Book Review #16

The Traveler (Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 1) by John Twelve Hawkes

Currently this book is on the New York Times Top Ten Best-Seller List. And it's horrible.

This book contends that there are a certain people called "Harlequins," who are highly trained in combat to protect the "Travelers," who are born with an ability to travel to other dimensions and are being persecuted by the "Tabula," who are a rich and powerful group of people who have control of almost the entire world (get it? tabula rasa? gag me).

It's supposed to read like a fast-paced thriller and be as insightful as 1984 but it just doesn't make the grade. The writing is insulting; it's sterile and has minimal descriptions. He manages to save not one of his characters from being flat. And the plot is absolutely implausible. However, the ACLU would love it since it champions those who shroud their identities from the "Vast Machine."

Time to read before banishing from my presence: 2 days
General consensus: Give me a break.