Exit Black - by Joe Pitkin (Paperback)

About the Book

"Imperium is the most expensive structure ever created. Once an orbiting laboratory, it is now a space hotel for the fantastically wealthy. But as the station preps for its first group of space tourists, Dr. Chloe Bonilla, Imperium's resident biophysicist, finds herself questioning whether babysitting a passel of space glampers is worth the distraction from her research. A private rocket delivers a rogues' gallery of the world's elite to Imperium: eccentric billionaires, callow tech bros, a sponsored Instagram influencer, and a seemingly saintly philanthropist. However, posing among the staff are members of a global terrorist group who call themselves the Reckoners, hell bent on upending the economic inequality of twenty-first-century Earth--and they have a bone to pick with these scions of the 1 percent. As the Reckoners take control of Imperium and demand an $8 billion ransom from their wealthy hostages, it's up to Dr. Bonilla to save them, and fast. Or the captives will be forced to exit the station--and there's only one way out."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Air Force One meets The Martian--with a dash of Knives Out--in this action-packed sci-fi thriller.

Imperium is the most expensive structure ever created. Once an orbiting laboratory, it is now a space hotel for the fantastically wealthy. But as the station preps for its first group of space tourists, Dr. Chloe Bonilla, Imperium's resident biophysicist, finds herself questioning whether babysitting a passel of space glampers is worth the distraction from her research.

A private rocket delivers a rogues' gallery of the world's elite to Imperium: eccentric billionaires, callow tech bros, a sponsored Instagram influencer, and a seemingly saintly philanthropist. However, posing among the staff are members of a global terrorist group who call themselves the Reckoners, hell bent on upending the economic inequality of twenty-first-century Earth--and they have a bone to pick with these scions of the 1 percent.

As the Reckoners take control of Imperium and demand an $8 billion ransom from their wealthy hostages, it's up to Dr. Bonilla to save them, and fast. Or the captives will be forced to exit the station--and there's only one way out.

Review Quotes

"[An] exciting sci-fi thriller...Pitkin's research shines, as realistic dangers--including low gravity and depressurization--propel the plot. Fans of suspenseful hard science fiction will revel in every detail."

-- "Publishers Weekly"

"This low-g version of Die Hard will appeal to fans of fast-paced adventure with a science fiction twist in a familiar, not-too-distant future."

-- "Booklist"

"Fans of the movies Knives Out and Die Hard, plus authors such as Blake Crouch and Andy Weir, may want to add this to their to-be-read list."

-- "Library Journal"

"This mash-up of Die Hard and Gravity is an action-adventure reader's dream. The pacing is relentless and claustrophobic, making it impossible to stop turning the pages. Pitkin has written a winner."

-- "Jeff Ayers, First Clue"

"Die Hard in zero g--Exit Black is the very definition of a page-turner."

-- "David Pedreira, author of The Never Wars"