Customer Reviews

Portals in a Northern Sky

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

 

 

Portals In A Northern Sky is a fresh and new concept on time travel that rivals Michael Creitons wonderful "Timeline" at it presents a mystery adventure of a family migration across the continent from the east to the west where several of its characters find common threads in their genealogy just like many of us might do if we had the ability to see all of the events of the past. The book begins in Alaska and after many twist and turns has its surprising and complex climatic end in Alaska. It is like reading three novels in one with lots of philosophy, history, intrigue, a journey back and forth in time.

For Science Fiction lovers it has an examination of the ramifications for governments to no longer have secrets, for Mystery lovers it has crime and murder, for Adventure lovers it has searching for gold in Alaska, for Classic lovers it has several summaries of some American classic literature with various philosophical ideas in interpretations and for History lovers it has many of the great events in American history mentioned.

The novel is a puzzle where in the end all of the pieces fit together to form a very large picture of past and present letting know that know one can foresee the future. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in creative three-dimensional plots and interesting characters.

Portals in a Northern Sky is a novel by Charles Douglas Hayes that blends science fiction with action adventure, as a new technology is developed which allows people to see the past in real time and thereby forever changes America as its citizens know it. Individuals from the present and the past cross paths and influence one another in this uniquely woven, dramatic and serious story about strictly logical consequences. Portals In The Northern Sky is confidently recommended reading which will especially appeal to science fiction fans in general, and those who appreciate finely crafted speculative fiction in particular.

PORTALS IN A NORTHERN SKY is a novel that seems to be a bit unsure of what it wants to be. Part science fiction, part fantasy, part historical, it wanders across two centuries introducing a plethora of characters whose interconnectedness is gradually revealed as the plot progresses.

The underlying thread is the invention of a machine that allows one to view incidents in the past, a window on history. James Tall Tree, a Native American and the National Science Advisor, announces the development of the system to an eclectic group of people all of whom are well-known in their respective fields: a psychologist, an evangelist, a sociologist, an antiestablishment historian and a Libertarian capitalist. Their purpose is to advise him-and, by extension, the President of the US-on how to present the discovery to the world in a way that will minimize the potential negative impact.

At the same time, self-made millionaire Bob Thornton abandons his life as an investment genius and sets off on a quest for enlightenment to Alaska, Tall Tree's mentor, academic Adam Whitehead, flees into the Alaskan wilderness to die, convinced he is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, and Dallas policeman Vince Terrell also plans a journey to the last American frontier-after he exacts revenge on the drug dealer responsible for his sister's death.

Author Charles Douglas Hayes is a firm believer in the importance of ongoing self-education. He also clearly has a deep and abiding love for the Alaskan wilderness, which he describes in vivid and compelling detail. However, his novel, despite its potential, tries to cover too many issues and ends up shortchanging all of them.

In fact, once one gets past the various historical vignettes that begin the book, the frame story of the "history viewer" becomes just that-a framework on which to hang lengthy philosophical discussions on the importance of self-education between Bob Thornton and Ruben Sanchez, the bookstore owner-cum-self-educated philosopher who gives him a ride to Alaska. This would be fine if their relevance to the main plot-as well as those of some of the other seemingly unrelated vignettes-were tied together sooner.

This isn't to say Mr. Douglas's book isn't worth reading. The roundtable about the potential impact of the "history viewer" raises some compelling questions about just how much we really DO want to know the accurate versions of our past. But PORTALS IN A NORTHERN SKY should be read for what it is: a philosophical debate rather than a true novel. It is intended to educate, not entertain.

This multi-faceted novel takes place in and around the state of Alaska. Part of it is a multi-generation saga of one family over the last 150 years. It starts with a young woman named Sara Spencer Peek, part of a westward-bound wagon train in the mid 19th century. Back in the present, Bob Thornton is a Wall Street superstar, who, one day, walks away from everything, and heads for Alaska. He's not totally sure where he's going or what he'll do once he gets there, but there has to be more to life than Wall Street. While hitchhiking, he is picked up by Ruben Sanchez, self-educated philosopher. They do a lot of talking about philosophy, most of it centered on the book Moby Dick.

Adam Whitehead is a world-renowned physicist doing his best to drop off the face of the earth. Both his parents died of complications from Alzheimer's Disease, and, being of the age where such a thing is a major concern, he is terrified that he will be next. Should it happen, he will end his own life before he ends up in some nursing home. James Tall Tree, the Presidential Science Adviser, calls out the Alaska State Police in almost-desperate search for Whitehead. His theories have led to a major discovery that is about to be released to the public. Tall Tree wants to officially acknowledge Whitehead's contribution.

It has become possible to go back in time and watch events as they happen in real time. Going to any coordinates, as long as it was outside and there was no cloud cover, it is possible to go back as far as the cavemen and watch it 'live'. Access to this system will be freely available to anyone with an internet connection. The repercussions for all of human society, especially fields like history and archaeology, will, of course, be cataclysmic.

I really enjoyed this book, but it's not for everyone. The reader had better like home-grown, self-educated philosophy, because there is a lot of it in this book. Otherwise, it works as a science fiction novel, as a Jack London-type adventure novel, and it will give the reader plenty to think about. It's very much worth reading.

My kind of book!

As a rule, I don't take time for novels, but this one is an exception. It addresses in depth some of my primary interests to include self-learning, over-conformity, and the quest to make sense of American culture which too often is dominated by superficiality, and materialism. Hayes gives us lots to chew on.

And the book is an action-packed, fun, easy read to boot.

Highest recommendations!

This is a great book for skeptics, but is bound to be disturbing to true believers. You aren't likley to find a copy of this book on a WalMart shelf and it is likely to make the Tim Lahaye (Left Behind) crowd break out in hives. I agree that for free thinkers this book may become a classic.

Within pages of starting PORTALS IN A NORTHERN SKY, the reader will know this book did not fall off from the usual science fiction truck. The weavings created by the author bridge some very deep cross-genre chasms. It is a mixture of adventure, science fiction, historical, philosophy & literature wrapt up & served in no particular order.

I will say that by the time I finished it, I began to fully understand what a wonderful wholecloth effort PORTALS IN A NORTHERN SKY is.

I first heard of this book when the author posted a note on bookcrossing.com. I could not read this book fast enough! I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation between Ruben and Bob. It was most enjoyable how the story went back and forward in time and how it was woven together, especially with James Tall Tree and Ellen. When "portals" was revealed, one of my first thoughts as an employee of law enforcement was how great this would be to catch criminals in the act. And then right away I thought that the crimes then would be committed at night. And just the thought that I may be able to see my relatives from the past made me wish portals was available today. So, now I just go along my way.... looking up to the sky and waving. Maybe, just maybe, my great-great grandnephews and grandnieces might look me up.

Okay, so it's only in a philosophical sense! This is not only a great read, but it also gives you a whole new way to think about the concept of fate and your own role in history. Bound to be a classic!

What a delight to weave my way through the story threads masterfully written by Mr. Hayes. I was transported, allowed to suspend disbelief, and yet found myself wondering which events in life I'd chose to view through the portal if given the chance.
If you want to be entertained with a mix of science fiction, adventure, and mystery novel all set against the Alaskan wilderness, you'll love this book.
By far the most enjoyable aspect of this book is that it does not follow a "formula". The author drew upon experiences from all aspects of his life and takes you on the journey with him.
If you're tired of books which fall neatly into a publishing category, ready to take a ride with a philosopher, and enjoy rich character development, this is a great read.