Stargazer local sci-fi author creates his own universe! Robert Dresner creates a dark but vividly drawn future universe where life is nearly impossible for his heroes in The Machine, the second volume of his thought-provoking science-fiction trilogy, The Astral Imperative.

The novel opens with three astronauts stranded on Mars after their international mission of hope has led to the deaths of their six crewmates. The survivors live in uncomfortable quarters where the constant drone of the air pumps invades their every conscious moment. They barely speak to each other, only communicating when it is absolutely necessary.

They gave birth to the future, but now they are marooned,” Dresner said. “It’s about survival. They have to discover who they are. When hope starts to fade, it’s amazing how you revert back to who you are. You can meet a great challenge, but when it’s over, you are all of a sudden back to yourself.”

Bravo Robert Dresner….bring on Volume III!! I have just finished Volume II, The Machine. After Reading Volume I, I knew I would be in store for something exciting, and I wasn’t dissapointed! Volume II took no time accelerating at warp speed flashing from Mars to Earth with edgy, deep drama layered with philosophical and emotional challenges. The story makes one think of whether we look for “truth” inside ourselves or search endlessly through the universe for elusive answers!

Truly unique and inspiring! Volume II – Once again I am delighted and suprised at the span and depth covered in Dresner’s writing. Strong female characters which are convincingly realized. One of the things that was truly inspiring for me, as an amateur amateur (yes I meant to write that twice…)writer myself was his capacity to make the dialogue interesting and believable. In a lot of sci-fi there is the sense of anticipation that builds before conflict usually manifested by large battle scenes and violence. In Dresner’s second book this same sense of anticipation is provoked by an impending conflict of ideas and manifested in dialogue between the characters. Truly unique and inspiring. Looking forward (with anticipation) to book III!. Truly unique and inspiring. Looking forward (with anticipation) to book III!

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.