SEVEN POINT EIGHT: THE FIRST CHRONICLE by MARIE HARBON is the first in an eight-part sci-fi series. The Prelude to Odyssey begins in October 1988, the London underground, and introduces us to this 424-page novel in 21 chapters, broken into three parts: Genesis of Genius, Kismet, and OOBE. Readers discover the legacy of the OOBE project, and get a glimpse into the possibilities contained in the alternate dimensions of reality. Ask yourself what are the possibilities if out of body experiences were a means to travel to other dimensions? What would you do? What could others do if they wanted to take advantage of this ability? Harbon explores these and other questions in this creatively unique sci-fi/fantasy adventure which crosses the boundaries of genre and possibility.
I like stories that are well constructed as much as I like authors who are willing to step outside the boundaries of mainstream novel writing. Harbon does not disappoint. She does a great job creating a story with believable characters and is not afraid to cross genres with this sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, thriller. The jury’s still out on the multiple POVs and the lengthy internal monologues that dot the landscape of this story. Might have been better to rework this or break it up, I don’t know. It just got awkward after a while. But that aside, this story was unique and creative. The imaginative plot and engaging characterization made for a story that fiction readers should not miss.
