In The Lone Planet by Terence Simmons, Aquant is a beautifully vegetated, mostly peaceful planet where its inhabitants, Aquantians, have evolved and thrived for a long time. However, things have taken a turn for the worse within the last 20 scys (years). The planet’s top Sky Watchers have noticed a gradual change in Aquant’s alignment with other planets, causing unprecedented weather, intense ground fissures, and sudden Gamma storms. They need to come up with a plan to save the planet before it's too late. The Moah, the leader of Aquant, is under intense pressure, especially when one of his estranged adopted sons is about to cause trouble.

The proposed science in the story is sound, while still giving plenty of room for readers to imagine the vast possibilities of the universe and of our own galaxy. It took some time for me to familiarize myself with the world building, particularly with some of the Aquantians’ own terminology that they use. This also somewhat affected my reading pace. On the other hand, it shows the amount of effort and care that Simmons put into it. The images included in the book no doubt give a more vivid effect to the story. The plot is a familiar one, but well-structured, and the characterization and dialogue are seemly. Whether it’s intended or not, I feel that The Lone Planet pays enough homage to vintage sci-fi books and series, and there are evident inspirations in the world that Simmons created. On the whole, The Lone Planet is a solid debut by Simmons.

The Lone Planet by Terence Simmons is the story of the war between the Moah and the Laggards. Right on the edge of the Andromeda Galaxy lies Aquant, a planet that is in serious trouble. The gravitational pull of Aquant and its neighbors is disappearing and putting them all in extreme danger. Strange weather phenomena and meteors have caused no end of hysteria on Aquant as they face the fact that they may very well become extinct. If that weren’t enough, the Moah, leader of Aquant, has discovered that the Laggards, a rebel group, has taken full advantage of the perilous situation to carry out the biggest heist known to the planet. They leave behind only destruction and death, giving the monarch the biggest headache of his whole life. The Sky Watcher scientist steps in to come up with a way of saving the planet, but can it be done in time? And will the Moah’s son, Ryon, come through for his father, even if he has to work with his own brother, the Laggards’ leader?

The Lone Planet by Terence Simmons is a science fiction novel with a bit of a difference. This is an action-packed story, and it grabbed me from page one, taking me on a helter skelter ride that never let up. This is a twisting story, but easy to keep track of and the plot is very cleverly drawn out. The characters are developed thoroughly, giving a reader plenty of background and keeping the story as real as any science fiction novel can be. This is the ideal read for any fan of science fiction and for anyone who wants something a little bit on the different side.