Oxygen

Rating:
Summary: strong Christian science fiction thriller
Review: In 2013, NASA prepares the first manned mission to Mars: five months out; 18 months on the hostile angry red planet, and five months back. However, the four person crew is shook when the commander Josh Bennett abruptly resigns from the mission apparently due to something the key member Dr. Bob Kaganovski said in a psychological profile. Bob knows he lied about always obeying Josh's orders, but his friend is off the team and is replaced by a religious rookie, microbiologist and ecologist Dr. Valkerie Jansen. The other two crew members also resent the change especially since Jansen does not hide that she is a devout Christian in a sea of scientific disbelievers.

The Ares runs into problems from the start, but remains a go until in space a bomb destroys their power source. While everyone spins culpability on someone else, OXYGEN will be depleted before they arrive at their Martian base camp where air awaits them. Valkerie, who has gained a first hand understanding of the trials of Job, is the only who can save their lives and she depends on her deep religious convictions to guide her to a miracle.

Anyone who thought that a Christian science fiction thriller is an oxymoron will change their minds with the action-packed OXYGEN. The story line combines classic Apollo 13-like life threatening troubles with the "savior's" deep religious beliefs. The superb story line enables the audience to understand what makes each of the prime players breath including the "fired" former mission commander. Though the launch occurs about half way into the novel, readers will take delight with the proof that religion and science (fiction) are not necessarily anathematic enemy combatants.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: strong Christian science fiction thriller
Review: In 2013, NASA prepares the first manned mission to Mars: five months out; 18 months on the hostile angry red planet, and five months back. However, the four person crew is shook when the commander Josh Bennett abruptly resigns from the mission apparently due to something the key member Dr. Bob Kaganovski said in a psychological profile. Bob knows he lied about always obeying Josh's orders, but his friend is off the team and is replaced by a religious rookie, microbiologist and ecologist Dr. Valkerie Jansen. The other two crew members also resent the change especially since Jansen does not hide that she is a devout Christian in a sea of scientific disbelievers.

The Ares runs into problems from the start, but remains a go until in space a bomb destroys their power source. While everyone spins culpability on someone else, OXYGEN will be depleted before they arrive at their Martian base camp where air awaits them. Valkerie, who has gained a first hand understanding of the trials of Job, is the only who can save their lives and she depends on her deep religious convictions to guide her to a miracle.

Anyone who thought that a Christian science fiction thriller is an oxymoron will change their minds with the action-packed OXYGEN. The story line combines classic Apollo 13-like life threatening troubles with the "savior's" deep religious beliefs. The superb story line enables the audience to understand what makes each of the prime players breath including the "fired" former mission commander. Though the launch occurs about half way into the novel, readers will take delight with the proof that religion and science (fiction) are not necessarily anathematic enemy combatants.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Oxygen: A trip of a lifetime...
Review: Move forward in time. The year is 2012. NASA is sending a ship to Mars. The team is chose; the day is set and then...things start to unravel. A team member is replaced months before launch. Security is tightening down as terrorist threats circle the project. Finally, the craft departs Earth and things get really interesting. A flight were anything could go wrong takes on Apollo 11 characteristics. Not enough oxygen for all four crewmembers to make it; a suspected saboteur on board. All this leads to paranoid, fear and a look at faith and trust - in each other and in a God that their mission just may prove does not exist. All these elements weave into a tapestry you will not be able to put down.
Delve into two characters struggle with God and their own shattered pasts...a man who seems to be loosing his mind and a woman with many secrets. All this comes together in a book chosen as the 2002 Christy Award winner in the Sci-Fi category. A must read for any space, science fiction enthusiast.

Rating:
Summary: A Believable Trip to Mars!
Review: Olson and Ingermanson did their research and they create a realistic setting for this sci-fi thriller. It is a little tough at the beginning because they jump around between character points of view rather quickly, not giving the reader much time to gain sympathy with the heroes of the story. And new characters are introduced at a head-spinning pace. But stick it out for the first hundred pages and you will be in for a thrilling ride. Most of the personlities are believable, and they give you some nice twists at the end for a very entertaining read.

Rating:
Summary: It's time the U.S. got back into the space race!
Review: Olson and Ingermanson provide two great reasons why this book was as exciting as Apollo 13. The first is that they write convincing characters that the reader can care about. There are six people who could be sabotaging the first mission to Mars. All have qualities that make them suspicious and all have other qualities that make you want to believe they couldn't possibly be guilty. Second, these authors present a convincing story based on scientific and engineering expertise that make the story believable. This may at first glance seem like a pro-Christian novel, but its not! It's a pro-space novel. This story will leave you wanting to write your congressman and imploring him/her to start thinking about space. It's time we started planning a real Mars mission, or at the very least another trip to the moon.

Rating:
Summary: Nail Biting Gripper
Review: Oxygen is a real nail biter. From page one, Oxygen gripped my attention and held it there to the very end.

Each page provided unrelenting tension, suspense and intrigue. The crew not only had to grapple with daily crisis with the space ship but with maddening uncertainties with each other.

A master piece of technical precision spiced with humor and an uncanny insight into the interactions of human relationships under extreme stress.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome, truly awesome.
Review: Scientists and fiction usually just don't mix. But these guys defy this law, creating an incredible, spell-binding, page-turning novel of galactic proportions! Ingermanson/Olson rely on incredible scientific smarts to weave a fantastic book.

This book chronicles the tale of four astronauts as they journey on a mission like no other: a mission to Mars. Disasters plague the mission, however, leaving the crew no recourse but to guess at their saboteur. Was it a terrorist? A member of the Mission Control crew? Was it...a member on board their own ship?

This book is incredible. Twists and turns on nearly every page (that is, once the action gets going) really will make you feel like you're on a roller coaster in novel form!

God is also a big part of this book...and a crucial one. Just one more element to make this book OUT OF THIS WORLD. Buy it, read it, and keep remembering to breathe.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: The authors have written this story in a knowledgeable and skilfull way. From start to finish you are riveted. As the Apollo 13 experience of NASA's past, you begin to worry as the crew meets each challenge to survive on the voyage to Mars. You are drawn in. Do purchase "Oxygen" It is worth the investment .

Rating:
Summary: Apollo 13 on steroids
Review: The Booklist review gives just a hint of the complexity of the multiple plots, and doesn't do justice to the character growth and development in this strong collaboration. It builds slowly, but this lets the authors lay a solid foundation.

Once the plot takes off (sorry!), it doesn't let up. Tension builds as the astronauts find unexpected conflicts with very few ways to resolve them, given that they're to be pent up in claustrophobic quarters for over two years, and that there's no way of turning back. It gets worse for them after an explosion that leads them to wonder if there's a saboteur on board. And when they realize that the only way for the four of them to get to Mars successfully is for three to go into suspended animation...

A lot of scientific information and detail is introduced without being intrusive or dumbed-down. The authors create vivid imagery--the book has a "you are there" feel to it. It must have helped a lot that one of the manuscript readers was Shannon Lucid, an astronaut.

Faith is essential to the story. It's not forced or contrived, but is a vital part of Valkerie's makeup. She's open and direct, but isn't preachy or self-righteous. It's easy to be heavy handed, but there's understatement in "Oxygen".

There are no loose ends, and no rabbits being pulled out of hats. Apparent inconsistencies are plausibly explained and do not contradict the natures of the characters. In addition, the storyline doesn't always go in predictible ways. The authors are very good at turning one way when the reader expects another, and they make it work. All the clues are there, but they aren't easy to spot. The authors are honest.

"Oxygen" is an extremely satisfying story, and one that I found nearly impossible to put down. The best time to start is when there's enough time to devour large parts of it. And if you do find yourself reading it late into the evening. accept that the next day will be a little bit fuzzy!

Rating:
Summary: Robert O. Briggs, physicist, engineer
Review: The plot of this book is great but the characters and action are sophmoric. It departs from reality in the first chapter when the Director of Johnson Space Flight Center drops in by helicopter unannoced to interview a space cadet candidate with no aeronautical or space background. It continues the farce when he becoms her personal mentor.

The action is more like a poorly scripted soap opera with everyone being suspicious of evryone else's love life, and secretive and indecicive about their own until the very end.

In terms of action, when Bob discovered the identitdy of a person who stole explosive devices and had access to the vehicle, but kept it to himself for fear of criticism of his hacking, then got on the ship and flew, I got lost.

The in-flight decision making processes are ridiculous. No one with shipboard or flight operations experience would take seriously the democratic process of making important decisions on board the space craft. The Captain of the vehicle would clearly state his orders while listening to suggestions from his crew. In the book, the voting on key decisions wasn't even initiated by the captain. On a navy ship, there would have been some disciplinary action for insubordination or mutny.

Other than that, it was great.

R. O. Briggs