The Traveler: Book One [Paperback]

When I picked up Peter Krausche's Traveler, I didn't quite know what to expect. I was intrigued by the many appendices, ranging from Selanian history, through an overview of the Selanian language, to several indexes of persons and places. So I thought I'd be getting something like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. I quickly realized how wrong I was. This is no sword and sorcery fantasy novel. But I couldn't quite define it as science fiction, either. All the elements are there, and yet...

What's most astonishing is that we get two stories in one book. The prelude is something of a novelette and takes us through the first fifty pages. Set in the early 1980's in Oregon, The Rose is a beautiful and fascinating love story. I would encourage readers like me who are into fantasy romance to keep enough tissues handy. When we begin the main narration, called Part 1: The Traveler, we're plunged into a completely different world. Set 4,500 years in the past on the planet Piral, we've entered a kind of pseudo-Victorian age, but none that could ever have existed on earth.

The author informs us in his author's note at the beginning that both plots -- past and present -- will be continued in each subsequent book. He plans to bring the two plots together in the seventh and final volume of the series.

The Rose begins on a mid-summer evening in 1982. Philip Brannon, a freelance civil engineer, meets Silana Tolares, a dark, mysterious "young" woman who lives in the Deschutes National Forest of Central Oregon. Naturally, Philip falls in love with her. And even though she refuses to discuss her past, he decides to marry her. We don't know who Silana is or where she's from. But there are some very strange and extraordinary things going on, and Philip discovers his alleged love for her isn't enough to help him deal with her being so -- different.

At the onset of Part 1, a bewildered stranger arrives in the little town of Nadil in the eastern provinces. It's the year 1524 TC (Tena Corasetal), a bad time to be here, because an impending civil war between the eastern and western provinces threatens to destroy this beautiful and fascinating society. Catyana's little sister is having frightful visions of someone she calls the Goddess of Death. Catyana's friend Nova is an acolyte of the Selanian Order -- the chief religious power on Piral -- and might be able to help the little girl. Or can she? Nova is having problems understanding the situation and is deeply disturbed by what's happening. But the task of confronting the stranger has also fallen to her. She wonders if he could be the Traveler, whose coming -- foretold in the Selani s'Ulavan hundreds of years ago -- is supposed to herald a new era.

Subtly and with much sensitivity, Peter Krausche leads us into this world in which strict conformity to etiquette is more important than people's feelings -- one of the reasons the leaders of the western provinces are rebelling against the Selanian Order. The scenes alternate between the slower moving pace in the east and the sometimes dreadful events in the west, without ever losing intensity or becoming graphic. Everywhere we're taken, we're confronted with intrigue and plans within plans, and we never quite know if everyone is really who they say.

Music, art, and technology are smoothly integrated into the tale and receive an ever greater significance as the plot develops. Mysterious and magical beings such as fairies, angels, mermaids, unicorns, and dragons are always lurking in the background, reminding us of C. S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles. We sense these creatures will gain importance as the series progresses.

This beautiful, moving novel has more to give than just entertainment. Krausche explores spiritual questions without ever becoming preachy, and especially one theme stands out: "There is always hope." Usually, I only read books that stand by themselves. I've made an exception in this case, and although this first volume ends with a cliffhanger, I can't wait until the next book is released. If the author can follow through with what he's begun, this series is destined to become a classic.

If I'd seen this book under the "religious fantasy section" I just wouldn't have read it. But I'm glad I did because it's a great read- lots of fun, nicely paced and very readable.

There are a lot of the classic fantasy elements: chosen ones, revenge, destiny, love and a nice bit of good versus evil later on (which is when the religious thing may really start to kick in). The amount of detail is amazing- it's in its own little world. And if the 20 pages of Appendices don't give you enough you can always go to the author's website for maps and history (www.PeterKrausche.com).

I'll add that this is very much an introductory book and the ending is pretty low-key. But "The Traveler" has got enough happening to keep the pages turning and definitely enough to make you want to read the next one.

› Go to Amazon U.S. to see both reviews  4.5 out of 5 stars