Review: The mysteries of the sea
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 8, 2013
R.K. Sidler seems to prefer to remain rather anonymous: the short bio provided as this book opens merely states he was born and raised in Pennsylvania, is a US Air Force Veteran, a lifetime member of VFW and now lies in Colorado. We do know that his writing skills have been spread around – his other books include ‘What Religions Don’t Want You to Know...An Exposé of Belief Systems’ (focusing on the exposure of fallacies in religion, and secularized philosophies, direction and information provided for the purpose of promoting informed self-determination), ‘The Adventures of Hoppy, Floppy, and Squeak’ (a children’s story), ‘Too Many Diets, Not Enough Chocolate’ (a nutritionist book self explanatory in the title), ‘MuTerra’  (a sci-fi apocalyptic novel), and ‘The Illusion of Truth’ (a collection of short stories meant to invoke personal response to situational dramas and moral dilemmas that could relate, on some levels, to real life experiences). Without more information we seem to be encountering an author searching for his realm. It may just be that he has found it in this adventure cum quasi-spiritually informed mystery.Sidler opens his book in the year 1492 when an additional ship from Queen Isabella is sent to join the famous trio of ships that Columbus steered toward the New World – a ship with a guarded cargo that seduces the captain (with the aid of rum) to explore: the cargo is a bizarre golden chest in which there is a very surprising finding that defies explanation and results in that ‘4th ship’ exploding. Jump forward to the present day where two contemporary seaworthy mates – divers Sean Rylan and Alexander Tate - are facing the dissolution of their diminishing charter boat business. But they are salvaged by a mysterious man of wealth who launches them to explore an untouched wreck bracketed by dangerous conditions. With the attitude that nothing is impossible they set out on a mission to explore the unknown (remember the prologue) and in the process make discoveries at sea that have eluded others.Sidler sets his scenes well, keeps the pace at just the right speed to hold his readers, and has a solid enough idea for an adventure that holds attention to the end. If some of the characters are a bit two dimensional, their full characterization being subjugated for descriptors more involved with the nature of the setting, then that is a ‘flaw’ that often authors new to a genre can easily overcome with further books. By and large it is a fine start by a man who knows how to use his pen succinctly and energetically. He bears watching. Grady Harp, December 13