Review: An Amazing Mystery /Sci-Fi Thriller That Makes the Pages Fly By!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 4, 2012
All I can say is Wow!  That has got to be the best first book by an author that I've read in ages.  In a lot of ways, the creativity and imagination that went into worldbuilding and creating alien species remind me most of Iain Banks.  There were some deeply original aliens and alien personalities in this book.  The plot of the book is twofold.  The fist part of the plot deals with the Great Wave that happened 200 years ago.  The Great Wave left a path of destruction for many tens of light years and nobody knew what caused it - but the Earth got blamed.  Since then, all Earth's resources have been put into the Search for the information that will free them from from this terrible claim that they were responsible for the Great Wave.  Rone, an Archeosoldier for the Earth has been given a clue that her superiors feel she can't pass up.  So, off she goes to uncharted space chasing Phlegars, chasing anything that can shed light on the Search.Meanwhile, across the universe a new superpower is coming.  It's coming across galaxies.  It has a huge warfleet.  It has an all encompassing vision.  It wants to put this vision into action by taking over every single occupied planet.  It has the capability to do it.  Can anybody stop it?These two storylines twist and turn around each other like strands of DNA as our tale unfolds. In fact, the plot has more twists and turns than a Formula One track. Who would have thought that the tale of a 200 year old mystery and a plan to take over the known universe could be so compelling?  But it is.  It is not only compelling it is intriguing, edge of your seat exciting, eyes wide open with wonder, pages fly by thrilling.  It is now 3:18 AM and I've finished.  I couldn't put it down.  Definitely not to sleep, it was too bloody good, besides, you simply get lost in the pages.  The next thing you know the book is done and it's the middle of the night.  There are not enough books like this.The characterization in this book was so superior that there were even secondary characters that I wanted to spend more time with, like the Phlegars, Uncle Gil.  Each person/species had a full three dimensional personality and each went through personal development especially Rone and Tihn.  The characters feel so real, it seems that you could meet them on any street corner or coffee shop (even most of the aliens).  Even the secondary and tertiary characters get their moments of development.  Nobody is 2D in Mr. Celery's world.  The worldbuilding is a character all its own.  Each planet, each gas gianet, each home world world has a personality beautifully fleshed out.  Each building, technology, topographical feature are all laid out in context with the people who created them,to create a philosophy of a culture that makes vivid sense while painting an artists picture of the world itself.  Simply masterful!The pacing in this book is swift, it grabs you by the throat on page one and doesn't let go until the final page at the ending.  The storylines are so expertly woven together that there are all smooth transitions, and while the POV may hops from character to character there is no confusion whatsoever.The ending of the book wraps up these two storylines while keeping open a third that was introduced in the book.  I am praying for a sequel to come out very soon, as I would love to get lost in this universe again.  I already miss it.I would whole heartedly recommend this book to anyony who likes sci-fi, space opera, a good mystery, or simply is a student of human nature.  This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a thumping good read of the first order.  I can't believe this is the author's first book.  It is so, so good!  Just buy it!  You won't be sorry.