His name is Whatsit, son of DrrTrr Zennk, captain of the exploratory scout saucer, UurBereck. His own kind thought he was dead, but what they didn’t know is that he survived. The shooting down of the Chrysallaman saucer prompted the creation of the Federal Organization for Response to Celestial Enemies. The Origin of F.O.R.C.E. by Sam B. Miller II is a science-fiction tale that gives you a hypothetical look at military preparation for an impending alien invasion. Whatsit has been in military custody. Like his fellow lizard-like Chrysallamans, he possesses highly developed mental powers. Sheltered and assimilated into the military, he becomes a part of the plan for Earth’s general defense. But to fight a technologically superior alien race that is determined to conquer and enslave, F.O.R.C.E. must also recruit a new breed of soldiers to work with Whatsit to have any chance of defeating the Chrysallamans.

Whatsit’s life is a lonely one. When you are separated from your own kind and are raised to be used for military defense, there is no doubt that the feeling of alienation will creep into your system. You use your superior mental abilities as leverage to resist—at least in the beginning. Sam B. Miller writes with satisfying details, sometimes in excess, to ensure that he doesn’t give you cardboard-type heroes, and he deserves credit for the effort. He shows us how Whatsit manages to adjust to his sheltered upbringing and fights his fellow Chrysallamans in a manner that demonstrates he has outgrown the fact that he is one of them. This idea requires accepting it with a little faith, but it is not that hard to swallow on account of the US military’s superb indoctrination skills. Whatsit is a lizard man, but he is likable. The Origin of F.O.R.C.E. is fun to read as it revels in its implausibility.

The Origin of F.O.R.C.E. by Sam B. Miller II takes some very real history and weaves it into a possible future foreign to our sensibilities; a kind of parallel Universe where the human race faces a dire threat no one may survive. The peril that impinges on our future originates from 1947 when an enormous amount of conjecture surrounding the Roswell incident became indelibly etched into our collective minds. This event confirmed for many believers that we are not alone in the Universe. The possibility of an alien spaceship crashing and being concealed by the government lives with all of us now, and no matter what is said or done about it, there will always be an unknown question hanging over our heads; if this really did happen, will they come back?

Sam B. Miller II has created, in The Origin of F.O.R.C.E., a truly entertaining adventure through not just time, but also possible scientific developments and milestones that actually transpired. There were pieces of information provided throughout that I found fascinating, not the least of which is the speed we are traveling around the sun; I doubt anyone consciously considers we are moving at 30 kilometers per second. Added to these gems are the interesting characters, diverse relationships, and nicely perceived plot; players like Whatsit, the alien with a love for westerns, or McPherson, the ideal counterpoint for the pompous Dr. Heinbaum. This is science fiction with something for everyone, from the technology through to the action and danger on a massive scale, and you will want to know what happens after the last word is read.