It still amazes me that Daniel Suarez is not a household name. A former systems consultant to Fortune 1000 companies, he has continued to produce thought-provoking and highly engaging fiction with each novel he has written. His latest, CRITICAL MASS, is an outer space sci-fi adventure/thriller that clearly draws upon the work he did with NASA.

"What really makes the narrative sing and work so well is the intricate yet humbly detailed scientific and technical information that is so seamlessly woven throughout these pages."

This second installment in the Delta-v series is set between the years 2038 and 2042. The action begins with the Konstantin, an unsanctioned commercially owned asteroid-mining ship. A critical mission leads to two crew members being stranded, which is quite reminiscent of Andy Weir’s THE MARTIAN. Since Earth is all but consumed with geopolitical and climate change issues, all funding for space missions have grounded to a halt. Throw into the mix renewed Cold War-like fears, and you have a real potboiler on terra firma.

In order to save their colleagues, these pioneering astropreneurs will need to launch their own rescue, the outcome of which is completely uncertain and the risk factor quite high. Thus we have the opportunity to enjoy Suarez’s skill for creating suspense in high-tech situations.

It’s eye-opening how scarily plausible everything is. It seems that all the characters here have their own agendas and opinions that are not always in line with one another. Anyone who follows our current political landscape would be familiar with this depiction of red tape at such a high level, and Suarez utilizes this tactic to great extent. The rescue itself is stunning with plenty of thrills to please readers seeking high-octane charged moments.

What really makes the narrative sing and work so well is the intricate yet humbly detailed scientific and technical information that is so seamlessly woven throughout these pages. I was especially amazed and intrigued by the socioeconomic climate on Earth that is forcing us to mine and prepare the moon for possible occupancy.

Suarez provides a list of further reading suggestions at the end of the book. This gives instant credibility to all that he has recounted here and should appeal to those readers who wish to dive more deeply into the subject matter for their own edification. CRITICAL MASS is another hybrid success for Suarez and continues his string of exciting and informative novels.