Review: Convoluted but entertaining sci-fi.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 2, 2013
A FAR TRAVELER, the First AlienBy W. Blake HeitzmanConvoluted but Entertaining Science FictionIn the 95th millennia of recorded time, the Nirvanian branch of the galaxy was developed and explorers sent out to nearby galactic arms, most of whom never returned.  This is the story of Gimish, the alien, who came to Earth in the days of the Pharaohs...and thus begins the story of this far traveler.  Just before he soared off into the galaxy, his wife told him that she would fight the Tyrant of Fate for his return.  But on his trip, his ship had engine troubles because his android mechanic misdiagnosed the spacecraft's problem and he had to crash land on Earth with no way to return home.Next the story moved to the present time in Nevada with six-foot-two Matthew James Krause aka Matt looking for work.  Janet Schlest, a member of the Association of Planners and Futurists, returning from Tucson in a blue BMW with a passenger, Stephanie Noble, who a presented a new mathematical process called Decision Analysis had engine trouble also.  There was an animosity between these two women, who now weren't speaking.  Meeting and being attracted to Matt, Janet begged Matt to tow her to Vegas, but it needed only a new fan belt.  The women had stopped at this little café/motel along this long stretch of desert highway and had to spend the night there.  Janet was drawn to Matt, but Matt liked Stephanie better and thus began a romance between the two.  At Ceci's Corners near Tonopah where Matt was looking for work, he ran into Bard Spruce, the manager of the local Haines Shotwell mine.  Bard offered Matt work only he wouldn't tell him what it consisted of.  An Indian told  Matt that one of the mines was a spirit mine and warned him to not go into certain places.  Eventually Bard revealed to him a machine he called SAM, which he had hidden in the mines.  He wanted Matt to help him with his experiments using SAM.  In the meantime, Bard hired Stephanie as a nurse at the Shotwell mine.  Janet is later found murdered.  SAM acts a time machine and take Matt back in time to where he meets Gimish.This story is made up of many sub-plots and at times they don't tie in very well with each other, causing the reader to become confused as to where the story is going and even what the purpose is.  It is a long story and there are long extensions of description and dialogue that make the story drag, and then it will pick up in a section and become entertaining, interesting and a page turner.  There are many characters in these various sub-plots and it becomes difficult to keep up with them and their purpose in the story.  Based on those caveats, I recommend this book as a well written sci-fi.I was given this e-book free for an honest review.