Customer Reviews

A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I haven't read a science fiction book in years. I don't care for alternate history stories. I am definitely not someone who feels like they spent another life fighting the awful war between the states. I only start this review by saying that to emphasize the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Pielke's book features the arrival of a time-traveller from the future (historian, Edwin Blair) in the American Civil War on the eve of Gettysburg. He receives an audience with Abraham Lincoln only to struggle to convince him and his advisers that he really does come from the future. He is desperate to do so, as something else is about to arrive from the future. Unless Blair can successfully convince the two sides to work together the results will be apocalyptic.

The most fascinating aspect of this novel is the integration of real researched history which comes to life on the page. I prefer to learn about things through travel and adventure, and as I accompanied Blair in his discussions and walks about the streets of Washington and the fields of Gettysburg, I felt like I was learning about history first hand. The detail Pielke gives, without bogging down the plot, is astounding and convincing.

This novel needs to be optioned for a movie. Many times I thought this as I read, so dramatic were the descriptions of situation and character. The moments before, during and after the arrival of the aliens in this book are so intense I did not want to stop reading.

If you like science fiction, you will like this book. If you like alternate history, you will like this book. If you like stories about time travel, history, or the civil war, you will like this book. If you don't, you will still like this book

Is it possible to change the past without altering or de-constructing the present and its relevant future beyond recognition?

Despite almost certain failure, Edwin Blair, an academic from the 22nd century studying 19th century American history, has been assigned the task of visiting the USA, war torn and haemorrhaging from the self-inflicted wounds it is suffering in the bloodiest conflict in its history, the American Civil War. A cataclysmic battle in earth's distant future with a space-faring civilization, from which humanity escaped alive by the narrowest of margins, has left behind the intelligence that the invaders will return to earth. They will be landing in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest conflict of the Civil War, on the morning of July 3, 1863. Against all odds, with the help of a skeptical President Lincoln, Blair must persuade the commander of the Union's forces, General Meade, and his confederate opponent, General Robert E Lee, to cease hostilities to deal with invaders from another planet - a threat that they could not even begin to conceptualize let alone combat.

A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM is a provocative blend of genres - speculative fiction, sci-fi and alternate history - that brilliantly uses the irony of slavery and prejudice in early America as a springboard to deal with considerably less obvious sociological issues that Pielke is convinced mankind will ultimately face - alien first contact and communication. Convinced that Noam Chomsky is mistaken when he suggests that we will be unable to communicate with entirely alien species and refusing to accept Stephen Hawking's much-publicized fears about the dire results of alien knowledge of our existence in the cosmos, Pielke addresses the ultimate question of how we will deal with the extension to an alien species of what we consider to be inalienable rights appropriate for humans and humanity.

Pielke's writing style is exceptionally warm, pastoral and easy-going yet utterly absorbing and fascinating. A wealth of period detail immerses the reader in the minutiae of life during a turbulent 19th century America, a time when it was questionable whether the word "United" would ever be attached to the word "States". Long time fans of classic sci-fi will joyfully reminisce about their favourite stories from the likes of HG Wells, Clifford D Simak or Isaac Asimov and sigh with gratitude at the realization that these writing giants' ability to combine unforgettable story-telling with thought-provoking social commentary is being brought to life again in Pielke's debut novel.

Reading A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM was much more than merely exciting. It was a rare privilege and I look forward with bated breath to the continuation of a planned trilogy. Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

My love of reading came from my mother. My love of history--and my tolerance for science fiction--came from my father. These passions--and that said tolerance!--collided for me when I read Robert G. Pielke's book A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor.

I LOVED this book! And that is unusual for me. OK, so it's not unusual that I would love a book. It is just unusual that I would love a book that doesn't have a romance in it. In fact, now that I think of it, I am not sure there were any female characters in the book. Not that it's a bad thing. This book was just about perfect, even without a woman's touch.

The problem that I am having is giving you a description of the plot without giving anything away. The best that I can do is say that the book revolves around a visitor from America's distant future trying to save humanity by traveling to 1860's Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.

What I liked about the book was the attention to detail. Historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee are described just as history books portray them. And I don't just mean in their looks. Pielke brings the men to life with their mannerisms and personality quirks. It was done in such a way that it both men seemed very real. It was wonderful.

Another great thing about the book is that while reading it I didn't often feel like I was reading. It was more like watching a movie. I felt like I was transported to the scene, watching everything unfold as the story was told.

The one thing I didn't like was the ending. AARRUUGGHH!!! Talk about a cliff-hanger! It did set up for the next book in the series. I can hardly wait to have that book in my hands.

Thank you to Nicole at Tribute Books for allowing me to review this book.

Civil War - Check

Abraham Lincoln - Check

Robert E. Lee - Check

Dire Consequences - Check

Man from the Future Asking for Help- What?! - Check

Now this is Historical Sci-Fi that I can get excited about and I usually hate anything Sci-Fi related.

In 1849, Abraham Lincoln has a strange encounter on a train. A man, Edwin Blair, says that he needs his help. The catch is that he doesn't need his help now; he needs it in 14 years, but he will give him the retainer now.

Fast forward to 1863, the Civil War is raging and Edwin Blair is granted an audience by then President Lincoln. Edwin Blair isn't selling anything, but what he has to get them to buy is hard to swallow. You see, he is a 19th century history teacher from the future, 2203 to be exact, and he needs both the armies of the North and the South to join together in order to ward off some "pests" that are going to endanger America in the future.

Blair has to walk a razor thin line between telling them enough to believe him and do what he needs them to do or tell them too much and blow their minds to the point that they won't take action and lock him in the booby hatch as a crazy person.

Once he convinces Lincoln and his cabinet, his struggle isn't over. He has to then go convince Robert E. Lee and the great army of the South to join he and the North in a united cause. It isn't easy and the clock is ticking. The pests are coming on July 3rd and he needs everyone to be ready to defeat them.

What I loved about A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor is that even though the sci-fi aspect is hugely important to the story, it really takes a backseat in the action. It isn't like Edwin Blair blasts onto the scene in a funny Star Wars getup and yells, "I am from the future and aliens are coming to attack!" The aliens aren't even called aliens, they are pests and Edwin Blair uses his knowledge and love of 19th century history to prove his point, not cool gadgets and tools from the future. Well, he does use a few of those, but he does it sparingly.

He convinces these important men to stand together by being able to tell them things that he shouldn't and wouldn't know if he was just a man off of the street from 1863. By showing Lincoln a message that he had written, but at that time, hadn't even sent yet. (He got these from the National Archives of the future just like we could)

The Visitor's strength also lies in the dialogue. When Lincoln talks, it sounds like what I think Lincoln would say. When Robert E. Lee interacts with Blair, it feels real, not like total poppycock. Pielke has taken a pivotal point in our American history and created another outcome that I couldn't have imagined pulling off. Even better, he does it well.

My one gripe- this is a trilogy so the ending is a cliffhanger. That was intentional and I understand that. The thing is, I am not really a fan of cliffhangers, especially when I can't go and buy the next book right away. I want the next one, now!

This book is awesome, I could NOT put it down. Which is part of the problem. The author NOR Amazon tells you this is a three-parter, this just being the first book. The subsequent book, part II, is STILL being written, and the third book, part III, is STILL IN THE AUTHOR'S HEAD!! I read this book in less than a week, I was so intrigued, now I have to wait for God knows how long for part II to come out, then forever for the final book. I would NOT buy/read book one until the second book comes out if I were you.

The only thing that disappointed me about "A New Birth of Freedom" was that it's so short, but that's okay because there will soon be a book 2. This is a very smart, well-written book, that charmed me from the first page, as Edwin Blair, a time traveling historian from the beginning of the 23rd century accosts Abraham Lincoln on his way home to Illinois after an undistinguished term in congress.

I like imperfect heroes, and Blair is certainly that. He makes some strange choices, like deliberately injuring himself to make a point while forgetting that mid-19th century medicine might not be adequate to heal him. And while he seems quite heroic and courageous, those qualities are tempered by his being driven by hatred and lust for revenge, though were I in Blair's shoes I'd have felt exactly as he did.

This has all the makings of a very cleverly conceived alternate history, something that can only be achieved by someone who knows his real history very well, and clearly Dr. Pielke does. The historical details are plentiful, but not so much as to interfere with the story. And while there's time travel with its obvious potential paradoxes, those are mentioned but not dwelt upon, a good decision on the author's part.

Had there been no sequel in the works, I'd have noted a number of unanswered questions and unresolved mysteries, but I'm certain they'll be dealt with appropriately. I can't wait!

This was unexpected and a wonderful read.

This story starts in March 1849 with Edwin Blair visiting a young Abraham Lincoln on a train ride as he travels home from Congress to Illinois. Blair is dressed in strange clothing including Levi jeans and Nike shoes. These create an ice breaker and the beginning of a memorable meeting. Blair asks Lincoln to accept a retainer to provide counsel in the future and then he sets an appointment to meet again on July 27, 1863. Right before exiting the train Blair does one more thing to make sure Lincoln will remember him.

Sure enough they meet again on July 27, 1863. Lincoln is 14 years older but Blair is exactly the same as though their previous meeting had been the day before! That is only the first "impossible" surprise that Lincoln and his staff are presented with. Blair has to get them to accept that he has traveled through time in order to get Lincoln's aid to allow him to go to the front lines and meet with the Union AND Confederate Generals.

Blair is a history professor from the future with expertise in details of the Civil War. He is counting on knowing the thoughts and actions of General Meade and General Lee so he can convince them to cooperate with him. Blair believes he will need the combined forces of the armies for a surprise attack against an alien force that will otherwise decimate the countryside if not quickly and completely destroyed. It will take just the right words and demonstrations to convince the necessary leaders to stop in the middle of a crucial battle and to work together against a different enemy that Blair calls the Pests.

To Blair's horror and shock the Army soldiers capture some of the Pests and slowly they begin to communicate. Blair worries about loose Pests while he and some new friends try to determine what the prisoner Pests want.

I happen to really enjoy Civil War stories - a favorite is Killer Angels. I also like sci fi stories such as War of the Worlds and Independence Day. Add to these likes, I love time travel books. So this was an absolute joy for me to read. The historical detail is accurate and presented from the interesting perspective of a historian from the future. The characters, other than the historical ones, are rather quirky. Blair himself is sometimes frustrating and not always reasonable.

The writing is clean and easy. It moves very quickly, especially because you want to know what will happen. The only problem I had was the story is ended after another surprising revelation. It is to be continued! I have no idea how the interference of Blair and the Pests have impacted the world as we know it. I am anxious to find out and I hope the sequel will be out sooner than later.

3.5 stars

Copy provided for review through Tribute Books

This is quite possibly the most bizarre thing I've ever read. And that's saying something, really.

So we start with a man boarding a train.... in the 1800s... wearing Nikes and a leather jacket and Levis.

He has a conversation with future president Abe Lincoln.

Fourteen years later, he reappears in the president's life... asking for help.... at Gettysburg.

And it honestly gets weirder from there.

This was a slow start for me-- I don't know a ton about the little details of the Civil War like people and places. And the writing could have been tightened up a bit.

But I am fascinated. How completely strange and yet wholly captivating.

I will warn you-- it's a total cliffhanger. Now I have to figure out how to get my hands on the next book. Sheesh.

Anyway, I recommend it. It may blow your mind, lol.

A curious-looking stranger with a shiny, metallic case steps onto a train carting Congressman Abraham Lincoln home after a two-year stint in the nation's legislative body. The most unusual thing about him? His strange footwear, sporting the word "Nike"" on the side...fast forward 14 years, and the same stranger shows up in now-President Lincoln's Oval Office. Even stranger now? He's wearing the same clothes, carrying the same case, and apparently hasn't aged a single day...perhaps the strangest of all, though, is the three-dimensional image that he magically projects onto the wall of the office, followed by a tale of time-traveling aliens soon to arrive in Gettysburg that coming July...

Decidedly mind-bending, A New Birth Of Freedom: The Visitor is an intriguing work of speculative fiction. Steeped in rich historical accuracy, author Robert Pielke's compelling tale is an eye-opening treatise on the ramifications of cause and consequence. Set against the backdrop of one of the most transformative periods in our nation's history, The Visitor takes quite the creative approach in inviting readers to consider the breadth of our collective humanity and personal value systems. With a well-balanced mix of sci-fi, adventure, and philosophy, The Visitor both enlightens and entertains as it invokes the reader to open his/her mind to the universal implications of what may often appear to be remote, isolated actions.

The salient debut in an imaginative new sci-fi series, A New Birth Of Freedom: The Visitor is an impressive nod to the likes of Herbert, Wells, and other titans of speculative fiction. Be on the lookout for more from this highly talented literary star on the rise.

Chelsea Perry

Apex Reviews

It's been a long time since I consumed a book in one night. Even longer since I felt prompted to write a review. The rich details and well-crafted plot interwoven so well with accurate historical details is exciting, so are the elements you don't expect of a time travel novel. I wish I'd have known it was a trilogy at first. I feel a little cheated on that end, but on the plus side, I most definitely will be waiting for the next novel and grab it as soon as possible. I salute the author for both his imagination and his knowledge of history. I'm also a historian and love to find glitches in novels, this one was flawless... and so is the story.