Jordan Pendragon is a multilayered guy. He’s handsome, an ace at ice hockey and math, but not as at ease with navigating the emotional realms of high school and at staying clean. When he learns that he’s being followed by a strange British man Kolin, and Jordan turns to chase him, Kolin leaves behind a watchband that Jordan soon learns is what’s called a Life Extractor. Jordan is in dire pain when he tries it on and the thing sucks green oil from his arm. Jordan learns later from Kolin that the band is called a Life Extractor, and Green Life is a hot commodity.
In a tense chase scene in a carnival, where Jordan is double-dating a friend of his sister’s and pretending to like her (and girls in general), he, his sister and Kolin get sucked in through a Slipstream, which he learns is a sort of black hole from which he can come and go.
This lands them in Avalon, a fascinating yet frightening place, an alternate earth of AIs and mega-cities and shiny skyscrapers that churn out Life Green and all manner of questionable digital playthings. Kolin reveals that it’s been prophesized that a boy from earth with the name of an old king (Jordan’s last name Pendragon is the name of an ancient king) would bring order to chaos. Jordan has just been tagged!
In an intriguing blend of myth and sci-fi, adventure the world of Avalon rolls out in breathless fashion! Offutt’s desire to square theoretical physics with spirituality is hugely ambitious and I applaud it. For one, an entity called The Shadow operates a supercomputer in an unknown location that has imprisoned The Light, and Kolin’s Master.
Without giving anything away, I can say that Jordan will find love in the mad action—in the form of Kolin. This serves to deepen his character, and let the reader in more. This world was so cinematic that I could easily see it made into an edge-of-the-seat sci-fi extravaganza!
Buy Slipstream at Amazon
Find Michael Offutt's blog and website here.
Sounds like a great story even though I know little about physics. Myth and fantasy I like. Maybe I'd learn something about physics too.
ReplyDeleteVery nice review.
I've got this on my TBR pile, but I've been holding off on reading it. I have a feeling I need to be in the right mood to tackle it. Sounds complicated, like I'll need to be able to dedicate some serious brain cells to understanding it. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review. That cover is making me itchy. LOL
ReplyDeleteLG, yes, you'll need a good cuppa coffee or two, but once you get into it, it starts rolling pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteI love sci-fi, and this book sounds like it's complex and full of adventure. Awesome! Thanks for highlighting it, Catherine! :-)
ReplyDeleteSure, Lexa, how funny, I just hopped over here after commenting on your post.
ReplyDeletesounds like a good sci-fi to read! thanks for the recommendation. new follower here! hi!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the review, Catherine. I'm so glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteHey, Tammy, thanks for following the blog! And Michael, glad you like the review. I'm all for blending the genres, and it is kind of a trend.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteEeeuugggghhh.... the Life Extractor idea gives me the creeps... which of course means I'll have to read this :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, I just posted a review for 'Fireseed One' on my blog, Amazon, and Goodreads.
You write such great reviews, Catherine. They always make me run out the door to get the book. This one is very exciting. Thanks for telling us what you though about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lee, and thank you Nickie! I appreciate your thoughtful review. Marisa is always a real Rorschach test for readers: some love her, some cringe over her. Marisa's a victim of extreme brainwashing a la Patty Hearst back in the day. So, of course, she's going to spout chapter and verse of the enemy--at least until she gets deconditioned. No spoilers here, but if your curious about this debate, read Fireseed One!
ReplyDeleteCan you do a post on "new physics"? Or send me an email? Do you mean quantum physics? This is new for me.
ReplyDeleteBeth, I will, but right now NYC's in a total blackout! I logged in somewhere that has an emergency generator. Wish us all luck here-no power, no heat, no anything for at least three more days. I feel like I'm IN that show Revolution. I promise a Frankenstorm post when we dig out.
ReplyDeleteI just started Slipstream and am enjoying it so far. Michael says his second is about to come out.
ReplyDelete