Friday 21 August 2020

Discovery - Karina Fabian

Discovery
Karina Fabian

Full Quiver Publishing
ISBN 
9781606192313
ASIN B004CLYDUG


I found it hard to believe that I had an 8-year gap in reading books by Karina Fabian, and now I have read 3 novels, and 2 collections of short stories she edited in under 5 weeks. I just cannot seem to put her books down. I already have a few others in my reading queue. I have read some of her contributions in anthologies and love her short form fiction. And I had to read this book after reading her piece, Antivenin, in Infinite Space, Infinite God II. I loved the short story, and I enjoyed the novel even more. I sincerely hope Fabian has more stories available in this world, or stories planned for it, because it is excellent world building.

This is a story about exploration, friendships, religious vocation, and discovery. It is also about survival. A small team has been put together for a classified mission to explore and if possible, recovery an alien ship discovered by chance in the Kuiper Belt on an asteroid. The team includes a wealthy patron, scientists, rockhounds, and sisters of the Order of Our Lady of the Rescue they are post-modern nuns, brave to the extreme. They are pioneers of safety and rescue in space. With unusual habits suited to the work in zero gravity and rigours of space. Sister Ann seems to be a visionary along the lines of Saint Therese of Lisieux, she has great insights into people, and events, sometimes even before they happen. Sister Rita is the head of the orders presence on the mission. She finds herself balancing between the different groups on the mission. The Codists and Wiccans alike on the religious side and the scientist and miners on the skills side.   

The story follows the rag tag group as they prepare and embark on this mission. They are in a partially refitted luxury ship. And The scientific discoveries might be eclipsed by their own personal discoveries and revelations. Oh, and by the way, the archeologist and right-hand man on the mission is a former seminarian with links to our fearless sister Rita. 

As science fiction the story is excellent. It is masterfully written. But the characters are what make this story truly exceptional. You will find yourself engrossed with the personalities both central and on the edge of the main story. And likely you will be left wanting more stories with some of these characters.  

This story is a great piece of science fiction writing. And the way Fabian handles religious themes and sets it in a space context is amazing. I really enjoyed her newer pure science fiction story, The Old Man and the Void, and the follow up volume, Dex’s Way. But I think she shines best when she incorporates more religious and specifically Catholic elements in her stories like in this incredible read. 

This is a great story and I highly recommend it, to fans of religious fiction, or to anyone who just loves a great science fiction story. And this is another excellent read from Full Quiver Publishing a company that focuses on fiction focuses on the Theology of the Body. A most excellent read. I give it top marks. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!


Dex Hollister Series:

The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland


DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:
?.0 Magic, Mensa and Mayhem (Revised edition)
?.0 Live and Let Fly (Revised edition)
...  

DragonEye PI Short Stories:

DragonEye PI Original First Editions:
Live and Let Fly
...

Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Space Traipse Stories

Mind Over Series:
Mind Over Mind
Mind Over Psyche
Mind Over All
Hearts Over Mind


Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...


Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity

2 comments:

Karina Fabian said...

Thanks, Steven. I'm so glad you enjoy my stories. This one was seven years and multiple drafts in the making, and I'm especially proud of how it turned out.

Steve said...

Greetings being a long time not blogging. Great book reviews regards!