Assist

An Interstellar Odyssey

De: Steven Mathew Zellers

Narrado por: Melissa-Marie Shriner

Eight generations of pioneers embark on a 300-year voyage to escape Earth's demise. Their mission: ensure humanity's survival on a distant exoplanet. Armed with a DNA database of over a million Earth species, they establish a new world. Yet, what they discover will shatter every preconception. Brace for a jaw-dropping revelation connecting them to beings defying the very essence of the universe.

©2024 Steven Mathew Zellers (P)2025 Steven M Zellers

A Cosmic Symphony of Humanity's Resilience

"ASSIST" isn't just a science fiction tale; it's a cosmic odyssey that pulsates with the beating heart of humanity. Across eight generations, readers are swept away on a 300-year voyage, bearing witness to the unwavering determination of pioneers seeking refuge from Earth's impending demise. But what unfolds isn't just a story of survival—it's a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human race.
As the pioneers chart their course through the vast expanse of space, armed with a DNA database teeming with the essence of Earth's biodiversity, they embark on a journey that transcends the confines of mere exploration. It's a quest for redemption, for renewal, and ultimately, for understanding.
Yet, amidst the awe-inspiring wonders of distant exoplanets and the mysteries of the cosmos, "ASSIST" weaves a deeply human narrative. Through the lens of the pioneers' struggles, triumphs, and moments of introspection, readers are invited to grapple with profound questions about identity, purpose, and the very nature of existence.
But it's not just the grandeur of cosmic discovery that captivates; it's the intimate moments of connection and camaraderie that resonate most deeply. From the bonds forged in the crucible of adversity to the quiet moments of reflection beneath the starlit sky, "ASSIST" is a tapestry woven with the threads of human experience.
What truly sets this saga apart is its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and awe, while grounding the narrative in the rich tapestry of human emotion. Each character, from the intrepid explorers to the enigmatic beings they encounter, is imbued with depth and complexity, inviting readers to see themselves reflected in the vast expanse of the cosmos.
As the journey unfolds and the pioneers confront the unknown, readers are swept along on a breathtaking adventure that transcends the boundaries of space and time. It's a journey that challenges, inspires, and ultimately leaves an indelible mark on the soul. "ASSIST" is more than just a sci-fi epic; it's a symphony of humanity's resilience, a celebration of the boundless potential of the human spirit. It's a journey that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Hard Science Fiction

Assist, by Steven Mathew Zellers, paints a bleak and grim future for humanity where global warming and overpopulation have driven countries to the brink. Millions starve or are involved in endless conflict, and with their eyes on Mars and beyond into the galaxy, humankind’s reach for the stars is at hand. Much of this is covered in the opening preface which I found a little dry, but it served to recount the history of things to come and set the stage for where we find ourselves when the story picks up in the closing decade of the 21st century.

While it is set some 70+ years in earth’s future, so much of what they rely on is still recognisable contemporary technology as if the advancement has stalled out. Text messages, emails, laptops and the like are still used where I’d hope it’d have evolved beyond that by the end of the century. Yet some major advances too, namely the outpost on Mars and its space elevator, and the giant space ark – a generation ship that’ll carry a few hundred of the best and brightest humans have to offer to Kepler B in order to start over.

Fans of hard science fiction will enjoy the attention to detail. Most of the science sounded rooted in reality, and if it wasn’t, it was believable enough that I didn’t question it. While the zero-point energy propulsion drive doesn’t exist, it wasn’t a “magic wand drive” and also wasn’t the primary source of the ark’s engine output. That, as the title implies, refers to the gravity assistance (often called a slingshot manoeuvre) where you use the moon, sun, or other planets to increase velocity by sling-shotting into their gravity well to increase your speed.

The story itself rockets along, almost like a speedrun through galactic resettlement. Here I found myself wanting more time spent on the story, as if often feels like we’re being told everything rather than shown through action. At times it felt more like an outline, albeit a detailed outline, of a larger story, where each part could be expanded on to give that extra detail I found I was looking for.

I think this is perhaps due to not following a single person for the duration of the story, but more because we’re following the idea of the mission to the exoplanet in the Kepler system. While parts do follow certain characters, like Sarah and Shane – a couple of scientists trying to get into the cryo-pods to sleep their way through the 300+ year trip – the focus isn’t on them for the whole story. I found them a little hard to like as the launch day grew closer, as some of their decisions, though pragmatic, seemed selfish and harsh considering the mission was to create a better future for humankind.

Following the idea of the mission is an interesting approach to telling the story, and it feels much like a historical record being told at some far distant future of how humans made it out of the solar system. No spoilers because it’s in the blurb, but once they reach the new world it feels like they are woefully unprepared for settling a planet. Given all the time and money and brainpower that went into designing the mission, a little more time spent on thinking how not to start over in almost cavepeople-like conditions should have been higher on the agenda.

The narration by Melissa-Marie Shriner was clean without any obvious retakes, background noises or other issues. So, a good, clean read with good production. I wasn’t a fan of a couple of voices, but that’s likely more of a personal dislike. Not a standout performance, but not terrible either – just solidly middle-of-the-road

As hinted at in the blurb, there’s something rather significant that seems like it’s going to shift the direction of the story. It felt a little abrupt, partly because I wasn’t watching how far through the story I was and partly because I wasn’t expecting it given the story so far. There’s definitely another story to come which undoubtably digs into this further.

Overall, Assist is an interesting look at a possible future with plenty of realistic science to back up the plot. Admittedly, I am not a scientist but most of it certainly sounded plausible. I often wonder what it’d be like travelling to an entirely new world and setting it up from scratch, and then I remember I can’t stand being on an airplane for even short trips and the feeling passes, so I suspect even if this were possible, I’d need to live out those fantasies vicariously through stories like this one.