Howard K. Pollack’s The Ark of the First Gods is a coming-of-age science fiction story that follows Adam, a gifted young man with mysterious origins and superhuman mental abilities. Adopted under strange circumstances, Adam grows from a curious boy into a genius-level MIT student and NASA recruit. Along the way, he discovers not only his unique powers, such as telekinesis and telepathy, but also a much deeper truth about his extraterrestrial origins. The novel weaves together government conspiracies, space exploration, cyber espionage, and alien intervention, culminating in Adam’s role as a key figure in a covert mission known as Project Eclipse.

The writing feels grounded and sincere, even when it’s exploring wild, cosmic ideas. The scenes at the Kennedy Space Center had a real sense of awe and wonder, which made me feel like a kid again. Pollack has a knack for blending technical detail with accessible storytelling, and it shows in how smoothly he explains things like propulsion systems and satellite arrays. The characters, especially Adam and Suzie, are likable and have believable chemistry. Their interactions felt natural, not forced. Suzie’s warmth balances out Adam’s intensity, and that dynamic gives the story a much-needed human touch.

While I enjoyed the buildup, a few of the later twists, like the lunar signals and Project Eclipse, could have used more emotional payoff. Still, there was something earnest about the whole thing that kept me rooting for Adam, even when things got a bit over-the-top. It has the heart of a good sci-fi movie from the ’90s, ambitious, a little campy at times, but packed with heart and imagination.

The Ark of the First Gods is a fast and heartfelt read that’s ideal for fans of character-driven sci-fi. If you enjoy stories like Stranger Things or Ender’s Game, where gifted young people uncover hidden truths about themselves and the universe, you’ll probably have a good time here. It’s full of wonder and just enough mystery to keep you flipping pages.