Human Trial [Paperback]

Timothy N. Stelly Sr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 2009

What happens when all that remains of the world is fear, distrust and desperation? Daron Turner is the leader of a ragtag collection of small town Americans who've managed to survive a thermal war waged by intergalactic attackers. The survivors have gathered together in a sporting goods store, where they not only endure the heat, but ward off marauders, rabid animals and overcome their own fears and in-fighting. Aliens hope to manufacture a new race that becomes acclimated to earth's environment. With time running out, Daron and his cohorts must force a confrontation, as the fate of mankind rests in their hands.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Your imagery is superb. It's as if I'm one of the 10 going through the same trials they are. I can hardly wait to read the next installment. ----T.C. Matthews,- Author, What A Web We Weave-

[This] story has been haunting me-reminds me of Octavia Butler's 'Parable of the Sower.' - Evelyn Palfrey, author- Dangerous Dilemma and The Price Of Passion-
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Gritty and intense, Human Trial will leave you stupefied and terrified, neither of which will protect your gut from wrenching.- The message finally revealed is not only horrifying, but real, as is the omen foretold.- Turning tables and unbalanced scales foster confusion and terror in an epic far greater than its words. - Brian L. Doe, Author, The Grace Note, Barley & Gold; Co-Author, Waking God Trilogy

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

Timothy N. Stelly, Sr. is a poet, novelist, screenwriter and essayist. Human Trial is his debut novel and the first part of a sci-fi trilogy. His poetry book, Stories From The Black Side Of The Rainbow is currently under consideration for publication. He has also written more than 350 essays for Useless-knowledge.com and e-zinearticles.com, ranging from social and political commentary to film noir history. In 2006, he won first prize in the Pout-erotica poetry contest for his poem, C'mon Condi. He has contributed several poetic pieces to Oysters & Chocolate. He is a resident of Northern, California, where he resides with his three youngest children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: All Things That Matter Press (January 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982272200
• ISBN-13: 978-0982272206
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,030,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Timothy N. Stelly, Sr. is a poet, novelist, screenwriter and essayist from northern California. HUMAN TRIAL, the chilling tale of a thermal war initiated by extraterrestrials is his first novel, and is the beginning of a sci-fi trilogy that has elicited strong emotions and strong reviews. In 2010 the second part of the trilogy was published--HUMAN TRIAL II: ADAM'S WAR. The book picks up where HUMAN TRIAL left off, and centers on two battles for mankind's survival--one against alien invaders and another against a megalomaniac hell-bent on becoming the ruler of the new nation being built. The final part of the story is due in 2012.

Stelly has also written more than 400 essays for Useless-knowledge.com and e-zinearticles.com from social and political issues to film noir history. In 2006, he won first prize in the Pout-erotica poetry contest for his poem, "C'mon Condi." He has contributed several poetic pieces to Oysters & Chocolate and is currently working on rewrites of his first two novels, "Tempest In The Stone" and "The Malice Of Cain," which were "published" by Publishamerica and are being rewritten for future publication. He had just finished two more novels--a crime drama titled "Blanket of Authority," and an urban zombie tale, "The Undead."

He is a native of Northern, California, where he resides with his three youngest children, Dante, Kimberly and Lawrence.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Human Trial has echoes of other notable sci-fi works., April 29, 2009

By 

The Angry American "Serious Reader" (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Human Trial (Paperback)

I read the first draft of Human Trial, and I felt the echoes of other notable science fiction novels, including "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler, "Lucifer's Hammer" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, and "Manhattan Transfer" by John E. Stith. It is an alien invasion novel, but it is also a disaster novel along the lines of "The Glass Inferno" by Thomas N. Scortia and Frank M. Robinson and a story of man's sheer will to survive. Timothy Stelly creates a believable milieu of small-town America being turned upside down by forces beyond comprehension, and puts the reader right in the middle of the action.

I'm proud to recommend "Human Trial". Instead of merely escaping, readers will be compelled to think and reflect about humanity in a different light.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could use another lookover by the editor, BUT, very good!, May 1, 2010

By 

K. Mohr "Kyle" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Human Trial (Paperback)

The only reason this book didn't get five stars is for numerous trivial matters.

I do not wish to begin the review on a negative note, but I think that they should be recognized.
The first is the numerous grammatical and spelling errors throughout the novel. While none of them detract from the story itself or provide anything more that a momentary distraction from a single sentence, they are so numerous! I realize no novel is perfect and errors are bound to occur, and are forgiveable, it appears that this one escaped the watchful eye of an editor one too many times. BUT, to repeat myself, these errors are small and do not deteriorate the quality or enjoyment of the novel.

The second issue I have with this are some factual inaccuracies that occur, the most glaring being that the book is set in 2008, yet relic terms from the '50s through the '80s seem to be the norm (I will not go into detail for fear of ruining some of the fun, but expect to see the term "Soviet" a lot). But, once again, these do not detract from the storyline or take any enjoyment from the novel.

The third is that characters seem to inexplicably swap positions; the author is talking about one character one second by one name, then all of a sudden referring to them by another name. I will not give away anything from the book, but it is just like this: "John turned around and looked, and as Adam did so, he saw a car." Confusing, right? It happens a few times in there, and if you don't catch it right away, it can throw you for a loop.

HOWEVER, those points aside, I truly feel it is a novel worth purchasing, or at least borrowing from the library. It is fun to read, it captures you and almost makes you feel as if you are a part of this rag-tag group of survivors; the author did what many authors can only hope to do, and that's emotionally involve the readers. There were times I almost swore I was going to either cry or yell, and at times even laughed out loud.
The characters develop very nicely and smoothly, albeit there are times it seems a bit forced, BUT, not so much that a recreational reader can't see past that and still find plenty of enjoyment.

All in all, it is definitely a great read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, energetic read. I can't wait for the next installment of this series. You can be sure I will be the first in line!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than science fiction, March 29, 2010

By 

Kenneth A. Weene (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Human Trial (Paperback)

Human Trial by Timothy Stelly is science fiction, but it is much more. It is a study of average humans in the most desperate circumstances. Can they rise to the challenge? Can they maintain their group cohesion and their sanity in the face of the most cruel of conditions? Ultimately, what do they hold most dear, so dear that they are willing to put it ahead of self? These are the powerful questions that Stelly explores within the fast-paced action of this strongly written novel.

Set in modern California, Human Trial is based on a terrifying premise, that an alien race has taken control of the earth's weather and magnetic field. The reason for this invasion is to test the small number of earthlings who survive a storm of microwaved destruction and paralyzing heat to see if they are worthy of having a future. The novel follows one small band of survivors as they struggle to live, to relate, and even to love.

This is a book that will make you think about what you can handle and about what you value most.