ASSIST
AN INTERSTELLAR ODYSSEY

by Steven Mathew Zellers

Narrated by: Melissa-Marie Shriner

Production by: Archway Publishing

An Answer to a Timeless Question

Eight generations of pioneers undertake a 300-year voyage to escape Earth's collapse, using a DNA database of over a million species to build a new world on a distant exoplanet. Their journey culminates in a shocking revelation, connecting them to beings that challenge the fundamental nature of the universe.

The author, Steven Mathew Zellers, tackles the timeless question of what humanity will do once Earth’s resources are depleted and presents a fascinating possibility. Its deliberate pacing allows the characters to be fully realized, drawing readers into their world. Early on, the two main characters—a couple entrusted with furthering the human race through their intelligence and skills—make the surprising choice to have a child, despite knowing they would not be awake to raise him and that his inclusion in the mission was unlikely. As a mother, this decision felt unrealistic to me, but beyond that, the book remains engaging and well written, capturing the intensity of exploration and discovery.

The narrator, Melissa-Marie Shriner, delivered a strong, grounded performance that added depth and presence to the audiobook. With smooth cadence and thoughtful energy, she brought the storyline and characters vividly to life. Her voice carried both nuance and power, capturing emotion without ever losing clarity.

It was a fascinating audiobook that presented another possible outcome to not saving Earth but rather saving humankind.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-biased, honest review.