A starship crew's scientific mission to an enigmatic ocean world propels them on an exploration of their inner psyche on an exploration of their inner psyche.

Three months outbound from Earth and the starship Desio approaches its planetary destination, her crew eager to commence a mission of scientific discovery. Kyle Lorenzo, however, has a personal reason for being on board--an inner conflict that will ultimately propel him to explore not only the furthest reaches of an enigmatic ocean world but the nebulous recesses of his inner psyche.

It is during the long and isolating interstellar journey that a physical relationship develops between Kyle and the ship's physician, Kelly Takara. That part is easy. Understanding the reasons for avoiding the emotional commitment desired by Kelly is harder. So, too, is trying to penetrate the mind of Larry Melhaus, the mission's brilliant and reclusive physicist--a failure of communication made exponentially more troublesome when the scientist's disturbing behavior begins to threaten the crew.

And while Kyle seeks a path to comprehending himself and Melhaus, the ship's crew, led by their strong-willed commander, Bruce Thompson, attempt to fathom a planet where none of the precepts of science seem to apply. A world where every preconceived notion of what constitutes life must be re-examined and challenged.

"A story of close quarters and the psyche, "Orb" is an intriguing pick for those who like science fiction with a psychological edge." -Midwest Book Review: March 2012

Orb is currently available through Amazon as a Kindle eBook or as a paperback.

Orb is the first book by Gary Tarulli who graduated from SUNY Oneonta. He has worked as a civil servant for many years, including a social services caseworker, housing inspector and radiation control supervisor. In his spare time, he enjoys scuba, skiing and spending time with his dog. Tarulli splits his time between Long Island and the Catskills.