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Dark Dweller
This hardback version is special edition with full colour images inside.
Captain Kara Psomas was pronounced dead when her research vessel slammed into Jupiter.
More than a century later, the crew of the Paralus, a helium mining freighter, find a pristine escape pod with a healthy young girl nestled inside. A girl who claims to be Kara-and she brings a message of doom.
She says she has been waiting in the dark for that exact moment. To be found by that particular crew. Because an ancient cosmic being has tasked her with a sacred responsibility.
She claims she must alter the Fulcrum, a lever in time-no matter the cost to the people aboard-or condemn the rest of civilization to a very painful and drawn-out demise.
She sounds convincing. She appears brave. She might well be insane.
Captain Kara Psomas was pronounced dead when her research vessel slammed into Jupiter.
More than a century later, the crew of the Paralus, a helium mining freighter, find a pristine escape pod with a healthy young girl nestled inside. A girl who claims to be Kara-and she brings a message of doom.
She says she has been waiting in the dark for that exact moment. To be found by that particular crew. Because an ancient cosmic being has tasked her with a sacred responsibility.
She claims she must alter the Fulcrum, a lever in time-no matter the cost to the people aboard-or condemn the rest of civilization to a very painful and drawn-out demise.
She sounds convincing. She appears brave. She might well be insane.
- GenresScience Fiction
232 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2023
5 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Gareth Worthington
10 books174 followersGareth Worthington holds a degree in marine biology, a PhD in Endocrinology, an executive MBA, is Board Certified in Medical Affairs, and currently works for the Pharmaceutical industry educating the World's doctors on new cancer therapies.
Gareth is an authority in ancient history, has hand-tagged sharks in California, and trained in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai at the EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and 2FIGHT Switzerland.
He is an award-winning author and member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the British Science Fiction Association.
Born in England, Gareth has lived around the world from Asia, to Europe to the USA. Wherever he goes, he endeavors to continue his philanthropic work with various charities.
Gareth is represented by Renee Fountain and Italia Gandolfo at Gandolfo Helin Fountain Literary, New York.
Gareth is an authority in ancient history, has hand-tagged sharks in California, and trained in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai at the EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and 2FIGHT Switzerland.
He is an award-winning author and member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the British Science Fiction Association.
Born in England, Gareth has lived around the world from Asia, to Europe to the USA. Wherever he goes, he endeavors to continue his philanthropic work with various charities.
Gareth is represented by Renee Fountain and Italia Gandolfo at Gandolfo Helin Fountain Literary, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 13, 2023
Thank you to the author Gareth Worthington, publishers Dropship Publishing, and as always KatieandBreyPA, for an advance digital copy of DARK DWELLER.
The crew of Paralus travels to Jupiter, where they plan to mine the planet's bountiful helium supply. Jupiter is also the sight of a research vessel crash more than a century previous, which killed the ship's captain and entire crew, reportedly. But the Paralus crew find a young girl, who couldn't be there, and who claims to be the captain of that long-ago fated ship. And they find something even stranger than that, something that defies every scientific reality they know. It's a threat, but to what, is not yet completely clear.
DARK DWELLER appealled to me, as I like the Sci-Fi horror subgenre and this book gave me EVENT HORIZON (1997 film) vibes the whole time I read it. It's a little convoluted in sections, and there are some story logic issues, but you know...it's Sci-Fi.
I really enjoyed the ending, like the whole last ten percent of the book had me on the edge of my seat. Also, the computer and I share a name: Dona. I kind of love that [my name] is a morally gray character that pushes and pulls like mad on the other character trajectories, and on the plot line. Fun read!
Rating: 🚀🚀🚀.5 / 5 space ships
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: March 12 2023
Read this if you like:
🛸 Stories about space
⚫️ Stories about black holes
⏱️ Interesting use of time in fiction
🤖 Complex AI characters
The crew of Paralus travels to Jupiter, where they plan to mine the planet's bountiful helium supply. Jupiter is also the sight of a research vessel crash more than a century previous, which killed the ship's captain and entire crew, reportedly. But the Paralus crew find a young girl, who couldn't be there, and who claims to be the captain of that long-ago fated ship. And they find something even stranger than that, something that defies every scientific reality they know. It's a threat, but to what, is not yet completely clear.
DARK DWELLER appealled to me, as I like the Sci-Fi horror subgenre and this book gave me EVENT HORIZON (1997 film) vibes the whole time I read it. It's a little convoluted in sections, and there are some story logic issues, but you know...it's Sci-Fi.
I really enjoyed the ending, like the whole last ten percent of the book had me on the edge of my seat. Also, the computer and I share a name: Dona. I kind of love that [my name] is a morally gray character that pushes and pulls like mad on the other character trajectories, and on the plot line. Fun read!
Rating: 🚀🚀🚀.5 / 5 space ships
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: March 12 2023
Read this if you like:
🛸 Stories about space
⚫️ Stories about black holes
⏱️ Interesting use of time in fiction
🤖 Complex AI characters
February 28, 2023
I received a gifted ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by BlackCrowPR.
Dark Dweller is a futuristic sci-fi novel with Jupiter at its centre. Earth is reliant upon helium mined from the huge planet, and when a crew travelling there to mine it, discovers an escape pod with a young girl inside who claims to be Kara Psomas, their whole mission changes. Because Kara is dead and died over a century ago after her research vessel crashed into Jupiter. Yet this young girl claims she is Kara and she has a terrible message to convey. She must alter time before civilization is wiped out. But is she really Kara? Is she telling the truth and not insane and most importantly, can they trust her?
This book was unputdownable from start to finish and left my heart pounding numerous times. Sci-fi novels always make me think of what could be and with so much of space and the universe still to be explored, how do we know things like this couldn't really happen. The book was the perfect length and not drawn out unnecessarily. I can't wait to see what the hardback will look like with full colour graphics inside! Honestly, this is definitely a book you need to read especially if you enjoy sci-fi that's not too heavy!
Dark Dweller is a futuristic sci-fi novel with Jupiter at its centre. Earth is reliant upon helium mined from the huge planet, and when a crew travelling there to mine it, discovers an escape pod with a young girl inside who claims to be Kara Psomas, their whole mission changes. Because Kara is dead and died over a century ago after her research vessel crashed into Jupiter. Yet this young girl claims she is Kara and she has a terrible message to convey. She must alter time before civilization is wiped out. But is she really Kara? Is she telling the truth and not insane and most importantly, can they trust her?
This book was unputdownable from start to finish and left my heart pounding numerous times. Sci-fi novels always make me think of what could be and with so much of space and the universe still to be explored, how do we know things like this couldn't really happen. The book was the perfect length and not drawn out unnecessarily. I can't wait to see what the hardback will look like with full colour graphics inside! Honestly, this is definitely a book you need to read especially if you enjoy sci-fi that's not too heavy!
November 13, 2023
Gareth doesn't step outside the box, he creates a new one. UPDATE:
Paralas is a freighter visiting Jupiter to siphon off Helium 3. The danger is getting too close and being unable to break the planetary pull, so they though. Actually, Jupiter had moved. As the crew debates the possibilities, an escape pod appears…a very old one. They proceed to investigate.
Dr Sarah Dallas is the main character, but that is not meant to deny that the peripheral characters don’t have an important part to play in the story, especially Kara, the 15 year old girl they had found on the escape pod.
Nobody respects Sarah, considering it is her family that has gotten rich from siphoning off the Helium 3 from Jupiter, creating an empire back on earth. Helium 3 was needed, because humanity cannot live without electricity and they have depleted many of Earth’s resources through greed and disregard of what nature had given them.
Kara states that she is Captain Kara Psomas, who died over a hundred years ago in a failed mission. She confides in Sarah, because she needs her help to be released from the contamination chamber they locked her in. She knows about Captain Chau’s plan, but she can use what he has hidden to stop the Fulcrum that was set in motion eons ago.
Commander Feng Chau resented everything about Sarah, but there is more to his story than that. He has a mission of his own and has worked with Dona, the artificial intelligence that runs the ship to implement it. Dona has the ultimate power, so negotiating with the AI is required from the crew members.
The danger and suspense comes from without and within. I wonder who will live and who will die, or will they all have to sacrifice themselves to save humanity? Sacrifice the few for the many? Does humanity deserve to be saved? After all, they are destroying their own world and branching, taking others down its own destructive path.
My thoughts about the singularity was flawed and I love it. As I approached the emotional ending, I wondered how Gareth would make it happen. I couldn’t decide how ‘I’ wanted it to end. The tension increased, the danger rising, I read faster. The Epilogue…..
Gareth Worthington doesn’t just think outside the box, he creates a new one. His ability to create worlds that stretch the imagination never fail to amaze me. ‘Gareth…take me away.’
Paralas is a freighter visiting Jupiter to siphon off Helium 3. The danger is getting too close and being unable to break the planetary pull, so they though. Actually, Jupiter had moved. As the crew debates the possibilities, an escape pod appears…a very old one. They proceed to investigate.
Dr Sarah Dallas is the main character, but that is not meant to deny that the peripheral characters don’t have an important part to play in the story, especially Kara, the 15 year old girl they had found on the escape pod.
Nobody respects Sarah, considering it is her family that has gotten rich from siphoning off the Helium 3 from Jupiter, creating an empire back on earth. Helium 3 was needed, because humanity cannot live without electricity and they have depleted many of Earth’s resources through greed and disregard of what nature had given them.
Kara states that she is Captain Kara Psomas, who died over a hundred years ago in a failed mission. She confides in Sarah, because she needs her help to be released from the contamination chamber they locked her in. She knows about Captain Chau’s plan, but she can use what he has hidden to stop the Fulcrum that was set in motion eons ago.
Commander Feng Chau resented everything about Sarah, but there is more to his story than that. He has a mission of his own and has worked with Dona, the artificial intelligence that runs the ship to implement it. Dona has the ultimate power, so negotiating with the AI is required from the crew members.
The danger and suspense comes from without and within. I wonder who will live and who will die, or will they all have to sacrifice themselves to save humanity? Sacrifice the few for the many? Does humanity deserve to be saved? After all, they are destroying their own world and branching, taking others down its own destructive path.
My thoughts about the singularity was flawed and I love it. As I approached the emotional ending, I wondered how Gareth would make it happen. I couldn’t decide how ‘I’ wanted it to end. The tension increased, the danger rising, I read faster. The Epilogue…..
Gareth Worthington doesn’t just think outside the box, he creates a new one. His ability to create worlds that stretch the imagination never fail to amaze me. ‘Gareth…take me away.’
March 12, 2023
4.5 stars
This was like nothing I have ever read before.
Set in the future, where humanity mines helium from Jupiter's atmosphere for green energy to sustain the dying Earth, a crew come out of stasis to find that Jupiter has moved slightly. Immediately thrust into the action, they fight to remain in orbit only to discover an escape pod. From a fatal mission some 120 years before. Incredibly, inside is a teenage girl who claims to be the Captain of the former flight and who is there to save humanity.
The main plot starts off at a pace that ebbes and flows, but builds into a huge crescendo with so many unforeseen consequences. There are some really interesting layers built in, with themes of religion, evolution and lots of hard science. There is also a diverse and interesting cast of characters.
A thoroughly gripping read.
This was like nothing I have ever read before.
Set in the future, where humanity mines helium from Jupiter's atmosphere for green energy to sustain the dying Earth, a crew come out of stasis to find that Jupiter has moved slightly. Immediately thrust into the action, they fight to remain in orbit only to discover an escape pod. From a fatal mission some 120 years before. Incredibly, inside is a teenage girl who claims to be the Captain of the former flight and who is there to save humanity.
The main plot starts off at a pace that ebbes and flows, but builds into a huge crescendo with so many unforeseen consequences. There are some really interesting layers built in, with themes of religion, evolution and lots of hard science. There is also a diverse and interesting cast of characters.
A thoroughly gripping read.
November 23, 2022
"The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”― Robert Greene.
So it is with this fine standalone, “Dark Dweller”, written by Gareth Worthington, a multi-award storyteller. Here, a helium mining mission to Jupiter by a team of explorers and scientists from the earth is on course. Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but it's interestingly so scarce on Earth. The team understands that acquiring it means getting rich as proved by the many scientists who have become billionaires after such operations.
Unlike what they expected, Jupiter's orbital path seems altered and an escape pod revolving towards their vessel seems to not only jeopardize the mission but their lives seem threatened. The team suddenly stands mesmerized at the site of a young girl trapped in the pod. Her strange demeanor and fearful words are both scary. Who is she? A plan decades in the making is almost being ruined. Is she in danger or is she a danger to the mission?
A new assignment to pick a research scientist in Europa, one of Jupiter's moons is about to derail their dream further. They are literally balancing on a knife's edge. Aggravating challenges like gravitational shift, rapid temperature change, extreme nausea, radiation, and unimaginable cold atmospheres tear the team apart. It is now the survival of the fittest.
This ode boasts strong lucid language and solid action that will make you clench your fists and heave your chest in anticipation and thrill. Further, the oeuvre is peppered with an intense emotional atmosphere as exhibited in the outspoken and radical nature of the characters. Like a medieval troubadour, the sceneries careen through an array of emotions that are by turns poignant and vibrant. This leaves readers searching and hoping that the next chapter will introduce a ray of light to the already intense narrative.
This is a solid visceral read for everyone with an interest in knuckle-hard science fiction from one of the literary giants of our time. It is irrefutably several notches above what you usually get in any fiction work.
So it is with this fine standalone, “Dark Dweller”, written by Gareth Worthington, a multi-award storyteller. Here, a helium mining mission to Jupiter by a team of explorers and scientists from the earth is on course. Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but it's interestingly so scarce on Earth. The team understands that acquiring it means getting rich as proved by the many scientists who have become billionaires after such operations.
Unlike what they expected, Jupiter's orbital path seems altered and an escape pod revolving towards their vessel seems to not only jeopardize the mission but their lives seem threatened. The team suddenly stands mesmerized at the site of a young girl trapped in the pod. Her strange demeanor and fearful words are both scary. Who is she? A plan decades in the making is almost being ruined. Is she in danger or is she a danger to the mission?
A new assignment to pick a research scientist in Europa, one of Jupiter's moons is about to derail their dream further. They are literally balancing on a knife's edge. Aggravating challenges like gravitational shift, rapid temperature change, extreme nausea, radiation, and unimaginable cold atmospheres tear the team apart. It is now the survival of the fittest.
This ode boasts strong lucid language and solid action that will make you clench your fists and heave your chest in anticipation and thrill. Further, the oeuvre is peppered with an intense emotional atmosphere as exhibited in the outspoken and radical nature of the characters. Like a medieval troubadour, the sceneries careen through an array of emotions that are by turns poignant and vibrant. This leaves readers searching and hoping that the next chapter will introduce a ray of light to the already intense narrative.
This is a solid visceral read for everyone with an interest in knuckle-hard science fiction from one of the literary giants of our time. It is irrefutably several notches above what you usually get in any fiction work.
March 10, 2023
I wish there would be more stars to rate this book. It’s just amazing.
I needed this book like a gulp of fresh air. There is this fizzy electrostatic air about sci-fi books that just makes my heart warm and cosy like if I'm a fully charged taser ready to fight and defend our universe. Maybe it’s the fact that I grew up watching Stargate with my father or being an absolute fan of Firefly but oh man I love a good science fiction book. And if it’s a series even better. Gareth Worthington’s Dark Dweller is ticking every necessary box for a good story and even managed to get new categories as well. The characters are hilarious, the female characters are not annoyingly feminine or masculine and vice versa. The science is there and the additional bits and pieces are just the cherry on top.
‘Space whales, AI confronting humans about consciousness, a 100-year-old child talking about the Six and the fulcrum, black holes and/or wormholes and even Greek mythology managed to squeeze itself into the team. just to mention a few this is what made me do a happy dance in my head every time when I sat down with this book in between my study sessions. Never a boring page; something always happens, and every inner monologue has the perfect length. Not too long, not too short.
The narratives are jumping from one main character to another but there are no more than 3 of them so it’s easy to follow the storyline and the characters as well.
We start out with a space crew who are on their way to Jupiter to ‘capture’ some helium. Because that’s what space capitalism looks like and our crew is trying its best to finish the ‘mission’ in a record year's time. We start out with Dr Sarah Dallas who is the psychiatrist on the ship and a nepo baby. Meaning: the child of the wealthiest family in future space colonialism, the heir of the Interplanetary Transport Network. This little detail gives enough for one or (secretly more) of the crew members to hate her even though she is actually a very nice and humble person. So you have the necessary fight factor in the book between the crew members which is a must when you are being enclosed together in a tin can for years. The crew is very diverse both in dialect and in personality as well. You can see the story evolving into a movie in your mind's eye. Back to the storyline: as the crew is trying to grab some helium from the gas giant Jupiter, they find an escape pod near it. As protocol dictates, they have to check on it. And when they do they find a floating girl with a fierce fighting spirit. When they take her back to the ship which by the way has the cool name Parsalus, it turns out that the girl is quite well-known. So much so that she is actually a high-lighted character in the ‘history books’ as the former Captain Kara Psomas who died in the Proxima mission (see Jupiter) a hundred years ago with her whole crew being burned up in the atmosphere. But thanks to some mind-bending science ( I can’t spoil that for you) and space magic she is not even alive but appears to be impersonating Benjamin Button better than he himself. Now the crew has to figure out what the hell is going on.
I absolutely loved this book to pieces. It was fascinating, full of amazing and frankly trippy science that I am hopelessly passionate about since I’m studying Astronomy and Planetary Science. And on top of that gives you enough fantasy and spiritual elements to truly enjoy the book for what it is and makes you think about the BIG questions from a different angle. And I can not stress this enough, it was a rollercoaster. Not a single page could be categorized as a filler. Just full of facts, action, reasoning, hilarious dialogues and something new to learn on almost every page. Gareth Worthington is not just an excellent author and storyteller but a genius teacher.
I needed this book like a gulp of fresh air. There is this fizzy electrostatic air about sci-fi books that just makes my heart warm and cosy like if I'm a fully charged taser ready to fight and defend our universe. Maybe it’s the fact that I grew up watching Stargate with my father or being an absolute fan of Firefly but oh man I love a good science fiction book. And if it’s a series even better. Gareth Worthington’s Dark Dweller is ticking every necessary box for a good story and even managed to get new categories as well. The characters are hilarious, the female characters are not annoyingly feminine or masculine and vice versa. The science is there and the additional bits and pieces are just the cherry on top.
‘Space whales, AI confronting humans about consciousness, a 100-year-old child talking about the Six and the fulcrum, black holes and/or wormholes and even Greek mythology managed to squeeze itself into the team. just to mention a few this is what made me do a happy dance in my head every time when I sat down with this book in between my study sessions. Never a boring page; something always happens, and every inner monologue has the perfect length. Not too long, not too short.
The narratives are jumping from one main character to another but there are no more than 3 of them so it’s easy to follow the storyline and the characters as well.
We start out with a space crew who are on their way to Jupiter to ‘capture’ some helium. Because that’s what space capitalism looks like and our crew is trying its best to finish the ‘mission’ in a record year's time. We start out with Dr Sarah Dallas who is the psychiatrist on the ship and a nepo baby. Meaning: the child of the wealthiest family in future space colonialism, the heir of the Interplanetary Transport Network. This little detail gives enough for one or (secretly more) of the crew members to hate her even though she is actually a very nice and humble person. So you have the necessary fight factor in the book between the crew members which is a must when you are being enclosed together in a tin can for years. The crew is very diverse both in dialect and in personality as well. You can see the story evolving into a movie in your mind's eye. Back to the storyline: as the crew is trying to grab some helium from the gas giant Jupiter, they find an escape pod near it. As protocol dictates, they have to check on it. And when they do they find a floating girl with a fierce fighting spirit. When they take her back to the ship which by the way has the cool name Parsalus, it turns out that the girl is quite well-known. So much so that she is actually a high-lighted character in the ‘history books’ as the former Captain Kara Psomas who died in the Proxima mission (see Jupiter) a hundred years ago with her whole crew being burned up in the atmosphere. But thanks to some mind-bending science ( I can’t spoil that for you) and space magic she is not even alive but appears to be impersonating Benjamin Button better than he himself. Now the crew has to figure out what the hell is going on.
I absolutely loved this book to pieces. It was fascinating, full of amazing and frankly trippy science that I am hopelessly passionate about since I’m studying Astronomy and Planetary Science. And on top of that gives you enough fantasy and spiritual elements to truly enjoy the book for what it is and makes you think about the BIG questions from a different angle. And I can not stress this enough, it was a rollercoaster. Not a single page could be categorized as a filler. Just full of facts, action, reasoning, hilarious dialogues and something new to learn on almost every page. Gareth Worthington is not just an excellent author and storyteller but a genius teacher.
February 15, 2023
This was shockingly good! I always struggle with the sci-fi genre, I either love the stories or hate them, this is one that I loved from the get go, I just couldn’t stop reading! Things got more and more interesting as the story went on, I just kept craving more!
The world building here is outstanding and the author does a perfect job of creating the illusion that you are right there with the characters, this is very immersive storytelling at its best but without overdoing it with the descriptions - which always annoys me - just enough information is given about your surroundings and it works amazingly well.
The story is about a helium mining mission to the planet of Jupiter, it becomes apparent that helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but, on Earth there is a lack of the element. The team knows that acquiring helium and bringing it back to earth will make them very rich indeed!
It all seems like a very straightforward mission that is until it’s not! Amongst other issues on their travels the crew come across a new looking escape pod containing a life form that has been supposedly waiting for them, she gives them some very interesting information, but is she telling the whole truth? Or is there something very dark and sinister afoot here???
Overall, this was a very enjoyable reading experience and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, even if sci-fi is not your thing, I am pretty sure that this one will have you gripped!
5 stars
The world building here is outstanding and the author does a perfect job of creating the illusion that you are right there with the characters, this is very immersive storytelling at its best but without overdoing it with the descriptions - which always annoys me - just enough information is given about your surroundings and it works amazingly well.
The story is about a helium mining mission to the planet of Jupiter, it becomes apparent that helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but, on Earth there is a lack of the element. The team knows that acquiring helium and bringing it back to earth will make them very rich indeed!
It all seems like a very straightforward mission that is until it’s not! Amongst other issues on their travels the crew come across a new looking escape pod containing a life form that has been supposedly waiting for them, she gives them some very interesting information, but is she telling the whole truth? Or is there something very dark and sinister afoot here???
Overall, this was a very enjoyable reading experience and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, even if sci-fi is not your thing, I am pretty sure that this one will have you gripped!
5 stars
January 15, 2023
Edited 1/15/23: Updated from 4 to 5 stars. Gareth Worthington reached out to me and I showed him some of the copyediting issues in the arc. He took it in good stride and said that he'll have these issues fixed before publication.
I saw this auto-approved sci-fi novel on NetGalley and thought it'd be a good start to get back into ebook reading (since I'm mostly an audiobook consumer). And wow, honestly I have no regrets!
In Dark Dweller, a futuristic Earth is dependent on helium collected on Jupiter. The largest helium conglomerate employs crews to fly to Jupiter to collect helium. When the crew of the freighter Paralus reach Jupiter, they encounter a teenager named Kara Psomas who says that she is a captain from a failed mission that occurred over a hundred years ago. The psychiatrist on board is tasked to figure out who she really is and why she's been stuck in an escape pod for over a hundred years.
From there (and without giving out any spoilers), it spirals into a space adventure and exploration, and a philosophical take on life in space and the meaning of consciousness.
I really liked this book! It has the perfect balance of science fantasy and drama. The characters were well-rounded and felt human with their desires and flaws. Even though there were multiple POVs, you could tell who was narrating most of the time because the different narrators had their own quirks. The pacing is great. It kept me reading until later at night.
I think the one huge thing that really needed to be worked on is another round of editing. Sometimes there would be missing verbs and nouns and misplaced punctuation marks. It was pretty easy to understand context clues and what was being said or conveyed, but these mistakes were numerous enough that it interrupted my reading flow. I plowed through because I really liked the story. I would've definitely given this 5 stars if these mistakes weren't so numerous.
Edited 1/15/23: This was determined to be a NetGalley upload issue. Please disregard.
Also, this might be a Kindle issue, but the file I downloaded had a lot of formatting problems with paragraphs, so it made it harder to understand which character was talking when the paragraphs were mashed together.
All in all, I really liked this book! I'll definitely read another one of the author's novels and might even order the special edition of Dark Dweller if these issues are fixed.
Thank you to Dropship Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.
I saw this auto-approved sci-fi novel on NetGalley and thought it'd be a good start to get back into ebook reading (since I'm mostly an audiobook consumer). And wow, honestly I have no regrets!
In Dark Dweller, a futuristic Earth is dependent on helium collected on Jupiter. The largest helium conglomerate employs crews to fly to Jupiter to collect helium. When the crew of the freighter Paralus reach Jupiter, they encounter a teenager named Kara Psomas who says that she is a captain from a failed mission that occurred over a hundred years ago. The psychiatrist on board is tasked to figure out who she really is and why she's been stuck in an escape pod for over a hundred years.
From there (and without giving out any spoilers), it spirals into a space adventure and exploration, and a philosophical take on life in space and the meaning of consciousness.
I really liked this book! It has the perfect balance of science fantasy and drama. The characters were well-rounded and felt human with their desires and flaws. Even though there were multiple POVs, you could tell who was narrating most of the time because the different narrators had their own quirks. The pacing is great. It kept me reading until later at night.
I think the one huge thing that really needed to be worked on is another round of editing. Sometimes there would be missing verbs and nouns and misplaced punctuation marks. It was pretty easy to understand context clues and what was being said or conveyed, but these mistakes were numerous enough that it interrupted my reading flow. I plowed through because I really liked the story. I would've definitely given this 5 stars if these mistakes weren't so numerous.
Edited 1/15/23: This was determined to be a NetGalley upload issue. Please disregard.
All in all, I really liked this book! I'll definitely read another one of the author's novels and might even order the special edition of Dark Dweller if these issues are fixed.
Thank you to Dropship Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.
February 6, 2023
I cannot wait for the hardback to be released so I can see all the amazing pictures! This was a great piece of hard science fiction. There were a lot of plot twists and an ending I didn't see coming. Whether you're new to the genre or a die hard geek, this book is sure to please
March 17, 2023
I’ve always had a secret penchant for space stories and equally tv shows that feature a similar set up to this book. So for me, I was able to picture very clearly the scenario, the characters and the futuristic space setting.
The story is told from the viewpoints of several of the characters and this enables the reader to see certain situations from different angles. The first half of the book moves at a slower pace than the second, which is fast, action packed, tense and suspenseful. For space nerds and dedicated science fiction fans, this book will go down a storm but may not be suitable for first timer sci-fi readers, due to the author’s intelligent writing and unparalleled imagination.
Action and suspense aside, “Dark Dweller” really makes for a thought provoking read, asking the age old question of whether we truly are alone in the universe and the continued debate of the theology of evolution versus science. With space icebergs, alien biological war machines, helium mining and a centuries old astronaut to name a few, I was kept thoroughly entertained and this would without doubt, make for a blockbuster big screen movie.
The story is told from the viewpoints of several of the characters and this enables the reader to see certain situations from different angles. The first half of the book moves at a slower pace than the second, which is fast, action packed, tense and suspenseful. For space nerds and dedicated science fiction fans, this book will go down a storm but may not be suitable for first timer sci-fi readers, due to the author’s intelligent writing and unparalleled imagination.
Action and suspense aside, “Dark Dweller” really makes for a thought provoking read, asking the age old question of whether we truly are alone in the universe and the continued debate of the theology of evolution versus science. With space icebergs, alien biological war machines, helium mining and a centuries old astronaut to name a few, I was kept thoroughly entertained and this would without doubt, make for a blockbuster big screen movie.
January 2, 2023
A very imaginative and well-written novel. Highly recommended for sci-fi lovers as well as those who enjoy great fiction.
March 8, 2023
This book is going to sit with me for a while. I always forget how much I enjoy sci-fi until I pick up a book like this and am completely immersed in the story.
This book feels so intelligently written and informative, but not in a car manual way. I could not fact check anything cause I know nothing about quantum physics, but reading it felt so real to the situation.
The story meshes together the tales of religion and mythology with the facts of science and I loved every moment of it. Some of the theories put forward are so incredible that for a moment I may have forgotten I was reading a work of fiction
The story is told from multiple POV's which helps us see different perspectives but I often forgot who was speaking and had to recheck the chapter heading.
Trigger warnings: space exploration, aliens, death, spaceship accidents, blood, violence, suicidal ideation (martyrdom), genocide
This book feels so intelligently written and informative, but not in a car manual way. I could not fact check anything cause I know nothing about quantum physics, but reading it felt so real to the situation.
The story meshes together the tales of religion and mythology with the facts of science and I loved every moment of it. Some of the theories put forward are so incredible that for a moment I may have forgotten I was reading a work of fiction
The story is told from multiple POV's which helps us see different perspectives but I often forgot who was speaking and had to recheck the chapter heading.
Trigger warnings: space exploration, aliens, death, spaceship accidents, blood, violence, suicidal ideation (martyrdom), genocide
March 9, 2023
I found this sci-fi thriller pretty interesting with some intense scenes. The characters were well written with realistic dialogue and emotions.
The mysteries that started to pile up kept me intrigued and wanting to know more, it was hard to put this book down once you got through the initial slower pace (soooo slowwww at the beginning).
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Dropship Publishing for a copy.
The mysteries that started to pile up kept me intrigued and wanting to know more, it was hard to put this book down once you got through the initial slower pace (soooo slowwww at the beginning).
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Dropship Publishing for a copy.
December 31, 2022
This was an outstanding read. Gareth Worthington never fails to bring the most mind-bending story with numerous plot twists. I would recommend this book to fans of Star Wars or Star Trek. It's full of adventure, with an ending I couldn't predict.
December 31, 2022
A bombastic, deep space adventure that harkens back to the golden age of science fiction - Gareth Worthington's Dark Dweller is a well-crafted, exciting, scientifically complex thrill ride. Don't miss it!
March 8, 2023
The crew of the Paralus is heading to Jupiter to mine Helium, which is used on Earth for energy. Suddenly they find themselves off course as Jupiter moved somehow but that isn't the only strange occurrence they face. They also discover an escape pod floating nearby with a young girl inside, who claims to be another space explorer that was killed hundreds of years ago. Who is she? What does she want? Where did she come from? Most importantly, will she stop the mission?
Dark Dweller by Gareth Worthington is an action packed scifi that reminds you of so many scifi shows that came before it but with an unique perspective that sets itself apart from the rest. The twists in the plot and the themes of the plot are original to any scifi story you've read before. The interwining of space, mythology, and religion is common but not done it quite the same fashion as Dark Dweller.
The characters are stereotypical space explorers. You have the doctor who is Irish, the commander who is a hard nosed leader, the tall strong engineer, the tough as nails pilot, and the pretty psychologist. You think you know where each one stands in the overall scheme of the story but you will be surprised when you discover that they don't fit in the niche you put them in.
The world is vastly described. Scifi fans will be impressed by the author's knowledge and his ability to explain science in a way that isn't boring or drawn out. You can read this with little knowledge of quantum physics and outer space, yet still understand what they are talking about.
If you are a scifi fan, you will enjoy this fast paced action adventure. You will enjoy the original plot and the surprises you don't see coming.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dropship publishing for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
Dark Dweller by Gareth Worthington is an action packed scifi that reminds you of so many scifi shows that came before it but with an unique perspective that sets itself apart from the rest. The twists in the plot and the themes of the plot are original to any scifi story you've read before. The interwining of space, mythology, and religion is common but not done it quite the same fashion as Dark Dweller.
The characters are stereotypical space explorers. You have the doctor who is Irish, the commander who is a hard nosed leader, the tall strong engineer, the tough as nails pilot, and the pretty psychologist. You think you know where each one stands in the overall scheme of the story but you will be surprised when you discover that they don't fit in the niche you put them in.
The world is vastly described. Scifi fans will be impressed by the author's knowledge and his ability to explain science in a way that isn't boring or drawn out. You can read this with little knowledge of quantum physics and outer space, yet still understand what they are talking about.
If you are a scifi fan, you will enjoy this fast paced action adventure. You will enjoy the original plot and the surprises you don't see coming.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dropship publishing for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
March 17, 2023
Dark Dweller by Gareth Worthington is an exciting science fiction book with themes of space exploration and first contact. A freighter in deep space comes across an evac pod with a young girl inside that's been missing for over a hundred years, and the most confusing part is her stasis unit was never used. She claims to have seen the universe from start to finish and has returned to save humanity. Can they figure out the truth before it's too late?
So as I read this story, I became convinced this would make an incredible movie. It has interesting, distinctive characters that I enjoyed getting to know with a ton of action. In deep space, just about every issue turns life-threatening, causing feelings of dread and anticipation to follow me through the story. There is some question as to the mental health of these characters. The isolation of space travel seems to have caused the characters to be edge and a little crazed.
I rated Dark Dweller 5 out of 5 stars. It has an intriguing plot filled with action. The story is set in a world that has progressed to the point where it requires helium extraction from Jupiter for fuel, and space travel is commercialized. There is an exciting mix of gòd and science. The gods in this book are not the gods many have experienced through church and religion. It is a fascinating and well-thought-out premise. There is a lot of science in the books. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it sounds believable. If you enjoy books about space travel and the excitement of a countdown to the end of the world, then you will love Dark Dweller.
So as I read this story, I became convinced this would make an incredible movie. It has interesting, distinctive characters that I enjoyed getting to know with a ton of action. In deep space, just about every issue turns life-threatening, causing feelings of dread and anticipation to follow me through the story. There is some question as to the mental health of these characters. The isolation of space travel seems to have caused the characters to be edge and a little crazed.
I rated Dark Dweller 5 out of 5 stars. It has an intriguing plot filled with action. The story is set in a world that has progressed to the point where it requires helium extraction from Jupiter for fuel, and space travel is commercialized. There is an exciting mix of gòd and science. The gods in this book are not the gods many have experienced through church and religion. It is a fascinating and well-thought-out premise. There is a lot of science in the books. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it sounds believable. If you enjoy books about space travel and the excitement of a countdown to the end of the world, then you will love Dark Dweller.
March 9, 2023
Calling all Sci Fi book space wizards! This one's for you!
"I came out here to find life, and I did. It just didn’t like being found."
Blurb: Captain Kara Psomas was pronounced dead when her research vessel slammed into Jupiter. More than a century later, the crew of the Paralus, a helium mining freighter, find a pristine escape pod with a healthy young girl nestled inside. A girl who claims to be Kara-and she brings a message of doom. She says she has been waiting in the dark for that exact moment. To be found by that particular crew. Because an ancient cosmic being has tasked her with a sacred responsibility. She claims she must alter the Fulcrum, a lever in time-no matter the cost to the people aboard-or condemn the rest of civilization to a very painful and drawn-out demise. She sounds convincing. She appears brave. She might well be insane.
My thoughts: Possible clones? Space monsters? Jupiter the gassy asshole planet? SIGN ME UP! I got voluntold to read this one by @katieandbreypa because I'm not really a sci fi reader, but it wasn't bad! The characters were pretty good, the dialogue was funny at times and it was an enjoyable story! Check this out on Kindle unlimited!!
"I came out here to find life, and I did. It just didn’t like being found."
Blurb: Captain Kara Psomas was pronounced dead when her research vessel slammed into Jupiter. More than a century later, the crew of the Paralus, a helium mining freighter, find a pristine escape pod with a healthy young girl nestled inside. A girl who claims to be Kara-and she brings a message of doom. She says she has been waiting in the dark for that exact moment. To be found by that particular crew. Because an ancient cosmic being has tasked her with a sacred responsibility. She claims she must alter the Fulcrum, a lever in time-no matter the cost to the people aboard-or condemn the rest of civilization to a very painful and drawn-out demise. She sounds convincing. She appears brave. She might well be insane.
My thoughts: Possible clones? Space monsters? Jupiter the gassy asshole planet? SIGN ME UP! I got voluntold to read this one by @katieandbreypa because I'm not really a sci fi reader, but it wasn't bad! The characters were pretty good, the dialogue was funny at times and it was an enjoyable story! Check this out on Kindle unlimited!!
March 23, 2023
"We envision our lives, our fame, our meaning in the universe. This great mark we’ll leave. I’ve pretended that I liked to feel small in the vastness of space, but the truth is I hoped it would remember me. But the universe doesn’t give a shit."
This is smart sci-fi which I appreciate even if I don't always comprehend the depth being provided! The story is told through multiple POV which I always enjoy as I like seeing into the thought patterns of our protagonists. I feel like our primary protagonist is Sarah Dallas, daughter of the corporation paying for space agents to fly to Jupiter for Earth's energy consumption. When a long disappeared space craft is found with a teenage girl inside, the characters understanding of the cosmos is thrown into turmoil. There is a lot of sub text in this book - it looks at the problems of humanity through a complex lense. It is quite the wild ride with a gripping ending.
"…life isn’t a miracle, it’s inevitable."
This is smart sci-fi which I appreciate even if I don't always comprehend the depth being provided! The story is told through multiple POV which I always enjoy as I like seeing into the thought patterns of our protagonists. I feel like our primary protagonist is Sarah Dallas, daughter of the corporation paying for space agents to fly to Jupiter for Earth's energy consumption. When a long disappeared space craft is found with a teenage girl inside, the characters understanding of the cosmos is thrown into turmoil. There is a lot of sub text in this book - it looks at the problems of humanity through a complex lense. It is quite the wild ride with a gripping ending.
"…life isn’t a miracle, it’s inevitable."
March 3, 2023
Every so often you read a book so vivid and so otherworldly that you think, what a wild place this author’s brain must be! 😅🙌🏼 That’s how I felt reading Dark Dweller by Gareth Worthington. Think The Martian with an existential twist, this book was simultaneously very scientifically accurate and also deeply supernatural. The sci-if element definitely shown through, but I was pleasantly surprised at the cadence of the action scenes as well, and really felt entertained.
If you enjoy space-themed movies like Interstellar and Arrival, you will really love this book!!
If you enjoy space-themed movies like Interstellar and Arrival, you will really love this book!!
March 6, 2023
I was offered a spot on the blog tour after receiving a review copy and I’m pleased I picked this one up as I really enjoyed it. Sci-fi is not a go to genre for me usually.
The story is told in multiple POV which I enjoyed, I always like a multiple POV so we get to know the characters a bit more. My favourite character was Kara and the who mystery around her.
The short chapters kept it fast paced and I found myself having to keep on reading to find out what was going to happen.
There was plenty of twists throughout too. I recommend this one to all the sci-fi fans and to those wanting to give this genre a try.
The story is told in multiple POV which I enjoyed, I always like a multiple POV so we get to know the characters a bit more. My favourite character was Kara and the who mystery around her.
The short chapters kept it fast paced and I found myself having to keep on reading to find out what was going to happen.
There was plenty of twists throughout too. I recommend this one to all the sci-fi fans and to those wanting to give this genre a try.
March 2, 2023
Absolutely incredible!
I don't usually read sci-fi, but I have always been a fan of the genre in movies and TV shows so I was immediately attracted to the blurb when I read it.
The story is quite immersive and really did give you the feeling that you were up in space alongside Sarah & the rest of the crew. The story follows this mining freighter that is on a mission to retrieve helium from Jupiter. When they are close to the planet, they find an escape pod with a young girl claiming to be Captain Psomas - who was alive over a century ago! - and that she has seen the whole universe's history. She believes that she is the key to saving humanity from the Six - the gods that created the universe - and she must convince the freighter crew to help her.
The whole story is incredibly interesting and captivating! I found myself stuck on that reality a few times and though it took me a while to get through the book it was only because there were some big words and space-related lingo that made me take a double look at it.
Honestly one of my favourite books of 2023 so far!
I don't usually read sci-fi, but I have always been a fan of the genre in movies and TV shows so I was immediately attracted to the blurb when I read it.
The story is quite immersive and really did give you the feeling that you were up in space alongside Sarah & the rest of the crew. The story follows this mining freighter that is on a mission to retrieve helium from Jupiter. When they are close to the planet, they find an escape pod with a young girl claiming to be Captain Psomas - who was alive over a century ago! - and that she has seen the whole universe's history. She believes that she is the key to saving humanity from the Six - the gods that created the universe - and she must convince the freighter crew to help her.
The whole story is incredibly interesting and captivating! I found myself stuck on that reality a few times and though it took me a while to get through the book it was only because there were some big words and space-related lingo that made me take a double look at it.
Honestly one of my favourite books of 2023 so far!
March 7, 2023
AHHHHHHHHHH! What?
This book is so well written and clearly this author knows of what he writes (just read his bio to see how well educated he is!) but, what are you thinking Worthington?
I don’t want to have spoilers here because everyone should just read this book for themselves, but the twists…. The ending….
This book really hooks you from the start. Character descriptions are fantastic and there’s good representation of all kinds. While this is a fantastic Sci-Fi story, it’s also philosophical and begs so many questions be asked.
The only reason for not giving five stars in this instance is because 1) the technical got a little too technical in a couple of instances and, 2) (I repeat!) the ending.
This book is so well written and clearly this author knows of what he writes (just read his bio to see how well educated he is!) but, what are you thinking Worthington?
I don’t want to have spoilers here because everyone should just read this book for themselves, but the twists…. The ending….
This book really hooks you from the start. Character descriptions are fantastic and there’s good representation of all kinds. While this is a fantastic Sci-Fi story, it’s also philosophical and begs so many questions be asked.
The only reason for not giving five stars in this instance is because 1) the technical got a little too technical in a couple of instances and, 2) (I repeat!) the ending.
March 30, 2023
For any sci-fi enthusiast
A good book. If you like sci-fi then this book is for you. Lots of twists and turns. It did not end how I expected.
A good book. If you like sci-fi then this book is for you. Lots of twists and turns. It did not end how I expected.
April 6, 2023
Thank you Katie and Brey PA for the advanced copy.
A great mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Very dark story without a neatly buttoned up ending which I enjoyed. There were a few times where I struggled to follow the story but overall enjoyed it!
A great mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Very dark story without a neatly buttoned up ending which I enjoyed. There were a few times where I struggled to follow the story but overall enjoyed it!
June 23, 2025
DNF - I’m sure it gets better. But I found the cliches a bit much and the story uninteresting. I couldn’t get into it and it didn’t make me want to continue reading it. I just don’t think this book is for me.
November 7, 2023
Intelligent and action packed sci-fi thriller that will keep you thinking long after you finish. Non-stop suspense and space adventure woven with strong messages on greed, belief, and human egocentrism and where it can all lead.
March 4, 2023
A spectacular sci-fi epic rooted in the majesty of Ancient Greek myth.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first was asked to review this book. Sci-fi is a favoured genre of mine but this felt different. It sounded more like a divine mission style story set in space, in actual fact this novel embodies everything you would expect from a classic story of human exploration and ultimately, basic human instinct.
Gareth Worthington is an out of this world writer. This story enveloped me in a shroud of mystery and intrigue. It also implanted beautiful imagery in my mind, all the while developing the almost poetic story stored within the pages. No elements were sacrificed in the creation of the sci-fi masterpiece.
Dark Dweller takes you on a thrilling ride from the depths of space, time itself, and planters bodies. One moment it’s a police interview/therapy session and the next it’s lunar exploration and then for good measure a bit of terrorism. There is an overlaid aura of terror throughout the book that gradually intensifies.
Dark Dweller by Gareth Worthington is an absolute triumph. A modern sci-fi masterpiece from an immensely talented writer. Get this on your shelf!
Thank you Dropship Publishing and Black Crow PR for the opportunity to read this! And thank you Gareth for being so interactive and chatting with me! You’re a great person!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first was asked to review this book. Sci-fi is a favoured genre of mine but this felt different. It sounded more like a divine mission style story set in space, in actual fact this novel embodies everything you would expect from a classic story of human exploration and ultimately, basic human instinct.
Gareth Worthington is an out of this world writer. This story enveloped me in a shroud of mystery and intrigue. It also implanted beautiful imagery in my mind, all the while developing the almost poetic story stored within the pages. No elements were sacrificed in the creation of the sci-fi masterpiece.
Dark Dweller takes you on a thrilling ride from the depths of space, time itself, and planters bodies. One moment it’s a police interview/therapy session and the next it’s lunar exploration and then for good measure a bit of terrorism. There is an overlaid aura of terror throughout the book that gradually intensifies.
Dark Dweller by Gareth Worthington is an absolute triumph. A modern sci-fi masterpiece from an immensely talented writer. Get this on your shelf!
Thank you Dropship Publishing and Black Crow PR for the opportunity to read this! And thank you Gareth for being so interactive and chatting with me! You’re a great person!
February 24, 2023
The Paralus arrives at Jupiter after months of space travel, to mine for the helium that Earth desperately needs - only to discover the planet's position seems to have altered slightly. Frantic manoeuvres are called for, but just when they think they have salvaged the situation, an object appears on their screens that is about to bring chaos to their mission...
The unexpected object is an escape pod that has materialised from nowhere, but it is what lies inside that blows their minds - for it contains a girl who claims to be Captain Kara Psomas, a woman who died when her ship crashed into Jupiter over one hundred and twenty years ago. How can a girl that looks to be only fifteen years old be this woman?
Things get even stranger when she tells them that she has been waiting for them, and has been tasked with saving all civilisation by an ancient cosmic being. Kara's purpose is to alter the Fulcrum, and she must complete her task before time runs out. Is this strange girl really here to save them from destruction, or is she simply a clone that has been driven insane by isolation? The crew of the Paralus must decide...
Gareth Worthington covers a lot of ground in this deeply thought provoking space adventure, combining lashings of gripping action with a solid kick of philosophising about life, the universe and everything. It is the kind of tale that you need to buckle up for as it makes the most of a myriad of threads about space and time, by exploring layered themes around the nature of gods and monsters, chaos and order, and the good old knotty push and pull of science vs religion - wrapping it all up in fast paced storylines that leave you with little time to breathe.
The plot begins with the usual fodder of a space opera, by introducing you to a cast of characters negotiating a mass of taut relationship issues, mostly caused by the irksome presence of the daughter of the head honcho of the company, psychiatrist Dr Sarah Dallas, who seems to create waves amongst the crew rather then being a calming presence. Things are already a bit tetchy between them, so when Kara becomes part of the equation, conflict quickly becomes the order of the day, exposing sinister intent on the part of some of them as the narrative flips between their points of view. No one really knows what to make of Kara and her claims, and as they procrastinate, bringing in the members of a scientific base on Europa into their dilemma, events spiral out of control. It becomes hard to ignore that there is something very odd going on in the vicinity of Jupiter.
For the most part I was entertained the mix of characters, eventhough they are generally unlikeable (except for the Europa bunch), as they cover an interesting range of personality types - with all the resulting trials this brings in close proximity. Although could have done with a bit less of Dr Kilkenny and the odd choice to have them as the sole character speaking in tortured dialect.
I am a kickass space adventure kind of gal, and there is lots in these pages that ticked this box for me. I enjoyed how Worthington brings in physics, mythology and religion to the story, giving them a twist and threading them through all that happens, but confess some of the more philosophical passages were a bit lost on me. I also found Worthington's musings on the future of humankind rather chilling. If you enjoy a space tale that takes you on a metaphysical journey then you are in for a full-on treat with where this story goes. Lots to ponder on!
I suspect this will be a book that will divide the crowd depending on how you like your flavour of science fiction. I read it in a single session, and can confirm that it is slick, imaginative, lots of fun, and keeps you on your toes from beginning to end, if a little esoteric for my tastes. The premise is certainly an intriguing one, and this has made me more than a bit wary of what may be hiding under the ice out there in space...
The unexpected object is an escape pod that has materialised from nowhere, but it is what lies inside that blows their minds - for it contains a girl who claims to be Captain Kara Psomas, a woman who died when her ship crashed into Jupiter over one hundred and twenty years ago. How can a girl that looks to be only fifteen years old be this woman?
Things get even stranger when she tells them that she has been waiting for them, and has been tasked with saving all civilisation by an ancient cosmic being. Kara's purpose is to alter the Fulcrum, and she must complete her task before time runs out. Is this strange girl really here to save them from destruction, or is she simply a clone that has been driven insane by isolation? The crew of the Paralus must decide...
Gareth Worthington covers a lot of ground in this deeply thought provoking space adventure, combining lashings of gripping action with a solid kick of philosophising about life, the universe and everything. It is the kind of tale that you need to buckle up for as it makes the most of a myriad of threads about space and time, by exploring layered themes around the nature of gods and monsters, chaos and order, and the good old knotty push and pull of science vs religion - wrapping it all up in fast paced storylines that leave you with little time to breathe.
The plot begins with the usual fodder of a space opera, by introducing you to a cast of characters negotiating a mass of taut relationship issues, mostly caused by the irksome presence of the daughter of the head honcho of the company, psychiatrist Dr Sarah Dallas, who seems to create waves amongst the crew rather then being a calming presence. Things are already a bit tetchy between them, so when Kara becomes part of the equation, conflict quickly becomes the order of the day, exposing sinister intent on the part of some of them as the narrative flips between their points of view. No one really knows what to make of Kara and her claims, and as they procrastinate, bringing in the members of a scientific base on Europa into their dilemma, events spiral out of control. It becomes hard to ignore that there is something very odd going on in the vicinity of Jupiter.
For the most part I was entertained the mix of characters, eventhough they are generally unlikeable (except for the Europa bunch), as they cover an interesting range of personality types - with all the resulting trials this brings in close proximity. Although could have done with a bit less of Dr Kilkenny and the odd choice to have them as the sole character speaking in tortured dialect.
I am a kickass space adventure kind of gal, and there is lots in these pages that ticked this box for me. I enjoyed how Worthington brings in physics, mythology and religion to the story, giving them a twist and threading them through all that happens, but confess some of the more philosophical passages were a bit lost on me. I also found Worthington's musings on the future of humankind rather chilling. If you enjoy a space tale that takes you on a metaphysical journey then you are in for a full-on treat with where this story goes. Lots to ponder on!
I suspect this will be a book that will divide the crowd depending on how you like your flavour of science fiction. I read it in a single session, and can confirm that it is slick, imaginative, lots of fun, and keeps you on your toes from beginning to end, if a little esoteric for my tastes. The premise is certainly an intriguing one, and this has made me more than a bit wary of what may be hiding under the ice out there in space...
February 4, 2026
Welcome to Earth’s future. As resources on our planet are exhausted, the need to travel deep into the Solar System to harvest basic elements becomes a necessity. In Gareth Worthington’s Dark Dweller, we are introduced to the crew of the Paralus, a space craft whose primary objective is to harvest helium from Jupiter. What should be a normal and straight forward mission is complicated by the discovery of an escape pod with someone still inside.
The book shifts the narrative focus between 4 characters. These characters, Dr. Sarah Dallas, the Paralus’ psychologist, Commander Feng Chau, the ships Commanding Officer, Dr. Luan Nkosi, an astrobiologist, and the girl calling herself Kara Psomas, play pivotal roles in the events that follow. Every time the perspective changes, the reader is emersed into a different mindset with shifting ideology. Dallas has strong convictions toward helping to understand what Psomas has been through. Chau is hellbent on completing the Paralus’ original mission. Nkosi, pulled from a research facility to aid the Paralus, wants to complete his task to return to his crew. Finally, the individual calling herself Psomas, struggles to impart the severity of what she must do to save the human race on the crew of the Paralus.
Along with these four main characters, the reader is introduced to a cast of supporting characters that are just as well constructed. Worthington wrote into life a diverse crew, each with their own quirks, desires, and language. A personal favorite is the Paralus’ doctor, Kilkenny. His mannerism and dialog, even in the face of danger, offers levity to every scene in which he partakes.
What I appreciate most about Worthington’s Dark Dweller is the story’s freshness. I assumed along the way that elements were going to feel similar to other classic science fiction horror. I was wrong. Each character’s perception seemed to encapsulate a different kind of horror, and if you’ve read my other reviews, you know that I love when multiple horror elements are combined.
For one character, a slow decent into madness has very strong nods to certain familiar horror tropes, while another character’s perception of unseen entities adds the supernatural element to the tale. Worthington will even leave the reader guessing if the characters are unreliable narrators, expanding on some of the best literary tropes.
If I have to critique anything about this book, it would be a small bit of crassness regarding the sexuality of one of the characters. I won’t expand on the details, but for a few short sentences throughout the book, they provide little depth to the character. Had the other three characters been expanded upon in this way, it might not have stuck out so much. Phrased differently, the reader would realize the significance of this disclosure without the off-putting descriptions.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s incredible, the sense of universal dread that the author created with the book taking place over a comparatively small space. Worthington creates a seamless transition from character to character, and scene to scene right up to the end, which, I assure, you will not see coming.
The book shifts the narrative focus between 4 characters. These characters, Dr. Sarah Dallas, the Paralus’ psychologist, Commander Feng Chau, the ships Commanding Officer, Dr. Luan Nkosi, an astrobiologist, and the girl calling herself Kara Psomas, play pivotal roles in the events that follow. Every time the perspective changes, the reader is emersed into a different mindset with shifting ideology. Dallas has strong convictions toward helping to understand what Psomas has been through. Chau is hellbent on completing the Paralus’ original mission. Nkosi, pulled from a research facility to aid the Paralus, wants to complete his task to return to his crew. Finally, the individual calling herself Psomas, struggles to impart the severity of what she must do to save the human race on the crew of the Paralus.
Along with these four main characters, the reader is introduced to a cast of supporting characters that are just as well constructed. Worthington wrote into life a diverse crew, each with their own quirks, desires, and language. A personal favorite is the Paralus’ doctor, Kilkenny. His mannerism and dialog, even in the face of danger, offers levity to every scene in which he partakes.
What I appreciate most about Worthington’s Dark Dweller is the story’s freshness. I assumed along the way that elements were going to feel similar to other classic science fiction horror. I was wrong. Each character’s perception seemed to encapsulate a different kind of horror, and if you’ve read my other reviews, you know that I love when multiple horror elements are combined.
For one character, a slow decent into madness has very strong nods to certain familiar horror tropes, while another character’s perception of unseen entities adds the supernatural element to the tale. Worthington will even leave the reader guessing if the characters are unreliable narrators, expanding on some of the best literary tropes.
If I have to critique anything about this book, it would be a small bit of crassness regarding the sexuality of one of the characters. I won’t expand on the details, but for a few short sentences throughout the book, they provide little depth to the character. Had the other three characters been expanded upon in this way, it might not have stuck out so much. Phrased differently, the reader would realize the significance of this disclosure without the off-putting descriptions.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s incredible, the sense of universal dread that the author created with the book taking place over a comparatively small space. Worthington creates a seamless transition from character to character, and scene to scene right up to the end, which, I assure, you will not see coming.
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