Customer Reviews

The Aquarians: 2012 - A New Era Begins

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Eric Rankin's close communication with dolphins resulting from his swimming with these ancient and intelligent beings around the oceans of the world helps to explain one reason why this brief book is so addicting to read. But since THE AQUARIANS is his first novel the reader will not only be absorbed in the very fine story line of the book, but will also be impressed with the amount of research Rankin so obviously accomplished in the fields of Astrology, Mayan intelligence, and computer technology as applied to animal studies. First and foremost, this is a novel that will capture the attention of anyone who is fortunate enough to pick up a copy - an adventure filled with intrigue, investigation, criminal underpinnings, and a fine love story: it is also a warmly informative approach to the mysteries of the Mayan Calendar, Dolphin communications, and philosophical line of thought about the state of the world and the future of the human species.

Wisely weaving several stories, each with a set of characters we get to know, to a braid of story in which all of the events and characters of the novel become intricately connected, Rankin begins his story with a prelude in 1946 and an important incident occurring just after the atomic bomb devastation of Japan that sets the tone of the novel. The reader encounters crusty old scientists who are determined to understand the ultrasonic holograms dolphins transmit, archeologists who gaze in wonder at the findings of a hidden Mayan temple on whose ceiling is painted the famous Mayan Calendar referenced in the 800 year old Dresden Codex, and to keep the story contemporary, young people are added to not only provide the requisite love interest but also provide the tie with the past that gives the book such an uplifting ending. Rankin blends these elements so well that he is able to make statements about humanity and the fragility of life without sounding saccharine. 'It's knowing that life constantly offers you the opportunity to commit an act of love, and that no matter what, love is always the right act to commit. Love is always the right answer'. And in sharing his knowledge of dolphin behavior he offers his scientist the chance to make poignant statements: 'We're warm-blooded, air-breathing animals similar to them [dolphins] in many ways, but different in that we live on land, walk, build things, and are preoccupied with conflict and violence'.

Faced with the shared evidence from many of the characters that the numbers 11:11, the date the Mayan Calendar ends time as we know it (December 21, 2012), and recurring dreams/visions provide, Rankin's characters provide a window of hope into the future - a true 'dawning of The Age of Aquarius' - if the study of dolphins is heeded. It all makes for a fascinating book, and after reading it, the reader will recognize that clues to the entire story are presented on the very well designed cover of this successful novel! Grady Harp, July 08

The Aquarians is one of those rare books that has the magic to really pull you into the story. I kept wanting to pick it back up even when I didn't have time to read--I couldn't stop thinking about it. I liked the characters and the entertaining storyline, but I think the real pull for me was the message. The Mayan calendar end-date coinciding with the age of aquarius, the 11:11 phenomenon being a wake-up call (I am one of those who has been seeing 11:11 for years), and the new perspective it offered me about dolphins left me with such optimism. I realize it is just a work of fiction, but the facts woven through the story were so inspiring. I am looking forward to the new direction humanity can take in the year 2012.

As the author of a best-selling non-fiction book about the "11:11" phenomenon, I was so excited and curious to read Eric Rankin's novel, which tied in the 11:11 enigma and the coming prophetic year of 2012 with a beautiful storyline about the amazing bonds between humans and dolphins, and humans and humans to boot. How could a novel quite pull off such a big order? But Rankin not only did pull it off, he did it with a lush, emotionally moving story that perfectly introduces so many concepts, all the while telling a great love story between a man and a woman, and humanity and the greater good. That the greater good is symbolized here in the form of dolphins is so fitting, as this book is like an introduction into the fascinating world of these underwater angels. The story centers on three people, all of whom in the end find their own personal transformation through their close encounters with these delightful and brilliant creatures.

Dr. Troy Wallace is trying to prove an incredible theory of his involving echolocation and 3-D sonogram imaging; Rebecca Larson is a dolphin behaviorist at Sea World with a profound theory of her own involving dolphins and how humans can learn from and integrate dolphin behavior and hopefully mimic their long evolutionary presence; and Ryan Ericson, a hot stud So Cal celebrity who, despite his fame and success, feels an emptiness inside that serves as the catalyst to an incredible journey of change and growth and helps him find a love that goes beyond one night stands. The characters are fully realized and totally relatable, and their journeys, both separate and collective, ring true and provide plenty of lessons for the reader to embrace. This is not just a story of three people finding themselves, though, or even proving themselves, but also a story of how we as a species can hope to find our place in the world as the prophetic year of 2012, when the ancient Mayans predicted an end of time as we know it, fast approaches.

What will 2012 bring? This book gives a powerful and positive outlook filled with hope as we enter the Age of Aquarius. What does 11:11 have to do with it all? Well, if I told you that, I'd be giving away one of the book's most delicious secrets. Suffice it to say, if you take my advice and buy and read this book, you will experience a most timely, empowering and entertaining read. And be prepared to fall in love with dolphins, for some of you, all over again.
Marie D. Jones - author "11:11 - The Time Prompt Phenomenon: The Meaning Behind Mysterious Signs, Sequences and Synchronicities"

My book club read this book, and we were all taken with this touching story. Amazingly, each one of us connected to a different element: dolphins, the Mayan calendar, 2012, the resurgent peace movement and even a traditional love story, we couldn't believe how the author tied all of these topics together. Light and breezy, "The Aquarians" reads like The Celestine Prophecy meets The DaVinci Code meets the OC. To say there's something for everyone in this novel is an understatement.

But perhaps the most intriguing thing is how much factual information is contained within the pages of this eye-opening story. The author all but dares you to do your own research on such things as the 11:11 phenomenon and dolphin physiology. Suffice it to say that the more I looked, the more I was amazed at how much was true!

Set in such fun places as Southern California, Florida and the British Virgin Islands, this is the perfect book to take on vacation. But don't be surprised if your eyes are forever opened to the possibilities in store as we finally enter the prophetic Age of Aquarius!

Cameron D

The first page draws you into the water, and each page following buoys you along like a swell on the ocean. Wave by wave, you are carried into the seemingly disconnected lives of captivating people. You join the thread of each character's past, and the author invites you along for the enlightening journey that brings them all together. With them you are transported to many intriguing locales, and left feeling as though you have walked in these places and shared their experiences. Along the odyssey, fascinating, true facts about dolphins, science, and Mayan culture will lead you to search for more. This is not a doomsday prophecy, rather a tale of possibilities for the future, and the hope of human potential.

There are few things that will make you feel this good! I could not put this book down once I started reading! I usually get bored with books, BUT this one was mesmerizing! It is a wonderful story of how people from different parts of life come together by a common fascination and experience with dolphins. As their relationships develop they discover their connection to the Mayan calendar, and how dolphins research can realize the beginning of a peaceful world rather than the end of the current chaotic one. Your stress will ease as you fall into this book and you will be inspired to appreciate the beauty around you and how important it is to work together to love one another and all that is living around us!

I don't write reviews... but this one I have to. With a trail of glowing reviews the author doesn't really need mine but here I am. This book transported me out of my life (not an easy thing to do!) and fully into the story. Through the characters lives, multiple stories coincide perfectly with 11:11. The story is magical and uplifting and impossible to put down. Looking forward to his next book!

Very excited to have been inspired to read this book. And the book did not disappoint at all. I found it to be very informative even tho it was a work of fiction. I did the additional research of the web pages listed in back of book and was very enlightened in the process. I think Eric Rankin did a wonderful job in telling this story and look forward to reading the next one.

I really enjoyed this novel on my favourite subjects; 2012: The Mayan Calendar and the evolution of human consciousness. I have read mostly non-fiction on this subject so it was nice to come across this story which was a pleasure. As always, I am so impressed with an author's skill in taking an important subject matter and weaving together characters, events and dialogue and Eric Rankin did a superb job with this especially as a first novel. I highly recommend reading this to anyone interested in a good story combining The Mayan Calendar and the exciting prophecy of 2012. This novel is more than just a story in that it contains a timely message of something very important we need to remember NOW as the time is upon us to wake up and co-create a peaceful and loving planet. This book also introduced me to a couple of aspects of The Mayan Calendar that I was not familiar with which are the core of the book and that is how Dolphins are connected with the 2012 prophecy and the 11:11 phenomenon. To support the inspiration of the book, this accessible author has a website with a virtual gallery which really brings it alive and I enjoyed watching that afterwards while listening to a nicely cool rap song about this shift into the Age of Aquarius. This is the kind of book that is so much more than just a story to read and forget but one to share as it is truly the message of a movement which is most exciting to be a part of. Interestingly it was the first book I ever read on kindle so it was a weird sensation to read a book and to not have it in my hands an know how long it was. When it ended I was surprised and it left me wanting more, yet satisfied! I just bought some hard copies for my library and to share.

I am not good at posting reviews but I have to admit this book will keep you wanting to read it, hard to put down I am on my second reading of it. I believe very much in the events that could happen during this period of the Mayan Calendar and Eric Rankin's book has eased my mind. For one I have had many dreams of this time on our calendar and that there will be changes there will be a shift and life as we know it on this planet will begin a new age and reading Eric's book made me feel as if I were not alone in the world with these thoughts of knowing what may or could happen. His research on this amazed me and I have always been drawn to dolphins even though I have never had the encounter of swimming with them I have always wanted too. His research and the stories he has written in this book are amazing. This book will help you to understand what will come or what the future may hold. I know there are people out there that think this is not real or the dawning of a new age is just a myth but I think this book will help those people understand more of what they choose to ignore. At least open your mind to the possibilities of change and understanding of our Earth and those that live on it not just humans but everything. Sure you can think of it as fiction or myth but open your hearts and your minds and allow this book to take hold of you as it has many readers in the world. Those who think this book is just fiction well I am a science fiction freak and from what I have seen and read over the years on Science Fiction well some of those fictions as you call them are being used as of today I consider it History of the Future. I thank you Eric Rankin for all the time you put into this with your research and writing of this Novel.