Review: The Season for Flying Saucers by Brendan Colley

A father who has been abducted by aliens; a mother who sees the spirits of dead people; a sister who communicates with angry dogs; and 29-year-old Noah Grey, whose life has gone off the rails.

When I read the back cover blurb for The Season for Flying Saucers I wasn't sure this book was for me. I'm not a big Science Fiction fan. However, this is more a contemporary story about family and how we perceive our place in the family unit. I would probably call it a Contemporary SciFi.

Tasmania was absolutely the perfect setting for The Season for Flying Saucers. We all know there have been notable sightings of UFO's in Tasmania and a possible abduction; see my review of The Vanishing.

When Noah Grey's father was taken by aliens 12 years ago, the remaining family splintered. However due to unavoidable events and economic pressures the family of three, Noah, his mother and sister, are all living under the same roof again.

It is the beginning of summer and the season for flying saucers. The whole community is sky gazing, watching each night for the lights to appear. They are also keeping a close eye on the Grey family because they believe this family will be targeted for alien abduction.

The Season for Flying Saucers is amazing; wry, funny and heart-wrenching. It is strange and whimsical. As the family hunker down for the summer away from media and prying eyes they are forced to communicate with each other, open up and express their hopes and fading dreams.

The Season for Flying Saucers  is a memorable story of community, luck and coincidence, fate and destiny. This is a story about what it is to be family.

A fabulous twist had me wanting to read the whole book again. Brendan Colley shines a light on the complexity of family. An insightful exploration of love, grief and forgiveness.

Colley's haunting poetry is disquieting and moving.

The Season for Flying Saucers is a highly recommended read. It gets all the stars and some eerie midnight lights. 

My rating 5 / 5 🛸🛸🛸🛸🛸

Publisher: Transit Lounge Publishing

Publication date: 1st April 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Science Fiction

Pages: 304

RRP: AU$34.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

The book can be purchased here: https://transitlounge.com.au/shop/3815/

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