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: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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