Review: The Scent of Distant Worlds by W.D. County

Leaving behind all you have known for worlds that humans have never seen may sound like a grand and honorable adventure, but troubles – both internal and external – are bound to arise. In The Scent of Different Worlds by W.D. County, the crew of The Far Traveler is on a mission to explore an inhabitable world in the Goldilocks Zone, a potential new home that can support life, but the sacrifices they must make are daunting no matter where or when you’re from.

The crew has the opportunity to explore some of the first intelligent life forms to have ever developed outside of Earth, but this book is far from a dry academic exploration of another planet. However, for a science-loving reader, it is impossible to dismiss the level of detail and research that has gone into the narrative meat of this novel. Complex ideas requiring knowledge of organic processes and creative explanations for the unique life forms found on the newly discovered planet smack of authorial expertise in the field, and make the reading experience authentic and eye-opening.

When human beings are trapped in a confined space for weeks on end – particularly when years/decades are passing back on Earth and their partners and lovers will be ancient or deceased upon their return – there is inevitable sexual tension. From the free-spirited Li to the deeper love between Cassie and Jonas, the ship and its crew is a veritable network of romantic intrigue and possibility. This helps to personalize each of the characters outside of their assigned roles onboard, and welcomes the reader into their world, creating both the feel and voyeuristic appeal of a reality show.

The excitement of exploration and undiscovered boundaries fades quickly, as it becomes clear that the crew is far from alone on this hostile world. As crew members are lost and faith in the mission wavers, the idyllic start to this novel shifts to a fast-paced story of survival and resilience. County does an excellent job of vacillating between moments of panic and action to slower segments of believable dialogue and sincere human interactions, encompassing the whole gamut of character emotions, making this novel anything but one note.

The language also boasts subtle moments of exceptional beauty, such as this early gem: “Duties would replace flights of fear and fantasy as gravity reasserted its authority, drawing untethered objects and dreams to the ground.” An author that can captivate a reader’s attention with an original tale and imbue it with sparkling, patient prose is one to keep an eye on.

What begins as pure sci-fi descends into a mystic, otherworldly style that taps into spirituality, time travel, ancient links to a much greater evil and the fragile nature of the human psyche. County creates a masterful novel with no obvious missteps, and plenty of inspired plot twists. Where so many books in this genre stumble – weak dialogue, blatant plot holes, stilted character dynamics – The Scent of Distant Worlds shines, for an elaborate and exhilarating space adventure.