Centuries ago, the spaceship Colony was sent forth from Earth to settle far away Tau Ceti III. However, when disaster strikes Earth, the ship turns around, and returns to its place of origin, now a planet ravaged by plague, its adult population almost completely wiped out and civilization in ruins. Colony has a plan to resettle Earth with its very best and brightest, and as soon as they eliminate those pesky savages cluttering up the landscape, they’ll be just fine. So what if those savages are the rightful inhabitants, and the Skyborn of Colony usurpers who’ve never left the ship? And what of those Skyborn who don’t measure up to the standards set by their brethren? One such boy, fourteen-year-old Welkin, is about to find out just how expendable he really is, when he’s arrested on trumped-up charges and exiled, only to be rescued by a group of Earthborn children. Before it’s all over, he’ll discover the truth behind the Skyborns’ deadly plans, and the strength of the Earthborn.

An interesting interpretation both of the colony ship theme often found in science fiction, and of the culture shock experienced by two divergent branches of the same race meeting for the first time, The Earthborn is an excellent offering from notable Australian author Paul Collins, hopefully paving the way for more of his works to be published in America. Word has it that he’s working on a sequel even now.