Steve Tanner and the End of the World by Dr. A. is an exciting sci-fi novel for children and teens. Steve and Jeff are best friends who live in a tight-knit community. At age 13, their teenage lives are more or less typical, until something atypical happens. This something involves saving planet Earth after two cosmonauts encounter aliens in space. The alien contact has the whole world astir, including Clarion, Iowa, where Steve and Jeff live. The aliens say that they come from a place that is much like Earth--bigger and with more oxygen--thus hospitable to humans. The aliens invite humans to live there, and this sets the stage for them to save planet Earth The question is, would YOU trust an alien's word just because they SEEM friendly?

I enjoyed this unpredictable science fiction adventure. Dr. A. has created some convincing characters, a catchy plot with a good hook, and some life-or-death tension that young readers 9-15 will love. But I also think this would appeal to older audiences as well. There is some mystery, humor, and suspense along the way. This author has used a good balance of these elements, with good pacing to help the story move along. I do like the way he introduces Steve and Jeff in the beginning. That way we have an idea about how they might react or are affected when the events unfold. I like the supporting characters as well. Dr. A. doesn't write over the heads of his readers and delivers a solid, entertaining story. Steve Tanner and the End of the World by Dr. A. is a great quick read for sci-fi fans of all ages.

Reading Steve Tanner and the End of the World by Dr. A. is like taking a spaceship to another world while your world is being destroyed without you knowing it. In this book, is your world destroyed? Well, that is the question, isn’t it? Steve Tanner is 13, an eighth grader with a sarcastic sister and a dog named Todo and a nerdy friend named Jeff. Everything is normal until aliens tease some Russian astronauts into entering through into another world. It’s not a bad world, either. Actually, this new world of the Kanorians and their servant Drechs is like Paradise. Almost every Earthling wants to move there. Picture your ideal planet, and Kanor might well be it. This magical place with beautiful skies, oceans of warm fresh water, and welcoming inhabitants who serve your every need begins to drain Earth of its population.

I worried about our comparatively messed up Earth when Steve and his friends, now including a girl on the 10 scale, a football player, and a Chinese judo master head for the new planet. Too bad that the space shuttle crashes far away from the nice side of Kanor. They are lost in a strange world with strange creatures and wondrous inventions. The question is, will Earth and Earthlings survive the subterfuge of the seeming friendly Kanorians? And watch out for the hidden grubs that burrow into your brain and control your perception. Steve Tanner and the End of the Word by Dr. A. is a whirlwind of a book for kids up to fifteen. But I’m a wizened old dude, and I dug it too. Imaginative, challenging, and inspiring, Dr. A. with his fast, clear storytelling takes us for quite a nerve-wracking, earth-shaking ride to outer space!