Tractrix [Paperback]

R. J. Archer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2004

As Tractrix opens, aerospace engineer and recent widower Frank Morton is collecting an $86 million lottery jackpot. Coincidently, an old Viet Nam buddy shows up with a mysterious black sphere inscribed with what appear to be Maya hieroglyphics. Intrigued, Frank convinces his buddy and two other friends, an anthropologist and a newspaper researcher, to help him investigate the origin and purpose of the sphere.

The search leads Frank and friends on a journey from Seattle to the secret military installations of Nevada and on to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Along the way, they attract the unwanted attention of government agents, Mexican Federales and an ancient Maya priest. They also stumble across a three thousand year old secret that suggests a possible link between the shamans of Mesoamerica and a race of alien explorers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Tractrix is a fast-paced yarn, based on intriguing historical perspective, and it's sure to keep you guessing... -- Alan Lohner, author: (Fear Not), Jul, 2004

RJ Archer... is one of the authors to watch... I eagerly await the further exploits of the NWIDI adventurers. -- Gareth Wilson, Falcata Times, Aug. 16, 2005

you will certainly love RJ Archer's mesh of historical facts... with theories and speculations that have intrigued man for... decades. -- Steven Macon, Yellow30 Sci-Fi, Feb 22, 2005

From the Publisher

In the SciFi adventure series dubbed "Seeds Of Civilization," a Seattle aerospace engineer and his team investigate several of archeology’s real unsolved mysteries and get closer to the truth—one that is truly "out of this world!" In this first novel of the series, author R.J. Archer investigates the origins of the Maya’s advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. (Watch for Second Edition June 2006: ISBN# 0977910903)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589395670
• ISBN-13: 978-1589395671
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,778,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

R.J. Archer is a mystery/adventure author, a freelance writer and a retired computer consultant who called the Pacific Northwest home for 39 years. The author and his wife, Marty, currently reside in La Paz, on the shores of the Sea of Cortez at the southern end of Mexico's Baja Peninsula.

His fiction work includes two multi-book series. The Seeds of Civilization series is a trilogy loosely based on the theory that one or more advanced civilizations existed on earth long before the Mesopotamians built their first mud huts. Each Seeds novel is built around a different - but very real - unsolved archaeological mystery.

His second series, called Parallel Ops, spans four novels and takes the theory of ancient civilizations to a whole new level. The first three books take place during the exact same time frame and may be read in parallel, the way they were written, or in the more traditional serial manner. The fourth and last book in the series follows the first three chronologically. Book 1, The Scientists, was released in November, 2011. Books 2 and 3 are due out in early and mid 2012, respectively, and the final installment is scheduled for release on December 21, 2012 - the end of the Mayan calendar!

His non-fiction works include TheMegaBlog.com, an online chronicle of underwater archaeology activities in the Caribbean, where evidence of a REAL ancient civilization has already been confirmed.

Mr. Archer holds a Bachelor of Science degree with dual majors in Physics and Mathematics and he is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. His interests include ancient civilizations, inner and outer space and conspiracy theories of all kinds.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mysteries of the Universe, February 21, 2005

By 

InkPen-n-Paper "Book Reviewer" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tractrix (Paperback)

Aerospace engineer Frank Morton's world is on a collision course with the universe and little does he know what turn of events are going to shape the rest of his life. A recent widower, Frank unexpectedly wins an 86 million dollar lottery jackpot. Almost simultaneously an old Viet Nam buddy shows up with a mysterious black sphere inscribed with hieroglyphics that seem very Mayan in origin. More than intrigued, Frank convinces his buddy and two other friends, an anthropologist and a newspaper researcher, to help him investigate this mysterious Mayan sphere. Purpose and exact origin are the two things Frank wants to pinpoint, because once the sphere comes into his possession his world is suddenly turned upside down and inside out.

Frank and his friends' investigation takes them on a journey from Seattle to a secret military installation in Nevada with the trail leading to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. But their travels are not as secretive as they hope; government agents are watching and waiting. They also draw the attention of Mexican Federales and an ancient Maya priest. Black spheres and dead bodies start popping up. Frank and his team have stumbled across a three thousand year old secret that suggests links between shamans of Mesoamerica and a race of alien explorers.

R. J. Archer has crafted a fine first novel with Tractrix. If you like Clive Cussler's writing you will certainly love R. J. Archer's mesh of historical facts and culture with theories and speculations that have intrigued man for several decades. This is only the first book in the installment to THE SEEDS OF CIVILIZATION series. This is a great first effort. Keep watch for the next book, it's sure to be a page turner as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a no-put-downer, November 25, 2004

By 

Carol Evans (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tractrix (Paperback)

When I picked up this book, I thought the story line sounded interesting. I never dreamed I'd be glued to the book until I finished it. The mystery drove me through page after page as I tried to figure it all out. The action... the angst... the ending! All I can say is, "Where's the sequel, Mr. Archer?"

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tractrix a great read, May 28, 2004

By 

Al Lohner, author of Prince of Avalon, (fear ... (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tractrix (Paperback)

Tractrix sends readers on an engaging joyride through a labyrinth of riddles involving the ancient Maya, a secret U.S. military installation in the Nevada desert, and space aliens from centuries past. When Frank Morton hits an $86-million Powerball jackpot, he sets out to solve some of the world's most
perplexing mysteries and soon finds himself confronted with far more questions than answers. What is the origin--and purpose--of 20 baffling black spheres inscribed with glyphs? Can the U.S. government agents be trusted? Is there a connection between the human race and entities from another space and time? Tractrix
is a fast-paced yarn, based on intriguing historical perspective, and it's sure to keep you guessing and wondering right up until its surprising conclusion.