Review: The Atlantian Chronicles: Atlantis Rising by Gary English
/
Book Summary
What if there were still living survivors from the sunken island of Atlantis, and what if they find themselves suddenly thrust back to the surface and into a world they know little about? Survival is the force which guides their actions, and humankind only a means to an end. What will happen? Who decides who lives and who dies? Between these pages lie the answers to these questions and more. The Atlantian Chronicles is a story of survival, mystery, betrayal and of two mismatched lovers whose accidental encounter becomes a means for humankind’s survival. The initial encounter puts the whole planet on edge, altering our concept of the world and the universe itself. What happens next may surprise you, yet one question still remains to be answered. Would you make the same desperate choices these Atlantians made in order to survive?
Review
To use a phrase from the Golden Girls’ Sophia, “Picture it . . .” an oil rig in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Not very interesting but then again I’m no Sophia. Our story begins with two executives, Tom and Bob coming in to inspect the oil rig. Upon settling in, a giant wave crashes into the oil rig, leaving behind much damage. But a few broken antennas are not the only thing the wave caused. Among closer inspection, the execs and the crew of the rig discover an island that wasn't there before. And from this island, they meet some strange visitors.
These strangers emerge from a swimming blue sphere that the men from the rig have never seen before; the leader introducing himself as Raval and asking the men to come aboard, so he can bring them back to the newly surfaced island. Yet despite Raval’s promise that they won’t be harmed, the crew draws their weapons, refusing to go.
Seeing no way around violence, the new comers fire back, with no real weapon yet somehow take out another antenna on the oil rig. Now having been persuaded, the workers of the oil rig and the two execs board the weird watercraft and dive below the sea.
A few minutes later, the Americans arrive on an island full of life, appearing to be a collaboration of all of history’s greatest civilizations built in one place. Gathering the city’s meeting hall, the men are introduced to the council of elders and are informed that they are not prisoners but guests. They are free to roam the city as they please however; it is the council’s desire and need really to learn of how the world has changed.
During the exchange between Bob and Atar, the oldest of the elders, the men conclude that the island may indeed be the long lost city of Atlantis. Also, the men discover that the Atlantians are responsible for creating mermaids, centaurs, griffins and other such creatures of myth. And the men from above are more than in awe with the long lost people.
The Atlantians wish to meet with a representative from the crew’s country as well as the other world leaders, to discuss trade and an exchange of culture and knowledge. However, the council will not allow the crew to leave the city until all their inquiries has been answered and they are assured there will be no retaliation from the “surface dwellers,” as they are referred to be the Atlantians. While the crew is treated as guests, it begs to question, are the Atlantians a peaceful people or equal opportunist like much of the rest of the world? Or do they deem themselves a superior race and see all “surface dwellers” as inferior and that their trades and exchanges of culture and knowledge a way to make the world more like them?
It is true that you cannot judge a book by its cover however, as for this novel The Atlantian Chronicles: Atlantis Rising; there is no need to judge. There is much wonder and adventure with this read. The Atlantian Chronicles is a science fiction that ponders the question, what happened to Atlantis and what would happen if it ever resurfaced? This novel also opens up one’s imagination of a world unlike our own and full of possibilities. Most importantly, this novel teaches us to be open minded to what other cultures have to offer us and not to judge a book by its cover.
Reviewed by Camia Rhodes
Book Information
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
Publication date: 11/7/2013
Pages: 220
