Dark Space

Dark Space is a captivating interstellar espionage thriller filled with deception, intrigue and heart. A story that’s equal parts science fiction entertainment and cautionary glimpse into our future. A stellar novel that has emerged with a big bang from the creative minds of Rob Hart and Alex Segura.

The Mosaic is a spaceship manned by a half American, half Chinese crew that’s on a critical mission to ascertain the habitability of a planet outside our solar system. But when the ship experiences malfunctions, and the distress call and systems checks are wiped from the system, former best friends – pilot Jose Carriles and spy Corin Timony – independently realize this mission isn’t what it seems. As they seek answers and attempt to determine the true nature of the mission, they become entangled in a conspiracy and intergalactic conflict that threatens the very existence of humanity.

Dark Space is a wonderfully engrossing story with characters worthy of the investment of your time and emotional capital. It’s a well-written book that checks all the boxes of a traditional espionage novel, filled with suspense, political maneuvering, hidden agendas, misdirection, and trying to outwit your opponents. But the sci-fi aspect adds an extraordinary dimension, painting an incredible picture of the possibilities the universe possesses that we might one day be able to realize – for better or for worse.

There are also many lessons to be learned from this book. Starting with an acknowledgement that human nature and the trajectory of our current world will need to be reckoned with at some point in the future. But the lessons that really resonate, and my favorite part of the book, are the stories of redemption and hope. Falling down but picking yourself up. Stepping up and making difficult decisions when the need arises. And being part of something bigger than yourself, selflessly putting it all on the line for the benefit of the collective. Beautiful stuff intertwined in an enjoyably tense yet fun novel.

This book is fantastic! Kudos to Hart and Segura for teaming up to deliver this cosmic tale. Hopefully there’s more to come. Because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters and the worlds they inhabit.

If you like reading about space, spies, and thrilling intrigue then “Dark Space” is a book for you! Rob Hart and Alex Segura do an amazing job at combining those subjects into a heart-pounding adventure that keeps you guessing.

This novel combines a character intensity reminiscent of “Star Trek” with the mysterious danger of planet exploration like the movie “Prospect”; this story grabs ahold of you from the very beginning.

With one main character on their maiden voyage to an unknown planet, and the other on the ground, both start to realize something is not quite right. With betrayals and new alliances, the fight for humanity is front and center in this gripping tale.

Firstly, a huge thank you to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, the authors, Rob Hart and Alex Segura, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading a digital ARC copy of “Dark Space” for review! I’m such a huge fan of space operas in general, and this one did not disappoint. I will post my review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble upon release.

The influential and genre-defying writers Rob Hart and Alex Segura truly joined forces in "Dark Space," a sweeping sci-fi spy thriller that blends genres together in a seamless way. If you like Star Trek and detective shows, this is for you. “Dark Space” has a gripping narrative that is both expansive in its world and intimate with its characters.

The story centers on ace pilot Jose Carriles and former top spy Corin Timony, whose lives have taken unexpected turns. Carriles pilots the Mosaic—a massive ship going on the first-ever mission beyond our solar system. Timony, who was once preparing to become the best spy in the lunar colony’s intelligence arm, finds herself demoted to a desk job monitoring communications.

When the Mosaic experiences a series of strange malfunctions, Carriles takes a daring gamble to save the ship, only to uncover more than he bargained for about his employers; the true purpose might not be as straightforward as he was led to believe. At the same time, Timony notices a distress call sent from the Mosaic has been mysteriously erased, sending her into a whirlwind.

As the plot unfolds, Carriles and Timony find themselves ensnared in a star-spanning conspiracy, thrusting them into the darkest corners of their government and the solar system and forcing them to confront something as small as their own personal failures in the process. The narrative weaves together the kind of high-stakes action space opera lovers enjoy, as well as well-plotted espionage thrills, leading to something neither of them saw coming.

Hart and Segura’s writing is a lovely blend of action, intrigue, and emotional depth. The characters are well-crafted and delivered, with Carriles' resilience and Timony's tenacity always driving the story forward. The exploration of themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and redemption add more intricate layers to the thrilling plot.

In conclusion, "Dark Space" is a standout sci-fi thriller that will captivate fans of both genres. Hart and Segura have created a richly detailed world that is both thought-provoking and exhilarating, as well as compelling characters, and "Dark Space" is a must-read for anyone looking for an engaging and immersive adventure through the cosmos.

4.6/5 stars

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Another amazing sci fi book that I had trouble putting down and can’t wait to find out if there’s a sequel. Loved every moment while reading it!

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had a strong scifi feel to it and enjoyed the tense atmosphere that I wanted from this. I enjoyed that it uses the spy element in a way that worked with the space element. I enjoyed the overall story and how the characters worked in this universe. I could see the elements of other space stories but still be its own unique thing. Rob Hart & Alex Segura has a great writing style and enjoyed what I read.

TL;DR Review: A classic spy thriller…in space! Fast-paced, gripping, and intriguing.

Full Review:
Dark Space is the perfect book for fans of John Le Carre, a slow-burn yet quick-moving thriller that had me blazing through page after page to find out what the heck is going on.
From the beginning, it’s clear that things are NOT all right:
- Aboard the Mosaic, a colonizing ship hurtling through space toward a planet that is to be humanity’s hope of the future, pilot Jose Carriles suspects something is very much wrong when not one, not two, but three separate ship systems fail all at the same time. Worse, no one—not the captain nor the head engineer—seems interested in finding out.
- Back on New Destiny, humanity’s moon colony, Corin Timony receives a cryptic message from the Mosaic, only to have it immediately canceled. To top it off, she’d ordered to go home and forget about what she saw, only for a mysterious senator to push her to look into matters and for the only other person to see the Mosaic’s message to wind up dead.
Though light years and galaxies separate the two stories, it’s clear from the beginning that they are very much linked. Figuring out how is where the fun comes in.
The stakes are set from the very beginning, and the tension just gets ratcheted up with every new obstacle, enemy, discovery, and mystery. The pacing of each chapter is zippy enough to keep you wanting to read on—I said “just one more chapter” about a dozen times—and the hooks are baited so well that you’re drawn deeper and deeper.
I legitimately had knots in my shoulder as the story drew closer to revealing what the heck was going on, and even then, that’s just the beginning of MORE mystery, more suspense, more danger, and more challenges for the characters to overcome.
The action scenes were fun but short—this isn’t a Ludlum or Clancy thriller, but the sort that involves investigation over ass-kicking, problem-solving and people-handling over spaceship chases and gunfights.
But make no mistake: the book gives you all the excitement, intrigue, suspense, and exhilaration you could ask for. Atop that, the character work done into both Timony and Carriles was excellent, exploring their past screw-ups, present quagmires, and bleak futures in enough detail to make them easily relatable and grounded characters.
There’s even a bit of Star Trek-esque commentary on humanity woven nicely into the story. Through this adventure, we come face to face with both our flaws and fortes as a society. But by the ending, we’re shown a brighter way forward and left with a sense of hope that offers wonderful closure.
I enjoyed the hell out of this book—I read it in one day—and absolutely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a classic spy thriller…but set in space!

Who knew there was a subgenre of science fiction that is basically espionage in space? Turns out, it’s a real category and it’s great! The novel Deep Space by Rob Hart and Alex Segura drew me in with the synopsis-and it delivered. The story is told with two different perspectives, one pilot in space and one government agent on the moon. Scary situations are occurring in both narratives but neither person can figure out what is going on and why they are being steered in different directions. From the beginning this space mystery goes at a pretty adventurous speed, but at about 35% in- it really gets going. With a sprinkling of spy tech and tactics, hidden enemies and even first contact, this novel has all the science fiction ingredients I love. I hope these authors keep combining their skills because they worked together to create one of my favorite novels this year. If you like Mission Impossible movies and stories that are like puzzles, you may love this book! Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for a chance to read this earc in return for my honest opinion.