Title: The Death of The Son
Author: Doug Brooks
Publisher: Xlibris
Pages: 206
ISBN: 1514450518
Genre: Contemporary Literature
Reviewed by: Jennifer Weiss
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Pacific Book Review
Benjamin Chriton has been able to create technology that helps him travel through a wormhole, something he does in secret. In order to make his travels, Benjamin updates a piece of armor with alien technology creating an exoskeleton type suit which enables him to survive in a multitude of alien environments. After extensive training, Benjamin’s son, Derek, will go out on his own solo mission on a travel. Yet Derek is put to the test when he comes face to face with a formidable enemy. He needs to evaluate everything he thought he knew, use his training and wits to put his own survival to the test. Will this young man be able to survive the hostile environment he has inadvertently found himself in?
The idea for this book is rather interesting; a man is able to create wormhole travel and uses it for his own means, and soon his son begins the travel and finds himself in a particular situation. The storyline is easy to follow as it transitions from being about Benjamin and moves on to Derek. The dialogue is believable and realistic. The reader can almost hear the characters’ distinct voices. Characters are very relatable and make the reader wish they would be able to travel through space and time as the Chriton’s are able to do so. They grow in complexity as the story progresses. Author Doug Brooks describes in detail how Benjamin adapts his suit to meet different environments, which makes it easy to understand how they are able to easily survive the various planets climate, atmosphere and inhabitants.
Doug Brooks created a story that captivates the reader from the very beginning. It grabs the reader and holds tight until the very end. He paints a vivid picture of the worlds he has created. The writing is fairly simplistic, but it works. It makes everything easy to understand and easy to grasp. Even the most seasoned reader would enjoy reading this novel and not find it overly simplistic. One aspect that was a little odd in the beginning of the story was Benjamin and Derek were consistently referred to as “the father” and “the son,” it felt a little too much a narration rather than telling of a story. But that changed as the story continued and it begins to feel more like the telling of an epic tale. This novel is completely unpredictable, especially the end.
I would highly recommend this novel for young adults as well as more mature readers. It has the simplistic reading style that would draw young readers into not only the story but also reading as a form of entertainment. I could see a following for this novel building as was formed for Ender’s Game. This would be a great addition to any shelf as it is a highly enjoyable read. The Death of The Son is a great book to kick-start a young reader into loving literature. The book will also change the way you view space travel.
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