Beyond the Hidden Sky

Marcha Fox

Jul 2012 · Star Trails Tetralogy Book 1 · Marcha Fox

About this ebook

Moving to another planet is never easy. It's even harder when you never arrive...

Laren Brightstar knows refusing to work for Augustus Troy makes him a target. Accepting the chief terralogist position on a primitive planet on the other side of the galaxy seems like the simplest solution. Getting there, however, isn't. When the affluent family leaves fog-shrouded and predictable Mira III for Cyraria they have no idea their luxurious lifestyle is about to end forever. His wife, Sharra denies it, trusting their fate to her indomitable bondling. Teenage daughter, Creena, welcomes it as a desirable change from Mira III's annoying restrictions. Teenage son, Dirck, resists it, unhappy to leave his friends and ordered existence, while young Deven accepts it, anticipating new and exciting adventures.

Only Laren understands the risks that lie ahead, but even he is shaken when long before the starcruiser arrives shocking events transpire that comprise a parent's worst nightmare. Not only is Creena missing but it's clear that Troy, his ruthless and power-hungry nemesis, plans to exploit their situation to promote his own selfish ambitions with it possible that he is even behind the unfortunate event that changes their lives forever. Formidable and lethal challenges await as increasingly suspicious circumstances scatter the family across the galaxy, each wondering if they'll survive long enough to be reunited ever again.

Ratings and reviews

Beyond The Hidden Sky by Marcha Fox is a brilliant sci-fi, young adult novel. Creena Brightstar a pre-adult who is a contradiction to her upbringing on Mira 3 where rules and logic dictate society. As a teen who is an Esheronian/ Miran mix she relies on intuition and emotion instead of logic more than is maybe good for her. The Brightstar family is on a transport from their home planet Mira 3 to Cyraria when Creena stumbles upon a pod which sends her on an excursion to Verdaris a planet full of vegetation with few settlements that is in the way of a bombardment of comets. Her father and brother head out for a rescue mission while her mother and youngest brother have to enter a new planet on their own. The author's colorful and animated word sketches give the reader the feel of actually watching or being right in the mix of the story. She brings personality and quirks to the characters as they develop through expressive descriptions and dialogue. For the series, she creates a whole new language such as cylls- for sleeping, snurkles- a derogatory term, and time is measured in metrics which makes sense as science is based metrically. To go with the series I also definitely recommend the Star Trails Compendium; it's a wonderful reference for the language and Universe March Fox has created in the Star Trails Tetralogogy. I am an author as well as having taught junior high science for a number of years and think this read would be a fabulous addition to classroom libraries as well as "the hungry for sci-fi lovers" personal bookshelf.

Interesting but at times it's descriptions can be very lengthy. if you don't like lengthy, descriptive scifi speeches you might not find this book to your liking.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I too, am a fan of astrology and physics, it was nice see terms that I am familiar with... I believe the grammar matches the story line, clever and articulate! And I love when writers use a few words that I need to look up too i.e. Tetradactyl... (though the context of the sentence usually explains enough that you don't need too...) This would make an awesome film!!!

About the author

Marcha Fox is an avid science geek with over 20 years’ experience working for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in physics at Utah State University, which was but a prelude to her interest in the unexplained mysteries of the cosmos. Inspired by science fiction to pursue a career in a technical field, she hopes to instill the same fascination in her readers by including accurate science in her family-friendly stories written in the tradition of classic hard sci-fi.