Review: Absolutely thrilling!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 2, 2014
Cleverly written and endlessly entertaining, Dmitri Poletaev’s time travel novel ‘Fort Ross’ is one of those books you’re just glad to have found and read. Thanks to a friend’s recommendation, my decision to read this book turned out to be one of the best literature-related decisions I’ve made.Michael Crichton-esque  in its scope and Dan Brown-esque in its intensity, ‘Fort Ross’ runs on the author’s rare wit, flawless plotting, and a language that is immediately entertaining right at the get-go. In ‘Fort Ross’, a famous Russian reporter, Dmitry, heads an international TV crew to do a story on the history of Russia’s former colonies in what is now the USA. They head over to Fort Ross, which used to be a Russian settlement and fortress north of San Francisco, to flesh out the story and shoot another jaws-dropping documentary. But an astounding quirk of nature gives them the opportunity to do more than that—they are actually transported back in time right in that crucial period when Fort Ross’s future and significance for Russia’s geopolitical situation is unravelling, but it also puts them at great risk. And that’s only for starters.If that doesn’t put you in the front seat of an edge-of-your-seat historical rollercoaster ride, then I don’t know what will. This book is, for lack of a more punch-y word, entertaining. It contains everything you love about the time travel genre (if that can be considered a distinct genre). I love how the narrative switches back and forth in time—from present day to 1820 and so forth—lending the overall story with verisimilitude and historical gravitas and perspective, and also allowing the reader to fully sink their teeth in what feels “real”. Especially as the two timelines gradually meet to intersect, in the blink of an eye—or in the case of ‘Fort Ross’, upon lightning’s strike.I love ‘Fort Ross’ to shreds. This is a book that can easily make the hours disappear—you can curl up in a corner and just enjoy every page of it. Highly recommended to anyone, not just fans of time travel stories, but also those who love a good, entertaining book. Get a copy. Also an awesome gift to friends and loved ones. Two thumbs up!