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Reviewed by Sherri Fulmer Moorer for Readers' Favorite
Ten by Paul Emery is a hard sci fi novel about mankind's first steps into interstellar colonization outside of our solar system. When Dan, a former rancher driven from his home by climate change, is given an opportunity to join a secret mission that will take him away from Earth forever, he's eager to escape his mundane life for a shot at starting over. He finds himself bound to a crew of nine other various yet amazingly well-adjusted individuals. As they prepare to leave our solar system to explore the skies, they realize the urgency of their mission to spread mankind beyond Earth in order to survive. An accident on their first planet of choice forces the crew to adjust to a change in hierarchy and the effects of their leader, Rachel, being disabled and depressed as they are forced to continue their mission.
Paul Emery has obviously done his research for Ten, as it's a well written book with such realistic descriptions that I can see myself on foreign worlds. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of their travels and the worlds they discover, and especially the details of inhabiting their planet of choice. One issue, though, is that the crew of ten people seem to get along much better in confined settings than I would expect. There's very little conflict, and the drama they face is conquered quickly in the midst of their generally agreeable natures.
Ten is an excellent book if you're looking for hard sci fi that explores the stars and gives you a glimpse of a kind of utopian life outside of Earth, but be aware that the conflict they face is more on the mental realm with their leader, Rachel, struggling with depression. I believe this is an important dynamic and it was good to see how she coped. However, if you're looking for out and out battles, then you won't find them here. Overall, Ten is a great book with wonderful characters and settings that I would love to be in myself.
