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In the sci-fi novel, The Data Collectors (Skinny Leopard Media) by Danielle Palli, Earth is the last outpost for a dying breed of beings — humans. Humans used to live on many planets, but one by one, they destroyed them all, much in the way they are destroying Earth now. Alien species are known, though not widely, and while some of these species are watching out for our best interests, there are others who are only watching out for their own.

The story follows Lucene Jones, a woman who consistently feels out of place in the human world. Among other things, she’s plagued by repressed memories and an odd penchant for knowing things that she logically shouldn’t. As it turns out, she has a special ability — one that will put her in the center of an intergalactic conflict.

Members of a reptilian alien race have dark plans for Lucene; they seek to manipulate her special ability to further their own agenda, which includes some rather greedy plans for Earth. They infiltrate a governing body of intergalactic negotiations by corrupting one of their higher-ups, convincing them to help locate her.

Fortunately, Lucene has unknown allies on the intergalactic battlefield, and they come to Earth to help keep her safe. Aided by her alien friends and her Earthling ones, she’s in a race against time to escape the clutches of those who would see the human race destroyed.

A POLITICAL SPACE OPERA WITH TOUCHES OF MAGIC REALISM

The intergalactic battle being waged is one of interplanetary politics, with treachery, espionage, conspiracy and corruption at its core, more so than it is a “space shooters” story. Along the way, Palli includes bold commentary that ranges from the political to the social and on topics such as immigration and diversified body types.

Palli’s sprawling prose and authentic voice are laced with whimsy. It is an engaging tale where space opera meets magical realism, populated with a cast of multidimensional characters who develop and grow during the course of their adventures. There’s a fun chemistry between them, full of humorous banter and camaraderie, and the quirky individuality of each character makes for a colorful crew.

There’s the inventive Ivan the Tinkerer, Bagheera the black cat, and all manner of shape-shifters, from Royal lizards that can take on human-like forms, to the Vitruvians, who can transform themselves into more exotic forms that resemble mermaids, dolls and butterflies. And, of course, the Data Collectors, whose mission is to save the human species from extinction.

The Data Collectors is the first book of an intended trilogy, the next book of which (Breach of Contract) is scheduled to publish soon, according to the author’s website. Learn more about both of these books in our interview with the author.

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About Danielle Palli:

Danielle Palli won her first creative writing award at the age of six, and by age fifteen, she had already been published in the Writer’s Journal. She is the author of the Acting Out Yoga series for children, and the Data Collectors sci-fi trilogy for adults. She also writes, teaches, and publishes online courses about mindfulness, intuition, and spirituality, and works as a multimedia specialist, voiceover artist, podcast host, and positive psychology-based wellbeing coach.

Genre: Fiction
K.D. Reid

K.D. Reid finds inspiration in classic fantasy, both in novels and video games. On a cold or rainy day, she cozies up in a blanket with a book and warms the house by baking desserts and artisan bread. Most recently published in The Dragon Keepers Academy: The Hidden Worlds Anthology Series, Book 2 and Ever After Again: The Hidden Worlds Anthology Series, she also reviews other authors' work and creates content for local publications. She enjoys spotlighting other local authors in The Berea Citizen, and, as a mother of four, writes about her experiences as a parent in the Bluegrass Baby Expo-zine. She publishes her reviews with Paperbacks and Pinot and BookTrib. All the while, her manuscript for her debut novel is in the works. Find her on her website, Amazon Author Central, Goodreads or social media (YouTube | Facebook | Instagram).

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