The second ship

America has hidden a secret for more than 60 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory: the recovery of a crashed alien ship and the new technology it may offer to humanity. Labeled the “Rho Project,” the President has decided to reveal some of this technology to the world, the first piece of which is the successful use of cold fusion as an energy source. While this is heralded as a “green” energy source, there are those whose livelihoods would be damaged by the resulting decline in demand for oil. While this is going on, 3 high school students make a startling discovery in a desert cave: a second alien ship, possibly the one who caused the damage present on the one at Los Alamos.  Their exploration of the ship leads to an enhancement of their apparent dormant abilities and their discovery of unauthorized human experimentation by the lab director puts their lives at risk. The students have unwittingly become involved in a conspiracy centered at the highest levels of government and may be the key to humanity’s survival.

The Second Ship by Richard Phillips is the first book in his Rho Agenda trilogy. If you are a sci-fi fan or believe that more happened at Roswell in 1948 then has been revealed, this book is a must read. Phillips is a native of Roswell, NM and as such is uniquely qualified to write a book centered on the famed crash of 1948. I myself have also wondered if the public will ever know the truth about the Roswell incident.  Phillips takes the crash and runs with it, painting a fascinating version of what might have become of recovered craft. No book of this type would be complete without an unauthorized experiment or two and this book has them in spades. Throw in agents of the NSA and a political fight in the nation’s capitol and you have a book that you can hardly put down. I look forward to reading the next installment of The Rho Agenda and predict this author will be around for a long time to come. This book definitely gets two thumbs up from me.

I really appreciated this book.   I love science fiction/thriller type books, but sometimes they are lacking in plot and believability.   I have to say that this was one of the most INTELLIGENT books in this genre I have read. 

I read the author’s bio on the back of the book and noticed that he has the background to write this book.  And it definitely shows. 

The book centers on a space ship known as the Rho ship hidden by the government, three teens who find a second ship (hence the title of the book), and various mercenaries and government plots involved with the technology of the ships.  The teens have started exploring the Second ship, learning about it, letting it learn them, and wisely keeping it a bit of a secret.  I love the fact that Mr. Phillips didn’t dumb down the teens.  I’m not TOO far from that age group, myself, and I’ve often despaired of the fact that teens are treated as if they don’t have a brain and can’t make mature decisions.

Unfortunately there is one person aware of the second ship.  A person who sees it as a sort of God-given gift to him.  He’s more or less inconsequential, but he IS a lesson.

The Rho ship that the government has found, and is releasing technology bit by bit to the public is a pawn used by various people.  People blinded by science, and so, willing to lay aside the morality of their decisions.  People after something greater, but in a gray way we’re not privy to yet.  And of course people who want what it yields for the perceived power of controlling the world.

The technology in this book is great.  Computers on the Second ship are mind controlled.  The ship computer enhances the abilities of the human mind from the 10% we use now to full capacity.  The technology of both ships can be used for good.  Or for, not exactly evil, but selfish reasons.  For delusions of grandeur, for power, for manipulation.  All the things that make us so very human.

The Second Ship explores who we are, what we are, and what we could be if given the chance.  But is that “chance” for the best?