Review: Equinox - Raven's Record #2 by Debbie Hightower

 

Equinox - Raven's Record #2 

by Debbie Hightower

What sort of scar would smear across the face of history if the United States ceased to exist? Second in a thought-provoking science-fiction series, this installment takes place after a cataclysmic destruction of much of North America. Seeking to rise from the ashes, citizens of the Earth utilize new technology to send 21st-century pioneers across the universe to settle Planet Equinox in the Proxima Centauri system. In order to survive the terrors and challenges of this new world, the colonists must leave their Earth baggage behind and work together, hopefully without repeating the mistakes of the past.

My Take:

After a devastating alien attack that destroyed the United States, Earth sends out its first colony ships to Proxima Centauri. There, humans find Equinox, a habitable planet with a light side, and a dark side. In Equinox: Raven’s Record #2 by Debbie Hightower, Raven Munoz has been tasked with documenting the efforts of over 400 colonists to survive and build a new civilization on the new planet. And it won’t be easy. Giant predators and killer bugs threaten the existence of everyone. Fire and natural disasters make survival difficult. And there is evidence that somebody has already been here. Is it the aliens, involved in some unknown enterprise on the dark side of the planet, or could humans have somehow settled here already? And are these aliens the same race that destroyed the United States?

 

Equinox by Debbie Hightower is a high-stakes hard science fiction sequel to American Survivor, and a satisfying continuation of the story of Raven Munoz. The character development is realistic, and the pacing is quick and steady. Challenges face the colonists at every turn, and supporting characters add depth and realism to the adventure. Alien flora and fauna are well-described and believable. The actions of the crew to survive are plausible. I especially liked the antics of Freddie Ogunjobi, a construction engineer who got angry, stole a vehicle and took off for the dark side of the planet. Wild cards like that make for a lot of variation and spice. Each supporting character seems to have a significant backstory and part to play. Expansive, immersive, enthralling and gripping. Perfect for lovers of hard science fiction.

 About the Author:

Debbie Hightower is a lifelong North Carolina resident and newspaper reporter who recently made the transition to writing science fiction novels. She is an avid fan of science fiction as well as the emerging technologies that will one day take humans across the cosmos and allow them to explore the stars and planets beyond the solar system.