A devastating virus. Humanity’s final hope. One man stands between a second chance and the end of the world.

On a six-year journey to Gliese 581g, Zarmina’s World, Daniel Medry and a crew of scientists plan to explore a brand-new world. But when a man-made virus wipes out most of Earth’s population and leaves the rest infertile, their exploration mission becomes humanity’s only hope for survival.

Alone in deep space, some worry that a series of equipment malfunctions may not be accidental. As their ship's issues become critical, some fear that someone onboard wants to keep them from making planetfall. With time running out, Daniel must stop the saboteur before humankind's last hope of survival is crushed in the unforgiving vacuum of space.

Gliese 581: The Departure is an exhilarating sci-fi thriller. If you like dystopian future worlds, second-chance heroes, and suspenseful mysteries, then you’ll love Christine Shuck’s gripping intergalactic thrill-ride.

Recent reviewers say:

"What a great story! There are two major plot points going on here... one, a deep space colony ship is making its way to a planet that is (hopefully) suitable for mankind. Two, Earth is succumbing to a virus that will make certain that this is a one-way trip. The colony ship is not a generational-ark, but rather the crew is placed into hibernation, using a skeleton crew to simply to make sure things run smoothly during the trip. What they don't know is that someone (or something) wants to make sure they never arrive. The suspense is palpable during the ship scenes. On earth, corporate greed raises its ugly head and in the race for profit, a virus of sorts is accidentally released into the world that will make you think twice every time you have hunger pains. Seriously, I freak out a little bit every time my stomach growls now. Thanks, Christine! ;) And that cliffhanger ending... Wow! You can be damned sure I'll be reading the next book when it's released!"

"It is been a long time since I have read a book that I was so into. While I was reading this book I neglected my work, neglected my chores, took the Kindle to the bathroom every time I went so I could read the book, and I even read it while I was sitting in lines! Guess what I'm trying to say is that I am a woman in my 40s and I have read a lot of books. So when I say that I couldn't put this one down that should really mean something. I love the pace and how it jumps back-and-forth from different time periods. I love the characters, I love the story, I love the suspense, and I love the cliffhanger ending! Can't wait for the next one! And I want to use this opportunity to put a plug-in for this authors other books as well. Please check them out! Especially if you read her two Wars End books some of the stuff in this book will make more sense in a cool way."

"The book is an interesting blend of genetic manipulation of DNA and issues with it running amok. Earth had already had a crisis and bioengineering was happening as the need for food was imperative...it was not meant to be a bad thing but..... traveling to the stars to start a new world allows for interesting characters. The author does a good job in making them very realistic. Worth the read."

"Wow. Seriously. So I generally read fantasy, but the blurb for this book caught my attention and I applied to read it through Hidden Gems. I was NOT disappointed. It was genuine, scientific, fast paced. I loved it!"

I recommend this book for those who like deep space colonization stories with a nice little apocalypse thrown in for good measure.