Book 1 – The Beta-Earth Chronicles Book Series
Young professor Malcolm Renbourn is captured in a scientific experiment that drags him across the multi-verse from his home planet, Alpha Earth.
After seven torturous months in a Balnakin institute, Malcolm first tries to teach Alpha ways to a racist, slave-holding country, then escapes to freedom, but learns his trials have just begun. He meets a series of very different women who become his Betan wives – Lorei, the prophetess of the goddess Olos; her simple sister Elsbeth; the blue-skin Bar Tine; the towering Joline, and Doret, a mutant offspring of a failed genetic experiment.
Together Tribe Renbourn battles a planet wanting the alien and his children confined for more study before a monstrous disaster strikes Bergarten, the city where Malcolm Renbourn’s second life began.
And in Balnakin, the blame for the disaster is placed on one blind alien.
Where to Purchase ~
The Blind Alien, by Wes Britton, is available in paperback at these online merchants. Click on a link, and the ordering page will open in a new window.
Prefer an eBook? The Blind Alien is also available for the Kindle through these online merchants. Click on a link, and the ordering page will open in a new window.
The entire Beta-Earth Chronicles series is also available as one eBook box-set from these merchants.
Read or Listen to an Excerpt ~
Click here to read an excerpt from The Blind Alien.
Tune into YouTube for a reading from The Blind Alien, performed by radio show host Karina Kantas from her home studio in Corfu, Greece ~
Readers Are Saying ~
Amazon Reviews ~
Papa Kilo ~ Good, fast paced story ~ Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021 – “This book started a little slow, but I found myself drawn in until it was hard to put down. Good, fast paced storyline with a clear set up for the follow on book. I look forward to the sequel. The only things I would like to see are a list of characters and a glossary.”
Shel Calopa ~ Blind Alien ~ Reviewed in Australia on November 3, 2020 – “If you are a lover of interesting language then this might be the one for you. Not only is this a “human cast into an alien world” story but much of it is told by the aliens using dialects. Interesting grammatically and conceptually! When you consider the main human character is blind, the reader is reliant on the alien’s thoughts to make sense of this other world. Nice twist!”
Kindle Customer ~ Blind Alien ~ Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2020 – “What a different story about being taken from Earth to a far away planet. I don’t know if it would be easy to handle being taken to a different planet where you are blind and then treated how he was treated. But it would be a teaching moment except do you only tell of the good or do you also include the bad?”
Steve Roberts ~ What if the alien visting your world was a human from Earth (our Earth)? ~ Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2018 – While different from most Sci-Fi that I read, I found it very interesting. It is a viewpoint many of us are familiar with, a single alien who is being poked and prodded by scientists in the government. The difference is, this alien is from our world and we are seeing this from the viewpoint (in general) from the the aliens. Also, it is being holed to us by the various characters in the story, including their thoughts about what is or was happening. It is a well thought out story and will keep your attention. What difference can a single alien make? Well, you are just going to have to read this book for yourself to find out!”
Maureen H ~ Another dimension! ~ Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018 – “This is a most excellent story. The characters are impressive, the world building is complete & vivid, and the mores of Beta are fleshed out & intricate. It is definitely worth the read. However, this book is in desperate, desperate need of an editor. It speaks to the strength of the story that the awful formatting & silly mistakes don’t (and can’t) rip one out of Malcom’s life on Beta.”
Lisa ~ A very interesting new concept in Sci-fi! ~ Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018 – “What a fun read! A man is swept out of his world into a new world – a sort of “parallel universe” idea. That is the only part of this book that reminds me of any other book in the Sci-fi / Fantasy genres. Do not let the confusion of new language, and different names for our world items and titles, keep you from digging right into this book. Eventually you will figure out the items and titles. And, if you are like me, you will really come to enjoy the writing style! This is a book that will grow on you, and keep growing on you. The characters become real, the plot expands, and the book just gets better and better! There was a lot of thought and attention to detail in this. I love the telling from the various points of view. Great book, and I am looking forward to the rest of the story in the next of the series.”
Aligan ~ Intriguing. . . ~ Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2016 – “I’ve not read a book like this before, full of alternative perspectives, excellent characterisation, plots, emotional turmoil and torment. Ripped from Earth, Malcolm, a well-read but relatively insignificant earthling, finds himself suddenly transported to a planet in another universe. During this transition, he loses his sight, so he has to face this alien world with a different culture, language, morals and ethics, totally blind. Here, the elite treat him like a science experiment probing and analysing every part of him – inside and out. But through the months of experiments and torment, he devises a plan to escape using the only weapon he has – his own uniqueness. Therein, other characters emerge helping him with is struggles and adding their cultural and emotional perspectives. The plot and dialogue are densely packed with ideas and the unique structure of the plot transport the reader to this new world. Dr Britton has successfully created a parallel world; something that many sci-fi books fail miserably at. Well worth the read!”
Amazon Customer ~ ” (Get book 2 and then book 3 and then book 4 and keep your fingers crossed for book 5) I would strongly recommend it for someone ~ Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016 – “The Blind Alien. The Beta Earth Chronicles by Dr Wesley Britton. This is the first book of a series where “Robinson Crusoe” meets “Fringe” in a parallel Universe dominated by women because of a disease that kills 3 to 1 the males who are born. A history teacher is dragged from our world to theirs, gets blind through that transition and after escaping medical experiments he claims his position and rights in a world that tends to recognize him as an abomination. This is the beginning of an intriguing storyline being told through different voices, making it even more interesting and vivid. A former teacher has to become a student again, a fighter, a lover, a husband, a father and eventually a leader of his own tribe. He has to conquer his own demons before he stands up and fights for his existence over a reality he didn’t choose. Despite the numerous questions that lay underneath the story line about genders, equality, freedom, religion e.t.c. it never ceases to make you want to turn pages to learn what happens next. It’s a book that I would gladly have in my bag and read it while I was moving around the city through metro or a bus and maybe I could even blame it for missing my stop. There are so many different types of characters that it’s almost impossible not to find at least one that you can relate to and start following their journey to personal fulfillment. Dr Wesley Britton is a natural born storyteller who has worked so much on his craft that it seems effortless. Don’t let yourself be deceived by that. It takes a lot of effort and talent to create so many characters that can stand on their own, have your own, simple yet particular voice as a writer that can keep you on reading and reading and once you are done, you wonder… “That’s all? I definitely need to know what happened next!” (Get book 2 and then book 3 and then book 4 and keep your fingers crossed for book 5) I would strongly recommend it for someone who enjoys sci-fi fiction and furthermore to the ones who are not familiar with the genre and are reluctant to read it. It’s a great introduction to it and its unique charms thanks to a gifted author. Buy it, read it and don’t forget to thank the author for the beautiful journey once you are done with a smile on your face.”
Chip Stoll ~ A great read for any sci-fi fan! ~ Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2016 – “I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Wesley Britton’s “The Blind Alien”, the story of Malcolm who is transported to a parallel earth-like planet, losing his eyesight in the process. It took only a couple of pages to adjust to the parallel dialect but soon came to enjoy it. It difficulted my cran at times to interpret the new words and this sometimes took me out of the flow of the story. But this is also the fun of reading sci-fi. The story itself was very believable and the world creation kept me fixated. The way Malcolm was treated was great allegory as to how we might have treated an alien visiting our planet. The family he formed produced many empathetic characters and situations. I found it extremely interesting that although they planned on comparing the spirituality between the Alphas and Betas, the Betans were actually more interested in the Alphas fashions and games. This is a great read for any fan of the sci-fi genre.”
Joseph J. Miccolis ~ The Blind Alien! ~ Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2016 – “I found the different perspectives to be a good tool for telling the plot. It is an extraordinary plot as pages turned. I read the synopsis upon finishing the story and like how he provides a captivating summary of the book. It is on point with what I expected.”
Piaras ~ A well crafted sci-fi story ~ Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2016 – “The Blind Alien is a well crafted sci-fi adventure. And I would imagine that fans of this genre will love sinking their teeth into this one! This is my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed. The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book. This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this page turner that will take the reader on a gripping journey! It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader! I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Wesley Britton in the future! I would definitely recommend this book! Five stars from me.”
Terry H ~ Rich Storytelling ~ Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2016 – “Dr. Britton has definitely spent energy creating a whole parallel world’s worth of characters, language, and idiosyncrasies. Even though it is sci-fi, it has the richness of history and world-building we have come to expect from fantasy literature. Much like reading Shakespeare, it takes awhile to switch your brain over to a different cadence of language, but eventually it all started feeling very natural. If you like your stories dense with politics, social issues, and philosophy, The Blind Alien is for you.”
TJC ~ A highly original and intellectual science fiction book. ~ Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2016 – “A must-read for fans of Wesley Britton, I couldn’t put it down!”
David M ~ Brilliant! ~ Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2015 – “An excellent work of new SF that hearkens back to the classics of Asimov and Heinlein. Told from the viewpoint of the different characters, it is a tale of a man from our earth (Alpha) being unwittingly transferred to a parallel earth (Beta) where he must learn to adapt to new cultures, attitudes, languages at the same time as coming to grips with the loss of his sight. Each of the characters are fully developed and well defined and being able to hear their thoughts about each encounter brings a richness to the narratives. Politics, religion, social mores and relationships are all examined from both without and within. Think “Stranger in a Strange Land” combined with “Foundation” and you may begin to get an idea of the scope and quality of this adventure. While definitely not a children’s book, for anyone who remembers and loves the way SF used to be (before it became all about war and alien invasions) this is a must read! I eagerly await the remaining books and will pester Dr. Britton and BearManor until I get my hands on them.”
Harvey ~ “The Blind Alien” Is Fascinating Down-To-Earth Science-Fiction ~ Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2015 – “Spymaster and imaginative author, Dr. Wesley Britton has another big hit ! His new book takes the reader on a compelling journey of an Alpha earthling who has been spirited to planet Beta. Science-fiction, yes, but much more. The book explores science, medicine, commerce, education, spiritual life, family life, and sex, on an alternative planet which at times is insightful and hilarious in its comparison to our own earth. In an ingenious way, Dr. Britton has created a new grammar and vocabulary to continually intrigue the reader. A true winner!”
D Myerscough ~ but I was extremely pleased. The book centers around a character who is … ~ Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2015 – “I really didn’t know what to expect from a book with a blind protagonist, but I was extremely pleased. The book centers around a character who is blinded by an event that drags him from Earth to a different universe (not quite parallel) where the light skin people were the lowest end of the social spectrum. Most men die at or near birth, so men are in short supply, and polygamy is the norm. An Earth human goes to this planet, deals with blindness under freakish circumstances and ends up married to women from various races. It’s odd as hell, but very well thought out, and well written. I think it will make a great movie!”
Bobbi Chertok, posting about The Blind Alien to Amazon, writes – “Spymaster and imaginative author, Dr. Wesley Britton has another big hit! His book takes the reader on a compelling journey of an Alpha earthling who has been spirited to planet Beta. Science-fiction, yes, but much more. The book explores science, medicine, commerce, education, spiritual life, family life and sex on an alternative planet which at times is insightful and hilarious in its comparison to our own Earth. In an ingenious way, Dr. Britton has created a new grammar and vocabulary to continually intrigue the reader. A true winner!”
GoodReads Reviews ~
Bella Stanza ~ The Blind Alien ~ Oct. 5, 2021 – “‘Well, Alpha too liked its history taught through filters of selective amnesia. Here, I simply didn’t know how to weigh words, ideas, taboos.’ – page 60. What do you do when you get stuck on a beta earth? Marry 4 women and start a revolution with Alpha earth stories. This book is hard to read at first but it pulls you in by immersing you with the feeling of a strange new place. The author is very good at placing you into the minds of the main characters. I’m always a fan of alternate universes and dimensional shift stories and this book is no exception. It takes a while to get into it, but once you understand the way things are worded it makes for an interesting story. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.”
Maxwell Rudolf ~ Feb. 14, 2018 – “The Blind Alien explores the differences between an alien society not too far from our own. Although the names and places are unique, many of the ideas expressed within come from different aspects of society. It gives the reader a familiar yet distant point at which to understand the narrative. One of the more frustrating parts of the book deal with the short blips of narrative, all in first person, and then switching to another. It’s jerky and doesn’t flow well. The reader isn’t given enough time to focus on anything but the story itself. Unfortunately while reading, I never found myself feeling the characters were in danger. Conflict is missing in this novel. Good descriptions. Good characters. Just missing essential elements in a story.”
Rick Heinz ~ Aug. 9, 2017 – “It has been a while since I plopped down to read a Science Fiction book. There have been a few, here, and there, but it hasn’t been my go-to genre for a few years. But this one, was treat to read – but get a hard copy. I tried to read this one on a kindle and I had to to keep restarting: Here is why… Like Stranger in a Strange Land, the book hits on a real heavy topic that sits underneath its surface. Making it a read that is best done in a weekend where you can plow through and let that story sink into your brain-bucket. It’s a dense book, and the concept of say… every male child dying before they reach maturity has so many concepts that could affect the world, and do so, in this world. Or rather, alternate world. What could go as a very Children of Men style plotline, is sort of blended with a mix of seriousness, a fair amount of romance (Which I’ll admit, reminds me very much of 70’s sci-fi or even more Heinlein). There is a lot of word play and changing of names (Like Elsbeth) and other names you need to be able to grok. So don’t read this if it isn’t your genre. But if you know what it means to Grok, then you’ll find this book to be an escape.”
Steven Burgauer ~ Dec. 19, 2016 – “This is the first time I have ever read any science fiction by Dr. Wesley Britton, but it will not be the last. I know his work as a topnotch book reviewer, especially on Good Reads where he recently reviewed my book The Road to War: Duty & Drill, Courage & Capture and so I was interested to read his science fiction. At first, I was put off by the structure of the story. Normally, in fiction — and most especially in science fiction — “telling” is the less preferred method of relating a story, whereas “showing” is the favored storyline structure. But here, somehow, Dr. Britton makes “telling” work, a sort of showing within a diary-type telling structure. It is hard to explain without picking up the book yourself and reading it. I think you will find The Blind Alien: Book One an enjoyable read, fast-moving and thoughtful.”
Robert Cole ~ Oct. 23, 2016 – “Intriguing… I’ve not read a book like this before, full of alternative perspectives, excellent characterisation, plots, emotional turmoil and torment. Ripped from Earth, Malcolm, a well-read but relatively insignificant earthling, finds himself suddenly transported to a planet in another universe. During this transition, he loses his sight, so he has to face this alien world with a different culture, language, morals and ethics, totally blind. Here, the elite treat him like a science experiment probing and analysing every part of him – inside and out. But through the months of experiments and torment, he devises a plan to escape using the only weapon he has – his own uniqueness. Therein, other characters emerge helping him with is struggles and adding their cultural and emotional perspectives. The plot and dialogue are densely packed with ideas and the unique structure of the plot transport the reader to this new world. Dr Britton has successfully created a parallel world; something that many sci-fi books fail miserably at. Well worth the read!”
Amanda Spark ~ Oct. 2, 2016 – “This is the first book of a series where “Robinson Crusoe” meets “Fringe” in a parallel Universe dominated by women because of a disease that kills 3 to 1 the males who are born. A history teacher is dragged from our world to theirs, gets blind through that transition and after escaping medical experiments he claims his position and rights in a world that tends to recognize him as an abomination. This is the beginning of an intriguing storyline being told through different voices, making it even more interesting and vivid. A former teacher has to become a student again, a fighter, a lover, a husband, a father and eventually a leader of his own tribe. He has to conquer his own demons before he stands up and fights for his existence over a reality he didn’t choose. Despite the numerous questions that lay underneath the story line about genders, equality, freedom, religion e.t.c. it never ceases to make you want to turn pages to learn what happens next. It’s a book that I would gladly have in my bag and read it while I was moving around the city through metro or a bus and maybe I could even blame it for missing my stop. There are so many different types of characters that it’s almost impossible not to find at least one that you can relate to and start following their journey to personal fulfillment. Dr Wesley Britton is a natural born storyteller who has worked so much on his craft that it seems effortless. Don’t let yourself be deceived by that. It takes a lot of effort and talent to create so many characters that can stand on their own, have your own, simple yet particular voice as a writer that can keep you on reading and reading and once you are done, you wonder… “That’s all? I definitely need to know what happened next!” (Get book 2 and then book 3 and then book 4 and keep your fingers crossed for book 5) I would strongly recommend it for someone who enjoys sci-fi fiction and furthermore to the ones who are not familiar with the genre and are reluctant to read it. It’s a great introduction to it and its unique charms thanks to a gifted author. Buy it, read it and don’t forget to thank the author for the beautiful journey once you are done with a smile on your face.”
Tosin Coker ~ Nov. 7, 2015 – “A most commendable and unique novel. I can honestly say I have not come across anything quite like it. The Blind Alien follows the life of an unremarkable man who by some twist of fate is pulled from his world, into that of one parallel. It is Earth, but not as Malcolm Renbourn knows it. Here, he is an alien, a reluctant celebrity, by way of his strange origin. What follows is a story of rebellion, politics, love, science, and religion as our protagonist not only struggles to accept his new environment, but also the fact that he is made blind by the hand of the probing scientists that dragged him from his world into theirs. This world; Beta Earth, is full of it’s own problems before Malcolm Renbourn’s arrival. Class and racism are familiar issues, however there is another that makes Renbourn’s entrance to Beta Earth a hot topic, this Earth suffers a plague that causes the majority of male children to die before reaching maturity. Beta Earth has it’s own language and customs that the reader is introduced to early in the story and yet I must admit, in my ignorance I still fail to comprehend some of the words of this world that become quite integral to the story, Maprim and Shaprim are amongst those I have yet to figure out, but I must say, I truly enjoyed the infusion of Beta Earth language and concepts. We come to learn the language alongside Renbourn as in the beginning of the story, it is as unfamiliar to him as it is to the reader. This clever method of introduction also binds us mentally and emotionally to our protagonist, as we struggle to accept the differences of Beta Earth with him. Being a female reader, there were aspects I found intriguing, whilst others, such as the ever growing number of fussing doting wives that alien Renbourn seemed to effortlessly accumulate, I found to be possibly more entertaining of a male fantasy. Yet, without a doubt, this is an admirably well crafted piece of work, that was both entertaining and very thought provoking.”
Click the button below to read reviews of The Blind Alien on the GoodReads website.
Wes Britton's Beta-Earth Chronicles 