The Astral Imperative Volume I - The Dream | Robert Dresner - Virga Press, LLC

The Astral Imperative, Vol. I

The Dream

Destiny meets the Starship Aelita …

A remarkable journey across the galaxy begins in 2037 as Earth emerges from a ruinous decade of war and terrorist activity. There is a widespread shortage of energy and a surge in global warming. And even while at peace, old loyalties and animosities between countries rack the political landscape. The first manned mission to Mars in the Starship Aelita—a technological marvel commanded by the heroic but deeply flawed Captain Adam Sietzer—proposes to further unify the world and lead the way into a harmonious and robust future.

But then an unnerving string of events, including sabotage, an attempted murder, and the emergence of the first sentient machine, challenges the crew to look within themselves for the courage and wisdom to survive. Enormous sacrifices are made until their path to self-discovery is joined to the interplanetary quest for knowledge.

The Astral Imperative: To traverse the heavens, to unite at the heart and penetrate the mind of God.

Review

The Astral Imperative: Vol. 1 by Robert Dresner is a science fiction novel that delves into themes of space exploration, humanity’s future, and the quest for cosmic understanding. The book explores a distant future where humanity is on the verge of interstellar travel and colonization. It presents an ambitious and philosophical take on the moral, ethical, and practical challenges that arise when humanity ventures beyond Earth.

The narrative follows various characters, including scientists, political leaders, and explorers, who are grappling with the possibilities and dangers of accessing new worlds. The central tension often revolves around whether humanity is ready for such a vast and unknown expansion and what it means for human identity, culture, and survival. Alongside technological and space-faring elements, Dresner weaves in philosophical musings on the nature of existence, the meaning of consciousness, and humanity’s place in the universe.

The tone of The Astral Imperative is both reflective and speculative, making readers question the implications of rapid technological advancement, the unknown perils of the universe, and the long-term sustainability of human expansion.

THE ASTRAL IMPERATIVE VOL. I
& Other Novels by Robert Dresner

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WHAT REVIEWERS & READERS ARE SAYING

Outstanding Sci-Fi read, highly recommended! Fortunately this book has an intriguing cover image. I had been randomly browsing the Boulder Bookstore recently and came across this gem. I am a fan of both sci-fi and non-fiction science. I also like a good story! Without a doubt, this book had me hooked from the beginning. Perhaps my own selfish desire to explore space one day was taken advantage of; the author puts together a very compelling narrative of modern space exploration, yet includes enough fantasy to make it enjoyable. The cast is phenomenal; without spoiling anything, I must say I became quite emotionally attached to this crew and their Earthbound compatriots, especially in the latter half of the novel.

This novel is a unique experience; like other commentators, I am surprised I had not heard of this elsewhere. Being the first edition, published barely a year ago, the book can hardly be blamed for a few minor typos/grammar errors, notable but nothi...

The Astral Imperative, Vol. I – Review, James

Everyone Agrees Robert Dresner's Sci-fi Novel is Great ... Robert Dresner, with his short, tough-guy haircut, Bronx accent and agitated mannerisms seems an unlikely person to write an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking novel. Words flow easily from him in conversation as he anticipates questions and speaks extemporaneously on just about any subject. Words aren’t the problem. It’s just hard to imagine him sitting still long enough to compose much more than a paragraph.

Perhaps even more surprising is that Dresner’s self-published Astral Imperative begins as a simple science fiction narrative about the first manned mission to Mars before revealing itself as an insightful meditation on relationships, heroism and human foibles. Writing in a direct, unadorned prose style, Dresner creates a space ship that is large enough to carry not only his diverse group of astronauts but also the reader’s imagination.

I first met Dresner a few ...

The Astral Imperative, Vol. I & Series Review, Boulder Weekly

The quest is as large as they come: To 'penetrate the mind of God.'The Astral Imperative, Volume I: The Dream – Presented as the first volume in a philosophically focused science-fiction trilogy.

In the year 2037, when the earth has been savaged by violence, the starship Aelita is headed into the void, the first human voyage to Mars, captained by Adam Sietzer, who has notions of bringing the world back together in harmony.

Dresner’s evocative writing is the kind that summons the dream of many an old science-fiction reader eager to recreate the “sense of wonder” upon first exploring the cosmos between the pages of a book. He’s colorfully descriptive: “Dusk on the red planet was most beautiful; the sky turned vermillion, blue, yellow, with an occasional hint of green and violet, the landscape turning to pastel shades of gold and pink. Distant peaks cast long and languid shadows across the rocky terrain, and puffy clouds clung to the mou...

The Astral Imperative, Vol. I – Review, DailyCamera.com

The setting, the mission and even the plot fade into the background as the complexity of human relations move to the fore. By the time I finished reading I was stunned by how compelling a vision Dresner had created!

The Astral Imperative, Vol. I – Review, Arsen Kashkashian

All I can say is WOW!.

I bought this book in a local boulder bookstore just looking for a quick read on the flight back to LA and i was just blown away!…this book is incredible I dont know how this has not gained any mainstream press. This book is an amazing unknown book of pure genius not to mention there is more to come as per the back cover. Robert Dresner is on the brink of stardom, A MUST READ!

The Astral Imperative, Vol. I – Review, Miguel

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