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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
In Peter Van Oossanen’s The Extraterrestrial, when an infant is left in a basket on the porch of a remote California farm, John and Mary Stanton raise him as their own son, naming him Sam and giving him an ordinary life in the Salinas Valley. As he grows up, Sam begins to show abilities that set him apart from everyone around him, until the truth of his origin is finally revealed: he was sent to Earth from another world for a specific purpose. Years later, armed with advanced technology and operating under the name Guardian, Sam becomes an unseen protector who intervenes in disasters, violent crimes, and a far-reaching cartel network rooted in Los Angeles. After actress Michelle Bennett is an unintended witness to one of the cartel’s operations, Sam’s mission shifts from public rescues to a far more personal fight to keep Michelle and her family alive.
Peter Van Oossanen’s The Extraterrestrial is a fantastic science fiction superhero novel, with wonderfully distinctive tech, the standout being Sam’s fusion-powered hypersonic aircraft. Sam is a really likable main character, and what I loved most about him is that his heroism is not limited to rescues alone. For instance, there's a conversation he has with Suzanne by the river, where he helps her reassess her view of her mother and father. Sam's humanity elevates him. The Scorpion Cartel is a brilliant antagonistic crime network with a supremely deep reach, and we see how far that goes as the layers peel back. The writing is direct and immersive, with cinematic visuals that put readers right into places such as Glacier Creek in Alaska, where mountains, running meltwater, and gold hunting embrace a rare stillness after violence. Overall, this is a perfect fit for readers looking for the next generation of superhero fare, and I'm excited to see where the author takes us next. Very highly recommended.
