Book reviews provide a summary of the book’s content, evaluate its value, and recommend it to other readers. It increases the chances of gaining readers as well as increasing the visibility of the book. The more the book has a positive review, the more it gathers attention. The US Review of Books is one of the US-based contemporary book review publications run by professional reviewers and editors. They analyze every qualifying book that is released without regard for the work’s author or publisher.
The US Review of Books (USRB) reviewed Tom Skore’s book, “Tranquility Moon: Where Violence Has No Voice” which was praised by Boze Herrington after it was evaluated. The reviewer emphasizes, “Skore’s book is an enjoyably brisk novel of ideas for fans of Contact and Childhood’s End. The nature and intentions of the alien species remain pleasingly ambiguous, and Skore threads just enough doubt about their mission into the story to keep readers on edge.”
Tom Skore has enjoyed a creative life as a writer, actor, stage director, and professor. He has worked in regional theaters such as the Seattle Repertory and Goodman Theater, and had featured roles in major films. He directed an original play for bestselling author Daniel Keyes (Flowers for Algernon), acted in an original play for Tony Award winning director Daniel Sullivan, and acted with Academy Award winner Nicholas Cage.
He has written a book, The Resurrection Encounter, and twelve screenplays, including one he was commissioned to write for the world class Argentine pianist, Ana Maria Trenchi de Bottazzi. As an educator he has taught at seven universities, most recently the University of Alaska Anchorage. Tom has lived in thirteen states, is an avid reader of anything scientific, a pilot and experimental aircraft builder, and a veteran. He currently writes from his home in a small, Alaska town.
“Tranquility Moon: Where Violence Has No Voice” masterfully weaves science fiction, societal commentary, and touching family tales. It kicks off with Rianne, a clever 10-year-old girl whose dad, Paul, is on the International Space Station for an unprecedented mission. After she sees a school shooting close to home, Rianne finds solace in her telescope—and unexpectedly films something unbelievable: an odd light gliding over the Moon. This revelation sparks a series of happenings that stretch from her backyard to the pinnacle of space research—and maybe even beyond human comprehension.
What truly enchants in Skore’s work isn’t merely the exciting setup, but how it roots interstellar enigmas in profound human feelings. Skore vividly juxtaposes Earth’s turmoil with the serene grandeur of the cosmos. Via Rianne’s purity and Paul’s sense of responsibility, we sense the strain between a violent planet and a cosmos that could offer serenity, perhaps even something sacred. This isn’t solely a tale of extraterrestrials or space travelers; it’s about a family clinging to affection and reason amid a spiraling world.
As Paul probes his daughter’s enigmatic footage from space, bizarre occurrences escalate—mysterious items materialize near the Moon, messages grow puzzling, and he soon meets an extraterrestrial mind that upends his views on existence and destiny. Unlike many sci-fi yarns fixated on terror or domination, this one pursues insight. It boldly envisions a scenario where a superior civilization, free from aggression, contacts us not to conquer, but to impart harmony. That idea distinguishes it in a field often fixated on conflict and doom.
Tom Skore’s “Tranquility Moon” transcends mere sci-fi escapade—it’s a reflection of our culture. It probes tough inquiries into our self-inflicted pain and if our true progress lies in emotional growth rather than gadgets. It appeals to fans of Contact, Interstellar, or Arrival who seek narratives brimming with warmth and optimism. By the finale, you’ll gaze at the Moon not just with curiosity, but pondering if, in that endless quiet, an entity watches us, hoping we’ll end our battles and truly hear.
Read more about the review here.
Here is an excerpt from the US Review of Books that highlights:
Young Rianne’s father, Paul, has been in outer space for several months on behalf of Galaxy Enterprises, a SpaceX-style consortium. During his absence, Rianne spends hours gazing into the night sky through her telescope. When she observes something strange in the moon’s vicinity, she informs her father. Paul begins to suspect that an intelligent species has taken up residence on the moon and is generating enough energy to be detected from Earth.