The epic story of a human first contact mission and its lingering consequences, told from an extraterrestrial's perspective.

Before first contact, the hyper-intelligent kloormari had no exposure to human emotions and concepts such as love, hate, imagination, and gender.

With the arrival of a human expedition to Kuw’baal, the kloormari inhabitants welcomed, admired, respected and trusted all humans. This was especially true for Kelvoo, who befriended first-contact administrator Sam Buchanan and learned of the boundless universe beyond the clouded sky of Kuw’baal.

After the expedition departs, a new human visitor convinces Kelvoo and eight other kloormari to join a "goodwill mission" to faraway star systems. Once aboard Jezebel’s Fury, Kelvoo’s team is enslaved and forced to participate in an interstellar crime spree. Subject to extreme bigotry, gender bias, cruelty and mental trauma, the team must deal with their disturbing new emotions and use their limited comprehension of humans to survive captivity and attempt a daring escape.

Meanwhile back on Kuw’baal, the kloormari experience irreversible changes in the wake of colonization.

By examining humanity through Kelvoo’s autobiographical account, Kelvoo’s Testimonial provides a fresh and emotionally wrenching perspective on the best and worst of human nature.

Recipient of a coveted Kirkus starred review, Kelvoo’s Testimonial will appeal to readers who enjoy first-person sci-fi adventures like The Murderbot Diaries, along with thought-provoking examinations of humanity in novels such as Klara and the Sun.

"A simple but profound futuristic story of the painful effects of colonization." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)