Three ships move outward from Earth with the intent of reaching distant planets to colonize. After a year in space, one of the ships, New Hope 3, finds they are going to have to abort their mission. A course correction would burn up vital fuel they cannot afford to lose. Without it, they will run out of fuel before reaching maximum velocity and the trip to Epsilon Eridani will take a thousand years. Unexpectedly, a wormhole appears dead ahead. Unable to turn away, they suddenly find themselves sixteen and a half light years from home, approaching a very Earthlike planet. All seems to be going well until the other two ships, which had both been headed toward different destinations, arrive at the same planet. They realize that someone has orchestrated this. That shock is bad enough, but very soon after that, many of the female colonists disappear without a trace. [ This book is recommended for mature readers. ]
About the Author: I have written technical articles in various sciences (electronics, quantum physics, etc.). Most of these were work-related, but I've created science fiction stories since way back in high school ... over half a century ago. For example, I wrote for my school paper, but rather than ho-hum interviews with the football coach or the chemistry teacher, I wrote stories. While I did that for the enjoyment of the other students as well as for the love of science fiction and fantasy, many were deemed good enough to be reprinted in the local city paper as byline articles. You will find embedded in my stories some of my varied interests, ranging from quantum physics theory, electronic communications, electronics circuit design, working with lasers and microwave radio (lifetime federal license), computers, astronomy, chemistry, and the internet on through building small robots, riding my Harley motorcycle, martial arts (I have multiple black belts), marksmanship (I qualified as expert), writing, oil painting, and photography (to mention a few). These give a unique perspective on life which may be seen by the astute in the varied aspects of my stories. As a stickler for detail, I always try to make certain the science in my stories is either the latest views in the scientific community, or are my own interpretations and projections of logical science discoveries which will be coming in the future. I have tried to make the stories entertaining and thus have entered a few ideas into the stories which can only exist in the fantasy realm (such as the ghosts of the novel SOUL KEEPER). Here's a clue. If ideas in the books fall into the realm of the sciences, then they are true to the best of my knowledge of current or projected theory. As you sit and mull over all that, I will express the hope that you enjoy the stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.