Colony High - by David Brin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

High school is hard enough. It gets a lot harder after the aliens show up.In the captivating YA science fiction novel "Colony High" by acclaimed author David Brin, the skeptical high school junior, Mark Bamford, finds himself caught up in a web of mystery and extraterrestrial intrigue. Living in the seemingly ordinary town of Twenty-Nine Palms, California, Mark dismisses the absurd rumor circulating among his classmates--an alien stranded in their midst. Such a clichéd movie rip-off, right? Can't the math geeks come up with a more convincing hoax?Yet, Mark's doubts crumble when enigmatic black vans belonging to the secretive Cirocco Corporation swarm the town, conducting a relentless search for something unknown. With his trusty friend Alexandra by his side, Mark embarks on a daring investigation of his own. However, they soon realize that their social circle--comprised of skateboarding "X" enthusiasts and the varsity climbing team--is hardly equipped to face the challenges that lie ahead.Drawing upon their ingenuity and a touch of double-dealing, Mark and Alexandra race against time to uncover the truth. As they dig deeper, they discover that the truth they seek may not be far away--it could be lurking right next door.In "Colony High," Brin weaves a gripping tale of friendship, discovery, and the extraordinary hidden secrets that lie beneath the surface of the familiar. Prepare to be captivated as Mark and Alexandra's journey unravels the mysteries that will forever alter their lives and the fate of their town.

About the Author

David's non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Make Us Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Award from the American Library Association.A 1998 movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Brin's 1989 thriller - Earth - foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. David's novel Kiln People has been called a book of ideas disguised as a fast-moving and fun noir detective story, set in a future when new technology enables people to physically be in more than two places at once. A hardcover graphic novel The Life Eaters explored alternate outcomes to WWII, winning nominations and high praise.David's science fictional Uplift Universe explores a future when humans genetically engineer higher animals like dolphins to become equal members of our civilization. These include the award-winning Startide Rising, The Uplift War, Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore and Heaven's Reach. He also recently tied up the loose ends left behind by the late Isaac Asimov: Foundation's Triumph brings to a grand finale Asimov's famed Foundation Universe.Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI and nanotechnology, future/prediction and philanthropy.As a public speaker, Brin shares unique insights -- serious and humorous -- about ways that changing technology may affect our future lives. He appears frequently on TV, including several episodes of "The Universe" and History Channel's "Life After People." He also was a regular cast member on "The ArciTECHS."Brin's scientific work covers an eclectic range of topics, from astronautics, astronomy, and optics to alternative dispute resolution and the role of neoteny in human evolution. His Ph.D in Physics from UCSD - the University of California at San Diego (the lab of nobelist Hannes Alfven) - followed a masters in optics and an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Caltech. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Space Institute. His technical patents directly confront some of the faults of old-fashioned screen-based interaction, aiming to improve the way human beings converse online.Brin lives in San Diego County with his wife and three children.