The Comet’s Curse

If you believe the movies, the only reason to worry about a comet is when it’s on a trajectory to collide with Earth.  But in The Comet’s Curse by Dom Testa, it’s not the comet itself that is dangerous, it’s what it’s carrying: a plague.  Within nine months of Comet Bhaktul passing Earth, it seemed certain that anyone over the age of 18 would soon contract Bhaktul disease and die. 

There is no known cure for the disease, and only one solution: find a group of the smartest, most adaptable, most physically fit teens and train them for a five-year space travel mission to settle Eos, a planet which seems able to support human life.  Sound crazy?  Maybe it is, but it could be humanity’s only chance of survival.

I have to say, this book sucked me in!  As I was reading, I could completely envision this book as a TV series.  There are great characters, a mystery, and flashbacks to the crew members’ lives before joining the Galahad. 

If you’re smart but not a people person, you’ll feel for Bon, the 15-year-old Head of Agriculture, but if you’re the ultimate people person with a cheery disposition, you’ll like Channy, the Activities Director. Maybe you’re like Triana, the reserved 16-year-old Captain of the Galahad, who must shoulder the burdens of command.  Or Gap, the Head of Engineering, who must deal with the technical problems a 5 year space mission will encounter (not to mention a crush on another crew member).  And I can’t forget Roc, the ship’s computer, which was programmed with the personality of its creator.

The Comet’s Curse was a quick read and a satisfying story, but it left plenty of questions for sequels.  Can Roc really be trusted?  Will the entire crew make it to Eos, and what will the planet be like? What are the mystery items locked away in the Storage Section, and will the crew really be able to resist looking inside? Will those left behind on Earth ever find a cure for Bhaktul disease?

Check out The Comet’s Curse by Dom Testa, now available at the library, and try reading Triana’s journal, at the Club Galahad website.

Katie