PMSteve
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The synopsis tells you the basics of this story. What it doesn’t tell you is that the humanity between the characters and the relationships will bring you to tears.
As the title says, I read this book in one sitting and was never bored. That’s unusual for me. Even the best books will quite often have parts that don’t ‘flow’ as well as others. This causes boredom; not so with Black Earth.
The interaction wbetween Carrick and Eric quickly formed into a beautiful friendship that spanned the 75 million miles between Earth and Black Earth. These two main characters will keep you fully involved in this lesson in alternate history.
The story answers a lot of questions that have plagued archeologists and historians for hundreds of years. It’s fun to see how everything comes together. Einstein, Hitler and Werner Von Braun we once close associates on Black Earth, as was Julius Caesar and others. The revelations you’ll discover in Black Earth will leave you floored!
The ending brought tears to my eyes and made my heart swell as it describes a love story for the ages. Better than Romeo and Juliet by far. Sometimes you’ll read a good book only to have the ending be disappointing or end in a cliff hanger to be continued in the nextbook of an expensive series. Not here! Black Earth is so satisfying from start to finish that you’ll believe you have read a modern classic.
This book is fun, exciting and charming. You could do worse, but I doubt you could find better!
William Marr
Dawn D.
Edge of your seat thriller – What a great read! Absolutely thrilling from beginning to end. The parallels to our current situation are ironic and sometimes funny. You may get a sense of where the book is going but you will and one shocked in the end. The last few chapters will have you in tears. I highly recommend this book.
Steve C.
AMAZING – The most amazing book I have ever read hands down without compare! THIS MUST BE A MOVIE ONE DAY!!!
William D.
Quick upbeat Sci-fi read Upbeat Sci-fi novel with a strong moral argument against segregation, xenophobia, and racism. It promotes the argument that truth is still paramount even as technology advances.
Mark Rievley
NOT a science fiction story – As a child, I enjoyed science fiction and have always been fascinated by astronomy and our universe, but Star Wars and other stories were just not believable to me and I sort of outgrew it. After ordering and reading this Kindle sample, I was hooked! I purchased the Kindle eBook version but now I must have the paperback. This was a very heartwarming story that pulled me back to earth after traveling a small portion of the cosmos. The best part was that all of it is totally believable!!! There was just enough science to make it interesting but, more than that, more heart than I ever expected from this book. We all wonder, but it’s so comforting to know that we can take bits and pieces of life and imagine our own afterlife. This story definitely gave me ideas, thoughts, questions and most importantly, hope. The author is a friend of the family that has certainly impressed me with his first novel. Thank you, Michael. What a treat!!
Elaine M. Robinson
Highly recommend!! – Black Earth is a well-crafted tale where the author masterfully weaves history through this science fiction love story. The enchanting character, Erik, stole the heart of this reader. Erik was the wise, gentle, witty grandfather type of character who shared his stories and wisdom with his young comrade. His painstaking yet beautiful love story ultimately changed history.
Grant Lopez
Captivating Story – Few books I have read are as captivating as this novel here. Starting with the narration style. Characters are diverse and well detailed; the emotion of the characters is felt throughout the book. The writer makes great diligence of using scientific research to back claims it has made in the story. Making the flow of the book strong and without contradiction. The characters hold values, opinions, and ideas, giving them a uniqueness that plays into the emotional stance of the book. Another note to make is that there seem to be hints of hidden meaning, asking the questions of the origin and existence of man. Much like a utopian or even dystopian novel, it teaches a lesson. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who seeks an adventure in space and is curious in the potential origin of this world.
Joshila Bhula
Black Earth: How We Got Here is a must read book – It has a very interesting story line with lots of emotions, excitement, informational and filled with adventure. My favorite characters are Carrick and Eric, how their relationship grows from the time they first met till the end.
Mary Black
Animal Farm Revisited? – Wow! As I read this book and the lessons it teaches, I was reminded of reading Animal Farm in high school. The comparisons stop there, though. I find Michel Cook’s writing much more entertaining and well woven. By the time I was halfway through the prologue, I was thinking what a good movie this could be. Now, I’m hoping it will happen. It’s an epic story. Best book I’ve read in years! I HIGHLY recommend you read this amazing book!
Addicting! – The book had me interested throughout the whole adventure! Must read!
Karen Cook
Wow so much more than title reveals – While I never imagined being remotely interested in this genre of reading, I found it to be a wonderful collaboration of multiple genres from science fiction mystery romance and more! Thought-provoking every page of the way. Look forward to more this author has to offer.
Excellent Read! – I could not put this book down! This was a very intriguing story. I loved all the characters and especially the relationship between Carrick and Erik. The book was beautifully written, and it definitely kept my interest from start to finish. It was well thought out and will keep you wanting to turn that next page! I am hoping there will be a sequel!
V. Preston
Newly discovered planet reveals mankind’s origin on Earth – A gripping journey across our solar system to a newly discovered planet, revealing a rich history of a doomed civilization and the destiny of the planet’s former inhabitants. A great read and well crafted, well researched sci-fi novel that brings us along on one man’s mission of both scientific and personal discovery. A heartwarming story that doesn’t disappoint!
Stephanie
Black Earth – Great story. Great read from front to back. Has a good story line that has something in store for everyone. Highly recommend!
Intriguing, Heart-Warming Science Fiction – Author Michael Cook took me on an exciting journey that served as a great escape from reality and also offered some intriguing insight. I’d love to read more from this author!
Eric Mayhue
Very Exciting! – I Couldn’t Put it Down! I would highly recommend Black Earth: How We Got Here to any fan of the science fiction genre. The writing style reminded me of Ray Bradbury with the modern flair of Ernest Cline. I’m planning on reading it again in the next few days to see if there was anything I missed!
Holly Sink
Great read – What an adventure!!! This is a well written story that is a great escape with humor, drama, and human connection. Worth every minute spent on the journey. Looking forward to more adventures with author, hopefully soon.
Amazon Customer
A book everyone should read! – A creative take on the question humans have had since the beginning of time. Is there life out there? Are we alone in the universe? Where did we, the human race, truly come from? This sci-fi novel is not just filled with adventure, laughter, and true love. It is also a story that delivers a powerful message that humanity desperately needs to hear.