Colonizing Trappist is an exciting work of science fiction by author Chris Shockowitz, and the first book in the Outward Bound trilogy. In a struggle for survival, the Trappist of the story’s title is a star system that may be humanity’s last hope for the continuation of the species, except that another form of life has already laid claim to the system they desire. Our hero is Commander Eugene Hamilton, who begins his exploration of the system to discover an installation of robotic defence mechanisms, as though a brutal race is keeping the planet protected so that they may return to it someday. But with 5000 colonists already on their way from Earth, the human race has no choice but to settle, and await the repercussions.

The premise of the novel presents a really interesting dilemma, putting it all on the shoulders of a single human at the head of a team designed to secure habitable life. The pre-history of Trappist’s original inhabitants, the Marzon, was eerily described and really set the tone well for a sense of foreboding when the humans decide they must settle anyway. With both the humans and their unseen enemies laying claim to a planet that neither of them truly deserves, author Chris Shockowitz presents some really thoughtful questions about ownership and respect for other life forms, cultures and their ways. Overall, Colonizing Trappist is sure to satisfy science fiction fans looking for realistic human endeavors into space, and marks the start of what promises to be a very exciting series.

In Colonizing Trappist by Chris Shockowitz, humans want to colonize a habitable solar system 80 light years away from Earth. The crew of the preparation ship arrives a few months before the actual colony ship to examine the planets in the Trappist system and decide on which planet the colony ship should land. But when the crew starts their mission, they make not only one, but two shocking discoveries: someone lived in this system before. Some planets show signs of an advanced civilization. A civilization that is no more. The second shock: this civilization had been eradicated by another – they left some nasty surprises on the planets, and will very likely come back to lay claim to Trappist themselves. The humans find themselves in a difficult situation: how will they set up a colony, knowing that they might be attacked any time?

While I was reading, I often thought that this book would do very well if it was turned into a sci-fi TV series. It’s a very creative novel. The alien species the humans encounter are indeed alien, and not just copies of well known space races from other books, series or movies - at least as far as I know. There is a lot going on, but the goings-on aren’t random and make sense. I found it really interesting to see what it might be like if humans ever got to the stage where they could colonize a planet (or planets) in another solar system, and what it would be like to make first contact with friendly, not-so-friendly, and hostile alien life forms.

Chris Shockowitz clearly has thought everything through very well and must have some knowledge about the scientific background. At no point did I ever think: “Well, that’s totally wrong when you think about it.” Of course, right now, these things are impossible, but who knows what the future will hold? This novel is definitely a good read, and has a good ending, even though there’s much more to come. I love it when authors give you an ending that doesn’t make you want to murder them, but still makes you want to have more. This book is an example of how to do this: no annoying cliffhangers that make you want to throw the Kindle against the wall, but something unresolved to look forward to.