Perplex Vision

Written By: Michael Anka 

Reviewed By: Marge Robbins

Web Site:  http://www.simegen.com/
Genre: Science Fiction 

Publisher: Protea Publishing 

Publisher’s Web Site: www.proteapublishing.com 
ISBN: 1883707641 

Publishing Format: soft-cover

Price: USA $16.88 UK 10.88 

Author’s E-mail: mikeanka@shaw.ca


Perplex Vision is a first contact tale with a real twist. The story is told primarily from the aliens’ POV. As the story opens we join Vaton and his crew as they are returning to their home world of Nova-Vo. While on a deep space mission they discovered a capsule from the far distant planet Earth. Vestal-Ozuruan scientists eagerly explore the contents of the capsule and become totally fascinated with the human culture revealed on many numerous data disks found inside. Almost instantly a decision is made to send an expedition to this fascinating planet.

Vaton is chosen to lead this expedition. Alas however their spacecraft crashes in the Florida Everglades killing everyone on board except Vaton and Uvigadva. While they are deciding how to proceed they witness two humans Diane Henshaw and her husband Geoff being brutally murdered. The Vestal-Ozuruans have the ability to restore life to the human bodies and do so. But the spirit, the life force if you will, of the humans appears to be gone. Not wanting to see the humans die again and knowing that their own chance of survival is much greater of they have human appearance; Vaton and Uvigadva put their life force into the human bodies. Later Diane and Geoff “return” to find their bodies occupied by aliens. 

Not only is Perplex Vision a very unusual, albeit totally absorbing, first contact story; it is full of thought-provoking, mind-bending concepts that will keep a reader enthralled and on the edge of their seats for the entire tale. This story has my heartiest recommendation to anyone who is willing to expand his or her mind in many directions while at the same time being very well entertained. Mike has outdone himself this time.

© Copyright, Marge Robbins 2002