The Callisto Symphony is a hard science fiction novel written by Andrew Cullen. George has lived on Hendrix for 23 years now, and his daily life has been circumscribed by his routines for as long as he can remember. He wakes up to Professor Kang's video for exercise before breaking his fast. There are other instructional videos from professors specializing in physics, mathematics, astronomy and the other hard sciences. His favorite instructor, Professor Palencia, teaches English. The rest of George's day is filled with routine maintenance on his ship, tending his garden, and playing with BIM, a computer-dog he put together with extra equipment he found. BIM was modeled on a strange four-legged creature he noticed running past the background of one of the lecture tapes. George has never seen another person face-to-face and has been on Hendrix for as long as he can remember.

I've long been tired of the typical science fiction fare that's all too often little more than formulaic space operas or thinly disguised westerns set in outer space. They just don't set my imagination soaring in the way that the more classic hard science fiction stories did. So, I approached Andrew Cullen's young adult science fiction novel, The Callisto Symphony, with a somewhat jaundiced eye. With just the first few pages detailing George's story, author Andrew Cullen somehow revitalized my love for the science fiction genre, and that was no easy task. I was surprised by and oh, so delighted with this story, and its very original and compelling plot. I loved watching as George designs PACE and later, ACE, and felt an instant rapport with this creative and isolated young man. The Callisto Symphony ranks up there as one of the best novels I've read in some time. This accomplished and spectacular debut offering is most highly recommended.

The Callisto Symphony by Andrew Cullen is an intense science fiction novel that begins in Jupiter’s orbit with George Burgess; a lone astronaut that was raised on the spaceship Hendrix. For 23 years, this is the only life he has ever known. He grew up learning everything he needed to know in order to survive in outer space, to be able to complete his mission which would be made clear to him when his grand master thought the time was right. Aided by his robot, BIM, he finds out that he is not alone when he encounters Lisa on board the Joplin, and then later on, Jason on board the Clapton. Who would name spaceships after rock stars? The three of them find out that they are all on the same mission, but were never meant to find each other. They discover that they are all born a month apart, and taught by the same teachers, some of Earth’s most brilliant scientists. The trio then decides to combine their talents and sets off on a two-year journey for Earth, leaving Joplin and Clapton behind.

Mr. Cullen does an amazing job of describing the emotions and uncertainties that our band of heroes have to overcome when the discover that they are not alone. Using their combined talents, the trio changes the mission and decides to seek out their origin; Planet Earth. Andrew vividly describes the emotions of uncertainty when they gain access to Earth’s communications satellites, and begin learning about the planet, its history, and especially with the social media on the internet. It isn’t until the trio is halfway to Earth when what was predicted begins.