Solomon’s Arrow

Jennings’s uneven debut, a space opera set in 2060, introduces silliness into a dramatic situation early on, making it hard for many readers to suspend disbelief. Richard Allison is the sole survivor of a plane that was bombed while in flight over the ocean. When the injured Allison is targeted by sharks, he is saved by “world-famous author and psychic detective” Bram Waters, who telepathically recruits a conveniently nearby school of dolphins to rescue Allison. Allison lives to pilot an expedition into outer space, taking advantage of new technology to transport more than 6,000 people on a 10-year journey to another planet that will serve as a new starting point for human civilization. Once the passengers and crew of the space ship arrive at their destination, they find themselves in a situation that will be familiar to Star Trek fans. Jennings’s poorly executed stock sci-fi plot won’t sustain interest, even for those willing to overlook an almost literal jumping of the shark. (July)