The Architect Of Grayland By Evelyn Arvey - An Amazing Story Of Survival And Inventiveness

The Architect of Grayland by Evelyn Arvey

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Imagine yourself awakening in a place completely unfamiliar and desolate. You have no food, water, shelter, and you aren't wearing a single stitch of clothing. The landscape has no signs of trees, water, or any other features other than an endless stretch of gray ground as far as the eye can see.

Now, you have to figure out how to survive there.

This is part of the situation Elaine, the principal character in The Architect of Grayland, finds herself in. 

Grayland is an amazing story of survival set in the distant future where humans from our time are abducted and pulled into the future to be studied by Historical Anthropologists. One is an elitist university professor named Mirri Daaha. Her goal is to gain accolades through her work, no matter the harm done to her subjects. They are, after all, little more than primitive test subjects.

Considering everything I have read so far this year; Grayland is one of the best among a collection of great stories in my library. The world building is gradual, but stunning as time goes on. The characters are so real in their reactions to what they face and their attitudes, they could be real people anyone can know. The story is expertly written and moves along at a fast, but not too fast, pace. I read this in just a few sittings because every chapter pushed me on to the next. I had to grab my Kindle and read every spare minute I had, and while doing so, lost track of time.

The synopsis from the book itself is great and I'll just quote it here...

Scientists from the far future kidnapped her.

Threw her into a horrific experiment.

She refused to die.

Elaine, a modern-day woman, is abducted by elite Historical Anthropologists of the far-distant future. Spirited forward through time to their university laboratory, she is locked into a vast, empty, gray habitat built for the study of "primitive" humans.

Elaine awakens in this appalling place, alone, naked, and terrified. She has no idea that a hidden audience of university students is studying her every move. Forced to create food, clothing, and shelter using nothing but her ingenuity and her bare hands, she fights a constant battle to maintain her sanity.

Desperately lonely, Eliane decides to search for other people. After a journey across the featureless gray landscape, she locates two fellow captives: Marc, who might be her soulmate; and Adam, a brilliant but troubled fifteen-year-old. Together, they form a precarious yet vibrant and supportive community of three.

But now Elaine is about to lose it all. The Historical Anthropologist in charge of the experiment, Professor Mirri Daaha, is methodically destroying Elaine's carefully constructed world to study how her "primitive" test subjects will react to escalating threats to their existence. Elaine must confront the Professor and ultimately bring herself, Marc, and Adam safely home.

Elaine has no idea who she is. Her memory has been wiped prior to being placed in the experiment. She has no memories of her life before but gets enough through a few dreams to help her think she remembers things. Fortunately, she retains her learned knowledge to help her survive. She is in distress before she learns to manipulate the environment and provide herself with the essentials of life. As he develops her skills, she not only is able to subsist, but she also actually carves out a better-than-average life. She has everything she needs, and things she wants made by her own hands, but there is one thing missing: companionship.

She makes up her mind to strike out on a journey of discovery, leaving everything behind, she takes things she needs and takes a long journey into the unknown.

She discovers others likewise abducted, and memory wiped as she is, but they have also survived using their own separate skill sets. Elaine, along with Marc and Adam, form their own little community of three, helping each other and staying occupied. Everything is going well, and they are coping with the obstacles they face, at least until Mirri changes the parameters of the experiment.

At that point, escape not only is desired, but becomes a matter of life or death.

My favorite point of plot in Grayland is how the main protagonist, Mirri, who isn't a bad person, looms over everything as though she were a monster. She actually isn't intentionally out to hurt anyone, but the attitudes of her position and the time she lives in don't seem to have compassion for other living beings included in the equation. Mirri is a refreshingly complex character.

I also enjoyed the playing-out of the old saying about necessity being the "mother of invention." There are surprises all along the way with the things Elaine and her companions come up with to make life bearable, and there are also mistakes made along the way.

While one can find multiple themes in this story to focus on, my takeaway from Grayland is to always remember that every being we encounter has feelings on some level. 

Another takeaway is to remember that no matter how dire a situation seems, one must never stop thinking. Proactivity is far superior to reactivity, and there is no substitute for assessing a situation and finding a solution to problems. Getting angry or taking a wait-and-see attitude is an invitation to disaster.

The Architect of Grayland is an incredible, multifaceted tale that is brilliantly written and spun out by an author well deserving of attention. This story is accessible to sci-fi fans, but need not be limited to those who enjoy that genre. It will fire the imagination with great characters in situations harrowing in nature on numerous levels. The story starts out simply and there is a non-stop crescendo all the way to the end. I give this my highest recommendations for an engaging story that will have a reader turning page after page just to see what happens next! I give my highest recommendations for Evelyn Arvey's amazing story!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Evelyn Arvey never met a creative project she didn't like. From a young age, she drew, painted, knitted, crocheted, studied the viola (and the piano, and the classical guitar), and read everything she could get her hands on. Evelyn's first short story was written when she was only six years old, on her mother's Royal typewriter, (what a marvelous, noisy creature!) and it started like this: "My friend Ruthie is very, very, very, very, very nice." Ever since, Evelyn has had a personal war with the word "very."

Evelyn studied creative writing, textile art, ceramic art, jewelry fabrication, and so much more while earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts, in oil painting, from the University of Washington. For fifteen years, she created jewelry in her home studio and sold her work at juried fine arts shows. During this time, Evelyn also played in a classical guitar duo with guitarist Mark Francis; they performed and recorded a wide selection of their favorite pieces, which are available on YouTube.

All along, Evelyn was writing. She published many short stories in literary magazines. She also co-wrote a book of short stories, We Grew Tales, with writing partners and good friends Nancy Bonnington and Susan Whiting Kemp.

Evelyn teaches an adult creative writing course with her university professor husband at the Swedish MS Center in Seattle. She edited the anthology Stories From our Center: Lives Challenged by MS, written by people living with Multiple Sclerosis. She is currently working on editing a second collection.

Evelyn lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and their four cats.

Visit Evelyn's Websites...

Writing: evelynarvey.com

Art: vivid-arts.com

Classical Guitar: arveyfrancis.com

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Beyond The AI: Danny And The Mystery of Neuranetrix 3 By Deepesh Ramachandran Vijayalekshimi - Great First Novel By An Experienced Tech Professional

Beyond the AI: Danny and the Mystery of Neuranetrix 3 by Deepesh Ramachandran Vijayalekshimi

I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Beyond the AI is a young adult novel about a boy and a computer, but not just any computer. As a matter of fact, the title is more descriptive of the machine Danny finds himself in possession of.

As far as I can determine, this is the first published novel by Deepesh, and it is a good one. There isn't a dull moment in this tale of intrigue and mystery. It is a thrilling ride written by an author who knows technology firsthand and combines his knowledge with his creative spark.

I said this is a young adult novel, but anyone should be able to enjoy this story. That being said, there are a couple of brief incidents of violence parents might be apprehensive about in the prose if their youngster picks this one up.

Danny Johnson and his family arrive at their new home in Timberdale in early October. They are excited to be moving into a new home, but there are certain financial hardships that come with the property. Danny, a twelve-year-old middle school student, eagerly explores his the new home and, in the attic, discovers a very large and heavy computer tower under a pile of old clothing. Excited that he has found a new gaming machine, talks his dad and grandfather into moving the machine into his room. Danny's uncle arrives with monitors and other components for the machine.

In the meantime, Danny makes friends easily with some of his classmates at school who help him figure out the password to crack into the system. What they discover is beyond their expectations, way beyond, as a matter of fact.

And so begins the mystery of the NeuraNetrix 3 system. Danny's life take a wholly unexpected direction that includes the threat of disaster.

Danny is a highly intelligent kid who lives with Matt and Jessie Johnson, his mother and dad, and his little sister, a young toddler named Evie. His friends are also very smart and all above-average students. His uncle, Josh, is a well trained and working computer expert who knows his way around tech. Then there is Danny's grandfather, Chris. He is an extraordinary handyperson and carpenter who makes a pretty good living in the community handling work wherever he can find it. Chris and Danny have a special relationship and spend a lot of time together. 

Together, they all get caught up in the mystery as Danny takes it upon himself to solve with the help of his family and friends. But the task is humongous, and eventually, law enforcement and government agencies become involved when the scope of the crisis is uncovered.

If there was a point of contention for me in this story, it is with the kids. I felt as though they were maybe just a little too mature for their age. They used vocabulary that seemed a little above their level. I suspended my disbelief a bit to get through this point.

That being said, I appreciated one scene in particular where Danny shows a level of maturity and understanding that touched me in a deeply personal way.

In one scene, the family was shopping in a store with a display of Halloween costumes. Danny was enthralled by the display, and Matt noticed his son's obvious fascination with the selections. Matt reminded his son about the financial burdens the family were experiencing and regretfully suggested he wear a costume from the previous year. Danny responded with understanding and maturity. Instead of disappointment, the boy suggested just getting a costume for his sister and said... 

"We've got a great new home now. That's what matters."(Page 51)

On a personal level, this hit me in the feels because I remember one year, my own dad's union was on strike during the Christmas season, and money was quite tight. The memories of what my parents must have felt during that time came flooding back to me.

My takeaway from Beyond the AI is to remember that sometimes we take on tasks that are too large for us to handle alone. One needs to be willing to accept help from others to accomplish such things that are too large, or the result will be failure.

I recommend Beyond the AI to readers in the middle school level to adult. It is a fine story that kept me entertained all the way through. I enjoyed the interactions between the kids and adults. On another level, I found this tale thought provoking, in that we are currently on the cusp of an artificial intelligence revolution. We have yet to learn what the future of this technology holds for humanity. There is a promise of great benefits from AI, but it also opens up a whole new possibility of exploitation by those with nefarious intent. 

I look forward to Deepesh's future creations and am eager to watch the growth of this brilliant new author.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deepesh, hailing from Kerala, India, is an engineer who has carved out an impressive two-decade career in the technology sector. His journey has seen him work with tech giants like Meta, Intuit, and Microsoft, in addition to collaborating with a handful of other multinational corporations and startups.His professional journey took him to the United States, where he spent approximately six pivotal years in Silicon Valley, refining his expertise in AI and machine learning, and immersing himself in the forefront of technological innovations characteristic of Silicon Valley culture.

Deepesh's interests extend beyond the technical realm of algorithms and codes, reflecting his diverse passions. Endowed with innate creativity, he holds a deep affinity for science fiction literature and music. When health hurdles temporarily diverted his tach path, Deepesh embraced the chance to explore his artistic side fully. In his writing, he skillfully interlaces technical expertise with vivid imagination, guiding readers through enthralling landscapes of speculative fiction. Through his examination of futuristic themes and ethical quandaries, he challenges readers to contemplate the far-reaching consequences of technological progress.

In addition to his literary pursuits, Deepesh finds solace in and inspiration in music, where he channels his creativity into compositions that resonate with emotion and innovation, His diverse cultural background and multicultural experiences infuse his work with rich, nuanced perspectives, rooted in his upbringing in Kerala, fondly referred to as God's own country.

As Deepesh embarks on this new chapter of his career as both an author and musician, his innate creativity inspires him to thoughtfully engage with the worlds of literature and music.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

The 5 Moons of Tiiana by PT Harry - Special Illustrated Edition - An Excellent Story In A Style That Is A Blast From The Past

The 5 Moons of Tiiana by PT Harry - Special Illustrated Edition

I downloaded this book from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have read many, numerous books that I've loved over the years. When author PT Harry contacted me, he said he would like to see his book mentioned on this blog. I read the blurb for the book and the author's bio and knew I had to give 5 Moons a look. Little did I know what a treat I was in for.

This is a story that is epic in scope. It moves at breakneck speed without sacrificing the necessary world building to set a good scene for the excellent characters to play in. The prose flows so well that a reader might find themselves losing track of time. At every page turn, there is something that pushes the reader on to the next thing. There is no lack of high adventure to delve into.

The language Mr. Harry uses in the book is marvelous. It reads very much as though Edgar Rice Burroughs might write this today. I love the formal prose style of that era, and when you add the author’s own style to that, it makes for a very entertaining read.

But mostly, it’s just plain fun!

The Kingdom of Melela is at the end of a losing battle against a species known as the Relcore. Leanna, Princess and Heir to the Throne, is in danger of being captured or killed unless she is taken away to return and fight another day. The task of safeguarding Leanna falls on the capable shoulders of Captain Rez Cantor, a soldier in the Shadow Guard of the Imperial Army.

While escaping Melela, an incident onboard their transport sends Rez and Leanna in different directions. Rez awakens on a strange world which begins his new mission: prevent the destruction of the five moons, locate Princess Leanna, and return home to Melela.

The new mission is laced with twists and turns, some beneficial, most involving huge, sometime horrific challenges.

Rez Cantor is a good soldier. Well trained and able to think on his feet. But the adventures stretch his ability to problem solve on his own. He befriends a sentient humanoid Solula, a kind of cross between an ape and a wolf. Rez is driven not to give up on Leanna and will put himself in great peril to do so. His heroic journey is long and uncertain as he faces conditions that would prove to be the end of most humans who are less prepared.

One favorite point of plot in 5 Moons is the inclusion of 55 photographic works of art scattered throughout the book that help to visualize the characters and many of the aliens Rez encounters. They are very clear in digital format, and many are pleasing to the eye, while others are the stuff of nightmares. It was a great help to me to visualize creatures, places, and situations within the story.

My takeaway from 5 Moons is addressed in my second favorite plot point, and that is the importance of friendship when embarking on a difficult quest. Rez's Solulan friend is loyal to a fault, and no matter what happens, he is always there, whether the chips are up or down. Finding such a friend is a rare and wonderful thing, and Mr. Harry illustrates the value of such friendship with excellence and flair.

This story was written in the style of master Storyteller, Edgar Rice Burroughs, but make no mistake, this is a wholly original work of science fiction with many elements of fantasy added. It is a tale of "survival, mystery, and heroism" that will have the reader on the edge of their seat while they navigate a lightning speed epic tale to ignite the imagination.

I give The 5 Moons of Tiiana my highest recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the hot summer days of my youth, I cut my teeth on science fiction through novels and comic books. Authors like Edgar Rice Burroughs, Arthur C. Clark, and Ray Bradburry were but a few writers who shaped my youth. Burroughs' influence with his John Carter of Mars series inspired me to write The Five Moons of Tiiana. It was also my Las Vegas connection, working in the gaming industry as a blackjack dealer that inspired my another one of my works: NanoVision. I began my writing career while attending the University of Nevada, where I co-wrote a musical before moving on to screenplays and novels."

Well, there it is…

Qapla!

Dreaming of Hope: A Star Marked Novella By Justin Doyle - Marvelous Introduction Into The Star Marked Series!

Dreaming of Hope: A Star Marked Novella by Justin Doyle

No matter how much I read, and I read a lot, while I am enjoying a story, I come up with questions about the backstory. I want to know things like, what is it in the background of a character that makes them behave the way they do? Or, what happened in the past of a place to create a particular situation?

I'm sure I am not alone in my curiosity about such matters.

Dreaming of Hope is a new novella in the Star Marked universe by Justin Doyle. It is a prequel story of the three-book series focusing on a character appearing in the first of the three books in the series. Dreaming also shows the plight of the oppressed people of the world through the eyes of the principal character.

In Embargo of Hope, the first novel, we follow the exploits of Darynn Mark, a heroic tough warrior who lives by the sword. Dreaming follows the events before Embargo, following Darynn's best friend, Pavlar Solia. 

I enjoyed this look into the history before Embargo and especially appreciated the look through Pavlar's eyes. I've read all three installments of the Star Marked series, and Dreaming fits in very well to fill in some of the blanks that one might encounter when entering this universe created by the author.

The world of the Star Marked series works under a class structure that has various levels. Dreaming of Hope focuses on the plight of the Olan-Har, the lowest class on the world of Vastire. As such, the people are forced to find food wherever they can, and those who cannot fend for themselves go without basic needs, and eventually perish. One young man, Pavlar Solia, has made it his personal mission to help those who cannot help themselves, often putting himself in great danger. Fortunately, his best friend, Darynn Mark, is there to assist, and to watch his back as Pavlar works in his humanitarian efforts.

It is a constant effort to try to make the lives of the Olan-Har a little better. It is often a thankless effort, but the rewards for success are great if one doesn't lose his own life in the work.

Pavlar is a sort of futuristic Robin Hood. He has taken on the unenviable task of making sure that people in the slums can have it better than he does. This young man has a selfless spirit that seems to have no bounds. The story opens with him and his companion, Darynn, securing food from a place that has so much, and is needed by so many. While they encounter obstacles along the way, they experience successes and defeats, but always seem to at least escape with their skins intact.

Pavlar and Darynn are very different people, but they work together very well and make Dreaming of Hope a fast and fun read. A hero's work is never done, so there are several adventures for these two, and as the stakes get higher, so do the risks.

My favorite point of plot in this prequel is how the world is exposed through the eyes of the principal character, Pavlar. I enjoyed the adventure while the world building unfolds through Pavlar's eyes. Many owe their existence to the efforts of this exceptional young man.

My takeaway from Dreaming of Hope is to remember that worthwhile efforts require an ability to see a problem, have a desire to do something about it, and finally to take action. Pavlar is an example of persistence and deep compassion for his fellow citizens of the slums the Olan-Har are forced to endure.

Justin Doyle is relatively new on the scene, but he has already proven himself to be an amazing spinner of great Sci-Fi/Fantasy tales. Dreaming of Hope is the prequel to his trilogy of hero's journey tales in the Star Marked series. The First full-length novel, Embargo on Hope, and the story continues in the next two novels, Assassination of Hope, and Betrayal of Hope. This series is full of adventure, suspense, danger, and action. Lots and lots of action, and well worth a look.

Dreaming sets the stage in a way that will have the reader cheering for Pavlar and Darynn and rooting for them and their success.

I recommend Dreaming of Hope as an excellent prequel to an amazing series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was born in Galveston, TX and raised in the Houston area. In middle school, I fell in love with two lifelong pursuits: space and writing. I knew I wanted to work at NASA and write on the side, and lo-and-behold, that’s exactly what I’ve ended up doing.

The book that really turned me on to sci-fi/fiction was The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper. After that, the Lost Years of Merlin series, by T.A. Barron, cemented my love for the genre.

I worked on Embargo on Hope for fifteen-plus years, very much off and on. It changed a lot in that time, starting with an author who was just barely 18 and struggling in college to a happily married adult with two kids. I recommitted to the “craft” when the COVID-19 Quarantine hit, devouring everything I could to learn more about writing.

Now I live in the Houston area with my wife, two daughters, and two giant dogs.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Deus Ex Effing Machina By Rick Jurmain - The Wild Ride Continues In This Second Book Of The Gravtech Series!

Deus Ex Effing Machina: The Gravtech Series - Book 2

After reading the first book in the Gravtech series, Apocalypse Du Jour, there was no way I would miss the sequel, Deus Ex Effing Machina! I was mesmerized by the first book, and again, I became absorbed in this volume. It is an edge of your seat ride through the aftermath of the events in the first story. Deus Ex is another fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek look at life after the accidental discovery of antigravity technology that brought about the eventual collapse of the global economy to make life better for everyone.

Deus Ex is a humorous work of speculative fiction that will also give the reader much to think about. There are some serious considerations that will crop up in this tale, but are presented in such a way that makes considering some of the grimmest situations fun to contemplate.

The characters in this story are all believable, so even the absurd will seem plausible.

Following the invention of antigravity, the four scientists who accidentally created the technology have all become billionaires and continue to work for the new company that is still developing and learning the consequences of their invention. In the meantime, there are those who would exploit this new tech for their own advancement and nefarious reasons. The global economy has become one where there is plenty for everyone, and that is difficult for some to accept, while others take to it without problems. A group of oligarchs see opportunities to use the tech to further their agenda. But the company is trying to investigate the problem of a hacker who has an agenda that is difficult to understand. Further, this hacker has a skewed sense of humor that is baffling everyone. No one can seem to get what this person wants, if it is even a person. Then, there are several nuclear devices traveling to major cities in the U.S. set to create mayhem and destruction on a massive scale, and they seem impossible to stop. And it is not clear who is behind that little plot, and there are numerous possibilities for the responsible party.

So, numerous problems and no easy solutions makes for a ride faster than a speeding bullet, and just as dangerous!

The characters in Deus Ex are all extraordinary individuals but are written in such a way they could be very real people. In this story, all the people introduced in Apocalypse are back, but some are expanded.

My favorite in this one is Ted "Boingy" Binghamton. He is the CEO of GravWorks. A former game programmer, he possesses a monster-sized sense of humor. Boingy will find the humor in all situations, no matter how grim. He’s the kind of boss I would want to work for. He seems very laid back, but he demands top performance from his people, but he does it without being overly demanding. He likes donuts and dunking them in his coffee (my kind of guy). 

Another favorite character was an octopus living in a Boston aquarium. I'll just leave that right there.

My favorite point of plot in Deus Ex is the mixture of various subjects to make the story thought provoking and informative. There is a mixture of science (both real and made-up) along with history, philosophy, politics, human relations, war and peace, and economics. While all the elements are fictitious, they all are relatable to situations we can read about every day in the news. While the reader will want to get on to the next element of the story, it wasn't uncommon for me to stop reading and contemplate what I had just read.

Another favorite part of Deus Ex was a chapter that had a subheading offering the reader to skip a chapter. I urge you not to do this! It's one of the best parts of the book!

My takeaway from Deus Ex is to remember something I will quote. I see it as more of a warning for vigilance than anything...

"Humans evolved from chimps into chumps. And everyone with something to sell knows it." (Page 273)

Deus Ex Effing Machina is 762 pages of sheer fun and an opportunity to think and learn. I am eager to see where the author takes the story from here. Rick has a great sense of humor and knows how to use it. The writing in this book reminds me a little of Douglas Adams because it combines dire situations with a natural sort of hilarity that one might find in reality. A friend once told me when the chips were down, "never lose your sense of humor."

The length of the novel might seem intimidating, but the book reads quickly and is absolutely worth the time.

I gave my highest recommendations for Deus Ex Effing Machina along with the previous book in the series, Apocalypse Du Jour. The author warns the reader that before reading Deus Ex, it would be wise to read Apocalypse, and I completely agree!

Oh, and while I'm at it, I'll warn you to beware of the interrupting bovine creature (you're going to have to read the book to get that).

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rick Jurmain is a retired rocket scientist and entrepreneur. In the ‘90s, he and his late wife Mary (killed by cancer in 2016) built a successful corporation from the ground up. For Realityworks, Inc., the invented, built, and marketed a microprocessor-based product that gained national support, achieved international media attention, and was named by Fortune magazine as Product of the Year in 1994. In 2000, the Eau Claire (Wisconsin) Chamber of Commerce selected Rick and Mary as the local Entrepreneurs of the Year, and Ernst & Young selected them as Finalists for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mary ran the company, while Rick was Vice President In Charge Of Things That Go Beep (engineering, computers, phones, faxes, cars, dishwashers, and oddly enough, toilets, though they rarely go beep).

In the ‘80’s, Rick let, or was a member of, 13 NASA Space Shuttle mission control Flight Activities teams. Unlike cruise ships, Shuttle flight activities did not include shuffleboard or bingo. The Flight Activities teams planned missions starting years prior to launch, and re-planned missions during flights when things went wrong. And things always went wrong. Rick also led the Operations Analysis teams for General Dynamics’ Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) and McDonnell Douglas’ National AeroSpace Plane (NASP). He spent 15 years in the aerospace industry doing tactical analysis and war games, including top level WWIII combined arms games, and he helped invent hypersonic war games.

In 2002, Rick was a consultant to Coleman Aerospace on DARPA’s RASCAL study, which designed modifications for a rocket-powered F-14 fighter. For that contract, Rick headed up designing the Operations, Support, Avionics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Cockpit, Payload Interfaces, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management Systems. All the fun stuff.

In the late ‘90’s, Rick was founder of Vela Technology Development, Inc. Vela and its partners started much of what is becoming the space tourism industry. Vela’s briefings to Burt Rutan and Richard Branson started them on the path to space tourism. Vela worked with the FAA to write regulations for space tourism. And Vela helped design a space-tourism themed resort for Las Vegas. While Vela has since folded, Rick owns its process patent on key low-acceleration trajectories for space tourism. And if Rutan doesn’t get his butt in gear, the patent will be worthless because it expires soon.

Rick was a Captain in the Army Combat Engineers, National Guard and Reserves (no significant active duty).

Rick is 65 years old, currently retired, though working intermittently as a board member, inventor, and writer. He has two kids: Jake, age 30, and Ariel, Age 26. And he’s obnoxiously proud of both of them.

Rick is widely acknowledged to have been Mary’s trophy husband. Though no one has ever thought of him as just another pretty face. At least, no one who’s seen his face. And, come to think of it, no one has ever considered that he was a first-place trophy either. Rick was just in the right place at the right time to trip up a gorgeous, massively intelligent woman with an aging biological clock and desperately low standards. Someday, someone will make a fortune building a dating site for such women.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Western Lights By C.P. Schaefer - A Fast-Paced,Entertaining, And Thoughtful Story

Western Lights by C.P. Schaefer

This is the second book from C.P. Schaefer, an author I have gained a great deal of respect for. The first book was The Kuyper Rogue, an excellent story of survival far from Earth. Western Lights, however, is set right here on the good Earth. It is a story that takes hold of the reader right from the opening and doesn't let go until it is over. But even then, there is a lot left to think about when the story ends. The 434 pages of this story blazed by, and it was a fun ride.

The world in Western Lights is being ravaged by runaway climate change. It is too late to stop it. At the same time, our Sun is in a period of heightened electromagnetic activity, and to make matters worse, the magnetic core of the Earth is flipping. Magnetic north is moving, and not in small increments, but in huge leaps from one place to another.

The result is complete and utter chaos.

This mix of circumstances results in some beautiful, and very dangerous, Super Aurora displays. There are also some very strange time portals opening up all over the planet. Those portal appearances result in some extraordinary events that baffle scientists.

NOAA researcher, Sara Gathers, is a concerned citizen who is seeking a way to stop climate change. She has the answers, but it is probably too late to make necessary changes to arrest the process threatening all life on the planet. When the magnetic pole moves to California, she and her two companions vanish without a trace.

Sarah winds up decades in the past and sees an opportunity to change the deadly course of runaway climate change.

But how?

And that barely scratches the surface of the amazing story in the pages of Western Lights.

The tale centers on Sara Gaithers, a researcher who cares about the planet. Everything on the planet, and she knows how to get things done, very much like her mother, who is the director of NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce). She is smart and driven even at a time when it seems there is little hope of reversing the damage that has been done to the planet dating back to the time of the Industrial Revolution. She also has an uncanny ability to move people to taking action on her behalf. 

Sara comes by her abilities naturally when considering the abilities of her mother, Julia. Julia knows the right people in high places and helps Sara obtain the resources she needs to do her job investigating the chaotic events taking place.

Mason Hahn is a pilot and he and Sara meet up in Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska, where an event, probably as a result of the shifting magnetic pole, could end in disaster. Sara knows what needs to be done, and Mason knows how to improvise and get things done, and these characters make a great team. They also have feelings for each other, adding another dimension to the story, making it feel real. Mason and Sara are joined by a young wiz-kid.

Ethan Sites, Assistant Manager of Operations for a NOAA outpost, finds himself in the wilderness until he is rescued by Sara and Mason. He is great with computers and other electronic devices and, while a bit obnoxious at times, Ethan is a valuable asset to the group, as well as others. He is a fun character in the tale and often provides a little comic relief to some otherwise grim situations.

All the characters in Western Lights are believable people, and characters I grew to like and care about.

My favorite point of plot in this story is how the author not only provides a great story, but he also includes some factual, scientific information. But that is not all. There is also the introduction of paranormal events included in the story, adding color and an interesting wrinkle to heighten interest. This story has it all!

My takeaway from Western Lights is to remember that an intelligent, resourceful person can affect change if they are willing to take great risks.

Sara could have just lived in the past safe from climate change, but instead, she chose to work in the past to make the world a better place going forward.

Western Lights is a great story about people who care about the world and the people in it. There are some bizarre situations, one might even think absurd in a way, but in this day and age, when nearly anything seems possible, maybe not so far-fetched. It is a fast-paced tale with some fine characters that will have the reader caring about them and their plight. But this story will also make one think about our own future and what is to be done to make corrections before we tip over the edge, if that isn't the case already.

I give my highest recommendations for Western Lights, an entertaining and informative story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

C.P. Schaefer is an American writer and Engineer. He has been a private engineer in private practice for over 40 years and has written two science fiction novels called The Kuyper Rogue and Western Lights.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!