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Galahad #4
The Dark Zone
After navigating safely through the minefield of the Kuiper Belt, the teenaged crew of Galahad, led by Triana, decides to push forward through a group of incredibly fast and maneuverable organisms, setting off a cataclysmic series of events.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
5 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Dom Testa
34 books92 followersI write fiction and nonfiction, and I publish under a variety of pen names.
My latest is "Let It Be Good: Simple Insights for a Satisfied Life."
Also:
The Eric Swan series of spy thrillers
The Galahad series of young adult sf, published under the name Tyber North
Middle-grade fiction under the pen name Buster Blank
Trivia/fun fact books under the name Billy B. Good
See almost all of it at DomTestaBooks.com.
My latest is "Let It Be Good: Simple Insights for a Satisfied Life."
Also:
The Eric Swan series of spy thrillers
The Galahad series of young adult sf, published under the name Tyber North
Middle-grade fiction under the pen name Buster Blank
Trivia/fun fact books under the name Billy B. Good
See almost all of it at DomTestaBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 8, 2022
Dark Zone introduced yet another eerie space force: the vultures. I appreciated this new conflict and the emotions and intense experiences the crew faced because of it. However, the relationship-building throughout the book felt a little clumsy and disjointed to me. For example, while I understand Channy’s infatuation was intentionally annoying, the whole thing felt out of place in the novel; it just came across as a desperate attempt to give Channy more of a storyline as the Council member with the least coverage in the series.
All the relationship back-and-forth was just a bit tiresome. Overall, one of the weaker Galahad books.
All the relationship back-and-forth was just a bit tiresome. Overall, one of the weaker Galahad books.
June 12, 2021
Book Nerd Your Way 2021... Book #30
Now out of the Kuiper Belt the crew encouters a new threat. Or is it a threat? They also face the loss of a crew member.
This has been a great series so far. I am loving the character development and the Computer "Roc" is hilarious. I think it is my favorite character!!
Now out of the Kuiper Belt the crew encouters a new threat. Or is it a threat? They also face the loss of a crew member.
This has been a great series so far. I am loving the character development and the Computer "Roc" is hilarious. I think it is my favorite character!!
September 8, 2021
Love is in the air... Or not. There is also a new panic on the ship. Alien vulture/parasites have latched to the ship and Alexa is predicting the first death on the ship. But who will it be?
Sad ending, but sets up for an exciting next book.
Sad ending, but sets up for an exciting next book.
March 29, 2016
When last we checked in on the intrepid crew of the Galahad, a coup is averted, relationships are broken, and they’re all pretty lucky to get through the Kulpier Belt. This time around we get more alien life forms (they kind of look like birds…sort of)! And more angst! And someone is going to die–Lita’s second in command in the sick bay Alexa is having prophetic, but morbid, dreams of a person being mourned and memorialized. Another legacy from the Cassini (truly, the gift that keeps on giving).
In some ways Alexa’s dream, which she’s not fully able to comprehend or understand because she doesn’t know who is going to die, or how or even when, is the underlying tension of the book. As the reader, you know it’s coming, that at some point a character we’ve read about for the last few books and gotten to know will not be there again. As Alexa attempts to discuss the dream with Bon, the fear she has about that future is palpable.
Then there are the creatures that attach themselves to the Galahad. They are, mostly, non-threatening and seem to be largely a reconnaissance measure. By who or for what reason, no idea. I sometimes have to remind myself that there is no “Prime Directive” for the Galahad crew–their goal is to survive and reach their new home. Everything else is left to them to figure out.
Channy’s first pangs of romance and love was largely unappreciated by me. On the one hand it was a new facet to explore–her love interest, Taresh, has a unique view on romance in the stars–and a new way for Channy to develop. Her constant “perky moral support” role was tiresome, to say the least. Except that after the mess that Gap’s relationship with Hannah became, the confusion that is Triana/Bon’s relationship, added to the whole thing with Bon/Alexa…the situation with Taresh felt more like a way for Testa to give Channy a viable excuse to be distracted. A trend I have noticed throughout the books is that something needs to be distracting the kids emotionally. Every time.
Once again the crew faces an outside problem–that of the Outer Space Birds, but it takes a backseat to the internal woes of the teenagers. Until the two collide, and the aftermath is less than pretty, and the ending is startling. Not quite what I expected, though in hindsight it makes more sense. The overwhelming guilt, the increasing disillusionment, the decrease in concentration….
In some ways Alexa’s dream, which she’s not fully able to comprehend or understand because she doesn’t know who is going to die, or how or even when, is the underlying tension of the book. As the reader, you know it’s coming, that at some point a character we’ve read about for the last few books and gotten to know will not be there again. As Alexa attempts to discuss the dream with Bon, the fear she has about that future is palpable.
Then there are the creatures that attach themselves to the Galahad. They are, mostly, non-threatening and seem to be largely a reconnaissance measure. By who or for what reason, no idea. I sometimes have to remind myself that there is no “Prime Directive” for the Galahad crew–their goal is to survive and reach their new home. Everything else is left to them to figure out.
Channy’s first pangs of romance and love was largely unappreciated by me. On the one hand it was a new facet to explore–her love interest, Taresh, has a unique view on romance in the stars–and a new way for Channy to develop. Her constant “perky moral support” role was tiresome, to say the least. Except that after the mess that Gap’s relationship with Hannah became, the confusion that is Triana/Bon’s relationship, added to the whole thing with Bon/Alexa…the situation with Taresh felt more like a way for Testa to give Channy a viable excuse to be distracted. A trend I have noticed throughout the books is that something needs to be distracting the kids emotionally. Every time.
Once again the crew faces an outside problem–that of the Outer Space Birds, but it takes a backseat to the internal woes of the teenagers. Until the two collide, and the aftermath is less than pretty, and the ending is startling. Not quite what I expected, though in hindsight it makes more sense. The overwhelming guilt, the increasing disillusionment, the decrease in concentration….
July 29, 2011
I'm still not sure what to think of this one (especially the ending). I will say that the pacing was a little better for me than all but the first book. The excitement of the "vultures" was palpable and realistically fearful as well.
I understand that while the author is working with a limited number of characters he still has too many for a reader to keep track of if he used more than a couple other than the council, but I still wish that the emotional turmoil would encompass more than those five to eight teens. The Triana and Bon thing was almost working for me in the last book and then it had to be shaken up again (as well as Gap's feelings). Chaney's idea of love was quite disturbing and further proved that intelligence isn't a measure of emotional or social stability. I would have thought that the people in charge of Galahad back on Earth would have been a bit more careful about that though.
There was at least one kiss, some harsh words (though no curses that I recall) and violence between humans and aliens resulting in at least one death.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Originally, I was a bit surprised that Alexa didn't foresee Triana taking off in the extra pod and warn the rest of the council, but I suppose it would be difficult for any one to see beyond their own death. I really wish that she hadn't died, it seemed very pointless, which of course is the most effective character death in a science fiction novel, but I still wanted it to mean more.
I also thought that each of the council while still hurting from Alexa's death should have realized that Gap and Triana were the most likely to go lone ranger with the side mission. And that none of the council should be allowed to volunteer in the first place. I understand about keeping to main characters, but that was just madness.
I understand that while the author is working with a limited number of characters he still has too many for a reader to keep track of if he used more than a couple other than the council, but I still wish that the emotional turmoil would encompass more than those five to eight teens. The Triana and Bon thing was almost working for me in the last book and then it had to be shaken up again (as well as Gap's feelings). Chaney's idea of love was quite disturbing and further proved that intelligence isn't a measure of emotional or social stability. I would have thought that the people in charge of Galahad back on Earth would have been a bit more careful about that though.
There was at least one kiss, some harsh words (though no curses that I recall) and violence between humans and aliens resulting in at least one death.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Originally, I was a bit surprised that Alexa didn't foresee Triana taking off in the extra pod and warn the rest of the council, but I suppose it would be difficult for any one to see beyond their own death. I really wish that she hadn't died, it seemed very pointless, which of course is the most effective character death in a science fiction novel, but I still wanted it to mean more.
I also thought that each of the council while still hurting from Alexa's death should have realized that Gap and Triana were the most likely to go lone ranger with the side mission. And that none of the council should be allowed to volunteer in the first place. I understand about keeping to main characters, but that was just madness.
June 6, 2011
This novel was an interesting one to read considering when I picked it up, I realized that it was the fourth in a series that I knew nothing about! Fortunately for me, you don't have to know everything that's happened to quickly and easily catch up to the story.
The Dark Zone is one of the books in the Galahad series that centers around a group of teenagers who have been chosen to leave Earth just as a deadly virus overtakes the population. The teens are on their way to a new planet where they will essentially re-start the human race. In this book, they are now one year into their journey. Their guide along the way is an artifically-intelligent computer named Roc.
I have to say...I actually really enjoyed this novel. There were so many things going on - from teenage angst & crushes to alien machines being stuck to the ship - that I felt like there was always something in the story to catch my attention. The novel is told from the point of view of a few of the teenagers on board and I think what I loved the most was that I looked forward to each person's story. No one character was more fun or interesting than the rest.
I especially loved the leader of the ship, Triana. Her character is so bold, honest and intelligent, and I think a lot of sci-fi books make characters like her to be men, so it was a refreshing change to have this young lady in charge. Triana is a fantastic role model for any teenage girl.
Roc, the computer, has a great sense of humor and is used well in the story to add laughter when things start getting too serious.
Overall, The Dark Zone ws a great read and I'd recommend it to everyone, not just teens, and especially anyone who likes sci-fi. I look forward to reading the first three books in the series, and the next one which should be released this October, 2011.
Maria @GoodChoiceReading.com
The Dark Zone is one of the books in the Galahad series that centers around a group of teenagers who have been chosen to leave Earth just as a deadly virus overtakes the population. The teens are on their way to a new planet where they will essentially re-start the human race. In this book, they are now one year into their journey. Their guide along the way is an artifically-intelligent computer named Roc.
I have to say...I actually really enjoyed this novel. There were so many things going on - from teenage angst & crushes to alien machines being stuck to the ship - that I felt like there was always something in the story to catch my attention. The novel is told from the point of view of a few of the teenagers on board and I think what I loved the most was that I looked forward to each person's story. No one character was more fun or interesting than the rest.
I especially loved the leader of the ship, Triana. Her character is so bold, honest and intelligent, and I think a lot of sci-fi books make characters like her to be men, so it was a refreshing change to have this young lady in charge. Triana is a fantastic role model for any teenage girl.
Roc, the computer, has a great sense of humor and is used well in the story to add laughter when things start getting too serious.
Overall, The Dark Zone ws a great read and I'd recommend it to everyone, not just teens, and especially anyone who likes sci-fi. I look forward to reading the first three books in the series, and the next one which should be released this October, 2011.
Maria @GoodChoiceReading.com
April 29, 2011
These books are like those cheap, nostalgia-inducing candies one can get from a machine at the mall. They contain very little substance, are strangely addictive, and come in such small portions. I feel like apologizing every time I read one of these.
The science is abysmally bad. Just accept it. Newton? Einstein? Forget about them. Acceleration? Mass? WTF!
The characters, if the reader reached their teen years in the nineties, are scorchingly real; however, I think today's teenagers would see markedly less of themselves in Channy, Triana, and Bon. That said, Channy is a perfect study in teen-girl crushes that actually makes me look at the author in an uncomfortable way, as though he knows things he shouldn't about that sacred mortifying experience. Yeah. And saying that, I feel bad for any guy who tries to read this series. It's got to be pretty painful.
The multi-cultural aspect of the book was...ah...not really on par with the gritty realism of 2011. The Indian guy made me wince particularly hard. Not really stereotyping, just a depth problem. I like the conflict, but the one-sided development...maybe the next book can fix?
The fact that a character dies in this one sort of impresses me. In a way, the lessons remind me of the underpinnings of Harry Potter, in that it stresses loyalty, decent behavior, and the permanence of death. Just not as well-written or researched. Sorry...
Also, I hate cliffhangers. :(
Overall, really liked it. I got it on Kindle the day it was released. Probably will be the same for the next one, funds permitting.
The science is abysmally bad. Just accept it. Newton? Einstein? Forget about them. Acceleration? Mass? WTF!
The characters, if the reader reached their teen years in the nineties, are scorchingly real; however, I think today's teenagers would see markedly less of themselves in Channy, Triana, and Bon. That said, Channy is a perfect study in teen-girl crushes that actually makes me look at the author in an uncomfortable way, as though he knows things he shouldn't about that sacred mortifying experience. Yeah. And saying that, I feel bad for any guy who tries to read this series. It's got to be pretty painful.
The multi-cultural aspect of the book was...ah...not really on par with the gritty realism of 2011. The Indian guy made me wince particularly hard. Not really stereotyping, just a depth problem. I like the conflict, but the one-sided development...maybe the next book can fix?
The fact that a character dies in this one sort of impresses me. In a way, the lessons remind me of the underpinnings of Harry Potter, in that it stresses loyalty, decent behavior, and the permanence of death. Just not as well-written or researched. Sorry...
Also, I hate cliffhangers. :(
Overall, really liked it. I got it on Kindle the day it was released. Probably will be the same for the next one, funds permitting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2012
The fourth book in the series: the kids have broken through the Kuiper Belt, a vast asteroid belt that encircles the solar system. The aliens (named the Cassini)may have made it possible for the ship to get through the belt safely. Bon, one of the teens enhanced by the Cassini, has been in contact with them and it seems that the Belt may have been a kind of fence, maybe keeping something out of the solar system rather than keeping something in.
As soon as the ship is through, they find a number of nimble, quickly moving things flitting around it. Nicknamed Vultures, they are big, black, flat things (I saw them in my minds eye as stingray like) that have attached themselves to the ship. The crew don't know if they are doing anything to the ship, they don't know if they are flesh or machine, so they arrange a trip out and capture one.
Lots of excitement in the ship, too. One of the women has had a mental shift since her appendix surgery, now she has horrible dreams that may be foretelling someone's death. She and Bon, the enhanced Cassini-speaker, are getting closer because they have so much in common, Triana is sad because she has feelings for Bon, Channy (the happy social director) is dealing with her first crush (and about as well as we all dealt with ours), Gap has broken up with Hannah.
There's intrigue and death, romance and anti-romance, dark energy and decisions that are good and not so good, good action scenes. Great ending, had to go right downstairs and find the next book to find out what we're going to find out.
As soon as the ship is through, they find a number of nimble, quickly moving things flitting around it. Nicknamed Vultures, they are big, black, flat things (I saw them in my minds eye as stingray like) that have attached themselves to the ship. The crew don't know if they are doing anything to the ship, they don't know if they are flesh or machine, so they arrange a trip out and capture one.
Lots of excitement in the ship, too. One of the women has had a mental shift since her appendix surgery, now she has horrible dreams that may be foretelling someone's death. She and Bon, the enhanced Cassini-speaker, are getting closer because they have so much in common, Triana is sad because she has feelings for Bon, Channy (the happy social director) is dealing with her first crush (and about as well as we all dealt with ours), Gap has broken up with Hannah.
There's intrigue and death, romance and anti-romance, dark energy and decisions that are good and not so good, good action scenes. Great ending, had to go right downstairs and find the next book to find out what we're going to find out.
January 2, 2012
(2.5 stars) Guess I skipped Bk 3... but it didn't matter to this story. Felt there was a little too much emphasis on the romantic dilemmas among the crew. There was a real sense of danger and scientific curiosity that was good. Final developments could lead us in interesting directions. While I didn't read all the Teen Reader's Guide I can see where the author likes to cover topics that would make young people think about their world and the way things (and people) tick. These books are more than just brainless adventures. Overall this one still didn't have the snap and pace of book #1- but then I almost always prefer the 'getting-to-know-you' phase of any series to the 'further adventures of-' .
May 21, 2012
Another solid offering from Testa. Again, a totally appropriate sci-fi read geared to teens. As an adult, I am enjoying them too. In this book, the crew made it out of a large passage of space debris, which they figured out functioned like a fence...keeping something out. What they discover are strange triangular flying forms that attach themselves to the spaceship. It's interesting to see how the teens react, given our human history. Again, I think Testa writes a plausible sci-fi book based on teens reactions and thought-processes. Yes, there are science parts that I wanted more of but seeing how this is a YA series, I think it is great!
June 10, 2012
I regret waiting this long to read this series! I'm flying through it, and it's so so so good. Although, I would perhaps not rate this book at a complete 5, but 4 is just way too low because I honestly couldn't stand reading about Channy in this book. She was super fucking annoying and the entire reason I cannot stand teenagers. Love does not wreck havoc on your life! I understand the point of it in the book and as us seeing Channy grow and mature and all of that crap, but I could have seriously done with out it. I steered clear of people who think like her in my education and social places for good reason. OTHER than that, I loved this book just as much as the rest.
February 7, 2012
Nope! Wasn’t disappointed at all! Although, I cry what happened to Alexa. And the relationship with her and Bon...plus the relationship with Bon and Triana. I’m trying to figure out in the end who Bon really care about. But I guess it would always be with Alexa. But the story was just so intense. Oh, and the vultures...argh. Make me chill to the bone. Yet, I’m happy that the teenagers survive again, unfortunately for one... or is it two? Why would Triana do that to herself? I hope they find her...and I hope thing went well with her and Bon. Book 5...here we go.
June 14, 2011
It seems the Galahad crew can never catch a break on their trek across the solar system and into uncharted space. Love, death, strange alien machines and wormholes all await our intrepid travellers as they continue their voyage to a new planet around a far away star. If you think life as a teenager on Earth is complicated try it in a spaceship with 250 of your fellow teens. And you can't phone home.
June 8, 2016
All the romantic teen angst that was mostly absent the last three books has built up and hit this one full force. About the only thing here that I like is that most of these romances haven't worked out. At all. It's nice to see that instead of 'true love/destined to be together' kind of stuff.
On the plot side of things, this is probably my favorite plot since the first book. I like the aliens and I like the choices and decisions that have to be made. Very cool stuff.
On the plot side of things, this is probably my favorite plot since the first book. I like the aliens and I like the choices and decisions that have to be made. Very cool stuff.
May 2, 2011
Still loving this series about teens launched into space to save the human race. In this episode they encounter some kind of "life" force that attaches to their ship and must decide what to do about it. If you are a fan of the series this one will not disappoint, but be aware that all does not end well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2011
Wow! Unlike my opinion of The Cassini Code, the conflict was very interesting. In this case, the conflict was not something that made sense to the human's common sense, but I think that that's what made it so interesting. Perhaps it's because the conflict referred to Sci-Fi, but it was still quite interesting. Still no spoilers!
December 7, 2012
I thought this was a great YA and hard sci-fi adventure. I got through this book and the rest of the series in record time (for me). It's refreshing to have someone writing this kind of Heinlein-like fiction.
thanks Dom.
thanks Dom.
February 1, 2012
I have enjoyed reading the Galahad series - the 5th and last book is out and I can hardly wait to read it. I can hardly wait to find out what happens to Triana in the work hole.
February 24, 2012
amazing can not believe the ending to much of a cliff hanger
May 4, 2012
Loved it. Ready for the next one.
March 9, 2013
Another solid addition to this series. I wasn't thrilled about the romantic emphasis in the story but otherwise it was very good.
January 5, 2015
3.75 stars.
February 23, 2016
Roc rocks!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews