LOST UNDER
TWO MOONS, by Lindsay
Schopfer is an intriguing debut novel by an indie author. I was up until 2:00 am reading it--I found it that compelling.
The Blurb:
Alone. Stranded. Richards Parks, a college student from
Washington State, finds himself on Other World, a place of fantasy and horror.
With no companion but a makeshift journal, Richard must quickly learn the
unfamiliar dangers around him as he struggles daily to survive. From the
approach of winter to eerily intelligent packs of nightmarish creatures, each
entry details another trial of life or death. But when Richard finds the
remnants of an ancient civilization, he begins to wonder if he is truly alone,
and whether or not the lost people of Other World still hold the secrets that
could return him home to Earth.
My Review:
Lost Under Two Moons is an unusual science fiction
adventure. It is a castaway tale, with a real twist. There are only two
characters, which is an intriguing notion in itself. The majority of the novel
is comprised of journal entries written by the protagonist, Richard. His frank
observations and wry commentary are impossible to put down. There are also
journal entries written by an alien archeologist, and this juxtaposition is
quite well done.
It soon becomes clear Richard is never going home. Despite
the weight of severe depression and loneliness he is unwilling to die. He finds
the strength within himself to do many things he never thought himself capable of through trial and error, using only the things he has available from his crash
landing. The author never resorts to conveniently placed items. Richard has to
craft what he needs and his tools and his efforts are crude, but he is able to
survive by using his creativity.
There is a great deal of action, as Richard must deal with
alien wildlife and learn what plants and animals he can eat, and which beasts he
should fear. Shelter and reliable sources of water remain a struggle for him,
and what works one day often does not work the next. His basic resources are
limited, though his difficulties are not.
Richard must adapt or die.
The tale is exceedingly well-crafted, not at all a rehash of
Robinson Crusoe gets lost in another dimension, as it so could easily have
become. Schopfer weaves the story in
such a way the reader experiences Richard’s triumphs and tragedies as he
recounts them in his diary.
I found myself thinking about Richard Parks long after I finished
the book—a sure sign of a great tale.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Lindsay Schopfer is also the author of The Beast Hunter, an online fantasy serial and has had numerous short stories and articles published. Since 2011, he has served as the Sci-fi/Fantasy category chair for the Pacific Northwest Writers Association's annual literary contest.
