“Immune” by Richard Phillips – The Miracle Cure

If you haven’t read the first book of The Rho Agenda trilogy trilogy, then I strongly suggest that you do, because I’m probably going to spoil something about its ending... however, I guess such things are inevitable when writing about a trilogy. In any case, here is my review of the The Second Ship. Now on with the review.

The second book in the trilogy takes off pretty much where the first one ended: the NSA director failed to contain the Rho Project, which has led to it being infiltrated into the government. What’s worse, the alien Nano-serum (notorious for causing death) is being administered to the people under the pretense of it being a magical cure for all of their problems.

Why aren't people speaking up against this project? Well, as it turns out, the few people who are still willing to go against it are hunted down systematically by a notorious assassin known only as El Chupacabra.

What’s worse, he has set his sights on the most important targets he will ever encounter, the three teenagers who were the first ones to come into contact with the alien technology, Heather, Mark and Jennifer.

While there are some trilogies which end up faltering when it comes to the second part, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Richard Phillips’ work.

Perhaps being a bit less philosophical than the first book, this one is a bit more geared towards action and making the story actually progress. While the great air of mystery as to the alien technology and the Rho Project are now gone, as the reader you cannot help but still feel amazed and interested in them.

Also, I have to add that the El Chupacabra character was a very welcome addition and Phillips did a great job as depicting him as this mysterious yet unstoppable force of evil that brings death wherever it goes.

Regardless of why you read science fiction books, if you actually liked the first one, chances are you’ll have to make some gigantic efforts to tear yourself away from this one.

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Richard Phillips Richard Phillips an American merchant mariner, and much more recently, an author, who famously served as the captain of the MV Maersk Alabama which was hijacked by Somali pirates back in 2009. He wrote a couple of books detailing his experiences overseas, titled A Captain's Duty and My Story, by the REAL Captain Phillips. His story was also turned into a silver screen adaptation where he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.