Hans-Peter by David Poland is a fantastic piece of realistic fiction that explores the development of new technology and alien phenomenon. The story arc follows the development of a new type of aircraft invented by Han’s Peter, a genius inventor who has so far kept his inventions under wraps from both the public and the government. He has developed an aerospace plane capable of flying into orbit with a new type of tri-propellent engine and fuel that utilizes nuclear cold fusion. 

We follow the story through the eyes of several high-profile technology journalists, the staff at a nearby military base, Cactus Patch, and the employees of the Federal Aviation Administration. The unfolding story is told from one of the story’s main protagonists, Trayparts’ perspective, written in a first-person narrative. Traypart is a well-respected technology and aerospace journalist who came to California to report on aerospace and spaceflight technology.  

I really enjoyed this novel. It is written in a hyperrealistic fashion tackling the science of Hans-Peter’s new technology and the implications for the earth regarding this new type of technology. One of the underlying themes is the frontier of space, how emerging technology will affect our ability to travel to space, and the possibilities of what we may encounter if we do so. “Okay,” I said reluctantly. “So way back in college, he was talking about rockets and F-111s.” “Way back then, he told me he was thinking about how to blend a nuclear reaction into a liquid fuel rocket engine. Do you think that’s even possible?” p 13

The overall story develops slowly throughout the novel, with the plot being slowly revealed to the reader as the book develops. I particularly liked how the novel uses the different characters’ perspectives to relay the story as it develops. The main characters are well-written and appropriately complex, and they came across as extremely convincing in their roles. It worked well to have the different perspectives of the unfolding story. As the story progresses, the reader is introduced to possible sightings by the military of UFOs and a cover-up of previous alien contact. However, I felt the story was slightly too heavily focused on the character’s dialog in some parts.

We also witness a problem with the ISS space station after a meteor strike, leaving the astronauts onboard needing rescue. This development and the possibility of a daring space rescue by Hans-Peter and his new aircraft up the story’s stakes and add an effective extra level of interest for the reader. Toward the end of the novel, the author David Poland adds a big twist to the story, which left me genuinely surprised. 

Hans-Peter is a riveting science fiction adventure novel that gives readers much to contemplate. The story is compelling and will hold readers’ interest till the end.

Pages: 295 | ASIN : B08NWB13PR

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/30/hans-peter/