The Alien

by Daniel Wescott

“There will be no rescue,” he’d said. “Succeed or be lost.” Who the hell says something like that to an employee?

Cut-throat bosses, local mobsters, an influencer girlfriend, and evil corporations, that’s who.

A fun and smart near future thriller crammed with mind-expanding concepts, science being explored today, fast paced action, and unexpected twists. All driven by expertly presented emotions, desires, and childhood issues in life or death situations.

Observatory Space Program Test Pilot, Michael Forbes is trying to survive his ship’s destruction as a potential corporate assassin enters the picture… and the locals want to help, for a price. Meanwhile back home, greed and deception weave manipulating strands of depravity and complete disregard for people, threatening the life he longs to return to.

Stranded on an alien planet, Michael’s struggles are intensified as he becomes the first Emissary of Earth, a role he is totally unprepared for.

A modernized Gulliver’s Travels meets Black Mirror and The Sopranos with a serial killer on the loose. Daniel Wescott delivers a deep thrill ride filled with intriguing ideas that will leave you pondering long after you’ve finished the last page.

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2023

About the author

Daniel Wescott


Simply another bald guy spinning a yarn.


I’ve been writing novel length fiction since the late ‘90’s and shorter stuff prior to that. It’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone. But, the whole writing thing started when Mr. Talbot, my fifth grade english teacher, introduced me to poetry. I wrote a bunch of really bad rhyming stuff, but that guy kept being positive and it stuck. And now look at me.

I’m a frequent traveler who prefers mixing with the locals and stumbling through the language barrier. You might bump into me and my family taking a collectivo while trying to find that one elusive cenote, or hiking through Cinque Terre while trying to speak Italian loud and slow. You know, the smile-and-nod-a-lot method with a spattering of English, German, and Spanish thrown in just in case. Knowing some German saved my bacon on Sardinia once. Just saying…

I’m one of those outgoing introverts you hear rumors of. I really like my alone time but like being at a get together, too. I know, weird. I find solace in the deep woods and on the water. I like to sail and have an odd desire to cross both the Arctic and Antarctic circles by some non-motorized way. In the summer months, mind you.

My novels are all mixed genre fiction with lots of action, psychological elements, relationship issues, and edge of your seat thriller moments permeating them. Prior to getting serious about my writing, I viewed the stories as a way of decompressing from the pressures of running an electrical contracting business. A much needed vacation of the mind, if you like. They’re always a deep dive.

Here’s my sales pitch:

Blending life and lending visions, Daniel delivers fast paced thrill rides with strong, realistic characters, and intense interactions. Readers can expect to experience the stories first hand through the eyes and emotions of the characters. It’s an edge of your seat adventure that will leave you breathless and wanting more. Always a deep dive into the mind, his novels offer the readers a personal involvement in acute sensations.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read! Highly recommended.



I was given an advanced copy of The Alien to read and asked to leave an honest review for it. So, here it is:

I have to say that this book was incredible, especially for a debut novel. I loved this book! I felt like the characters were real people and that made all the situations they found themselves in more than a little nerve racking. I cared about what happened to them, even the ones that were jerks.

There’s a lot of swearing but it’s always used in appropriate circumstances and there’s nothing vulgar in the book. If I was going through that stuff, I have to think I’d be swearing, too.

The Main Character, Michael, is funny and I could completely relate to him. I found myself really wanting to know what his girlfriend was truly like. Then I found myself really cheering her on at the end and hoping she’d survive. The book took me all over the place emotionally. And Silvio is amazing.

I can’t wait for the next one to come out.

[Lisa Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, a great story is multifaceted, credible, unique, and is carried along by well-developed characters, new ideas, and unexpected events. The Alien by Daniel Wescott has all these elements. From the start, the author builds tension and complexity, while developing a very realistic and likable main character, Michael, a space pioneer and Earth ambassador. Michael does things that I know I will never do, and yet, I shared his experience. The various other characters are equally well-developed and diverse. This book had me asking many questions: Could I survive on an alien planet? With another species? Would I know an evil deviant if I met one? Could I persevere even though I might never see Planet Earth again? When I reached the shocking ending, I had one thought... I WANT MORE

Favorite quote: "She had to stifle the shudder that ran through her as she considered that this was the
moment—that moment—when you know you have just moved from being a person to a thing."

[Savannah Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best sci-fi I've read in quite a while. The Alien has the best of both worlds: a unique plot and interesting characters with strong development. The Alien masterfully subplants visuals in the readers mind and will transport you off planet. Torture, thrills, romance and explosions. The Alien is multidimensional crossing multiple genres. Simply put, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend The Alien and am very excited to see where this story goes in future books! 10/10 would read again.

[Becks]

I could only get 20 pages in before I knew I would not enjoy the main character or writing style. To me, the main character screams white male arrogance and the use of f*ck, f*cking, f*ckers, etc sometimes multiple times per page was overwhelming. I then searched f*ck in the book to see if the usage decreases after the beginning, but instead the book turns up 273 results in a 366 page book. (Love that the author's note says their editor helped them "lose so many of the F-bombs" - I cannot imagine there being more.)

I received an eARC of this book from VoraciousReadersOnly in exchange for my honest review.

[CR1017 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the book, in return for a review.
The science fiction parts of the story were plausible and enjoyable.
There were a handful of minor typos that I feel should have been caught.
I had some trouble getting used to each chapter jumping around telling parts of the story from the point of view of different characters without much introduction to the characters themselves.
Perhaps the most disruptive thing to me was the main character, Michael's excessive use of profanity & constant declaration of the fact he was a giant on a planet of tiny people. Like okay dude, I got it, you don't need to repeat it every other paragraph.
To me, it seemed like there was a lot more of the book focusing on other story elements and less on Michael.
Overall, I liked the book, and will probably read the rest of the series if/when it becomes available.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of The Alien in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a strong start, with funny characters and an entertaining premise. The wacky, adventurous sci-fi elements (Giants!!) were a definite highlight, and I found the story most engaging when it leaned into those aspects.

However, some of the subplots slowed things down for me, and I struggled with the pacing as the story progressed. Supposedly there is a serial killer subplot, and I might revisit it in the future to see how that goes.

Unfortunately, I ended up marking this one as a DNF around the halfway point. That said, I can see how readers who enjoy a mix of quirky sci-fi and layered storytelling might have a great time with it!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thrilling Read

The Alien is uniquely special in is its ability to seamlessly transition from a light-hearted, energetic tale to one that delves into the dark depths of human nature. Wescott introduces a major plot twist that takes the story to a whole new level, exploring the advancements of AI and the inherent evil that can reside within humanity. This unexpected twist serves as a reminder that life is fleeting and that evil exists even in the most unexpected places. Overall, I found this to be an exciting and thrilling read.

[Ian Burnside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will have you hooked! It’s sometimes a lot at the beginning to keep up with but once it starts picking up momentum, it will keep you hooked. I was lucky enough to have this book as an ARC and I am super excited for the next one.

The characters all feel real and go along their own amazing developments throughout the book. Great initial book to what could end up being an amazing series !

[Sandra Damiani · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Alien, Michael has an exciting career in space travel, but his personal life is packed with betrayal. Michael's travels find him trapped on an alien planet with some friendly characters and others that remind me of the Italian mafia. I especially liked the character Una; she adds a whole new dimension to Michael's life on an alien planet. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Michael Mau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to The Alien because I auditioned to narrate the novel. I fell in love instantly. It's like Dashiell Hammett, Jonathan Swift, and the podcast Midnight Burger all rolled into one. Space flight, explosions, fighting, revenge, giants, jealous AIs, chases, escapes, love. Adventure awaits.

[Siu Lum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book where it deals with first contact, bad corporations, and a serial killer.

I found it jarring switching between all of the point-of-views and it made it harder to keep track of the various plots.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book via voracious readers only in lieu of an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are likable and relatable, and the story seems like something that could actually happen in the future. The description I saw pegged it as being a modern day gullivers travels, and I would agree with that, it was a great story about an epic adventure,

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Interesting Plot

If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a sci-fi twist, look no further than Daniel Wescott's latest book.

The story follows Michael Forbes, an Observatory Space Program Test Pilot who finds himself stranded on an alien planet after his ship is destroyed. As he struggles to survive in this unfamiliar world, he becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of corporate espionage and deceit that threatens to consume him entirely.

Wescott's writing is sharp and evocative, with vivid descriptions of the alien landscape and the emotional turmoil of the characters. The action is intense and exciting, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end.

This is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that is sure to leave you wanting more.

[Caroline Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by Author for a honest review. Michael Forbes takes on a mission. That leaves him stranded in outer space. I was not quite sure what to think about this book. But was surprised is a fun book.

[FD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the intriguing way the two stories ran side by side at the start and smooth out into one. I find this very clever as writing to keep up. Also the ending is most unexpected

Advance copy on voracious readers appreciated.

[Steven Thorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

an amusing thought provoking book
very much in the future,but believable
i enjoyed it,recommended

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. There was so much going on that it kept me on my toes, really held my interest. I would really recommend this!