Warning! Wildlife may be dangerous. Proceed beyond this point at your own risk.
When celebrated Omicron detective Ferrix Vaughn is called in to investigate a deadly breach on Hesperidia, a protected planet full of indigenous wildlife, he doesn't know what to expect. The world used to be a tourist attraction, but the safari tours were discontinued long ago due to rampant poaching. Only a handful of researchers live there now, including Jan Corbija, the young woman who reported the breach.
The deeper Vaughn digs, the more the evidence seems to point to a recent raid on a biotech facility in a nearby system. Whatever was stolen from there, it's attracted the attention of major political players in a time of war across the colonies. Vaughn suspects the secret is on Hesperidia, in the hands of the two fugitives who fled the murder scene.
If he wants to get to them first, he's going to need Jan's help. Her Alien Safari tour will have to reopen for this final excursion. But to survive it, they'll both need to face their demons, for a predator far deadlier than man roams the wilds of Hesperidia. And this is its killing season.
This way for the ride of your life.
Professional Reviews
Readers Favorite
Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite. 5 STARS.
“Alien Safari” by Robert Appleton is a book that just called to me when I first laid eyes on it. The whole concept behind “Alien Safari” is the existence of a planet filled with abundant native wildlife, none of which was remotely familiar to anything on Earth.
In years past, the planet was a vacation destination, where tourists would pay top dollar for the opportunity to ride in a flying taxi, while their tour guide flew them all around, pointing out the many different kinds of unusual wildlife.
However, with only a handful of caretakers to tend the whole planet, poaching became a big enough problem that the Alien Safari was shut down permanently, and the planet encircled by “smart” satellites programmed to shoot down any approaching craft which did not provide a proper access code.
With the demise of a few poachers and their spacecraft, the poaching ceased to be a problem. Still, there were fewer than a dozen resident scientists left on site to continue their research.
“Alien Safari” is really quite a fun story, with an ever-present element of danger. Our story begins when a crippled passenger ship requests permission to land, while also requesting that the ship following them – the one which had fired the broadside that crippled their ship – NOT be allowed to land, but rather to have the satellites shoot it down. Only two things went wrong with that plan. You will have to read the story to find out what those two things were… but you WILL enjoy it.
This is a tale about much more than alien wildlife species, although Robert Appleton created some very intriguing wildlife to populate his planet. Speaking of intrigue, there was a lot of that, too.
High-ranking law enforcement officials and diplomats join forces with criminal elements, turning traitor or worse, in an attempt to find, steal, and control an alien device with critically valuable capabilities. Unfortunately for the powers that be, the device has been stolen right out from under their noses, and they aren’t sure where it might be.
In their far-reaching attempt to regain control of the device, no law is sacrosanct, and no dirty deed too underhanded. Even the native wildlife get into the action. Robert Appleton has tapped into his extraordinary imagination, and penned a very entertaining story in “Alien Safari”.
I would urge anybody who enjoys a fun story, Sci-Fi, intergalactic wildlife, or a good old shoot ‘em up style space opera, to get a copy of “Alien Safari” today. You will be glad you did.
Pegasus is the symbol of wisdom and inspiration. This book, although a dystopia, is meant to inspire people to search for a greater future through wisdom. We have the technology to create a Garden of Eden here on Earth, if only we are wise enough to
