Edge of your seat book read.

If you have a Nook book reader or if you have installed the Nook software on your PC and set up a (free) account through Barnes & Noble. There is a book you should know about.

I've never talked about anything on here that was not related to Ham Radio or Emergency Preparedness, but this is a well deserved exception.

The book is called OXYGEN by John Olson and Randy Ingermanson. It is available at Barnes & Noble as a hardback, paperback or as a NOOK Book (eBook).

The story follows 4 astronauts as they travel to Mars. It is one of the greatest WhoDoneIt's I have ever read! The first sentence in the book has the main character fighting for life and it never lets up. As soon as one disaster is ALMOST under control, here comes a worse one! Half way in you will suspect all the main characters of being a saboteur. Further in you will suspect all NASA employees. The ending is a twist you could not possibly see coming. Well written, believable characters you identify with. I stayed up late every night until I finished this book. I kept thinking that their situation couldn't possibly get any worse. It got 10 times worse. Again and again and again and ... Just read the book, you'll see what I mean.

Read the appendix, the authors have web sites with more info. By the way, every device mentioned in the book exists. Every process mentioned is real and is done on the Space Station. The book is technically, medically, and scientifically correct. You won't notice all that, though, you'll just wonder how anybody could get out of the fix the astronauts are in. And then the next fix is even more severe. This is like Job in the Old Testament. While he is being informed of one disaster someone runs up and tells him of another even worse disaster.

OXYGEN is only $2.99 in the Nook version.

When you finish that, try Michael Crichton's novel "Prey". An enemy so small it is invisible to the naked eye, travels in giant swarms, is programmed to kill off the human race and has no natural enemies. Super tiny flying robot "bugs" with wings and feet that can slice through flesh like it was warm butter. Oh, by the way, they have the ability to build more of themselves and to repair each other. They are also super smart and have the ability to learn and improvise. Good luck surviving the swarm! This is another "can't put it down" book.

Enjoy!

-O. D.- N7OZH