The Wild Zone...
Dharma Six... In many ways it was like Ryan’s own home world of Mars. Its barren aspect painted in autumnal hues of rust and brown, the wide swings of temperature, the sudden violence of her storms, all reminded him of home. But this virulent jungle, this profusion of life forms tangled one with another—this was something he had never experienced before, not even on earth. The Wild Zone was truly alien to him and, though familiar now, he felt uncomfortable, even here at its thinning edge. Once inside he knew the oppressive airs and vaporous mists of the jungle would surround him again, as if to impose themselves between body and mind, drugging his will and sense of self, and stealing his life in the process.

Ryan was a single thing, stubborn, individual, apart from the whole. He shielded himself with protective masks and clothing, and was laden with tools and equipment to shape the world around him to his own purposes. But the Wild Zone was the world around him now, and it would bear nothing apart from itself. It wanted them all... wanted them lost, forgotten, empty in the weave of its inscrutable pattern. That was the worst part of it, Ryan remembered. He could take on things like the Asects or Lyrpa, tangible focal points for his Tech-Rifle. But the Wild Zone was something more than the sum of its parts. It was like another mind, constantly pressing on his own, whispering and tugging at the edge of his awareness with its persistent murmur.

The Dharman Trilogy: Now Earthforce Saga Books 1, 2, 3

Enter the Wild Zone, the gateway Dharman trilogy for the expansive Earthforce Saga

click on any book cover to buy them individually.

The Characters: Humans and Robots

SS Lt. Ryan Cpt. Ray Harper Ens. Caruso Ens. Gates Prof. Dover

Stacey – 5
From the description, Wild Zone looks like it blends military science fiction with a strong mystery. The idea of a promising colony suddenly going silent and sending Timothy Scott Ryan to investigate immediately creates a sense of tension. As the mission unfolds, the discovery of an unknown indigenous life form suggests the story goes beyond a simple rescue mission and explores the risks of humanity expanding into unfamiliar worlds.

Pam G – 5
As someone who enjoys military science fiction with a strong mystery element, this book was a fantastic read. It grabbed my attention from the beginning with the communication blackout and never really let go. What starts as an investigation quickly grows into something much bigger, blending space exploration, survival, and an unsettling biological threat in a way that kept me turning the pages.

Katherine – 5
From the description alone, this sounds like the kind of military sci-fi I enjoy. The combination of a communication blackout, a missing colony, and an unknown alien organism immediately creates a strong sense of mystery and tension. I also like that the story seems to focus on investigation as much as action, which usually makes the stakes feel more meaningful.

Houston – 5
I like that the focus isn't just on action. The concept hints at bigger ideas about exploration, survival, and the consequences of encountering alien life. For readers who enjoy military science fiction with a strong mystery and a steadily escalating sense of danger, Wild Zone has a premise that's easy to get excited about.

The Robots, (Left to Right)
CLEM Series 112, ZEKE M1, ELMO Series 195

Reader Reviews of Wild Zone

Ryan's journey continues in Mother Heart, Book 2 in this series
Ryan and Caruso return to the surface of Dharma-6, determined to find and rescue Ensign Gates, where they also Meet Dr. Elena Chandros in the Wild Zone

Marie Charon - 5
Wild Zone opens with a compelling premise that combines military science fiction, mystery, and survival. After a devastating solar event cuts off communication with humanity's newest colony in the Dharma system, Special Agent Timothy Scott Ryan is sent to uncover what went wrong. What begins as a routine investigation quickly turns into a far more dangerous mission as Ryan discovers unsettling evidence that the colony has been overtaken by an unknown indigenous life form.

Leslie Jamison – 5
The story promises escalating tension, high stakes exploration, and an intriguing alien threat, making it an appealing choice for readers who enjoy science fiction with mystery, suspense, and first contact themes.

Athena Dodge - 5
This science fiction thriller opens with a compelling premise, as a sudden communication blackout leaves humanity's most promising colony in the Dharma system completely isolated. Special agent Timothy Scott Ryan is sent to uncover the cause, only to find himself facing a dangerous mystery involving an unknown organism with the potential to alter the future of humanity. Blending suspense, exploration, and high-stakes survival, the story offers an intriguing journey into the unknown while raising thought-provoking questions about evolution and mankind's place in the universe.

Majik – 5
The premise immediately grabbed my attention. What starts as a communication blackout at a promising colony quickly turns into a gripping mystery with much higher stakes than I expected. I enjoyed following Timothy Scott Ryan as he tried to piece together what had happened, and the growing sense of danger kept me hooked throughout the story. The idea of humanity facing an unfamiliar organism on an alien world was handled in a way that felt both suspenseful and believable. If you enjoy military sci-fi with mystery, exploration, and a constant sense of tension, this is a very satisfying read.

Sarah - 5
One of the strongest parts of the book is how Ryan's mission keeps escalating. What begins as a routine investigation into a silent colony gradually turns into a tense survival story as he uncovers unsettling evidence that something has gone terribly wrong. I enjoyed how the mystery unfolded piece by piece, with each discovery raising the stakes instead of answering all the questions. The combination of suspense, survival, and the larger implications for humanity made the story feel much bigger than a typical military sci-fi adventure and kept me eager to see what would happen next.

Joanna Gain -5
Humanity's newest and most promising colony in the Dharma system is suddenly plunged into crisis. After a powerful solar flare disrupts all communication with the Safe Zone, special agent Timothy Scott Ryan is dispatched aboard a Navy frigate to uncover what has gone wrong. As he investigates, he discovers a dangerous mystery involving a rapidly spreading organism that has chosen humanity as its next host, placing not only the colony but the future of human evolution at risk.

Catherine – 5
I picked this up expecting a military sci-fi adventure, but I ended up getting a lot more than that. The investigation into the silent Dharma colony hooked me right away, and I liked how the mystery unfolded one clue at a time instead of revealing everything too quickly. As Ryan dug deeper into what had happened, the tension kept building, and I found myself wanting to know what was waiting around the next corner.

Robin Scott – 5
The blend of military science fiction, exploration, and survival makes this sound like a strong choice for readers who enjoy tense, high concept space adventures. The idea that the investigation could have consequences far beyond a single colony adds an intriguing sense of scale. Based on the synopsis, Wild Zone looks like an engaging start to the Dharma series and one that would appeal to fans of thoughtful, action driven sci-fi.

Left: Frigate Achilles

Right: Dr Elena Chandros & The Lyrpa land Crab

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