Earth is dying. Climate change has put cities under contaminated sea water, while once-fertile land has become dry wasteland. Millions are dying from starvation and dehydration every day. Frenemies Russia and the United States compete for global power while working together to defeat attackers from overpopulated and under-resourced countries like China and India.

Is the human race doomed? Is there a path to survival? Is there a vision of what a post-apocalyptic life could become for humans?

Tobin Marks provides a rich, thought-provoking tapestry for speculation in The Ark of the Apocalypse. Climatologists are ignored until it is too late to save civilization. While many maintain the status quo and plow toward annihilation, others work to save mankind. One family has psychic capabilities for astral projection and seeing visions of the future and manipulating those with shorter-term viewpoints in the name of the survival of humanity.

Speaking of humanity, do we still believe there is other life among the stars? Were humans a random combination of atoms, or was there a creator building a being whose existence was planned to fulfill a higher being’s design?

This book is not a quick read or a chance to chill out for a weekend. The packed storytelling requires commitment to understanding the players and details, so I often turned back several pages to reread significant passages. The payoff is strong, watching how Marks builds and executes his carefully designed plan.

The book is to be savored, not skimmed. It’s loaded with fascinating characters, some of whom made me laugh or want to reach into the pages to strangle them for their ridiculous behavior. It’s enjoyable to envision the detailed settings, even the darkest and starkest ones. I’ve included a short list of the questions provoked by the story that doesn’t even include the many morality challenges that arise.

This book belongs on the must read list for worldbuilding fans, as it explores the destruction stage for one planet and the structures used to attempt long-term survival of the human race.

This book is the first in the Magellan II series. I’m looking forward to seeing how the series develops, because Marks has left plenty of options on where the story could be expanded. I’m not sure what route he’ll choose, but I can’t wait to find out.

Ark of the Apocalypse made me think. It challenged me to consider deep questions while reading the book. Now that I’ve finished reading it, I can’t get it out of my mind.

And I don’t want to. ( )

With strong world-building, this book takes the Earth to meet its end and explores the struggles survivors have to continue mankind's survival on another planet.

Unlike many dystopian books, this one starts long before the world ends and the spacecraft sets off to find a new planet for the colonists. It begins in the 1930's and works its way quickly through history to make sure the necessary background and foundation is laid. The death of Earth takes time and so do the plans of those involved in its end. Everything is carefully laid out, creating a rich plot and story line. The processes are easy to follow and understandable, giving lots of food for thought before the journey into space even begins. So, this is definitely a well-planned and well-written novel.

For my taste, though, it was a bit slow. While the general pacing is steady, the journey of the colonists doesn't really take place until about 2/3rd's through the book. But considering this is the beginning to a series, that's not necessarily a problem. It just isn't completely my type of read. The author uses various points of view from differing positions and experiences to allow the reader to gain a well-woven understanding and view of what happens and how its handled. While it was very interesting, it also made many of the characters remain at an arm length's away, since their thoughts and feelings didn't really come into play. So, while the tale was intriguing, it was hard to gain an emotional connection, at times.

The pacing picks up when the colonists launch into space. When they arrive at the strange world, there are intriguing problems to be faced and the book seems to jump into a slightly different direction...as if two books have formed one. I enjoyed the mix of science fiction with hints of fantasy, and found the entire setting original. The basis for future books in the series is well laid during this part as well.

While this isn't completely my type of read, it's very well done and is sure to delight readers who enjoy rich worlds, well-laid out plots, and look forward to being invited to ponder situations long after the book is laid down. I received a complimentary copy and found this to be a thought-provoking read. ( )