CHRONICLE OF THE DARK STAR
BOOK 1: LAST DAY ON MARS
"This is perfect science fiction." -Tui Sutherland, NYT bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series
Teachers! Get the EDUCATOR GUIDE (pdf) for Last Day on Mars HERE!
Even though it first hit the shelves two years ago now, LAST DAY ON MARS continues to appear on different state and literary lists. I'm so thrilled and humbled by this recognition:
AWARD LISTS FOR LAST DAY ON MARS
Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity's survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the very last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.
Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space, and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a dangerous struggle for survival.
This is book one in an ambitious space epic—a powerful, emotional, pulse-pounding story of the final days of humanity's first home in the universe, and our desperate search for another.
It is Earth year 2223—but the Earth, along with the entire solar system, is gone. Liam and Phoebe, having barely escaped our exploding sun with their lives, are in stasis for the decade-long journey to the rogue planet Delphi, where they hope to catch up with the rest of the human refugees, find help for their injured parents, and pass along the devastating things they discovered on Mars: that the destruction of our world was no accident, and that someone might still be after them, trying to finish the job.
Phoebe, however, is carrying her own dark secret. One that finds her waking up secretly at various points in their journey, changing their path through space. One that will decide the fate of the human race and many others besides. One that, very soon, she must reveal to Liam, whether he's ready for the truth or not.
An epic adventure continues with a bold and terrifying quest into the outer reaches of time and space—one that will change our two heroes, and their friendship, forever.
It is Earth year 2256—but the fate of the few who even remember Earth is perilously in doubt. Mina Saunders-Chang and many of the surviving humans are stranded in the Centauri system, having barely survived their confrontation with the Telphon refugees. Now everyone—human and Telphon alike—is caught in the blast zone of the Centauri supernova. And yet there's only one question Mina is asking:
Where are Liam and Phoebe?
Having barely made it through the battle at the Centauri system with their lives, Liam and Phoebe awake on a mysterious ship in the middle of a dead universe. The ship bears the markings of a human starliner that disappeared decades ago—but even more disturbing than that is the massive alien machine floating in the starless space before them.
A machine long abandoned but now showing signs of life. A machine that has begun speaking to Liam in a voice that only he can hear...
The epic conclusion to the Chronicle of the Dark Star is a bold and terrifying journey beyond our universe, and time itself.
- Booklist 50 Best Middle Grade Novels of the 21st Century
- American Library Association LITA Excellence in Children's and YA Science Fiction Notable List 2018
- Texas TXLA Lone Star Reading List 2018
- Vermont DOL Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee 2018-19 (This website also has a discussion guide for all the books, including great questions, links, and study ideas for LDOM)
- New Hampshire YALS Isinglass Teen Read Award Nominee 2018-2019
- New Jersey Garden State Children's Book Award Nominee 2020
- South Carolina SCASL Junior Book Award Nominee 2019-2020
- Wisconsin State Reading Association Just One More Page Recommendation List 2018
- Cybils Award Finalist 2017
- Japan International Schools Sakura Medal Nominee 2018
Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity's survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the very last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.
Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space, and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a dangerous struggle for survival.
This is book one in an ambitious space epic—a powerful, emotional, pulse-pounding story of the final days of humanity's first home in the universe, and our desperate search for another.
BOOK 2: THE OCEANS BETWEEN STARS
It is Earth year 2223—but the Earth, along with the entire solar system, is gone. Liam and Phoebe, having barely escaped our exploding sun with their lives, are in stasis for the decade-long journey to the rogue planet Delphi, where they hope to catch up with the rest of the human refugees, find help for their injured parents, and pass along the devastating things they discovered on Mars: that the destruction of our world was no accident, and that someone might still be after them, trying to finish the job.
Phoebe, however, is carrying her own dark secret. One that finds her waking up secretly at various points in their journey, changing their path through space. One that will decide the fate of the human race and many others besides. One that, very soon, she must reveal to Liam, whether he's ready for the truth or not.
An epic adventure continues with a bold and terrifying quest into the outer reaches of time and space—one that will change our two heroes, and their friendship, forever.
BOOK 3: THE SHORES BEYOND TIME (Feb 12 2019)
It is Earth year 2256—but the fate of the few who even remember Earth is perilously in doubt. Mina Saunders-Chang and many of the surviving humans are stranded in the Centauri system, having barely survived their confrontation with the Telphon refugees. Now everyone—human and Telphon alike—is caught in the blast zone of the Centauri supernova. And yet there's only one question Mina is asking:
Where are Liam and Phoebe?
Having barely made it through the battle at the Centauri system with their lives, Liam and Phoebe awake on a mysterious ship in the middle of a dead universe. The ship bears the markings of a human starliner that disappeared decades ago—but even more disturbing than that is the massive alien machine floating in the starless space before them.
A machine long abandoned but now showing signs of life. A machine that has begun speaking to Liam in a voice that only he can hear...
The epic conclusion to the Chronicle of the Dark Star is a bold and terrifying journey beyond our universe, and time itself.
Is he coming out with a third book?
ReplyDeleteits right there
Deletefourth book my b
Deletehopefully yes
ReplyDeletethe third is called The Shores Beyond Time
ReplyDeleteThis series Is so amazing and I just want to see the next one right now! I can't wait
ReplyDeleteThanks! The cover for the third one should start showing up later in the summer. ;)
DeleteMr. Emerson, can you maybe do a fourth book in this series, like maybe as a prequel. Maybe about when the humans were colonizing Mars. Or something. Please consider this!
DeletePlease do a fourth book, I don't care how long it will take ��!
DeleteCan the fourth book be about the first fleet? Of course if you ever decide to make a fourth book!
DeleteI would love a fourth book so much , either as a prequel/sequel !
Deleteplease come out with the fourth book
DeleteI would also love a fourth book, but with an exiting name
DeletePlease Please Please do a fourth book
DeleteI really want to know about....
Delete"it's" origins.
Please make a fourth in the series, one of my favorite so far!
A sequel to this book would be awesome. Something about what happened to the human fleet after it arrived to Aaru, but they receive a distress message from the Telphons or something
DeletePlease do a fourth book the series is sooo good
Deletedo a forth book please
DeleteI have no words for The Chronicle of the Dark Star... It's just the best!
ReplyDeleteI thing so
ReplyDeleteThis series is the best in the world, there is no science fiction novel better!
ReplyDeleteikr
DeleteDear Kevin Emerson,
Deletehello, i am a 14yo boy in Texas. i LOVE reading you books. The Chronicles of the Dark Star were amazing, but i hated the ending. was bawling for like an hour. i ope you read this and take it into consideration:
maybe make a second series where Liam and Phoebe have to work together to face another threat.(but of course make them the same age somehow) that would fix mine, and hundreds of other's broken hearts
sincerely,
Ayden L. Eskue
Aydeneskue@gmail.com
*i was bawling
Delete*hope
I feel and did the same
DeleteI think that this kind of ending was very necessary due to Liam and Xela being different species. This avoids later and worse heart break. Personally I love the ending as while it is sad it wraps thing up nicely for Xela, and opens up Liam's future.
DeleteI'm very excited, I've really enjoyed this trilogy thus far
ReplyDeleteI am so bummed there are only going to be three in the series
ReplyDeletebro are you kiddin??? please say no
Deletewant to read every book they sound good
ReplyDeleteMr. Emerson, can you maybe do a fourth book in this series, like maybe as a prequel. Maybe about when the humans were colonizing Mars.
ReplyDeletei met Kevin Emerson at a school assembly and got a signed copy of last day on mars and I have read oceans between stars since and they are both incredible books
ReplyDeleteLuckey...
Deletebruh you are so lucky i would do anything for that
DeleteExcellent series. Thank you so much for these books. I have inspired so many students and friends by reading these to them. Not to proud to admit that I balled my eyes out through the last two chapters of book 3. But the sadness was beautiful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMe too
Deletewere is the fourth book, i'm really enjoying the 3rd book😁😁😁
ReplyDeletesadly the isn't supposed to be a fourth book :/
DeleteI am loving this series and I don't tend to like this genre. My students (5th/6th grade) are loving it! Would you ever consider coming to Vermont for an author visit? Our district has seven elementary schools, one middle school, and a high school. It would be fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHi! I'm so thrilled to hear this! I would love to do school visits in Vermont, and am available (I spent a lot of time there as a kid). Can you email me? There is a contact form on this site, or you can reach me at telegramforkevin@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi you should make a Forth Chronicle of the dark star book on Liam finding Phoebe after the original events
ReplyDeleteI Like your idea for a forth book.
DeleteThey could also fight the dark star because she was changed by her creators>
ReplyDeleteHe is making a fourth book!I know this because on page 277 It says liam the liam that is phoebes grandchild that when he returns home how he will have no idea how his life will change!
ReplyDeleteHello, I am an 11-year old that read all three of your amazing books and would like to ask if there could be a fourth book. The end of the third book was sad and beautiful but still really sad.I have an idea if you want to make a fourth book. the beginning of the book can talk about the villain the person who made the dark star. Make it so the villain story is sad so you feel bad for him but at the end of the book, you want to beat him up. The reason i am not saying a girl can be the villain ins because Iris was a girl so I want to balance it out. So I will say this quick because I deleted my first message by accident. Phoebe is talking to Liam but then she hears static and then she feels a bolt of energy and then she falls back and she hits her head and when she wakes up she 13 again but with her whole life memories still with her. She tells her grandchildren to sneak her into the space airport were she gets ready to lunch to Telphon because she thinks that the static did not come from the unknown energy but that they were under attack so she says to her grandchildren and with knowing she is going to die she bolt into space towards her old home when she is there she is surprised to see a wasteland of fire ice nothing and a playground she used to go to when she was young then Liam grabs her and says help in a soft voice. She grabs and runs to the ship and helps him. When he is alright not good he tells Phoebe what happened and they made a theory that whatever attacked the humans was something that can change time because how would they see ice and lava and fire so close to each other and a playground that was grounded about 105 years ago it made no sense.SO when the settled on the theory the rested and when Liam was asleep he was on mars on the balcony playing the game that he won against his sister then Iris was in his dream telling him to help her and then he started to race through his memories and he felt like he was in 100 km winds and his mind felt like it was splitting and then he quickly got up and then he looked at Phoebe sitting up and her face was as shocked as Liam was. They knew what they had just gotten back. This is only the start of the book, not the middle or end so if you want you could make a fourth book. The reason why I think you should make a fourth book is that the ending I feel was too sad for a thrilling book and I feel the book can have a happy ending or maybe you wanted to trick us and you have thought of making a fourth book.If you not please make a fourth book!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree. Please don't leave us hanging!! Could you do one about the humans finally finding a home and Liam's life?
DeleteYes, I relly like that
Deletethat is incredible idea! listen to the kid!!!
DeleteHello, I know I am a little bit late, but I wanted to say thanks for saying that. It made little me feel good about himself. :)
DeletePlease Make A Fourth Book
ReplyDeleteThe Chronicle of the Dark Star series is the best! I couldn't wait to get to the next book. I'm so sad Phoebe's and Liam's journey is over.
ReplyDeleteAm I too late for the happy new year book giveaway? I really want to see if this is the book for my highly gifted and talented students for next year's invention/mars rover unit. Book 1 would be great to read over the summer. My students will study about Mars and how the rovers work on mars and conduct a egg drop physics experiment. I would love for you to send this book to Springfield Elementary School. Attention Kathryn Sanyal (SAIL teacher) 2130 Pinehurst Ave. Charleston SC 29414
ReplyDeleteWonderful trilogy. I loved the ending, but am still puzzling about the code starting with two letters that they alone would know. Why those two letters? I feel like I missed something obvious.
ReplyDeleteHF stands for Hug Function :)
ReplyDeletewill he make a 4th book
ReplyDeleteno clue
Deleteif he isnt planning on it then i will fund it and if he still says no I will try to finish it but Idk if my writing skills are even close to his.
DeleteThis is such a good series, Mr.Emerson if you remember you came to my private school Eton. I love your books so much
ReplyDeleteCould you do a book visit at Orlando Science elementary school in florida, Orlando. I am a very big fan of your books so could you please do a visit.
ReplyDeleteYour books your books they are so good Please make a fourth one
ReplyDeleteCan you make a fourth book where they get to aura15
ReplyDeletedear Mr. Emerson
ReplyDeleteI love this series and would read it again in a heartbeat. Now I agree that maybe you should make a forth book, but I disagree with it as well because it ended in a perfect way. You would not believe how many times I've read this series! I do have a suggestion, I think you should make a movie from the series kind of like the maze runner wear each book is it's single movie. You get what I mean. but I think it would cause people to want to read more of this series. Theirs so much to say but I don't know how to say it so I'll stop, but please do wright me back, I really want to hear your consideration. Thanks for the best series in the world.
P.S.
DeleteSenserily,
Aiden B.
abaymine19@gmail.com
i have checked this website everyday hoping to see a fourth book
ReplyDeleteyeah, same
DeleteWill there be a 4th boom
ReplyDelete*Book
ReplyDeleteI love your chronicle star series and i love your lost in space i'v watched all the episodes at first my sister's were scared of it now they love it. and i got last day on mars for Christmas and now i got the second one and i am about to start reading it and i want the third to read.
ReplyDeleteI guarantee you wont be disappointed by the ending
DeleteJust finished this series last night. I feel a bit let down because no wrap up with Iris. Where did she get returned too???
ReplyDeleteI. Love your books pls make a fourth what if it could be about Zela’s younger brother Mica who secretly survived via styrlax crystal and gets reunited with his sister (Zela) and convince colonial to colonize another planet in the same system as the Telphons by developing better terraforming equipment.
ReplyDeleteOk, first off. I lost brain cells. But not because the book was bad. Actually, this was most likely the BEST book I've ever read. But, man, it wasn't just the time travel, etc. that made made me lose brain cells, it was how well it was described/written. Amazing book. Still I did have to throw the book across the room (thankfully I was alone in my bedroom lol) due to ending. I don't care what about, but PLEASE. MAKE. MORE. Like, not specifically about the events in the story, but just in the same universe (doesn't have to be in the same literal universe, but you get the idea. Let's say like, in, star wars. A story about something about the events on one planet isn't the same as the events on another. BUT in all of the stories/movies etc. the empire exists in the same way because it is the same one. all of the stories follow the same background setting. ok, this was too long but ok lol) -Joel
ReplyDeleteBooks titles are good, the covers are amazing. I read sad love books that make you cry
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Emerson,
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed the books and I'd wonder if you have any concept art of things in the book such as the starliners, the skim drone, the cosmic cruiser, the styrlax and their ship.
Or the Chronologist watch. I have no idea how to picture it.
DeleteAt the end of the series, was Liam gone in Phoebe's time stream for 15 days?
ReplyDeleteIt is really strange, but your series seems to be available ONLY on Amazon in the UK. I prefer to buy from independent bookstores when possible, bookshop.org during lockdown, or bookdepository.com. Amazon is the only online vendor I can find your books on. Do you have an exclusive contract with them?
ReplyDeleteHello Mr. Emerson, My name is Julian I am 11 year earth years old and in 5th grade. I live in Maine and am in a gifted language arts class. Please write a fourth book it would please me and many others thanks Sincerely Julian Trombley
ReplyDeleteIt
I just realized that the Styrlax crystal on Telos that the Telphons got to the styrlax ship with. The styrlax are a type 3 civilization on the kardeshev scale. Most likely the crystal that was underground and top secret and owned by an intergalactic civilization would not be destroyed by the plasma storm. If Liam found it, he could get to the styrlax ship which would probably be orbiting Phineas! So Liam could get to the Telphons easily. But if colonial found out they would probably do as much as they can to exterminate the Telphons.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Emerson,
ReplyDeleteI liked the series a lot, however, the ending totally made me mad, I had a feeling of dread and loneliness for the next 2 days after finishing the third book. Currently I am trying to overwrite the ending of the book I my brain to erase the sad ending, but it would be really cool if there was a 4th book which did something and fixed the sadness at the end (Liam having to leave Phoebe and never seeing her again). Please make a 4th book which fixes all that with the cool mind-bending stuff you write about so I don’t have to try and replace the ending with my own. Thanks!
Regards,
RealKnockout
And please actually reply to this comment (I noticed you've only replied to 1-2 people). Thanks.
DeleteYep, everyone who red this series goes through this issue for a little bit, I am still recovering 4 years later
DeleteIs it possible to post fanart pictures on here?
ReplyDeleteIs he making a fourth book?
ReplyDeleteI have only read first book(waiting for other books in hold) and I LOVE it. I rarely get attracted to books but this kept reading, I struggled to put the book done!
ReplyDeletewhen will the 4th book come out?
ReplyDeleteHe isn't probably since the 3rd book kind of closes the story already
ReplyDeletewould like a fourth but i feel like it ended well....maybe you could do like short stories and/or what happens next with liam on arau-5 (Pheobe kind of closed off)
ReplyDeleteI taught myself to write using this series growing up, and I can say in confidence that I would not be the writer I am today without it, thank you for writing it! It's easily my favourite work of fiction, no contest. (Also, to the hundreds of people in the comments asking for a 4th book, the narrative here is done and everything is closed up in a comfortable knot, expanding from here would just uproot character arcs and ruin the overall narrative. If you want to see more of the characters, crack open a document and write your own scenarios with them instead of begging the author, please!)
ReplyDelete