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Galahad #3
The Cassini Code: A Galahad Book
When the tail of the comet Bhaktul flicks through the Earth's atmosphere, deadly particles are left in its wake, and mankind is confronted with a virus that devastates the adult population. A renowned scientist proposes a bold to build a ship that will carry a crew of 251 teenagers to a home in a distant solar system. Two years later, Galahad and its crew is launched. If their mission fails, it will be the end of the human race…The teenage crew of Galahad has survived their first encounter with an alien race. Though shaken by the power of The Cassini, Triana and her Council are determined to continue their mission. But some of the crew don't agree. Led by the charismatic Merit Simms, a small group of crew members begins lobbying for a return to Earth—just as the ship enters the Kuiper Belt, the deadly minefield of asteroids that surrounds the solar system.As Galahad dodges a storm of asteroids, Triana finds herself dealing with an increasingly hostile crew. Even some members of the Council are beginning to listen to Merit's arguments. Can Triana find a way to prevent a mutiny aboard Galahad, and lead her crew to safety?At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
224 pages, ebook
First published November 17, 2007
2 people are currently reading
196 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 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 8, 2011
So, instead of a threat from the outside, this time the crew faces danger in the form of conflict from within. Some of its members, specifically a boy named Merit, are increasingly scared about the idea of going to a new world and homesick for Earth and their families despite the death sentence awaiting them back home. I realize that psychological testing and training couldn't actually prepare anyone or fully weed out all the people who might try to turn a mission like this back, but I would think these highly intelligent teens would have more resolve than that. I can understand the feeling of hopelessness and fear of the unknown, but honestly the amount of structure built into the crew's daily life would keep me on a fairly even keel and I have fairly serious depression and anxiety. I suppose that's why Hannah was doing so much better than Merit though. Her OCD let her latch onto the order amidst everything else going on and keep herself going without as much drama. Meanwhile, everyone else is smart enough to see all the possible outcomes, but without the fallback of a calm place within their own minds.
The relationships felt less forced in this book than in the previous one. Triana was allowed to be a leader and feel for each member of the crew, including Bon and Gap, much more organically which was also more realistic.
There was a one sided fist fight that featured one punch and mention of another fist fight. There was talk of surgery. I don't remember any cursing, but there may have been some ugly words. There were a couple kisses, but no making out and definitely nothing further than that.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It is still so cool that the aliens are done correctly and not humanoid in the least. Unfortunately, the idea that they'd mess with other races/species from behind the scenes is a bit much for my imagination. Also, the hint that connecting with a superior race would be addictive is kind of insulting. Unless the author is hinting that it is the feeling of belonging that Bon is drawn to and not the feeling of gaining more knowledge. I'd like to think that he's not such a shallow character that he'd be pulled into a dependent relationship on something just for an extra boost in intelligence. Especially if they are being tested for what they can offer to the rest of the galaxy.
The relationships felt less forced in this book than in the previous one. Triana was allowed to be a leader and feel for each member of the crew, including Bon and Gap, much more organically which was also more realistic.
There was a one sided fist fight that featured one punch and mention of another fist fight. There was talk of surgery. I don't remember any cursing, but there may have been some ugly words. There were a couple kisses, but no making out and definitely nothing further than that.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It is still so cool that the aliens are done correctly and not humanoid in the least. Unfortunately, the idea that they'd mess with other races/species from behind the scenes is a bit much for my imagination. Also, the hint that connecting with a superior race would be addictive is kind of insulting. Unless the author is hinting that it is the feeling of belonging that Bon is drawn to and not the feeling of gaining more knowledge. I'd like to think that he's not such a shallow character that he'd be pulled into a dependent relationship on something just for an extra boost in intelligence. Especially if they are being tested for what they can offer to the rest of the galaxy.
July 6, 2017
The Cassini Code is the third book in The Galahad series. If you haven’t read the first two you must. I’ve had this book on my shelves for quite some time. The problem has been my students have had it checked out so much I’d not gotten to it. I took advantage of it coming in on a Friday to read it. Each book in the series seems to be better than the previous one. That to me is amazing since the first book has long been one of my favorites. It becomes very obvious why Triana was chosen as leader. We have a new leader emerging. Merit has started a movement to return to Earth. This discord keeps the tension going throughout the book. We have the same excellence with all of the other characters we’ve come to love, or hate and those who are freshly introduced to us. My favorite is and probably always will be ROC. If you don’t know who this is then you definitely need to get the series and read it.
August 8, 2022
I liked The Cassini Code better than The Web of Titan, but there were still some issues. Roc’s character was again too much tell vs. show, and his humor still fell flat in quite a few places. Gap’s character arc was a little odd and rushed at the end. Triana and Bon’s relationship continued to move at a glacial pace and left a lot to be desired. I think these issues all stem from the biggest one, which is that there are just too many main characters and perspectives. Switching between Roc and all the Council members, and now Hannah and Merit – so, eight characters! – gets a bit much at times. However, I did like the turbulence amongst the crew in The Cassini Code, a refreshing twist quite different from the conflicts in The Comet’s Curse and The Web of Titan.
June 12, 2021
Book Nerd Your Way 2021... Book #28
Now the trouble is both outside and inside that ship. They have to use the Cassini to get through the Kuiper Belt that will definitely kill them without some assistance. But this costs a fair toll one of the Council. And Tensions are high among the crew when a highly charismatic boy starts a division among the crew and pits people agains the council.
Now the trouble is both outside and inside that ship. They have to use the Cassini to get through the Kuiper Belt that will definitely kill them without some assistance. But this costs a fair toll one of the Council. And Tensions are high among the crew when a highly charismatic boy starts a division among the crew and pits people agains the council.
August 31, 2021
Lots of emotional turmoil on the ship. These teenagers are homesick and are rebelling against the mission. There was a big teaser of a dating game, but it never happens. I'll have to read on.
February 2, 2013
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
The noble ship Galahad has survived a madman stowaway, the onslaught of an alien signal broadcasting from Saturn's moon Titan, but now faces its most daunting task yet - navigating the minefield of dangerous objects strewn throughout the Kuiper Belt before leaving the Solar System.
While it's hard enough to manage the many technical and engineering aspects of the ship and successfully evade the larger Kuiper Belt Objects, Triana also finds her leadership challenged by an unlikely crew member. Merit Simms, a dangerously charismatic and manipulating mastermind, starts stirring up trouble and builds a contingent of followers to unseat Triana and turn Galahad around and head back to Earth. While Triana and her fellow Council members know that heading back to Earth is a sure death sentence, Merit's numbers grow each passing day as the ride through the Kuiper Belt becomes increasingly dangerous. Merit's gospel of fear of the unknown and baseless hope that the Cassini have cured Bhaktul starts to gain serious ground - and Triana and the council face the very real possibility of mutiny.
The only way to put a stop to Merit's rabble rousing is to make contact once again with the Cassini, and hope they can convince the 251 souls aboard the Galahad that the only possible future lies on the distant planet of Eos.
The third book in the Galahad Series, The Cassini Code is an enjoyable if predictable (and at times a little bit silly) romp. The further I get into this series, the more it feels like a television series. It's kinda like...Jericho or even The Walking Dead. I thoroughly enjoy both shows, but the twists are fairly textbook and proceed by a familiar code: You have a small group of survivors under enormous strain, which will play out in both external and internal threats. We've already seen external threats, as the impetus for the series (the Comet Bhaktul and the disease that is its legacy, and in the second book, the Cassini signal that incapacitated many crew members). This particular episode is the one that features tensions from within, as a power-hungry manipulator stirs up trouble against our intrepid heroes. This isn't a bad thing, by any stretch of the imagination! Dom Testa expertly creates a character that we love to hate in the figure of Merit Simms.
My biggest disappointment with The Cassini Code, however, was that Merit became a true bad guy kind of character. Although, in the end, it turns out Merit is acting out of his own deep fear and desire to go home to be with his family, the manner in which Triana and Gap are able to dissolve his amassed power feels kind of an easy way out.* How much more interesting would it have been to have Merit not resort to criminal actions to prove his case? How much more interesting to have Triana, Bon and Gap figure out a way to discredit his arguments without having an easy way out?
That major piece of criticism stated, I did still very much enjoy the book overall. As always, I love Triana as the leader of this brave young crew and her levelheadedness, just as I love the entanglements that unfold as other Council members grapple with homesickness, power struggles, and hormones.** From an overall plot and series arc perspective, however, is where things get really interesting - I love the developments with the Cassini and the new implications for two characters in future books (Bon especially). I really just want to know what happens next, once our crew emerges beyond the Kuiper Belt, because we now know one thing is for certain:
Our intrepid crew is not alone. And I cannot wait to see what they will face as they make their way into the dark reaches of unexplored space.
----------
* If you want The Walking Dead analogy, it's kind of like the way The Governor is disappointing in his badness.
** Ok, I was not very happy with the way Gap is treating his unresolved emotions and his attitude towards Hannah. Blergh.
The noble ship Galahad has survived a madman stowaway, the onslaught of an alien signal broadcasting from Saturn's moon Titan, but now faces its most daunting task yet - navigating the minefield of dangerous objects strewn throughout the Kuiper Belt before leaving the Solar System.
While it's hard enough to manage the many technical and engineering aspects of the ship and successfully evade the larger Kuiper Belt Objects, Triana also finds her leadership challenged by an unlikely crew member. Merit Simms, a dangerously charismatic and manipulating mastermind, starts stirring up trouble and builds a contingent of followers to unseat Triana and turn Galahad around and head back to Earth. While Triana and her fellow Council members know that heading back to Earth is a sure death sentence, Merit's numbers grow each passing day as the ride through the Kuiper Belt becomes increasingly dangerous. Merit's gospel of fear of the unknown and baseless hope that the Cassini have cured Bhaktul starts to gain serious ground - and Triana and the council face the very real possibility of mutiny.
The only way to put a stop to Merit's rabble rousing is to make contact once again with the Cassini, and hope they can convince the 251 souls aboard the Galahad that the only possible future lies on the distant planet of Eos.
The third book in the Galahad Series, The Cassini Code is an enjoyable if predictable (and at times a little bit silly) romp. The further I get into this series, the more it feels like a television series. It's kinda like...Jericho or even The Walking Dead. I thoroughly enjoy both shows, but the twists are fairly textbook and proceed by a familiar code: You have a small group of survivors under enormous strain, which will play out in both external and internal threats. We've already seen external threats, as the impetus for the series (the Comet Bhaktul and the disease that is its legacy, and in the second book, the Cassini signal that incapacitated many crew members). This particular episode is the one that features tensions from within, as a power-hungry manipulator stirs up trouble against our intrepid heroes. This isn't a bad thing, by any stretch of the imagination! Dom Testa expertly creates a character that we love to hate in the figure of Merit Simms.
My biggest disappointment with The Cassini Code, however, was that Merit became a true bad guy kind of character. Although, in the end, it turns out Merit is acting out of his own deep fear and desire to go home to be with his family, the manner in which Triana and Gap are able to dissolve his amassed power feels kind of an easy way out.* How much more interesting would it have been to have Merit not resort to criminal actions to prove his case? How much more interesting to have Triana, Bon and Gap figure out a way to discredit his arguments without having an easy way out?
That major piece of criticism stated, I did still very much enjoy the book overall. As always, I love Triana as the leader of this brave young crew and her levelheadedness, just as I love the entanglements that unfold as other Council members grapple with homesickness, power struggles, and hormones.** From an overall plot and series arc perspective, however, is where things get really interesting - I love the developments with the Cassini and the new implications for two characters in future books (Bon especially). I really just want to know what happens next, once our crew emerges beyond the Kuiper Belt, because we now know one thing is for certain:
Our intrepid crew is not alone. And I cannot wait to see what they will face as they make their way into the dark reaches of unexplored space.
----------
* If you want The Walking Dead analogy, it's kind of like the way The Governor is disappointing in his badness.
** Ok, I was not very happy with the way Gap is treating his unresolved emotions and his attitude towards Hannah. Blergh.
March 29, 2016
In Web of the Titan the teen crew of the Galahad was faced off with an obstacle no one had thought to take into account: an alien presence. Though it was eventually ruled that what the “Cassini” (as the alien intelligence was dubbed) had been causing to happen–the heightened intelligence and physical prowess in Bon, the fluctuation in the Galahad‘s engine–were unintentional side effects of them trying to help fix what they viewed as problems, lingering questions remained.
Questions that bite the poor Council in the butt this time around.
Previously the problems the Council faced were of the “outside” nature. Though the rest of the crew had voiced various problems, seven months into the journey the crew seemed to be working well together. And then Merit starts his speechifying. Merit is kind of like a Glenn Beck; he has valid concerns and questions to the higher authorities, but he prefers to criticize and draw upon basic human fears to keep an audience’s attention.
I kind of understood where Merit was coming from; rumors being what they will, the Cassini sound like the heaven-sent miracle everyone was waiting for. As Merit said “…as we know [it], they’re in the business of fixing things.” Why wouldn’t they want to fix Bhaktul’s Disease if they had the power to? The rest of his actions, and insinuations however, rankled. He was like a vulture, or the snake in the Garden of Eden. He twisted everything around until no one trusted anyone.
Meanwhile unexplainable malfunctions in the heating system have been causing Gap endless frustrations as he tries everything under the (proverbial) sun to get it working again. Then, too, his feelings have begun to somersault again. He’s three months into a relationship with Hannah, but he can’t help but still feel the stirrings of something for Triana. When a major piece of machinery suddenly goes dead, Gap is left reeling and insecure.
Lita faces her first major medical undertaking since they boarded the ship seven months ago, and Bon has to face his own problems, both with what the Cassini did to him and what he’s going to do about Triana. Triana had many of the same problems she’s had in the last two books–uncertainty about her future with Bon and insecurities about her role as leader. To be truthful I’m a little tired of Triana constantly questioning herself, getting a pep talk in the form of a pre-recorded video from Dr. Zimmerman, and then realizing she can do this. Triana is a great leader, but if every time a crisis happens she begins to severely doubt herself, a time is going to come when she doesn’t find the solution. That time was almost this crisis with Merit.
The discussion about the Cassini was probably the most interesting to me. After a second encounter with them, the Council contemplates the exact nature of the Cassini’s help. And their belief about the solar system.
This book felt a lot more jam-packed than either of the two previous volumes. Between the discussion about the Cassini, Merit’s campaign, relationship dramas and the external threat of the Kuiper Belt, Testa seemed to be crowding the storyline a bit. The resolution to Merit was quick and mostly based on a bluff, and guesswork. Gap’s internal struggles reach an uncomfortable level, and he makes a decision I feel he is going to regret (several, actually); meanwhile Triana worries over Bon liking the connection to the Cassini too much (though I’m not certain where she came by this conclusion), and another crew member becomes special thanks to the Cassini’s involvement.
I feel rather bad for Galahad–on the one hand, Merit’s right, not even a year out and they’ve had three major crisis that nearly killed them all. On the other, these kids were not fully prepared, at all, for anything. Super smart? Yes. More mature than most teens they’re age? Without a doubt. Truly prepared for this mission? I’m starting to have my doubts.
Questions that bite the poor Council in the butt this time around.
Previously the problems the Council faced were of the “outside” nature. Though the rest of the crew had voiced various problems, seven months into the journey the crew seemed to be working well together. And then Merit starts his speechifying. Merit is kind of like a Glenn Beck; he has valid concerns and questions to the higher authorities, but he prefers to criticize and draw upon basic human fears to keep an audience’s attention.
I kind of understood where Merit was coming from; rumors being what they will, the Cassini sound like the heaven-sent miracle everyone was waiting for. As Merit said “…as we know [it], they’re in the business of fixing things.” Why wouldn’t they want to fix Bhaktul’s Disease if they had the power to? The rest of his actions, and insinuations however, rankled. He was like a vulture, or the snake in the Garden of Eden. He twisted everything around until no one trusted anyone.
Meanwhile unexplainable malfunctions in the heating system have been causing Gap endless frustrations as he tries everything under the (proverbial) sun to get it working again. Then, too, his feelings have begun to somersault again. He’s three months into a relationship with Hannah, but he can’t help but still feel the stirrings of something for Triana. When a major piece of machinery suddenly goes dead, Gap is left reeling and insecure.
Lita faces her first major medical undertaking since they boarded the ship seven months ago, and Bon has to face his own problems, both with what the Cassini did to him and what he’s going to do about Triana. Triana had many of the same problems she’s had in the last two books–uncertainty about her future with Bon and insecurities about her role as leader. To be truthful I’m a little tired of Triana constantly questioning herself, getting a pep talk in the form of a pre-recorded video from Dr. Zimmerman, and then realizing she can do this. Triana is a great leader, but if every time a crisis happens she begins to severely doubt herself, a time is going to come when she doesn’t find the solution. That time was almost this crisis with Merit.
The discussion about the Cassini was probably the most interesting to me. After a second encounter with them, the Council contemplates the exact nature of the Cassini’s help. And their belief about the solar system.
This book felt a lot more jam-packed than either of the two previous volumes. Between the discussion about the Cassini, Merit’s campaign, relationship dramas and the external threat of the Kuiper Belt, Testa seemed to be crowding the storyline a bit. The resolution to Merit was quick and mostly based on a bluff, and guesswork. Gap’s internal struggles reach an uncomfortable level, and he makes a decision I feel he is going to regret (several, actually); meanwhile Triana worries over Bon liking the connection to the Cassini too much (though I’m not certain where she came by this conclusion), and another crew member becomes special thanks to the Cassini’s involvement.
I feel rather bad for Galahad–on the one hand, Merit’s right, not even a year out and they’ve had three major crisis that nearly killed them all. On the other, these kids were not fully prepared, at all, for anything. Super smart? Yes. More mature than most teens they’re age? Without a doubt. Truly prepared for this mission? I’m starting to have my doubts.
November 9, 2010
The Galahad has gotten through two crises. Filled with teenagers escaping a deadly virus on Earth, it now must get through perhaps the most serious problem yet. As long as they could work together, the crew could problem solve and survive the challenges. But what happens when they encounter two challenges – one outside the ship and one inside the ship?
The third book in the Galahad series, The Cassini Code begins as the ship encounters the Kuiper Belt, an area of space covered with asteroids. The odds of the ship getting through the asteroids without being pulverized are roughly 12 to 1 but this is the only route out of the solar system and to the planet where they think they’ll be able to start a new life. To make matters worse, some members of the crew want to turn around and go back to Earth, even if it means inevitable death.
This was my favorite book of the series. First, you have a danger of the asteroids. On top of this is the threat of mutiny. There is absolutely no possibility of 250 teenagers being on board a ship and there not being conflict, and Testa is spot-on in his portrayal of mature, intelligent teenagers who are having to figure out how to get along with each other. As crew members begin to doubt their mission, they start wearing yellow armbands, and their leader, Merit, is quite charismatic -- the comparisons to Hitler are unavoidable. The only problem with The Cassini Code is that I’ll have to wait until March for the next installment.
The third book in the Galahad series, The Cassini Code begins as the ship encounters the Kuiper Belt, an area of space covered with asteroids. The odds of the ship getting through the asteroids without being pulverized are roughly 12 to 1 but this is the only route out of the solar system and to the planet where they think they’ll be able to start a new life. To make matters worse, some members of the crew want to turn around and go back to Earth, even if it means inevitable death.
This was my favorite book of the series. First, you have a danger of the asteroids. On top of this is the threat of mutiny. There is absolutely no possibility of 250 teenagers being on board a ship and there not being conflict, and Testa is spot-on in his portrayal of mature, intelligent teenagers who are having to figure out how to get along with each other. As crew members begin to doubt their mission, they start wearing yellow armbands, and their leader, Merit, is quite charismatic -- the comparisons to Hitler are unavoidable. The only problem with The Cassini Code is that I’ll have to wait until March for the next installment.
May 8, 2011
I never particularly liked this series, and my patience for it has just continued to wane. The only reason I went this far is that I had an ARC of this book, so I felt compelled to read it. These books might be good for reluctant readers perhaps. That is the biggest problem actually. These teens are supposed to be the smartest ones that earth had to offer, and yet they really do not come off as particularly intelligent.
There is a lot of time spent on romantic drama, which was, unfortunately, the most interesting part. And yet, it wasn't very interesting. No good stuff ever happens; people just whine about how they're confused. Ugh! I really don't know which is worse: couples who are absurdly in love/obsession or people who can't make up their mind who they like/what to do about who they like.
These books aren't the worst things I've ever read, but they are pretty boring and there's just nothing special in them. The characterization is lousy, with one-dimensional characters, the comic relief (Roc, the computer) fails, actually irritating the crap out of me instead of lightening the mood, and the dangers do not worry the reader, as it is so obvious that Testa has no intention of killing anyone off. You're writing a dystopian series, dude, so it cannot be all sunshine and kittens!
There is a lot of time spent on romantic drama, which was, unfortunately, the most interesting part. And yet, it wasn't very interesting. No good stuff ever happens; people just whine about how they're confused. Ugh! I really don't know which is worse: couples who are absurdly in love/obsession or people who can't make up their mind who they like/what to do about who they like.
These books aren't the worst things I've ever read, but they are pretty boring and there's just nothing special in them. The characterization is lousy, with one-dimensional characters, the comic relief (Roc, the computer) fails, actually irritating the crap out of me instead of lightening the mood, and the dangers do not worry the reader, as it is so obvious that Testa has no intention of killing anyone off. You're writing a dystopian series, dude, so it cannot be all sunshine and kittens!
January 2, 2012
Triana, Bon, Gap, Channy, and Lita face danger from within their ship and without from the traveling through space to their destination five light years away.
The alien race Cassini are still present and are immensely old- on the order of a billion years. They present a continuing mystery to the crew but are further revealed due to their "translator" connection with Bon.
As the ship nears the outer edge of the solar system there arises a dissident faction in the ship led by the charming Merit Simms that want to return to Earth. Based on their reasoning that the Cassini would have "fixed" the problems on Earth this faction is fearful for their very survival given the extreme dangers the Galahad has faced already.
There is a more mystical aspect to this novel then in the previous novels of the series. This mysticism seems to inherent due to Clarke's dictum: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Even one character on the Galahad is "psychic" after awakening from a coma, but modern physics and the question of "What is Time?" shows that being "psychic" could be a further awareness for the individual that time is not linear ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/... ).
I found this novel to much meatier then the first and second novels. Dom Testa seems to be hitting his stride as a writer.
The alien race Cassini are still present and are immensely old- on the order of a billion years. They present a continuing mystery to the crew but are further revealed due to their "translator" connection with Bon.
As the ship nears the outer edge of the solar system there arises a dissident faction in the ship led by the charming Merit Simms that want to return to Earth. Based on their reasoning that the Cassini would have "fixed" the problems on Earth this faction is fearful for their very survival given the extreme dangers the Galahad has faced already.
There is a more mystical aspect to this novel then in the previous novels of the series. This mysticism seems to inherent due to Clarke's dictum: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Even one character on the Galahad is "psychic" after awakening from a coma, but modern physics and the question of "What is Time?" shows that being "psychic" could be a further awareness for the individual that time is not linear ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/... ).
I found this novel to much meatier then the first and second novels. Dom Testa seems to be hitting his stride as a writer.
May 21, 2012
Testa doesn't disappoint in the third book in the Galahad series. The 251 teens traveling through space have overcome 2 obstacles in their months-long journey and encounter another one in "The Cassini Code." The Cassini are a highly evolved intelligent life form that communicate through a crew member, Bon, and transmit a code to help the travelers navigate their way through the deadly Kuniper Belt (a collection of space debris). Another crew member, Merit, tries to manipulate the entire crew into turning back to earth.
I think Testa's sci-fi series is perfect for teens. I see some reviewers are rather harsh, but it's a series for TEENS. Yes, their is some relationship drama along with the space stuff but I think that would be pretty accurate in such a situation. The only weird thing for me is that there is little to no mention of religion. I do think this would be a factor for some teens.
I appreciate the website that goes with the books that gives more information on the science of it all and the well-developed reader's guide in the back of the book.
Great series and I think a perfect introduction to sci-fi for middle-YA readers. This series has earned a place on my class bookshelves!
I think Testa's sci-fi series is perfect for teens. I see some reviewers are rather harsh, but it's a series for TEENS. Yes, their is some relationship drama along with the space stuff but I think that would be pretty accurate in such a situation. The only weird thing for me is that there is little to no mention of religion. I do think this would be a factor for some teens.
I appreciate the website that goes with the books that gives more information on the science of it all and the well-developed reader's guide in the back of the book.
Great series and I think a perfect introduction to sci-fi for middle-YA readers. This series has earned a place on my class bookshelves!
May 2, 2012
The third book in the series. 251 teenagers sent into space on a 5 year journey to a new planet to save the human race.
The kids have dealt with a murderous stowaway, an alien life force hidden on a moon near Saturn, and now they're up against a mutinous crew. One of the boys wants to go home. He is charismatic and convincing, able to argue for a return to earth. What if the aliens they "met" near Saturn, the same ones that made better the ship and a few of the crew, fixed the dying people on Earth? The teens are too far away to call home, now, and they won't be able to go back to space if they get to earth and find it empty of human life.
Merit Simms is really unlikeable and I liked it. Lots of romantic tension, lots of humor. The ship's computer, Roc, is a hoot.
The kids have dealt with a murderous stowaway, an alien life force hidden on a moon near Saturn, and now they're up against a mutinous crew. One of the boys wants to go home. He is charismatic and convincing, able to argue for a return to earth. What if the aliens they "met" near Saturn, the same ones that made better the ship and a few of the crew, fixed the dying people on Earth? The teens are too far away to call home, now, and they won't be able to go back to space if they get to earth and find it empty of human life.
Merit Simms is really unlikeable and I liked it. Lots of romantic tension, lots of humor. The ship's computer, Roc, is a hoot.
February 7, 2012
It got better! Like I said, couldn’t stop for a break. I would be scare to go their spaceship! Triana had to deal with 250 teenagers... plus trouble from Merit, which I would myself, strangle him for causing rumor and so on. First they hade to be abducted by alien and now they are about to be crash into huge rock. Gosh, if I was there, I don’t I would be able to survive such adventure. It was sad though. Plus, Lita is such a strong character. C’mon, a 16 year old who can do surgery? That’s amazing. But I hope Triana and her team would likely to help. Look, it a 4! And ready to read the 4th book. Hope it won’t disappoint me.
March 9, 2012
Ok, so I've read 3 books in this series in two days. Each book is like a two hour read for me. It's like Battlestar Gallactica (although not as good) for 13 year olds. I think I keep reading them because I'm kind of getting into Science Fiction lately. The characters are all pretty static and not interesting and they all are tokens of a specific country. On one level it's nice to have varied types of people but it is so contrived that it seems just awkward. That being said, I keep reading these books and I hope these kids can make it past the Kuiper Belt and to Eros. Solid 2.5 for the series thus far.
August 26, 2011
ok so I thought the series was great, but even though the book was great, I still found the flash backs irritating. One who had not read the previous books of the series should not be reading this book. In addition, the problems are getting old. In my opinion, despite the fact that they were interesting, they were predictable. I won't specify to prevent spoilers, but I thought that the conflict was too predictable and was a bit boring at times. Otherwise, good!
January 12, 2011
I really enjoy reading these, despite the fact that the series is really unsophisticated and definitely meant for high school aged people. It's like candy or applesauce. You know? The characters are authentic. I'll definitely give the author that!
I'm looking forward to the next book, but it might have to wait a couple months. :(
I'm looking forward to the next book, but it might have to wait a couple months. :(
May 3, 2016
What I loved about this book is how, this time, much of the conflict comes from the crew. Sure, there's a little of the usual 'danger from outside' - but I LOVE the way the ships like one giant pressure cooker.
(And I gotta admit, I do like the person that was causing most of the problems and hope they play a part in the rest of the story.)
(And I gotta admit, I do like the person that was causing most of the problems and hope they play a part in the rest of the story.)
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June 13, 2016The story continues to be intriguing, insightful, and full of tension and mystery. I'm eager to see how this space travel to a new home unfolds and then ends for this the crew of Galahad. So far they have faced large internal problems and a few external ones. I think the bigger external problems are what we are just about to see.
August 9, 2008
Best yet...can't wait for the next in the series.
August 29, 2011
Maybe the Cassini is GOD ???????????
March 12, 2011
Third in the series and still going strong. I did find the relationships angle a little tedious, but this would start to unravel on a long and unknown voyage for sure.
November 7, 2011
I loved this book and can't wait for the next one.
February 24, 2012
amazing love it can not wait to read the next
June 10, 2012
I don't want this series to end!
February 10, 2013
I don't love this series and it seems to lose my interest more with each book in the series.
June 17, 2013
it was really good
January 5, 2015
3.5 stars.
December 1, 2011
It's a good book, and a good series. A little repetitive but I like it. :D I'd read the next one.
March 28, 2012
Wondering what the next catastrophe will be. Guess I'm going to have to get the next one.
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