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    The Comet's Curse: A Galahad Book
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    The Comet's Curse: A Galahad Book
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    The Comet's Curse: A Galahad Book
    Ebook268 pages3 hours

    The Comet's Curse: A Galahad Book

    By Dom Testa

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    In the gripping start to this young adult science fiction adventure series by popular Colorado radio host Dom Testa, the teenage crew of the starship Galahad must find a new home for humanity among the stars--if they fail, it will be the end of the human race....

    When the tail of the comet Bhaktul flicks through the Earth's atmosphere, deadly particles are left in its wake. Suddenly, mankind is confronted with a virus that devastates the adult population. Only those under the age of eighteen seem to be immune. Desperate to save humanity, a renowned scientist proposes a bold plan: to create a ship that will carry a crew of 251 teenagers to a home in a distant solar system. Two years later, the Galahad and its crew—none over the age of sixteen—is launched.

    Two years of training have prepared the crew for the challenges of space travel. But soon after departing Earth, they discover that a saboteur is hiding on the Galahad! Faced with escalating acts of vandalism and terrorized by threatening messages, sixteen-year-old Triana Martell and her council soon realize that the stowaway will do anything to ensure that the Galahad never reaches its destination. The teens must find a way to neutralize their enemy. For if their mission fails, it will mean the end of the human race….

    At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateJan 20, 2009
    ISBN9781429981606
    Unavailable
    The Comet's Curse: A Galahad Book

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    Reviews for The Comet's Curse

    4/5

    49 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I feel the need to have a slight fan girl moment. I've always been a big fan of the science fiction genre. The sad part is that it's tough to find younger aged science fiction that is appropriate but doesn't speak down to its fans. This, my friends, is great young adult science fiction. It is young adult science fiction that is engaging, unique, and so well written! I had only just picked up The Comet's Curse to skim the first page, and I found myself completely enthralled. A little over an hour later I set the book down and finally had a chance to breathe. Let me tell you, Dom Testa has my heart now.

      Now that I have that out of my system, let's talk about the book. The Comet's Curse shows us a world that is suffering in the aftermath of a deadly virus. What's different about this story is that no human engineered this virus, nor was it a result of animals. No, it is a simple comet that has brought about the end of mankind. As the story opens, scientists are scurrying to find a way to preserve what is left of the population (the teenagers) before they too meet an untimely end. If that isn't a great way to start a book that will keep your interest, I don't know what is. Unless of course you add in the fact that the plan is to send these teens into space. Now do I have your attention?

      What I loved most about this book, truly, was the characters. Each one of them was so real and deep. Dom Testa allows his characters minds of their own and, love them or hate them, the characters in this book act and think like real teens would. Triana (Tree) was without a doubt my favorite. Without any adult interaction, it falls to Tree to be the sound of reason during the mission. I just couldn't fathom having that much responsibility, no matter how smart she really was. I loved her resilience, her honesty, and most of all the way she sometimes just felt lost. I don't know how you could be millions of miles away from your planet and not feel that way. It's real, and it's wonderful.

      As I was falling in love with the characters, I was also introduced to life aboard the ship. The descriptions are vivid, and there were points where I felt like I was actually there. When things took a turn for the creepy, I was pulled right on in. Personally I just adored being able to close my eyes and envision the setting. There is also a lot of room for the reader to think really heavily about what they would do in the situation that these characters are in. Sure, there is a certain amount of improbability to some of the story, but I think to enjoy science fiction you have to let go of reality and just get lost.

      I'm rambling I know. I could go on for days about the cute romance that doesn't at all overshadow the story line. Or about the awesome technology that is created. I could even tell you about Roc, the coolest computer ever. However I'll leave that to you to find out when you pick up a copy of The Comet's Curse. Suffice it to say that this is a series that I know I'm going to love! Lucky for me I already have the next book in the series handy, because I'll be diving back in as soon as I can.
    • 4/5
      I loved the adventure and action.it was cool how they stiched the story of every chapter from the past and then to the present.The Roc was funnny:)
    • 2/5
      100 pages in and I just feel no drive to complete The Comet's Curse. I concede that the concept is neat, but something about the writing style and pace keeps me from feeling invested in the story or characters.
    • 3/5
      The story is told from the point of view of the super advanced computer, nicknamed Roc. This storytelling device really didn't work for me. For one thing, he (I know he's an it, but whatevs) wasn't present for everything he describes, which can be explained by people having told him later but would have worked better in a normal omniscient narrator scenario (especially since Roc makes sure to point out that he can't be everywhere and see everything). The other problem with Roc is that, much as all the characters love him and as much as he adores himself, I find him exceedingly irritating. His insertions into the narration, denoted by italics, always made me want to punch his computery face, especially the one in the last chapter.

      Roc aside, the book was fairly predictable and standard. There's a love triangle, which, frankly, is the most absorbing part of the plot. The mystery of who is causing trouble on the ship is so obvious for most of the book that it provides little excitement. And, the final showdown cannot be that worrisome if you know there are two subsequent books. The writing is okay, but not inspirational

      The most interesting aspect of the novel is the set up of the dystopia. There aren't too many environmental ones, which I am somewhat glad of after having read Life as We Knew It (shudder!). You have probably figured out how much I love dystopias by now, especially if they cover some new territory.

      I recommend this to fans of Life as We Knew It and Gone (which I actually have yet to read, but I'm fairly confident that they're readalikes), young teens looking for an easy science fiction read or dystopia enthusiasts.
    • 5/5
      The comet Bhaktul passes too closely to Earth's atmosphere and leaves the planet ravaged by a deadly disease that slowly drives mad and kills anyone over the age of 18. After unsuccessful attempts to cure the disease, with time running out as the adults die off and society breaking down, a plan is formed to send some young adults still unaffected by the disease to a distant, possibly habitable, planet in a desperate attempt to preserve some aspect of the human race. After two years of intensive training, 251 brilliant and gifted teenagers from all over the planet depart in the spaceship Galahad, but they have barely left Earth's atmosphere before discovering that someone on the ship is attempting to sabotage their mission. This book is narrated by Roc, the ship's computer, who focuses on reporting the actions of the Council, the group of teenagers in charge on the ship, and frequently interjects with humorous observations of his own. Chapters alternate between the drama unfolding on Galahad, and the events on Earth beginning with the comet and leading up to the mission. Clues about the identity of the saboteur are slowly revealed, so readers can solve the mystery along with the ship's crew. The teens on the ship are well developed characters, and, despite their adult roles, are still involved in typical teenage romances and rivalries. The fact that the disease does not affect anyone under the age of 18, and the rigorous testing and training that these teenagers underwent, creates a relatively plausible scenario that allows for 251 responsible teenagers to be making an unsupervised space journey. The futuristic world is well realized; on the ship, characters spend time playing a hoverboard sport with one another; on Earth, a resistance faction builds, opposed to Galahad's mission. The book is suspenseful, funny and smart, and despite its apocalyptic premise, has an overall feeling of optimism and hope for humanity's resilience. The conflict of this particular story is resolved satisfactorily, but there is a hook for the sequel.
    • 3/5
      The sci-fi novel takes place in the not-so-distant future, after the tail of Comet Bhaktul has passed through Earth's atmosphere. Particles from the comet are killing off everyone over 18 on Earth, so a decision is made to blast 251 teenagers into space, as a last hope that humanity will survive. But once they've taken off, it becomes clear that there's a saboteur on board.Testa intersperses the scenes on board with flashbacks to the discovery of the comet and the decision to launch the ship. This helps explain the big reveal comes at the end, but slows the action down as the book begins. And while it's not a new sci-fi premise, it is an intriguing one. Once the pace picked up, you do get caught up the hunt for the stowaway, and concerned for the fate of the mission. The book is the first in a series, and I confess wanting to check out the next few to see what happens.The idea of teens running their own society will certainly be appealing to YA readers - there are no adults here to tell you what to do. And the issues of leaving home, losing loved ones, having to make friends in a new situation are universal. I did have a few issues with the novel. One thing that started to grate was that I didn't feel like these kids were actually acting like teenagers - - they're all happy to go to school, do their work on board, get regular exercise so they stay healthy. No one resents that 5 of the 251 are fixed to be leaders while everybody else has to rotate duty shifts. No one says "I want to sleep late, and not go to work." No one is sneaking off to have sex in the dark corridors. When they suspect the stowaway is hiding in the secret storage compartments the kids aren't allowed to enter, they reject the idea of breaking in, because, well, they're not supposed to enter them. It's a function of the plot that these are the most reliable, mature teenagers in the world, that's why they were chosen, but it started to seem a bit unrealistic. The writing is also a bit weak in several places, mainly because Testa has ignored the classic "show don't tell" rule. When the leader Tree is stressed over a crisis, the on-board computer (which acts as a parental figure and teacher to the passengers) tells her that by the end of the voyage "you’ll hardly recognize the person you are now. And you'll find that friendships will change, too. People you are very close to now will not be so close down the road. On the other hand, some people that you barely know now will turn out to be your best friends. That's not unique to Galahad. It happens to every young person as they mature." (page 54). Excellent advice. But lying just flat out like that makes the book sound like an after-school special. What to Read Next: Kids who like this will probably want to check out the other books in the series. I could also see a match with Ender's Game, or Asimov's Foundation Series.Book talk: The comet Bhaktul has flown past the Earth, splashing its tail into the planet's atmosphere. And that's what caused the problem: a disease that's quickly killing off the population, at least everyone over 18. A ship with 251 teenagers on board is shot into space - humanity's last hope for a future. But now there are disturbing signs that something, or someone, doesn't want the mission to succeed.
    • 4/5
      230 pagesThe Comet’s Curse will appeal to YA readers on many levels. The story is about 251 teenagers, none over 16, who are sent into space to preserve the human species. Multiple perspectives are used to tell the tale, with main protagonists Triana, called Tree, the leader of the voyage and Gap, Head of Engineering, as the primary teen voices. Roc, the star ship Galahad’s playful computer, also addresses readers directly as a semi-omniscient narrator. Galahad’s relatively adult-free world is a potent playground for the teens, including soccer and a skateboard-like game called Airboarding.The teens are torn between the adventure of becoming space colonists and the sorrow and responsibility of leaving behind a world of dying humanity. The text stresses this vast responsibility, especially for Tree, a bit on the heavy-handed side. But the text also shows the teens overcoming stressful situations, especially when a mysterious stowaway shows up in the ship issuing death threats. The teens’ internal struggles and external conflicts are believable and clearly demonstrate the stresses of isolated space life.Because there are both female and male protagonists, this book would be good for all YA readers. Girls especially might benefit from seeing a strong teen female in a position of power and responsibility. But this story is not just all about space. There is also a realistic portrayal of budding teen romance, and the conflict of a love triangle.The Comet’s Curse is the first of a series, and the ending leads readers into the second book with a new mystery to solve. I am putting this book into my high school’s library, and I’ll be buying book two as well.May 19, 2010
    • 5/5
      Excerpt from the front flap of the book:“When the tail of the comet Bhaktul flicks through Earth’s atmosphere, deadly particles are left in its wake. Suddenly mankind is confronted with a virus that devastates the adult population. Only those under the age of eighteen seem to be immune. Desperate to save humanity, a renowned scientist proposes a bold plan: to create a ship that will carry a crew of 251 teenagers to a home in a distant solar system. Two years later, the Galahad and its crew- none over the age of sixteen–is launched.Two years of training have prepared the crew for the challenges of space travel. But soon after departing Earth, they discover that a saboteur is hiding on the Galahad! Faced with escalating acts of vandalism and terrorized by threatening messages, sixteen year-old Triana Martell and her council soon realizes that the stowaway will do anything to ensure that the Galahad never reaches its destination. The teens must find a way to neutralize their enemy for if their mission fails, it will mean the end of the human race.Let me say that Dom Testa has a new fan of his work. This was one of the best books I have read in a while. It is obvious he has done a lot of research on space. I don’t know if it is a hobby of his or just research he did for this series, but he is spot on. You can’t help but get into the heads of the main characters in this book. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be one of 251 teens selected from thousands to carry on the human race. How would I feel leaving a younger sibling at home knowing I would never see my family again, and worse yet I would be leaving my younger siblings to eventually die. Couple those feelings with the overwhelming responsibility I would be faced with and knowing the person I am, I don’t thing I would do very well.This book hooks you from the beginning. It hints at things to come in following books. Mystery, romance possibly? The coolest thing was the narrator of the story is the ships human like computer named ROC. He gives no hints at the end of the book. He leads you with a question then tells you that you will need to read more.. My advice to you is “read more”. This is a book for which I eagerly await the sequel. The list of students waiting for me to read it and put it up to be checked out has grown. I was so pleased with this book that I started sharing bits and pieces of the story with my students. This in turn lead to the list. Well done Mr. Testa. My only word of advice? Write quickly, I waiting for the next one.
    • 4/5
      Comets aren’t generally greeted with much fanfare – there are so many in our solar system that even astronomers can’t count them all. But, when a rogue appears named Comet Bhaktul the scientists stand up and take notice. At first panic ensued when scientists thought Bhaktul was on a collision course with the North Atlantic ocean, but soon it was confirmed Earth would coast through the comet’s tail. The only thing the inhabitants of Earth should expect from this astrological event would be some beautiful nighttime light shows.The problems start when scientists realized the comet left something behind when it was passing by Earth. It seemed Bhaktul left behind some of its particles in our atmosphere and they were causing havoc to Earth’s adult population. Nine months after the incident, large numbers of adults on Earth were suffering from an unknown virus that always led to death. The only people not effected were those under eighteen-years-old.Dr. Wallace Zimmer proposed a drastic plan to save the human race. After much debate enough people supported him and a plan was underway. Dr. Zimmer decided the only way to save the human race was to choose some of the best and brightest young people and get them as far away as possible from Earth. For two years Zimmer’s crew worked on creating a space craft capable of withstanding 5 years of space travel, researched possible planets similar enough to Earth for the kids to settle, and chose the 251 passengers for the journey.After the pain-staking process of getting everything prepared for the trip, the 251 passengers were finally launched into space and only a few hours into the trip they had their first crisis. One of the crew swears he saw an adult on board which would mean eventual death for the crew since the adult would definitely be infected with the Bhaktul virus. At first everyone assumed stress got to the boy and didn’t give it too much thought, but after a several other strange things happened, the crew decided to look a little more carefully at the ship.It is life or death for the crew of the Galahad and if they don’t succeed it will mean the end of the human race.THE WEB OF TITAN is the sequel and it is due to be released May 2010.Check out Dom Testa’s website for more information.