Austin Boyd, The Proof

The Proof

Austin Boyd

Navpress, September 2006, $14.99

ISBN: 1576839451

Captain John Wells, Captain Sean O'Brien and Dr. Micelle Caskey head to Mars to see what, if anything they can learn from the spider like aliens that were seen on the planet. As they depart, the creatures appear at the landing site and proclaim to be the Father Race. Father Malcolm Raines has gained worldwide recognition by claiming to be in communication with the aliens, and every prediction he makes comes true.

When the astronauts land on Mars, one of the aliens gives them a globe, while the earthlings provide her with a snow globe. In reality, the gift contains a recording device that tracks signals from the alien. They also gain a sample of the material the spiders are made of, which prove astonishing. Six aliens are attached to an underwater sub commanded by a terrorist who attacked Washington DC. On the long voyage home, John has only his memory to sustain him in the time of his greatest hardship, and to puzzle out the link between aliens, a preacher and a terrorist.

The scenes on Mars are vivid and exciting as the astronauts deal with one revelation after another. However, THE PROOF is more than a Martian adventure, as it is also a conspiracy thriller, only readers do not know what the conspiracy is, nor its motive or who is behind it. THE PROOF is a terrific alien encounter thriller, but will be enhanced by reading the first tale of the Martian Hill Classified files, THE EVIDENCE while waiting for THE RETURN to be released.