Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Realms Thereunder: Ross Lawhead, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Those who have passed from the earth to another realm often have problems with reentry. One case in point is Lemuel Gulliver who could not adjust to life on earth when he returned from his many travels. In the Bible we find the story of Lazarus whose return to earth from Paradise became a source of irritation for the religious leaders who wanted to kill him.

Reentry is also a problem for the two main characters in The Realms Thereunder. Daniel Tully and Freya Reynolds enter another realm while they are on a school field trip. These two thirteen year olds who share a birthday also share an adventure and difficult adjustments when they reappear two months later. Daniel has become a homeless wanderer and Freya suffers from OCD.

They alone know they saved the earth but don’t even talk to each other about it, and rarely see each other, until they are called on to take on another mission. It is this mission which forms the linchpin holding all the pieces together in this first book in The Ancient Earth Trilogy.

I found the book interesting enough to commit to sitting at my computer to read the eBook. There were some minor annoyances, however. I thought there was too much detailed description of the rooms the wanderers entered. I wanted to move on to the next room to see what was goi8ng to happen. But perhaps the attention to detail is the mark of an artist. Andrew Wyeth used to sketch the trunks of trees even though they would not show up in the painting.

Then there is the problem with the ending. I wanted some sort of resolution to this story before I went on to the end. Unfortunately for me I did not get my wish. More adventure awaits in the next volume. Fortunately for the writer I will have to secure the next book in the series.

I guess it is the nature of life on earth that the battle between good and evil is never ending and, as the book reminds us, doesn’t just take place on earth or effect life here.

I would also that the reader go to the language notes at the end of the book to get the pronunciation for the names of the companions so we can do them the honor of saying their names correctly.