason I loved the Mars Trilogy series by Kim Stanley Robinson – all the details involved in a venture like this, in the preparation for leaving, the journey there and then on planetfall – but this also had the added bonus of being a totally new planet, thus new and imaginative descriptions of its environment, flora and fauna that absolutely thrilled me. My only complaint would be that it was far too short. I would’ve loved to have gotten more concerning the Moon and Mars colonies, as far as when things started to go sideways, and loved the tidbits we were given about Mars after the fact. I can’t wait for more of this story and will be sure to check out Ms. Shuck’s works mentioned in the Note to Reader concerning War’s End: The Storm and War’s End: A Brave New World.
July 3, 2016
What a great story! There are two major plot points going on here... one, a deep space colony ship is making its way to a planet that is (hopefully) suitable for mankind. Two, Earth is succumbing to a virus that will make certain that this is a one-way trip.
The colony ship is not a generational-ark, but rather the crew is placed into hibernation, using a skeleton crew to simply to make sure things run smoothly during the trip. What they don't know is that someone (or something) wants to make sure they never arrive. The suspense is palpable during the ship scenes.
On earth, corporate greed raises its ugly head and in the race for profit, a virus of sorts is accidentally released into the world that will make you think twice every time you have hunger pains. Seriously, I freak out a little bit every time my stomach growls now. Thanks, Christine! ;)
And that cliffhanger ending... Wow! You can be damned sure I'll be reading the next book when it's released!
I recommend this book for those who like deep space colonization stories with a nice little apocalypse thrown in for good measure.
The colony ship is not a generational-ark, but rather the crew is placed into hibernation, using a skeleton crew to simply to make sure things run smoothly during the trip. What they don't know is that someone (or something) wants to make sure they never arrive. The suspense is palpable during the ship scenes.
On earth, corporate greed raises its ugly head and in the race for profit, a virus of sorts is accidentally released into the world that will make you think twice every time you have hunger pains. Seriously, I freak out a little bit every time my stomach growls now. Thanks, Christine! ;)
And that cliffhanger ending... Wow! You can be damned sure I'll be reading the next book when it's released!
I recommend this book for those who like deep space colonization stories with a nice little apocalypse thrown in for good measure.
August 19, 2020
I thought that G581 would be the typical story of a colony space ship on it's way to a new planet which would tell stories of adventure and daring as the intrepid explorers risk life to discover, survive and and conquer a new planet. Instead I get a story of spacers just trying to survive the flight after learning of the death of earth.
Oh, what a death of earth that conflicts the mindset of our space voyagers. A pandemic that will either kill or essentially sterilize the entire world population all for the want of bacon.
The horrifying thing about this story is that GMO's that the book talks about could be in the development stages right now. Take the GMO's in conjunction with COVID-19 and you have not a real story but perhaps a true story.
Oh, what a death of earth that conflicts the mindset of our space voyagers. A pandemic that will either kill or essentially sterilize the entire world population all for the want of bacon.
The horrifying thing about this story is that GMO's that the book talks about could be in the development stages right now. Take the GMO's in conjunction with COVID-19 and you have not a real story but perhaps a true story.
May 24, 2016
I received this book at a discount in return for an unbiased review. Christine Shuck painted a horrifyingly plausible scenario of the way humanity may unintentionally bring about its own downfall. I did not care much for the transitioning of different character viewpoints but Mrs. Shuck wrote the transitions seamlessly. I was so enthralled that I finished the book in a day. Even as I eagerly await the next book in this series, I will be constantly looking for the signs of the ESH in myself as I hungrily consume my meals.
November 8, 2017
Interesting
The book is an interesting blend of genetic manipulation of DNA and issues with it running amok. Earth had already had a crisis and bioengineering was happening as the need for food was imperative...it was not meant to be a bad thing but..... traveling to the stars to start a new world allows for interesting characters. The author does a good job in making them very realistic. Worth the read.
The book is an interesting blend of genetic manipulation of DNA and issues with it running amok. Earth had already had a crisis and bioengineering was happening as the need for food was imperative...it was not meant to be a bad thing but..... traveling to the stars to start a new world allows for interesting characters. The author does a good job in making them very realistic. Worth the read.
July 18, 2018
New Earth, Old Earth
Neither one can ever touch each other again. The virus makes the old earth different from the new earth. They can talk across the stars, but can they ever be the same again?
Neither one can ever touch each other again. The virus makes the old earth different from the new earth. They can talk across the stars, but can they ever be the same again?
October 14, 2017
I loved this book. I can't wait for the next one!
May 24, 2025
Dated but a good start to a series.
Read
July 20, 2025Dear Reader,
What if the last hope for humanity rested in the stars—and aboard a single ship carrying both our brightest minds and our deepest secrets?
G581: The Departure is a story born out of a simple, profound question: What would we risk to ensure the survival of the human race? In this gripping science fiction epic, you’ll follow characters like Daniel Medry—a man scarred by loss and driven by duty—as they journey across light years to colonize Zarmina’s World, an Earth-like planet in the Gliese 581 system.
But survival is never just a matter of science and steel. It’s personal. It's messy. And it’s far from guaranteed.
You’ll meet Edith Hainey, a reluctant virologist juggling heartbreak and discovery, and visionary scientist Anthony Vogt, who fights against bureaucracy to preserve humanity’s future. These are real people navigating extraordinary stakes. Their stories weave together to form a tale of grit, hope, betrayal, and the weighty cost of doing what’s right.
This book is for fans of hard science fiction, found family dynamics, and morally complex decisions. If you enjoyed The Expanse, Interstellar, or The Martian, you’ll find yourself at home here. It's speculative fiction with a beating human heart.
You’ll love this book if:
- You crave realistic space colonization that respects science and physics.
- You enjoy layered characters with messy, flawed pasts and big dreams.
- You want a saga that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go.
G581: The Departure is more than a launch into the stars—it’s a launch into what it means to be human in the face of extinction.
Thank you for choosing to journey with me. I hope you love this story as much as I loved writing it.
Best to you,
Christine D. Shuck
What if the last hope for humanity rested in the stars—and aboard a single ship carrying both our brightest minds and our deepest secrets?
G581: The Departure is a story born out of a simple, profound question: What would we risk to ensure the survival of the human race? In this gripping science fiction epic, you’ll follow characters like Daniel Medry—a man scarred by loss and driven by duty—as they journey across light years to colonize Zarmina’s World, an Earth-like planet in the Gliese 581 system.
But survival is never just a matter of science and steel. It’s personal. It's messy. And it’s far from guaranteed.
You’ll meet Edith Hainey, a reluctant virologist juggling heartbreak and discovery, and visionary scientist Anthony Vogt, who fights against bureaucracy to preserve humanity’s future. These are real people navigating extraordinary stakes. Their stories weave together to form a tale of grit, hope, betrayal, and the weighty cost of doing what’s right.
This book is for fans of hard science fiction, found family dynamics, and morally complex decisions. If you enjoyed The Expanse, Interstellar, or The Martian, you’ll find yourself at home here. It's speculative fiction with a beating human heart.
You’ll love this book if:
- You crave realistic space colonization that respects science and physics.
- You enjoy layered characters with messy, flawed pasts and big dreams.
- You want a saga that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go.
G581: The Departure is more than a launch into the stars—it’s a launch into what it means to be human in the face of extinction.
Thank you for choosing to journey with me. I hope you love this story as much as I loved writing it.
Best to you,
Christine D. Shuck
August 18, 2025
Fundamental problems
It is an interesting take on apocalyptic events. The difficulty is in the going back and forth between times and locations. While one can see the development of backstories for individuals and the events the way they are presented is disjointed so one has to turn back to look at the years of 'chapter' titles to refresh your memory.
It is an interesting take on apocalyptic events. The difficulty is in the going back and forth between times and locations. While one can see the development of backstories for individuals and the events the way they are presented is disjointed so one has to turn back to look at the years of 'chapter' titles to refresh your memory.
June 15, 2025
Disjointed
This could be a great book but it doesn’t quite hang together. The basic stories are great. With a little editing there would be a much better flow and the birth of a memorable series.
This could be a great book but it doesn’t quite hang together. The basic stories are great. With a little editing there would be a much better flow and the birth of a memorable series.
June 14, 2025
An obsession with death.
December 11, 2025
enjoyable enough to a point. I was much more interested in the Earth storyline than anything the Calypso had to offer.
Read
June 29, 2025DNF More conflict than I care to handle with a grating narrator. I prefer intriguing escapes, but the religious conflict here reminds me of the brutal Christian nationalists eroding the US now.
November 15, 2021
When a devastating virus destroys most of earth’s occupants, all hope rests on the a crew traveling to Zarmina’s World, a brand-new planet with the hopes of sustaining life. But when there’s trouble aboard the ship, will all hope be lost?
This was an interesting story with some nuances of the current pandemic situation hinted at, making it seem plausible. The story follows several threads, occurring at different times (different years). While the skipping around in the timeline does get a tad confusing at times, the author puts the timeline at the start of each chapter which helps. The timelines do converge in the end, too.
The characters are interesting, and the story sets up nicely for a sci-fi series in a post apocalyptic world. As far as stories of this nature go, I found this one to be intriguing. I liked the book overall and would recommend it!
This was an interesting story with some nuances of the current pandemic situation hinted at, making it seem plausible. The story follows several threads, occurring at different times (different years). While the skipping around in the timeline does get a tad confusing at times, the author puts the timeline at the start of each chapter which helps. The timelines do converge in the end, too.
The characters are interesting, and the story sets up nicely for a sci-fi series in a post apocalyptic world. As far as stories of this nature go, I found this one to be intriguing. I liked the book overall and would recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews