Alien abduction might be the least of our woes

By Editor on August 10, 2016 • ( 0 )

A.L. Lorentz, 457 pages

All of us have been abducted by aliens. I know that might sound scary, or weird, or both, but that’s just the beginning of the story I’m about to share with you.

A.L. Lorentz’s second novel, Filter Trap, is a military science-fiction thriller set in the present day in which Earth is suddenly moved to a new solar system thousands of lights years from its own, and humanity must deal with the consequences.

This Event causes widespread catastrophe due to gravitational shifts that occur because of the Earth’s separation from the moon and its adjustment to its new place in its new solar system, which immediately triggers a giant tsunami that wipes out millions of people inhabiting coastlines around the world.

The sudden death, destruction and disarray of civilization as we know it is the least of people’s problems, however. A strange species of ‘bearantulas’ arrive amid the chaos in nano-designed spaceships – of all things, to help themselves to one of our planet’s resources — leading to the first in a series of confrontations with four alien races through which Earth’s surviving political, military and scientific leaders strive to understand how, and why, their home planet has been hijacked in the first place.

The mysteries surrounding the Event provide ample room for a robust plot and philosophical fodder that weaves together in a fascinating way. The crafty combination of story and concept are glued together by a cast of believable characters whose need to work together often leads to conflict, but ultimately collaboration and a willingness to do what it takes to get the job done.

That job is survival, but as the escalation of problems increase for the human race, the question becomes, at what cost?

Considering the array of weird challenges they face, the clash of egos that occurs in Filter Trap makes it a gripping but steady read. If humanity is bound to square off with various alien species, it could do so in worse hands than the American President, General Pith, Lieutenant Lee, or scientists like Allan Sands, Jill Tarmor, and Kam Douglass. These are definitely people whose brains have been wired to consider all options in helping themselves — and thus the rest of us — persevere.

Lorentz’s rich imagination and notable research used in developing Filter Trap manages to create not only an action-packed ride, but also a thinking-person’s getaway, that eventually leads readers to question the purpose of existence itself.

To evolve or die, which is better? Sometimes the choice is difficult, especially when aliens are involved.

Ryan Hyatt, August 10, 2016