Alien Whispers

Conflict and Communion

Fiction - Science Fiction
382 Pages
Reviewed on 09/27/2022
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Author Biography

As a youngster growing up in the cobbled streets of Stockport, UK, Clayton Graham read a lot of science fiction. He loved the ‘old-school’ masters such as HG Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov and John Wyndham. As he left those formative years behind, he penned short stories when he could find a rare quiet moment amidst life’s usual distractions.

He settled in Victoria, Australia, in 1982. A retired aerospace engineer who worked in structural design and research, Clayton has always had an interest in science fiction and where it places humankind within a universe we are only just starting to understand.

Clayton loves animals, including well behaved pets, and all the natural world, and is a member of Australian Geographic.

Combining future science with the paranormal is his passion. 'Milijun', his first novel, was published in 2016. Second novel, 'Saving Paludis', was published in 2018. They are light years from each other but share the future adventures of mankind in an expansive universe as a common theme.

The sequel to 'Milijun', entitled 'Amidst Alien Stars' was released on December 1, 2019. The third in series 'Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion' was published November 3, 2022.

In between novels Clayton has published short story collections 'Silently in the Night' and 'Looking for Life' where, among many other adventures, you can sympathize with a doomed husband, connect with an altruistic robot, explore an isolated Scottish isle and touch down on a far-flung asteroid.

He hopes you can share the journeys.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion is a work of fiction in the science fiction and action subgenres and is the third book in the continuing series. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Clayton Graham. The book continues the saga of Laura Sinclair as she returns to Earth to try to discover the fate of her husband after she was abducted. Finding the planet in a state of conflict, Laura and her son must observe the world from their base on Mars as they work out the best way to intervene in the planet's fate.

The world-building and lore of this science fiction saga are constantly impressive, with an entire galaxy of fascinating races and factions, each with its own agenda and culture. Author Clayton Graham once more masterfully brings this fantastic creation of his to life with stunning prose that breathes life into every corner of an exciting space opera as the political and personal stakes are raised through the roof in this installment. I particularly enjoyed the insight the book had about humanity and their future place amongst the stars, asking questions about how we’ll be viewed by any aliens we happen to meet in the future. Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion is another electric installment in the series which takes what was previously a distant conflict and brings it back home with a plot that threatens all of humanity and some hard science fiction ideas that will stay with readers long after the final page has been turned. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all readers.

Jamie Michele

Clayton Graham's book three of the Milijun series, Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion, is a continuation of books one and two, Milijun and Amidst Alien Stars. Laura Sinclair and her son Jason were shaken by an alien first contact on Earth, one which categorically destroyed all hope humans had that such an event might be in the spirit of peace. Kidnapped and brought to a space station, Laura and Jason find themselves and other humans in an untenable situation as part of an alien-human hybrid reproduction project. The series progresses beyond the space station to a mosaic of alien races. Power and control are not just human issues and beyond Earth, the warring rages on. When Laura gets back to Earth, now a century by human timelines, it becomes clear that the Tellurians aren't finished yet.

Alien Whispers is dark, dark, dark science fiction and Clayton Graham goes straight for a reader's jugular. I know that a book has to have a bonafide plot but as readers we still kind of cling to the possibility that Laura could catch a breather. Maybe a cheeky spa day on Earth a hundred years later? The world building on and off space stations and planets is described well enough to read as photographic without bogging the pace down with anything unnecessary. Graham's strength is character development and dialogue, but also the non-stop stressors. As if the Tellurians placing every nation on Earth under their tyrannical rule and threatening to literally nuke any resistance from the Underground isn't action enough, there's also crap flying in alternate directions and none of it will end well. I love Laura; Matthew's penchant for poor timing with declarations is awesome; and Belle is a really cool character for showing a reader that not all Tellurians want to exploit Mother Earth. Hard science fiction readers will have a blast with this. Very highly recommended.

Asher Syed

Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion by Clayton Graham is a hard science fiction novel and the third book in the Milijun series, preceded by book one, Milijun, and book two, Amidst Alien Stars. This installment follows in the footsteps of the first two novels where mother and son, Laura and Jason Sinclair, were key components in the alien invasion of Earth, were kidnapped and forcefully taken off planet, and forged an alliance with other humans on the space station who were wholly resistant to subjugation and jackboot reign. The need for humans by the aliens is for the creation of hybrids and takes place against the backdrop of an entire universe of conflict among alien races. Laura, now a century later but not having aged at all, returns to Earth to find it unrecognizable, made so by the Tellurians. This time, Laura's battles take place both on Earth and off, as she and her ACE allies—which include the offspring of her own use by the aliens to create hybrids—must work to salvage both.

The complexities of Clayton Graham's Milijun series are pretty profound. In the interests of full disclosure, I started with Alien Whispers: Conflict and Communion but found so much enjoyment in it that I went back to read books one and two. Laura remains a lead protagonist but Graham has effectively stretched the cast into a wonderful ensemble and there is no question that between the independent backstories and unique motives and characteristics of each of these players, the spin-off potential is innumerable. This is hard science fiction with Martian living and flying saucers but with the sophistication of modern storytelling and, even in a future we cannot predict now, an Earth that is moderately recognizable. At least in the sense that we see the stalwart resilience of humanity. Laura is in a true save-the-Earth battle where no less than half a dozen WMDs can rain down on the remnants of an Earthly parade. The writing is sharp and the tension is thick, and with pitch-perfect pacing this is a novel and a series sure to please lovers of classic sci-fi.