“Astraeus” by Callan J Mulligan - Book Review

Cover of Astraeus.

“Astraeus” is set aboard the titular long-distance colony ship on its maiden voyage to the galactic center, deep within the Milky Way. The journey was expected to last two hundred years, and therefore a one-way trip for all first-generation passengers. However, a chain of incidents, including a brutal murder, causes chaos on the starship. A diverse group of military and civilian leaders and passengers race against time to solve the mystery before their starship, and its hundred thousand passengers, are lost to the dark and empty void of space.

The story unfolds from the perspectives of several characters, such as Senator Cassian Abner, a member of the colony’s government; Lizabeth Denning, a daughter of wealth, who sees The Astraeus as a refuge from her troubled past; Carron Riddell, a young prodigy engineer, and Jim Atley, who won a lottery to join The Astraeus.

The characters, and those they interact with, are well-written. The author speaks through them as the passengers have to face the secrets they try to hide, their existential crisis, love, and their mortality. Although, at times, I wished for more character development and to see their inner turmoil.

Still, Mulligan crafts life on board the colony ship that is believable and easy to follow. The reader gets enough technical information about the way things work without being overwhelmed with the science and operations of the massive starship.

There is a fine line between a fast-paced, page-turning mystery thriller and a rushed plot; it’s one Mulligan sometimes crosses. For example, I would’ve liked to see a more in-depth description of the sociological and political situation on board. Given The Astraeus’ diverse population—military, political leaders, engineers, and various other groups—the author missed an opportunity to explore the conflicts between them. I also missed some background on the Galactic Commonwealth's politics outside Astraeus.

Nevertheless, Astraeus is an entertaining mystery thriller on board a spaceship. I’m looking forward to discovering who’s responsible for the incidents on board the ship and the reasons behind their acts.

4.5 Stars