JOIN
The Terra Debacle: Prisoners at Area 51
Genres: Children's fiction, Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative, Science Fiction (Sci-Fi), Young Adult (YA)
Age Groups: 12-15, 18+
Formats: Ebook, Audio, Paperback
Side Story to Star Trails Tetralogy Book 2, "A Dark of Endless Days"
Readers' Favorite Review Excerpt
"'The Terra Debacle' by Marcha Fox will appeal to readers who like a hefty dose of science with their science fiction….I liked the idea behind The Terra Debacle by Marcha Fox: a science fiction novel that actually has some science in it, albeit a lot, and has a unique plot which is a refreshing alternative to the endlessly rehashed plots in other sci-fi novels about space battles and star ships. But be aware—the science in this novel is real. " --Paul F. Murray for Readers' Favorite
DESCRIPTION
May 30, 1978 started out as a normal night at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah--until a UFO requests permission to land. A human girl in her early teens and a robot exit the craft, a strange botanical lifeform found onboard later by a landing party. The UFO, robot, and suspicious plant are sent to Area 51, where NASA astrobiologist, Gabe Greenley, PhD, is called in to study this new lifeform. His attempt to take a leaf sample is met with a vehement telepathic objection, indicating the specimen is not only intelligent, but potentially dangerous.
He backs off, frustrated, desperate to analyze this new autotroph species that combines sentience with a metabolism based on photosynthesis. Meanwhile, the specimen, a flora peda telepathis named Thyron from the planet Sapphira, is investigating his imposed environment using all frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum as well as his expansive suite of psychic abilities, which includes remote viewing.
Greenley eventually gets his sample and makes a ground-breaking discovery he can never publish due to his security oaths and research agreement. Eventually, he's confronted by an even worse ethical dilemma that forces him to make a treasonous and potentially deadly decision.
This unique combination of hard science fiction, suspense, and a touch of humor reminiscent of a cross between ALF and Audrey includes memorable characters, a setting loaded with intrigue, and unexpected plot twists which combine to make this an unforgettable tale whether you're a science fiction fan, botanist, vegan, UFO aficionado, or simply enjoy a good story. (NOTE:--The fate of the human girl is told in Star Trails Tetralogy Volume 2, "A Dark of Endless Days."
AWARDS
Book Excellence Award, 2018
Reviews
D. L. Finn on Amazon
I jumped right into the seventh book of the Star Trails Tetralogy series and hoped I wouldn’t be completely lost not having read the previous books—I wasn’t! What I found was an amazingly well-written science fiction story set in the 1970’s with my new favorite character: Thyron the highly intelligent plant. I was immediately drawn into the story with the spaceship ending up on earth while a plant was hiding from authorities. Soon, the ships passengers: a young human girl, a robot, and Thyron ended up “contained” in area 51. An astrobiologist Gabe, is called in to help with the plant-life. Gabe soon finds out his sensitivity, helps him communicate with Thyron. This was my favorite part of the book. It was insightful and humorous with the relationship between human and plant. There’s also a lot of depth and research that makes this a fascinating journey with aliens, humans, plants and robots. The ending fueled my imagination. I’ll be reading the rest of this series and hope to explore and learn more about Thyron and friends! I highly recommend this book!
Mr. Geez Stephen
The dual treats of The Terra Debacle are: 1) spending time with my favorite character, Thyron (a sentient plant-based alien dubbed flora peas telepathis); and 2) meeting a new character in this extension of Marcha Fox’s Star Trails Tetralogy universe.
It’s 1978, and new character Gabriel “Gabe” Greenley is the expert called in to assess the odd plant we know not only to be intelligent, but telepathic. Turns out, so is Gabe. He’s “psi-sensitive,” so he can pick up thoughts and even learn to send thoughts to the creature. It won’t take long for him to discover Thyron is way more complicated than he wants his superiors to know. Problem is, the man in charge is psi-sensitive, too. Gabe decides he respects, then likes, then eventually cares about this odd plant-looking being; and he sure wants to learn as much as he can without losing control or even access to his top-secret discovery.
From there Marcha weaves a fine tale, that “first contact” element expanded to the point of thriller as Gabe races to understand Thyron so he can protect him. Thyron has other plans that even Gabe doesn’t know about, along with skills Gabe would never guess. Stranded on Earth with his companions, a fun and funny super-robot and a human girl in her teens, Thyron is in greater danger than we suspect at first. Of course, the outcome we readers want appears to be impossible as everybody must make difficult choices.
I’m a throw-back sci-fi reader, way more interested in the character-driven stories of Heinlein and Clarke than so much of the contemporary gee-whiz future-tech and dystopian survival tales that hew to graphic-novel formulas these days. That makes it easy to be a fan of Marcha Fox’s work, and The Terra Debacle makes it even easier. Be advised, the story includes a lot of authentic explanation for how a character like Thyron could exist, as well as how he could use his extraordinary capabilities. Some readers might not be as interested in those details as others, but for most of us, it adds authenticity along with fun make-you-think ideas. Marcha handles this deftly, offering just enough explanation to keep the story humming along with verisimilitude.
I highly recommend The Terra Debacle. I also recommend Marcha’s novella The Sappharin Agenda (sold separately) as a fine short tale in which we meet and better understand Thyron. Marcha Fox has me hooked now, eagerly awaiting the next Star Trails tale, with my fingers crossed that it just might even include my favorite character, that goofy-looking plant that talks with his mind. And then some.
John on Amazon
This book sat in my "to read" library for the last six months and quite honestly, regret not having delved into this story much sooner. This my first book by Marcha Fox and was a joy to read. A spaceship, with three entities, crashes on Earth near Area 51 and those on board are quickly taken prisoner by the military. Theron is a telepathic plant that can think, walk, transport, communicate, and is smarter than anyone living on Earth. The other two, a human teenage girl and a robot complete the crew. The robot and ship were dismantled so the science used can be back engineered in hopes of duplicating it.
A botanist, Gabe, is brought it to study the plant and he soon finds himself best of buds. Gabe has the ability to telecommunicate and learns from the plant. During their bonding sessions, readers learn that Area 51 allows spaceships to land periodically to inspect the facility; representatives are part of an interstellar cabinet that is responsible for peace and safety throughout the galaxy. I soon thought that this book may be a portion of the movie, "Guardians of the Galaxy". At a risk to his career, Gabe helps the plant rebuild the robot and put together a plan for their escape from this planet. The man in charge of the facility wants them all dead and does everything in his power to stop them.
It's a fun story with a great ending. The author has a knack for making this story seem realistic...perhaps, it all is! Highly recommended if you are either a science fiction reader or somebody that just wants to see what the future might hold for them. Great job, Marcha!
Awards
Book Excellence Award
Aug 2nd, 2017