Casindra Lost by Marti Ward

The multi-author Paradisi Chronicles kicks off in celestial style with Casindra Lost by Marti Ward, in which Commander Jerome Sideris of the SS Casindra embarks on a solo mission across the stars – a lab rat on the first manned mission to the Andromeda Galaxy.

The front end of the book is exposition-heavy, introducing readers to a future universe of new technology and jargon, from nanorobots, cryochambers, and spider-like construction robots to Lagrangian points, wormhole theory, and EmDrives. The daunting vocabulary quickly becomes natural, however, so even readers new to the genre will quickly become immersed and comfortable.

The sci-fi elements are wonderfully developed and thoroughly researched, and the character development gets a similarly rigorous level of attention. Sideris’ relationship with Al, the AI onboard, is particularly charming. The narrative moments when the point of view temporarily shifts to Al, or even to the feline passengers, make for amusing reprieves within the story.

The limited number of characters also allows for deeper probing into ideas of identity, solitude, adventure, and sacrifice for the greater good. This journey to New Eden, and the process of settling on the planet, provides a fascinating view into humanity’s near future, as similar exploratory missions will undoubtedly occur in this century.

Blending scientific fact with a brilliant fictional premise, Casindra Lost is an impressive first piece of the Lost Mission series, and a great read for devoted sci-fi fans and new readers alike.