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Description
The mining ship El Cavador, beyond Pluto, detects a fast-moving object headed toward Earth. The crew decides it's probably not important, but they're wrong: it represents the opening wave of the first Formic War. The coauthor is Aaron Johnston. Book #1
Quick Summary
If you loved Ender's Game and have ever wondered how it all started, this book shows the moment humanity first realizes we're not alone in the universe and completely underestimate the threat. The story follows the crew of a gruff, working-class mining ship way out past Pluto who pick up something on their sensors that doesn't belong, setting off a chain of events that leads directly into the war we know from Ender's Game. What makes this one stand out is seeing the "before" picture these aren't elite military kids, they're real working people with complicated relationships and realistic problems, which gives the story a different feel than the Battle School books. It's a fast-paced sci-fi adventure with plenty of tension and some genuinely scary moments, though it's more about discovery and first contact than nonstop action. Fans of military sci-fi, anyone curious about the Formic Wars' backstory, or teens who want something meatier than typical YA will probably devour this.