For years, scientists have theorized that humans utilize only ten percent of their brain even at peak capacity. With just ten percent of our potential, humans have created wonders of architecture, miracles of engineering, and beautiful literature. Imagine that, somehow, you were able to use that other ninety percent.

In the trilogy the Rho Agenda Richard Phillips explores this question, but far from being some dusty, boring psychological pondering, Phillips creates a fantastic story around the idea. One of the most famous alien sightings ever was the supposed crash of an alien ship near Roswell, New Mexico. In Phillips’ tale, another crash, covered up by the government, occurred several years later near Los Alamos, New Mexico.

For 60 years the government has concealed the crash as they have studied the downed alien ship and attempted to ransack its technology. Unbeknownst to them, a second ship crashed as well. This ship was discovered by three high school students out on a rock climbing trip. Heather, Mark, and Jennifer, exploring the ship, accidently interface with it, an event which unlocks their potential – that other ninety percent. On the first ship, at about the same time, scientists uncover alien technologies that are dangerous and corruptive. In the wrong hands, they might just be the undoing of Earth as we know it. It is up to the three high schoolers to expose and stop the corruption in the government before the technologies prove to be our undoing.

This trilogy is very modern and it offers any fan of science fiction an interesting and exciting experience. I would recommend this trilogy to anyone, and especially high school students interested in contemporary and fast-paced reading. Grade: A

-Thomas Adair, WNHS TV