Green Bank by Kyle Conroy-a review & guest post
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27, 2024
Catching lightning will make you. Its thunder may break you.
Colin Brook exists in a life of contrived solitude, especially for a man in his late twenties. He leaves little wake as he meanders between school and a quiet home life in Virginia with his father and sister. However, during a trip to the heart of the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia, he becomes the epicenter for a quake that ripples beyond comprehension. In a matter of days, Colin goes from unremarkable to the opaque target of powerful players in the defense industry. As dire as this attention is, Colin has also caught the interest of two Green Bank residents who may possess far more powerful and destructive capabilities.
Green Bank is a sci-fi thriller that explores the boundaries and vulnerabilities of consciousness. With captivating but often conflicted characters, the story navigates the consequences of imbalanced relationships, the foundations of the cosmos, and how altruism can go severely wrong even with the best of intentions.
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REVIEW:GREEN BANK by Kyle Conroy is an adult sci-fi, dystopian stand alone story line focusing on soon to be thirty year old, reclusive college student Colin Brook, and an ensemble cast of doctors, professionals, specialists and otherworldly beings.
Approximately ten years earlier, Navy corpsman Aidan and John disappeared through a black hole in a secret government facility in Hawaii. Fast forward to present day, thirty year old college student Colin Brook, while on a bike ride in Green Bank, West Virginia finds himself in the National Radio Quiet Zone where his life will alter into something more but Colin’s journey into the forests of Green Bank did not go unnoticed- the US military and a defense company contracted by the government vie for control of Colin Brook.
The world building is detailed, complex and comprehensive. From the physical and the metaphysical, sociological, philosophical, and psychological constructs of the here and now; to the understanding of the consciousness, all based in theory and conjecture, as to the vulnerability of a weakened or susceptible mind. Explanations defy the justifications; reality and fact give way to illusions and imagination, where the mind may or may not conceive of the impossible.
There is a large ensemble cast of questionable and colorful characters including brother and sister Colin and Vera Brook, and their adopted father Mike; Dr. Claudia Bessel, CTO of Valence Dr. Hetuwa Fernandez; Dieter Randolph, Rainer Cameron, lady in the woods Faiza, and former Navy corpsmen Aidan and John. Not everyone is who they appear to be.
GREEN BANK is a science fiction story of power and control, secrets and lies, imagination and determination, acceptance and assent. The premise is twisted, haunting and edgy; the characters are dynamic, tragic, animated and startling. Kyle Conroy pulls the reader into a story of what if? Or how?
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
For more on Kyle and Green Bank: https://bio.site/kyleconroy
From Black Holes to Broken Hearts: The Journey of Writing My Debut Sci-Fi Novel
Over ten years ago, I had the inkling to write a book—sci-fi, specifically. This inkling was melded together with push and pull factors. The push factors were 1) nurturing a drive to finish what I start and 2) getting out of my 9-to-5 headspace, finding a creative outlet. The pull factors were 1) deep interests in black holes, dark matter, and consciousness and 2) wonder with the complexity of relationships.
Push Factor 1: Finish What You Start
Whether it is a book, a house project, marathon, or some other goal, we often confront milestones that we truly want—or need—to achieve. As with many things in life, it’s easier said than done. Well, writing a sci-fi novel was my milestone. I thought of the idea of this book over a decade ago and started actually writing it eight years ago. Several times I thought of abandoning it, fearing it was not worthwhile. But with each page completed, that path became clearer. Anytime I needed a boost, I just looked back at what I had done thus far. You can always assure yourself that you are that much closer once you’ve made the slightest progress.
Push Factor 2: Get out of Your Headspace
I may never be able to support myself purely as an author, and that is perfectly fine. I enjoy my career, but there are times when I just need a blank slate upon which I can just create. In my orderly, time-bound jobs, I rarely get the opportunity to just create art. But it is an extremely important outlet for anyone. Music, sculpting, woodworking, and more all provide an outlet for people, sharing their views of and experiences in our collective world. Given how impactful storytelling has been for me as a reader, I felt a certain level of obligation to return the favor in the best way possible.
Pull Factor 1: Black Holes, Dark Matter, and Consciousness
Sci-fi begins right where our current understanding of the universe ends. That’s why it is my favorite genre—you get to take that step into the unknown, letting creativity grow from theories and accepted truths. Black holes and dark matter arguably fascinate (perhaps terrify, too) anyone that really dwells on them. And they have appeared heavily throughout books and movies, but I wanted to take a different approach to them both. Weaving in consciousness allowed me to explore another opaque field of science and create a delicate bridge between the deep mysteries of the universe and everyday people.
Pull Factor 2: Complexity of Relationships
The core of any good story is the impact of the characters. Regardless of wild, exotic concepts, action, themes, etc., the characters usher the story along. I wanted Green Bank to fascinate a reader while keeping them grounded with plausible characters navigating life in fathomable ways. Specifically, I wanted to explore relations amongst the characters, showing how the experiences that they have with one another readily impact decisions they make in the future. And as complex as relationships may be, you can distill them down to basic drivers. These drivers also serve as key inputs to surveillance technology present in Green Bank.
I hope this post serves not just as a catalyst to read Green Bank but also as motivation for anything you have been seeking to do in your life. At one point in time, my story was just neurons firing off in my head. But with patience and consistency, it became a published book. Never has holding a book in my hand felt so meaningful, let alone people actually reading it and, hopefully, liking it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay curious. Keep exploring the magic you still have to share with the world.
All the best,
Kyle
SOCIAL MEDIA: Amazon Author / Goodreads/
Kyle Conroy is an exciting new voice in the world of science fiction, blending real-world expertise with vivid imagination. With a background in space exploration, defense, cybersecurity, and research, Kyle brings an authentic and technical edge to the stories he crafts. His passion for astrophysics—particularly the mysteries of black holes and dark matter—shapes the thrilling and mind-bending worlds he creates.
When not delving into cosmic wonders, Kyle enjoys spending time in national parks, visiting/supporting animal sanctuaries, and unwinding with a good thriller novel. His unique combination of scientific knowledge and love for storytelling promises to captivate and inspire readers on a journey beyond the stars.
