What do you do when the partisan divide of the evening TV news finds its way into the day-to-day flow of our lives? There are two choices: Escape or tackle it head on. What if you could do both at the same time?

Author Skip Simonds of Boothbay has released his sixth book, “The Genesis Chair,” that does just that. Simonds, a science fiction buff from his youth, has written a classic sci-fi yarn that serves up escapist adventure wrapped in an allegory that is critical for our day: how to transcend the self-centeredness that dominates our times.

“I wanted to write a work reminiscent of the classic sci-fi golden age of the ’50s and ’60s,” said Simonds. “Sci-fi can be way more than just ray guns and space ships. The best has always had the power to get us to step outside of our daily lives and consider ideas and concepts we might never otherwise even see. That was my goal in writing ‘The Genesis Chair.’”

Simonds acknowledges that science fiction is a tough genre to sell, but reported that he has several friends who don’t even like the genre but who read and loved advance copies of the book. “I think it is the universal appeal of the underlying message of transcending the anger and separation of the day. That appeals to way more than just sci-fi fans,” said Simonds.

But the book is true science fiction that would definitely entertain those who love the genre. Deke Sandborn is the executive officer on a cargo ship bound for deep space. He thinks it’s just a regular run, but that was before they lost propulsion, had to land on an alien planet, and he killed his captain. Now he’s been told by an alien mystic that he has to invent a time travel machine, go back in time, and talk a stranger into writing a book that will change civilization. And his day is just getting started....

”The Genesis Chair” is available in paperback at the Southport General Store (where Skip will sign it for you) as well as online through Amazon. In addition, there is a Kindle e-version as well as an audible book narrated by Simonds on Audible.com