Review: Through a Forest of Stars by David C. Jeffrey

Author David C. Jeffrey plunges readers into a grim and gorgeous future for humanity in Through a Forest of Stars. Following in the astral footsteps of legendary sci-fi world-builders, this first installment of the Space Unbound series is an original and thrilling space drama.

Since humanity’s epic discovery of voidoids – portals to other solar systems – the species’ fingers have spread through the stars, though there is a mysterious limit to this new era of exploration. Despite this revelatory shift in the 22nd century, “bound space” seems to be an endless sea of dead moons and planets, but humanity finally discovers a glimmer of hope – an inhabitable Earth-like planet that could be the species’ long-sought salvation.

Aiden Macallan and his trusted AI companion are experienced spacers, and are quite used to long periods of isolation as they survey barren celestial neighbors, but the opportunity to explore an (almost) virgin world is a rare chance that Aiden eagerly accepts. However, this rugged, witty, and dauntless protagonist isn’t the only person interested in what this new haven has to offer, nor is the planet as innocent and empty as it first seems.

Channeling endearing humanoid-robot relationships from “Star Wars,” future tech from “The Expanse,” and philosophical questions about cosmic exploration and our relationship with nature that would make Asimov and Heinlein tip their caps, this book is far more than sci-fi pulp. Jeffrey is able to take classic sci-fi storylines – the discovery of a new world, a lone adventurer in the vacuum of space – and give them each a deep breath of original life. The dreamy elements of the plot, particularly inside Aiden’s tangled mind, add another vexing aspect to the story, layering suspense and wonder to an already jaw-dropping premise.

The writing in a lot of modern sci-fi writing often veers towards over-the-top action or tech that overshadows character development, or dense military drama that can often be dour and redundant. This novel has flashes of these familiar elements, but they are well-balanced and managed by a skilled wordsmith. Jeffrey has a clear understanding of military hierarchy and decorum between officers, but the pacing is kept high, and Jeffrey knows how to ramp up adrenaline at the turn of a page. Perhaps most impressively is the dense science that serves as the foundation for this story – for those who love real science in their science fiction, this book will not disappoint. Astronomers, physicists, environmentalists, anthropologists, and engineers alike will all be able to appreciate the care and detail that went into this solid work of hard sci-fi.

On the technical side, the novel is very cleanly edited, but the writing regularly has issues with dialogue, as character consistency sometimes stumbles during conversations, momentarily taking readers out of the story due to narrative clumsiness or lack of believability. That said, the majority of this novel is polished, well-paced, unpredictable, and thrilling, making Through a Forest of Stars an excellent launching point for Jeffrey’s sprawling new series.