Atmosphere

A Novel

Fiction - Science Fiction
402 Pages
Reviewed on 08/03/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Atmosphere is a work of compelling science fiction penned by author John Clarke, and forms the third book in The Jason Parker Trilogy. This novel follows the events of Middle Waters and Triangle to bring us a climactic conclusion of alien technological investigations and the superpower countries of Earth battling to be the ones to get their hands on dangerous intel. Jason and Laura are back with all their expertise at hand, pairing up with a variety of new and interesting ‘experts’ in unusual fields to uncover the truth of the power that everyone is seeking. What results is a race against time to save humanity not from the alien threat, but from itself.

Genetic warfare and political tensions collide beautifully in the talented writing of author John Clarke. Although this is a science fiction novel, the concept of aliens is dealt with in very human terms, and I liked the connections to other human belief systems and how it all connected together. Jason and Laura make for an intelligent double act in their investigative quest, playing the roles of true heroes against a world gone mad with the prospect of power and weaponry. As such, their dialogue is sharp and informative, with plenty of science fact blended in, which will please hardcore fans of the genre. I loved the underlying tension, which is well maintained right to the final pages. Overall, Atmosphere is an accomplished work which places humanity at the centre of the science fiction concept, and is a highly recommended read for serious fans of the genre.

Kathryn Bennett

In Atmosphere: A Novel by John Clarke, a hundred feet below the Ross Sea - which is frozen - there is an ancient flying saucer trapped among glacial ice and volcanic rock. Top divers from the navy have been tasked with the job of getting information from the crash site. Government scientists Jason Parker and Laura Smith join forces with an unlikely band of brothers in order to save the world. When the forces of good and the forces of not so good go head to head over the same issue, will humanity survive? Or will it all fall apart in the end?

My first confession is that I have not read the first two installments of this book series. I do plan on going back to read them now that I have read this one though. The second confession is that this book works very well as a stand-alone as well. I might have missed a few finer points here and there but, overall, author John Clarke has done a fantastic job in making this book one that can be followed even without the other two. This is a fast-paced story and it does not pull any punches at all. I found myself feeling like I was running a very hard and fast marathon with every page that I finished. It is very clear the author knows his stuff when it comes to diving and the naval end of things, which adds even more weight to the enjoyment of this book. If you love good science fiction, don’t miss out on this book or the series. I would put this on my must-read list for sure.

Maria Beltran

Atmosphere by John Clarke is the third and final edition of the Jason Parker trilogy and it is definitely a challenging read, but the challenge is well worth the taking. And for those who have read the first two installments, Middle Waters and Triangle, Atmosphere is a fitting culmination of a science fiction novel that takes us from the depths of the ocean to mystifying outer space. The story opens with a big bang as Earth is hit with a near extinction level gamma-ray burst or GRB. Top government scientists Jason Parker then teams up with a troll called Truman, a synesthete cosmologist, an Osage Marine from the Tzu Washtaki clan, a blind remote viewer and the help of extraterrestrial technology. Their mission is to save the world and with China and the United States of America locked in conflict, it is an impossibly gargantuan task, to say the least.

John Clarke's Atmosphere is a dystopian science fiction novel that is based on actual scientific details so the chances of it becoming a reality is not a very remote possibility. Set amidst an all too familiar geopolitical background, the twists and turns of this story are quite relatable. But what makes Atmosphere doubly enthralling is that aside from the thrills, excitement, mystery, and adventure, of which it has plenty, the novel is not only about the survival of planet Earth but also its transcendence into one that can withstand future catastrophes through evolution. Kudos to John Clarke for coming up with a science fiction novel that defies the imagination but feels so very real.