Book III of the SOFAR Trilogy
The image of Cooper Ridley flashes on television screens all over planet Earth. Ridley warns of an unimaginable danger, a threat to all Earth’s creatures.
Azrnoth-zin, Mara-jul and the Displaced Alien Work Force join Ridley to convince the world’s leaders to unite against this deadly menace. Cooperation is not forthcoming.
Using secret contacts and brilliant disguises, the Phoenix Project surfaces in a final attempt to seize alien technology. A near fatal encounter occurs at the United Nations building leaving the Phoenix Project exposed. Duped by her own cabinet, The President and her family are taken hostage.
Earth friends, the Dutchman and marine biologists Doctors Darcy Billings and Teresa Gamez, become involved and, along with Ridley and his small group of aliens, are the only deterrent to the Trochinids. In an undersea base nearly two miles down, the marine biologists and a team of scientists work frantically to discover a weakness in Trochinid physiology.
Under attack at Pisaster base, Darcy, Teresa and Mara-jul make a discovery that may turn the tide of the war. In the final moments, they place all their hopes on a strange phenomenon in the SOFAR channel. It is Earth’s last hope.
Harry Hayes, Arizona Pioneer Family wrote:Years ago, you did a reading of your first book in a small California town…Lakeport (at Catfish Books, owned by Lynn Fegan).
I was captured by Blue Planets. Having just finished Siren’s Song, I am saddened to realize that 3 books make a trilogy ….well, I really did know, but will miss all of the friends I made taking this journey.
Thank you so much for all your dedication to making these stories fanciful but full of thoughtful insights.
Harry Jamison, retired Corporate Executive, October 24, 2007 wrote:I connected with the characters and how they related to the natural world.
Blue Planets, Offworlder and Siren’s Song will reside on the shelf next to my entire collection of Louis L’amour’s books. I am absolutely going to read the SOFAR Trilogy again!”
“And, Az-r-noth-zin – I love that guy.
A few months ago I became acquainted with John Gentile through his day job as a physical therapist as he helped my wife in her recovery from surgery. I learned that he had authored a sci-fi trilogy and that we were invited to attend a book signing on the occasion of the publishing of the final volume. My wife purchased all three books, for me, since she doesn’t really cotton to science fiction.
Recently I laid down the final volume with a sense of profound disappointment. (I had promised John that I would be objective and honest in my review and opinions). The observations that follow illustrate my regrets and personal feelings of loss as I reflect upon how and why the Trilogy affected me.
I am sad to report that “Siren’s Song” writes finis to the adventures of Cooper Ridley and his band of oddly acquired and fascinatingly odd brothers – and sisters. What a great yarn! The real and imaginary worlds of Arizona, the Sea of Cortez, Delphinus and remote galaxies are interwoven with real and imaginary humans, dolphins, Delfinians and Trochinids who wage war with both atavistic ferocity and futuristic science.
The story line captures one’s attention first. Then the characters, both of this and other worlds, become friends and foes who occupy the reader’s imagination and demand his belief in their escapades. The blending of natural science narrative, drawn from the author’s expertise, with the imaginative scientific technology of the various beings from other planets in other galaxies is seamless.
One surprise to me was the ease with which the dialogue flows, particularly when one considers the difficulty of communication among such disparate characters. It not only reads easily, but also reflects and displays the personas and cultural biases of the individuals.
A word of warning to the potential reader: read each volume in its proper sequence to fully appreciate the story itself. And furthermore: don’t expect to read “Blue Planets” and forget the two sequels. Curiosity will defeat you! Then, after the middle book, “Offworlder,” anticipation of the climactic events in “Siren’s Song” will pull you into its whirlpool.
As I said –“What a great yarn!”