Science fiction and romance form the perfect partnership in The Space Traveller’s Lover by Omara Williams – an exceptional novel that will woo all young and adult book lovers.
The course of true love never did run smooth, as Shakespeare put it, and in the winning new sci-fi romance novel The Space Traveller’s Lover by Omara Williams, we see the truth of this maxim dialled up to maximum.
For, at the centre of this engrossing story, is the challenging relationship between an exceptional young woman, Erin, and a dashing alien, Rothwen.
All relationships come with some degree of necessary sacrifice, but in this stellar couple’s case their eventual union may lead to nothing less than the destruction of humanity itself.
We first meet Erin on her 16th birthday. The 21st century is coming to its close and the world is in deep trouble, with environmental collapse well advanced after centuries of ecological exploitation and harm.
This has not escaped her tiny part of the world, a remote pacific island, and she has volunteered her time to assist in aid and rescue missions.
But, for the most part, life on Tinian is calm and uneventful. An orphan, she lives with her adoptive parents, who are practical and cold people by nature, and divides her time between assisting with the running of their tuna farm and enjoying the wilderness and solitude.
This she prefers to the company of others, with her peers rejecting her because of her unusual, yet beautiful, appearance, her fierce intelligence and her abiding inner strength and self-determination.
There is one potential love interest on her island, the likeable ‘boy next door’ Sam Sheppard, but he has yet to declare himself, and in any case her stern father objects to any notions of blossoming romance.
Partly in defiance, she chooses to spend the evening of her 16th birthday with Sam, when together they venture to the stunning yet dangerous Diablo’s cave.
The coast holds a certain lure for Erin, since she has in recent months spotted a mysterious silver sphere in that region.
Still, the two are only thinking of the adventure within the cave, until an unexpected encounter at a dangerous waterfall leads them to an unusual chamber that pulsates with an eerie orange glow.
Within moments, a glittering silver craft emerges from the water and opens to reveal a spaceman. As he zones in on the pair, they collapse into unconsciousness, having been affected by a paralysing invisible force.
When Erin regains her senses, she finds herself floating inside an icy bubble. Her sense of alarm and confusion is perfectly conveyed by the author in this passage which, a hallmark of William’s writing, has that rare gift of connecting you to the characters, their experiences, and emotions in a palpable way.
As Erin wakes up and slowly opens her eyes, an intense glow hurts her pupils. She covers her face with her hands and tries to peer through the narrow slit between her fingers, but she cannot focus on anything.
She takes a deep breath, but the rushing cold air numbs her throat. Next, she tries to get up, but as she does, her body flips backwards, and she realises she’s floating in mid-air. Aimlessly spinning, she cries out for help, but no matter how hard she tries, she cannot hear her screams.
The mystification only compounds when Erin notices that she is being keenly observed by three strangers. One, however, is yet still familiar to her – because he is the spitting image of the man she has been seeing in fantastic dreams.
This figure, Rothwen, is an elite space traveller of the Rom-Ghenshars. Physically an Adonis, with chiselled features set by a crown of the finest ivory white hair, he is somewhat stark and domineering, yet at the same time warm towards Erin in a way his companions are not.
He informs Erin that he has been monitoring her for some time because he is fascinated with her as she has a special heritage that makes her unique upon her planet. This is not relayed with malice but with an affection that cannot be masked, and which sets him apart from the rest of his species.
Erin can only listen in astonishment as it is explained to her that the Rom-Ghenshars have visited Earth once before, some 10,000 years ago, when their plans for conquest were thwarted by humanity.
Now they have come back, genetically enhanced and immortal, with any vestiges of emotions stripped from their makeup. Apparently, they are here for peaceful purposes but secretly they plan to exact their long overdue revenge and plunder the planet of what little natural resources it has left.
Erin cannot but help be drawn to the magnetic Rothwen, despite his sense of superiority, and is only too happy to undergo a transformation that will bring out the powers inherent in her unique heritage.
Changed, and given the new name of “Shaillah”, she is able to visit the home world of the Rom-Ghenshars, which is majestically alien and vividly described by the author, whose writing is lyrical and sensitive in equal measure.
The catch, however, is that she must forsake her humanity, and move on from those she has cared for in her former life, not least Sam.
The temptation is intense, both for the opportunity to be with the almost irresistible Rothwen and to enjoy a sense of belonging that has previously been lacking.
But suspicious of the Rom-Ghenshars and their plans, she is hesitant. Locked in this heart-wrenching dilemma is more than personal fulfilment; a wrong decision could spell annihilation for all of humankind.
The Space Traveller’s Lover is one of those books that quickly captivates the reader’s attention – not least through the gorgeous black and white illustrations between chapters – and never lets go until the stunning finale, throwing in fast-paced action and a generous supply of twists-and-turns along the way.
What I loved the most about it, and there’s a lot to adore, is that the conflict is between two characters who have won your heart.
The fact that they share an electric fondness and are trying to determine whether they have a future together – while also battling over the fate of an entire planet – is simply without parallel.
Williams conveys this vulnerability so well, with the rich, delicate language that gilds the narrative, immersing you in their plight.
Like with a pure romance, you are desperate for the couple to embrace and are stung by the same pains that separate them on love’s battlefield.
At the same time, your mind is whirring double-time as the author raises many profound questions concerning the nature of the human condition, the meaning of home and belonging, loyalty vs duty, and our mistreatment of Mother Nature.
Very much a coming-of-age story, it rightfully puts Erin front and centre in the narrative as she grows in understanding, confidence and power.
I like how the day will be won, or lost, through emotions, not brute strength. Erin is the voice of compromise and reason against an alien force that professes superiority yet fails to act in kind.
Her caring and compassion – the very qualities that Rothwen and his kind insist on stamping out – will be pivotal to how events play out.
And it is a fight on many levels – for her identity, her world, and her impossible love with Rothwen, which will take every ounce of her being to resolve.
There is so much to commend here but, mostly, I like how the story makes us reflect on our own actions and constantly reminds us that it is love, not hate, that holds the key to all problems.
While the novel is marketed as young adult fiction, aficionados of science fiction and romance will revel in it regardless of age.
And the fact that author Omara Williams – originally from Cuba and now living in Cambridge, England – is as big a fan of science as adventure stories enables her to paint on the biggest canvas, the universe, while imbuing it with warmth and sentiment.
Thrilling from start to finish—The Space Traveller’s Lover is a must-read.
The Space Traveller’s Lover by Omara Williams is out now on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and eBook formats, priced at £27.99, £13.95 and £2.99 respectively. For more information visit www.omarawilliamsbooks.com. You can also follow Omara Williams on Twitter @williams_omara, and on Facebook or Instagram at @OmyWilliams.
Interview With Author Omara Williams
Sci-fi romance author Omara Williams tells us more about her suspenseful, fast-paced and inspirational novel The Space Traveller’s Lover.
Q. You have long aspired to become an author. What compels you to write?
A. The challenge and satisfaction of creation compel me to write. My infinite curiosity makes me wonder about everything that happens in nature and, as I write, I discover more questions that need answering. Of course, working on a science-fiction backdrop, I can let my imagination run wild and often surprise myself with what I can imagine and put into words.
I keep reading The Space Traveller’s Lover and often wonder, ‘How did I imagine this event?’ And that gives me immense satisfaction.
Q. What are you most proud about concerning your debut novel?
A. I am very proud of having published it. When I first started, it seemed an impossible task.
After working tirelessly on the storyline and characters, I feel a great sense of achievement when I see my efforts realised in the form of a beautiful book that has not only a story to tell but also messages of love, self-questioning, and self-discovery.
But the proudest moments are when I get comments from my readers describing precisely the feelings I wanted them to feel when reading my book. For example: “ … the scenes were so mesmerising that you could feel it while reading. The description of each and everything has been pinpointed. The story builds up in the first half and takes up pace from its second half, and the climax will give you goosebumps …”
Q. Where do you get your ideas and information for your writing from?
A. As I am always reading and travelling to fascinating places on different astronomy projects, I had a lot of ideas in my head, and the more I thought about them, the more ideas came.
Building up on my scientific background, I knew I wanted to write a science-fiction book where I could explore the greatest questions and mysteries of our time. Then, since I have always been amazed by the power of love, I decided to mix the romantic element in my story.
Eventually, I had to sit in front of the computer and write down all these ideas. It was such a relief to see all my thoughts come to life in the form of written words on a document. After that, I could not stop!
Q. What is that one thing that makes your writing unique and different from others?
A. Set at the end of the 21st century, The Space Traveller’s Lover takes the reader on a journey to the edge of world annihilation, where all hopes of survival seem lost, but at every dead-end, there is an unexpected twist that changes everything.
As much a romance as a science fiction adventure, the narrative is fast-paced, questioning, and ultimately a story of triumph against all the odds, with an intriguing and emotionally-fuelled storyline.
This inspirational love story brings about a sense of hope and expectation as the main characters confront their intense feelings and discover the one and only thing they can’t live without.
Q. Who or what inspired you when creating the main characters in your book?
A. Most of the characters in the book are unique to the story and are inspired by it.
I created my Protagonist, Erin Lobart, to be beautiful, thoughtful, and sensitive but also determined to fight for what she believes in and cares for. She needed all these qualities to confront the stubborn and ruthless alien invaders, especially Rothwen, who inspires an irresistible attraction in her.
For my Antagonist, Kuzhma-Or, the superbly intelligent, manipulative, and vengeful Rom-Ghenshar Supreme Commander, I wanted to create an all-powerful, invincible leader that would stay in Erin’s way to save planet Earth and humanity.
Athguer, the Rom-Ghenshar chief scientist, is based on the many scientists I have read about. Mainly, however, he is a mixture of Albert Einstein and Michael Faraday.
But some characters are based solely on some of my absolute heroes. For example, Zula-Or, the Rom-Ghenshar high councillor, is based on Dame Joan Collins, and Professor Khan, Earth’s chief scientist, is based on Professor Michio Kaku.
Q. Your novel has delighted readers, but which books and authors delight you?
A. I have read many books and have so many favourite authors that it’s difficult for me to make a shortlist. I would definitely include Jules Verne, Alexander Dumas, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke in this list.
My top three books are The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov, The Black Tulip by Alexander Dumas and Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne.
Q. The novel is unusual in featuring illustrations. How did this come about?
A. As I write, I like to visualise everything. So, I drew out the scenes and the characters’ physiques in detail. Then I made a wall chart where I could place carton cards containing a summary of each chapter to set up a storyboard from the initial, middle and final scenes.
As such, I had plenty of drawings that I could utilise to illustrate my book. I worked with an illustrator who helped give the final touches and then selected one for each chapter and one for the front cover.
I hope the illustrations, in addition to the narrative, help the readers immerse themselves into my book’s otherworldly scenes and unique characters.
Q. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
A. In my spare time, when not writing or working on software development, I love reading, listening to music, travelling, learning new languages, sky watching and attending astronomy-related projects and events.
Q. If there is one message that you want readers to take away from your novel, what is it, and why is it important to you?
A. There are many important messages that I want the readers to take away from my novel. They are important to me because they represent my values.
We live on a beautiful, unique planet; let’s preserve its rich biodiversity and delicate environment. Let’s love our planet. We can’t discard the possibility of an alien invasion, and we must be prepared. Hostility is not an option. And finally, when all seems lost, don’t give up. Love is all you need when there seems to be no tomorrow.
Q. Having now made your mark as an author, where will you go from here?
A. I am planning to write the second part of The Space Traveller’s Lover, which will explore and develop many storylines from the first. Expect more space travel, alien invasions, clash of civilisations, and dramatic love stories to make us think and reflect on our place in this vast universe we inhabit.