Wild Zone

Dharman #1

by John Schettler, Richard Gylgayton (Editor)

A shadow has fallen over earth’s latest and most promising colony prospect in the Dharma system.
When a convulsive solar flux event disables communications with the Safe Zone, special agent Timothy Scott Ryan is rushed to the system on a Navy frigate to investigate. He soon becomes embroiled in a mystery that threatens the course of evolution itself as a virulent new organism has targeted mankind as a new host.

Ryan’s mission is to make contact with the Dharma facilities personnel and determine overall integrity of the colony. His search begins to uncover strange evidence that the Safe Zone has been overrun by an indigenous life form. His investigation soon becomes a struggle for survival and a search for the missing personnel begins to pull at a thread of mystery that threatens to unravel the weave of all life on the planet, indeed, of evolution itself.

445 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Marie Charon · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Wild Zone* opens with a compelling premise that combines military science fiction, mystery, and survival. After a devastating solar event cuts off communication with humanity's newest colony in the Dharma system, Special Agent Timothy Scott Ryan is sent to uncover what went wrong. What begins as a routine investigation quickly turns into a far more dangerous mission as Ryan discovers unsettling evidence that the colony has been overtaken by an unknown indigenous life form.

The story promises escalating tension, high stakes exploration, and an intriguing alien threat, making it an appealing choice for readers who enjoy science fiction with mystery, suspense, and first contact themes.

[Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reads like the kind of science fiction that used to dominate the genre before it went soft, methodical, world built, genuinely curious about biology and evolution rather than just using aliens as set dressing. The virulent organism premise is well constructed and Ryan is a competent protagonist in the classic mould. My honest note: this feels like it was written in the 1980s, and I mean that partly as a compliment and partly as a warning. The pacing and prose style won't suit modern readers raised on fast cut action sci-fi. But the readers who want this exist, they're just not finding it because nothing about the marketing signals 'classic hard SF.

[Leslie Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story builds an intriguing blend of science fiction, suspense, and mystery as Timothy Scott Ryan investigates the sudden silence surrounding humanity's newest colony in the Dharma system. What begins as a routine mission quickly escalates into a desperate fight for survival when he uncovers evidence that an unknown native life form has overtaken the Safe Zone. As the search for the missing personnel unfolds, the novel steadily raises the stakes, delivering an imaginative and thought-provoking adventure that explores survival, discovery, and the future of human evolution.

[Athena Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This science fiction thriller opens with a compelling premise, as a sudden communication blackout leaves humanity's most promising colony in the Dharma system completely isolated. Special agent Timothy Scott Ryan is sent to uncover the cause, only to find himself facing a dangerous mystery involving an unknown organism with the potential to alter the future of humanity. Blending suspense, exploration, and high-stakes survival, the story offers an intriguing journey into the unknown while raising thought-provoking questions about evolution and mankind's place in the universe.

[Majik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise immediately grabbed my attention. What starts as a communication blackout at a promising colony quickly turns into a gripping mystery with much higher stakes than I expected. I enjoyed following Timothy Scott Ryan as he tried to piece together what had happened, and the growing sense of danger kept me hooked throughout the story. The idea of humanity facing an unfamiliar organism on an alien world was handled in a way that felt both suspenseful and believable. If you enjoy military sci-fi with mystery, exploration, and a constant sense of tension, this is a very satisfying read.

[Sarah]

One of the strongest parts of the book is how Ryan's mission keeps escalating. What begins as a routine investigation into a silent colony gradually turns into a tense survival story as he uncovers unsettling evidence that something has gone terribly wrong. I enjoyed how the mystery unfolded piece by piece, with each discovery raising the stakes instead of answering all the questions. The combination of suspense, survival, and the larger implications for humanity made the story feel much bigger than a typical military sci-fi adventure and kept me eager to see what would happen next.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I followed Schettler here from Kirov, which meant I already trusted him. But if I'd found Wild Zone cold, I'm not sure I'd have started. The cover and presentation don't carry the same weight as the naval series, there's no sense that this is the same prolific, serious author behind 64 linked novels. The writing quality is consistent, but the packaging doesn't signal that. For a standalone trilogy from a 100 book author, it reads like a side project rather than something worth investing three books into.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biological threat angle is where this book really earns its place. The idea that an organism has targeted mankind as a host, and that evolution itself is at stake, is the kind of premise that makes first contact fiction worth reading. What I couldn't fully understand is why this book has 20 Goodreads reviews when the author has written over 100 novels and a 64 book naval series with real fans. It's like the Dharman books exist in a separate universe from his main readership, and nobody has built a bridge. His Kirov fans should have been pointed here a long time ago.

[Joanna Gain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humanity's newest and most promising colony in the Dharma system is suddenly plunged into crisis. After a powerful solar flare disrupts all communication with the Safe Zone, special agent Timothy Scott Ryan is dispatched aboard a Navy frigate to uncover what has gone wrong. As he investigates, he discovers a dangerous mystery involving a rapidly spreading organism that has chosen humanity as its next host, placing not only the colony but the future of human evolution at risk.

[Reasonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What really pulled me into this book was how Ryan's mission kept evolving. At first, it seemed like a straightforward investigation into why communication with the colony had gone silent, but every discovery made the situation feel more unsettling. The mystery surrounding the missing personnel and the strange signs of an unknown life form created a constant sense of tension that kept me reading "just one more chapter."

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up expecting a military sci-fi adventure, but I ended up getting a lot more than that. The investigation into the silent Dharma colony hooked me right away, and I liked how the mystery unfolded one clue at a time instead of revealing everything too quickly. As Ryan dug deeper into what had happened, the tension kept building, and I found myself wanting to know what was waiting around the next corner.

[Robin Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blend of military science fiction, exploration, and survival makes this sound like a strong choice for readers who enjoy tense, high concept space adventures. The idea that the investigation could have consequences far beyond a single colony adds an intriguing sense of scale. Based on the synopsis, Wild Zone looks like an engaging start to the Dharma series and one that would appeal to fans of thoughtful, action driven sci-fi.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the description, Wild Zone looks like it blends military science fiction with a strong mystery. The idea of a promising colony suddenly going silent and sending Timothy Scott Ryan to investigate immediately creates a sense of tension. As the mission unfolds, the discovery of an unknown indigenous life form suggests the story goes beyond a simple rescue mission and explores the risks of humanity expanding into unfamiliar worlds.

[Pam G · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who enjoys military science fiction with a strong mystery element, this book was a fantastic read. It grabbed my attention from the beginning with the communication blackout and never really let go. What starts as an investigation quickly grows into something much bigger, blending space exploration, survival, and an unsettling biological threat in a way that kept me turning the pages.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the description alone, this sounds like the kind of military sci-fi I enjoy. The combination of a communication blackout, a missing colony, and an unknown alien organism immediately creates a strong sense of mystery and tension. I also like that the story seems to focus on investigation as much as action, which usually makes the stakes feel more meaningful.

[Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that the focus isn't just on action. The concept hints at bigger ideas about exploration, survival, and the consequences of encountering alien life. For readers who enjoy military science fiction with a strong mystery and a steadily escalating sense of danger, Wild Zone has a premise that's easy to get excited about.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like watching a butter bar lieutenant try to lead a patrol without listening to his squad leader. Ryan is a 'Special Agent,' not a soldier, and it shows. He’s too detached. When men start dying, there’s a coldness to his character that doesn't feel like professionalism; it feels like a sociopath conducting a survey.

[Your Sci-Fi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild Zone delivers palpable atmosphere and a solid foundation for dread, but it stumbles badly when asked to function as a work of credible military science fiction. For readers who prefer their space opera with a side of chills and creeping horror, this may suffice. For those who demand tactical logic, strategic depth, and believable hardware, it is a mission failure.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It sounds like a novel that combines suspense, survival, and first-contact science fiction, with the mystery gradually building into something much larger than anyone expected. Readers who enjoy high-stakes space adventures and intelligent sci-fi mysteries may find the premise especially appealing.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that the story wasn't just about action. It explored the consequences of humanity pushing into unknown worlds and how quickly confidence can turn into survival. The blend of military sci-fi, suspense, and the mystery behind the planet itself made this feel fresh and engaging.

[Caleb Peculiar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story pulled me in almost immediately with the mystery surrounding the silent Dharma colony. What seemed like a routine investigation quickly turned into something far more dangerous, and I enjoyed watching Ryan uncover the truth piece by piece. The growing threat from an unknown alien organism kept the tension high throughout, and I liked how the story combined military sci-fi with suspense and the fear of the unknown. It was an engaging read that kept me eager to find out what would happen next.

[Doreen Dalesandro]

Kindle freebie, 2/3/13