ORB

A crew exploring a deep-space planet encounters paranoia and isolation in Tarulli’s SF novel.

The 23rd-century wormhole-travelling ship Desio undertakes an expedition to a tranquil planet with a human life–supporting atmosphere. The destination is called 231-P5, though “Orb” is ultimately adopted as a better moniker. This has not been humankind’s first sally to P5/Orb; a crew on a previous voyage to gather mineral samples suffered stressful psychological side effects from isolation. This new trip boasts five gifted researchers in different fields, chosen for their brilliance, plus the first-person narrator Kyle Lorenzo, a writer included to record a full chronicle (even though Earth culture, sketchily described and not very pleasant sounding, seems to have lost regard for the printed word). During the outbound trip, Kyle begins a passionate affair with the ship’s physician, Kelly Takara, but she finds him emotionally remote (though he dotes on Angie, the pet dog he demanded be brought along). Meanwhile, insular physicist Larry Melhaus forsakes all interpersonal relationships to focus obsessively on the science. Orb, a geometrically perfect, moonless, water-covered planet, has a hospitable climate but no apparent life other than oxygen-producing phytoplankton. No evolution, environmental diversity, or volcanic activity appears to have disturbed the place for eons. Distant spherelike objects materialize on the water, tentatively approaching the human camp. Are they machines? Life forms? Dangerous? While the rest of the ensemble puzzle over it all in wonder, Melhaus falls prey to increasing instability and paranoia. Seasoned SF readers may recognize the major plot point approaching from light years away, but Tarulli’s pellucid, companionable prose (imagine Michael Crichton writing in an especially philosophical and upbeat manner, without a Hollywood contract lurking in the foliage) and abundant generosity of spirit toward his characters make this a satisfying ride, familiar elements and all. The integrity and intelligence of the material even survives the incorporation of a cute doggie in outer space (“In no time at all, she became our little mascot”), and that is a rather unearthly achievement all by itself.

There’s intelligent life in this SF yarn—a smashing beach read.