Melody

A First Contact Novel

By: David Hoffer

Narrated by: TJ Clark

A melody from the stars can save humanity, but only if Stephen can awaken the alien within....

Childhood therapy cured Stephen Fisher of disturbing visions and the delusion of having come from another world. But when his daughter obsesses over a star in the night sky, he fears that his genetic legacy may have burdened her with the same illness. His sanity is then shattered when he loses his child and the military abducts him claiming that she recorded a song broadcast from another world.

A voice inside Stephen’s head convinces him that he can bring his daughter back to life. What he discovers instead is a stunning truth about himself, his child’s destiny, and fate of the entire human race....

Melody is a riveting and thought-provoking science fiction novel. If you like first contact scenarios and action-filled stories, then you’ll love David Hoffer’s otherworldly adventure.

©2019 David Stangland (P)2021 David Stangland

a different type of sci-fi

i really enjoyed this book. The plot was original and far from the mainstream. The characters were well developed. It was very engaging and a nice change from most sci-fi stories.

About what I expected

This story took a bit long developing and as it continued the narrator's voice, trying to create character, became grating.
Some of the characters were flat, the general, Hudson, Francis but I overlooked that and listened onward.
I liked the story line quite a bit. To me it was new concept and interesting. Will likely enjoy more of this author but would like a better character voicing and developingment.

If you've read Contact you can skip this book

I struggled to finish this book. I found the situations frustrating, and the main character never showed any emotion. The opening scene showed a lot of promise... a character with latent psychic abilities struggling with mental illness. But main character lacked agency. Everything just happens to him.

The rest of the book pursued a lengthy political drama with the token dumb, war hungry American military versus the scientists. There are some brief shining moments when the story turns to science, but those moments are too brief and far between. Would not recommend.

Thankful I came to know Melody!

This one checks all the boxes. First contact concepting, solid plot arc, great performance, and, above all, a high level of originality. Hoffer and Clark form a solid team here, with good pacing, unique and consistent voicings, and enough tension to keep the listener engaged. Granted, first contact novels have a difficult time avoiding being derivative, and I suppose you could argue this one is. That said, I found it unique enough to stay engaged, and give it a solid recommendation.

Real Page Turner

I'm not a sci-fi regular, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat and got me thinking about things outside of the day to day!