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The Mars Strain
MP3 CD Format
When two Mars Colony astronauts discover the mysterious Mars Cube--proof of alien life--Earth's scientific community prepares to study the artifact/their finding with unprecedented levels of attention and extreme caution. The primary choice to lead the Mars Cube's Investigative Biology Division is Dr. Juliet Fulton, whose ground-breaking research at the Centers for Disease Control garnered global recognition, and whose expertise in handling the world's most deadly bacteria and viruses makes her the perfect candidate. Ensconced in the world's only Biosafety Level-5 Lab, her goal is to study the Cube's findings without any outside distractions. But Jules' plans are horrifyingly disrupted when--during the Cube's initial examination a plague of unprecedented magnitude is unleashed on Earth. Also at risk is the fate of the vulnerable Mars Colony--threatened not only by the plague, but underlying power struggles and financial greed. In a race against time and against the Mars Strain's devastating impact, Juliet must rely on the few people she can trust--including the astronaut who brought this horror to life; the one man she never thought she'd see again. Alexia Chantel's debut is a powerful balance of character- and plot-driven writing, featuring a--rare to the genre--female lead and a diverse cast. She has an advanced degree in Medical Laboratory Science She's extremely promotable and articulate--and has a vivid imagination.1 pages, Audio CD
Published June 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2021
3.5 Stars
This was an interesting near future scifi novel that blended together hard science into a page turning thriller. Published in 2021, this book will appeal to the post pandemic crowd who are fascinated by the deadly power of viruses. Yet, I don't think this book was particularly triggering since the setup was different enough from the real life pandemic we have all lived through.
Written by a "lab girl", this novel offered a near to life idea of what could happen if an alien virus were to be discovered on Mars. As a piece of fiction, the book still required some suspension of disbelief regarding alien life, yet remained generally grounded in scientific principles.
There was a romantic relationship that played a central role to the storyline. Personally, I tend to dislike these subplots, but I found this one was handled taking away focus from the main crisis.
Overall I enjoyed this novel. I got the opportunity to listen to audiobook version, which had excellent narration. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a new scifi thriller with a compelling narrative.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for review.
This was an interesting near future scifi novel that blended together hard science into a page turning thriller. Published in 2021, this book will appeal to the post pandemic crowd who are fascinated by the deadly power of viruses. Yet, I don't think this book was particularly triggering since the setup was different enough from the real life pandemic we have all lived through.
Written by a "lab girl", this novel offered a near to life idea of what could happen if an alien virus were to be discovered on Mars. As a piece of fiction, the book still required some suspension of disbelief regarding alien life, yet remained generally grounded in scientific principles.
There was a romantic relationship that played a central role to the storyline. Personally, I tend to dislike these subplots, but I found this one was handled taking away focus from the main crisis.
Overall I enjoyed this novel. I got the opportunity to listen to audiobook version, which had excellent narration. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a new scifi thriller with a compelling narrative.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for review.
Currently reading
May 4, 2021This space is for readers, so I'll drop this here before I disappear.
A.C. Anderson is my sci-fi pen name. I'm an American Society of Clinical Pathology certified Medical Laboratory Scientist who, back in 2015, was managing the laboratories for a major metropolitan cancer center and a member of a multi healthcare system Emergency Preparedness Committee due to the Ebola outbreak. It was during that time the idea for The Mars Strain started and I completed the manuscript in 2016.
I wanted to give readers a peek at what it's like to work in a lab with a story about a lab girl who saves the day. It's a story about hope and it was imagined as a summer blockbuster, a story to entertain and thrill and tease the imagination about what it could be like to have colonized Mars.
As I write this we are still in a pandemic and I understand this subject is difficult for some and there people who aren't ready for an audiobook about a world-wide infection. For those, I hope you find many other fabulous reads! And for those who do pick up Juliet's story, I hope you cheer for her as hard as I did and are amazed at what we can do when we all work together.
A.C. Anderson is my sci-fi pen name. I'm an American Society of Clinical Pathology certified Medical Laboratory Scientist who, back in 2015, was managing the laboratories for a major metropolitan cancer center and a member of a multi healthcare system Emergency Preparedness Committee due to the Ebola outbreak. It was during that time the idea for The Mars Strain started and I completed the manuscript in 2016.
I wanted to give readers a peek at what it's like to work in a lab with a story about a lab girl who saves the day. It's a story about hope and it was imagined as a summer blockbuster, a story to entertain and thrill and tease the imagination about what it could be like to have colonized Mars.
As I write this we are still in a pandemic and I understand this subject is difficult for some and there people who aren't ready for an audiobook about a world-wide infection. For those, I hope you find many other fabulous reads! And for those who do pick up Juliet's story, I hope you cheer for her as hard as I did and are amazed at what we can do when we all work together.
October 13, 2021
Could I have read this last year? No, a virus that kills everyone within hours, yikes! Too scary. But now, yes now it works.
A cube is brought back from Mars, I guess there was life on Mars after all. But then people start to die, horrible deaths. It is fast and it is ruthless, and as we know people are idiots and it spreads. Pandemic, The Mars strain.
First, the how and when of the cube was really interesting and I would have loved to learn more. So intriguing.
Thrillers are not something I read a lot, they have to speak to me. Ánd I am glad I gave this sci.fi a chance, though to be honest the tech med talk is not my biggest fav to be honest, but it still worked well. It was the fight against the clock. Either everyone dies, or they stop it. I was pulled in and the stakes kept getting higher.
As for the characters, we really could have done with a Juliet during covid, she is one smart woman.
I enjoyed it, it got really dark at one time and I wanted to know how it would turn out.
Good narrator, distinct voices and she kept up the thrilling pace of the story. This is one for audio
A cube is brought back from Mars, I guess there was life on Mars after all. But then people start to die, horrible deaths. It is fast and it is ruthless, and as we know people are idiots and it spreads. Pandemic, The Mars strain.
First, the how and when of the cube was really interesting and I would have loved to learn more. So intriguing.
Thrillers are not something I read a lot, they have to speak to me. Ánd I am glad I gave this sci.fi a chance, though to be honest the tech med talk is not my biggest fav to be honest, but it still worked well. It was the fight against the clock. Either everyone dies, or they stop it. I was pulled in and the stakes kept getting higher.
As for the characters, we really could have done with a Juliet during covid, she is one smart woman.
I enjoyed it, it got really dark at one time and I wanted to know how it would turn out.
Good narrator, distinct voices and she kept up the thrilling pace of the story. This is one for audio
July 29, 2022
3/5 stars
I could not find a printed or electronic version of this, so I went with the audiobook. The narration was fine and this was a fun and straightforward story. There were some sad moments, but overall it was . It definitely hits different after we all went through a pandemic.
I could not find a printed or electronic version of this, so I went with the audiobook. The narration was fine and this was a fun and straightforward story. There were some sad moments, but overall it was . It definitely hits different after we all went through a pandemic.
November 16, 2022
I wanted to enjoy this more. But has some major problems like communication between planets is not instant. Sorry The Martian ruined inaccurate mars stuff for me, by being so good. Also felt very rushed toward the end. I wanted to see a true pandemic happen
February 16, 2022
Very good! I loved all of the twists and turns. Right up my alley!
May 12, 2022
Bish what the hell did I just read😭
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews