Title: Mystery of the Asteroid Belt
Author: S.A.M. Safaa A. Mhawi
Publisher: Go To Publish
ISBN: 978-1647491956
Pages: 102
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewed by: Philip Zozzaro
Hollywood Book Reviews
The confines of outer space are vast and mysterious. The chaos which enshrouds our galaxy is the subject of space exploration. One particular mystery brings an exploratory team to examine an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Jacob Brown is in his mid-30s and is a space enthusiast; he has been tapped to lead the exploration. Jacob is distinguished by his Intelligence and intrepid leadership skills. There are unexplained notions about the asteroid belt which have consumed Brown and others for years, chiefly its origins. Jacob’s obsessive mindset had been piqued at any early age by stories from his Grandfather. His Grandfather told him certain theories about the belt were mistaken, the proof to unlocking them were hidden on Earth.
While Jacob plumbs the celestial heavens for answers, Rebecca Welch is an earth-bound young Woman rummaging for treasure in the catacombs of her family store. Rebecca possesses an unquenchable curiosity; she will not rest until she locates something of value. She is smart, but tends to be aloof. After countless hours of searching and seeking, Rebecca locates something valuable in her Grandfather’s safe. She is unaware of the true value of the family heirloom.
Jacob’s mission brings back evidence to be analyzed and studied. After arriving in town, he soon runs into Rebecca. Their attraction is instantaneous and promising. Unbeknownst to them, their meeting will have ramifications for the universe. Rebecca’s family heirloom is the object of desire by forces hailing from extraterrestrial lands. A war is materializing between a planet and a band of murderous renegades intent on taking Rebecca’s heirloom and destroying anyone who gets in their way. Jacob and Rebecca will need to ally with travelers from another planet in order to keep the malevolent Mad Fury from taking his vengeance and destroying Earth.
Mystery of the Asteroid Belt is a Science Fiction novella that hits the mark in its impact, yet the promising plot could have seen more development in its main characters. The action moves fast between Jacob’s expedition to Rebecca’s treasure hunt, but their possible development of a relationship is forgotten as the ramifications of Rebecca’s family heirloom takes center stage. The introduction of the psychopathic antagonist Mad Fury is swift and eventful, but the reader is left with wanting to learn more about his backstory, which would prove illuminating. The dialogue is smart and crisp. The storyline appeals to the youthful die-hard Sci-Fi fans, leaning more to the Young Adult genre.