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The Message
The Message follows an official Inquiry into the wanton destruction of a Protected Nature Reserve. The first witnesses give evidence of the extent of the damage and later witnesses identify those responsible. As the Inquiry unfolds it becomes apparent that the Inquiry is being undertaken by Regulators from other galaxies who have responsibility for the protection of Reserves throughout the Cosmos.Science Fiction?A love story?A study of human civilisation?A warning message?
- GenresScience Fiction
Paperback
Published March 17, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 13, 2017
What a wake up call this very different book turned out to be! It shares an official inquiry into Retha and the unwarranted destruction of this previously amazing planetary nature reserve. The story is related via a personal journal, messages exchanged and the official inquiry. It starts with the end, and ends with the beginning and between the two takes the reader on a journey where ecological disaster, romance and blame are all key elements. I found it an enthralling read, with many surprises along the way. If you’re looking for a straight-forward science fiction or romance, this probably isn't for you. If enjoy superbly descriptive, emotively written stories in which reports of factual style investigations as well as personal journal entries play key roles, then you’ll probably love it - I know I did!
This is a very different, but highly effective way of getting ‘The Message’ across. It really is a warning message, one that the world needs to wake up to IMHO. I enjoyed the factual background provided in the Preface and the concluding messages which act as an epilogue. The romantic elements are there, too, with some great characters and an engaging back story that continues to develop throughout this story. The use of different styles of writing I thought might detract but I’m very pleased to say that, for me, it did the opposite, enhancing the ‘message’ and bringing it to life. It also enabled events occurring at different times to be related and connected in a meaningful manner.
This is my honest review after being gifted a copy of the book with no obligation or reward to read or review.
This is a very different, but highly effective way of getting ‘The Message’ across. It really is a warning message, one that the world needs to wake up to IMHO. I enjoyed the factual background provided in the Preface and the concluding messages which act as an epilogue. The romantic elements are there, too, with some great characters and an engaging back story that continues to develop throughout this story. The use of different styles of writing I thought might detract but I’m very pleased to say that, for me, it did the opposite, enhancing the ‘message’ and bringing it to life. It also enabled events occurring at different times to be related and connected in a meaningful manner.
This is my honest review after being gifted a copy of the book with no obligation or reward to read or review.
December 4, 2021
The first two thirds is a bureaucratic inquest as the alien others list the harms humans are causing to Retha/Earth and its indigenous life. The already ecologically literate may find that this standard “State of Nature” report drags on too long.
The final third is where the book comes alive as the rival factions philosophise over how best to solve a problem like homo sapiens. They recognise that human numbers are the key issue and ponder whether we have the ability to bring them down and if so can we be reached with ‘The Message?’
The final third is where the book comes alive as the rival factions philosophise over how best to solve a problem like homo sapiens. They recognise that human numbers are the key issue and ponder whether we have the ability to bring them down and if so can we be reached with ‘The Message?’
October 12, 2016
Based on the blurb, I thought this was going to be a fun science fiction novel about aliens forcing humans to clean up the planet.
Boy, was I wrong.
This book is tedious transcript of a lengthy meeting between a group of highly bureaucratic aliens over who dropped the ball and let the humans overrun and wreck the Earth. And (spoiler) - they don't do anything about it.
And it's written in a sort of 'these are text messages or e-mails' format, where the 'to' and 'from' information is posted ahead of every comment. Most of it involves sloppy descriptions of environmental destruction with a few bizarre political ideations thrown in, and a whole lot of complaining.
I kept waiting for them to come to a conclusion and set loose a disease, or... well, anything... but no.
And there is a strangely unsatisfying alien love affair going on in the background that seems to be there for no particular reason I can fathom, and it doesn't end well, either.
Another spoiler:
We're expected to believe that telepathically assigning an unknown author to publish the transcript of this meeting is the best that highly advanced aliens can do when it comes to warning all humans that they need to reduce their population. I get it, it's very meta, but no.
So why a three? Well, it wasn't poorly written, and the characters were well-developed. The bureaucracy was almost plausible.
Boy, was I wrong.
This book is tedious transcript of a lengthy meeting between a group of highly bureaucratic aliens over who dropped the ball and let the humans overrun and wreck the Earth. And (spoiler) - they don't do anything about it.
And it's written in a sort of 'these are text messages or e-mails' format, where the 'to' and 'from' information is posted ahead of every comment. Most of it involves sloppy descriptions of environmental destruction with a few bizarre political ideations thrown in, and a whole lot of complaining.
I kept waiting for them to come to a conclusion and set loose a disease, or... well, anything... but no.
And there is a strangely unsatisfying alien love affair going on in the background that seems to be there for no particular reason I can fathom, and it doesn't end well, either.
Another spoiler:
We're expected to believe that telepathically assigning an unknown author to publish the transcript of this meeting is the best that highly advanced aliens can do when it comes to warning all humans that they need to reduce their population. I get it, it's very meta, but no.
So why a three? Well, it wasn't poorly written, and the characters were well-developed. The bureaucracy was almost plausible.
January 29, 2021
Thought provoking
Well written and thought provoking, this book is at once a love story, and a damning expose of how the human race is blindly destroying the planet we call home.
Well written and thought provoking, this book is at once a love story, and a damning expose of how the human race is blindly destroying the planet we call home.
December 10, 2022
Great concept
Great idea to put an alien race as hidden judges of humans and the the damage we are doing to earth
Great idea to put an alien race as hidden judges of humans and the the damage we are doing to earth
December 22, 2023
Absolute garbage. Abandoned after thirty pages.
August 1, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. This book had a really intriguing premise and I had high hopes for it. But it turned out to be rather disappointing. I actually almost gave up on a couple occasions, but I felt like I needed to stick it out. This book dragged terribly and was kind of boring. In many parts it read more like a textbook on environmental issues than a thought provoking science fiction novel. I think if there had been more focus on character development and plot I would have enjoyed The Message much more. It was an interesting idea, but the execution was somewhat lacking.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews