The second book in The Origin Mystery trilogy, a science-fiction story following a genealogist out to save the human race from the brink of extinction.

Charlotte Zolotow (26 June, 1915 – 19 November, 2013) was a prolific writer of children books, editor and poet. Mrs. Zolotow was a prolific children book author who did not shy away from examining difficult subjects.

To my surprise, this techno-fiction book became, about half way in, a world spanning espionage and intrigue story. Everything is drive, of course, by this new technology that would set the world into a new age that everyone wants to get their hands on.

The book is certainly worth reading, we should not be losing this kind of history, and future generations of the author’s family will have something that many others wish they did.

Osamu Dazai (19 June, 1909 – 13 June, 1948) was an author from Japan who is considered to be one of the most important writers of fiction from that country.

Examines the life of Ian Fleming, and the parts which made it into his famous books about Secret Service Agent James Bond.

I specifically enjoyed the author’s weaving of scientific and geological occurrences, like the Genetic Bottleneck theory and The Youngest Toba eruption which had nearly wiped out all humanity 70,000 years ago. I actually had to go and do my own research because the theory was so far-fetched.

Rodney William Whitaker (12 June, 1931 – 14 December, 2005) was an author, educator, and film scholar. Mr. Whitaker wrote under several nom de plumes, but the most famous one was Trevanian.

The book goes back and forth between the author’s personal account, a look at the jaw dropping corruption which happened on a local level, as well as national, and even worldwide, implications

Andrew Dahl, an expert in alien religions and xenobiology gets assigned to the spaceship Intrepid along with four other new ensigns. The Intrepid is known for its unusual high rate of casualties among low ranking crew members.