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The Safety Factor - The Use of Power
In the 18th century, Lady Farrell and her handmaiden, Ellen, befriend Maria, an abused girl who stows away aboard their sailing ship. The Lady is on her way to Venice, where she is to be wed to Count Marcel. However, their ship falls under attack by pirates, starting an epic science fiction adventure that spans some 733 years! The three women are picked up by a time traveling military submarine, and taken back to its home base in the year of 2080.
Not only is Lady Farrell’s marriage thwarted, but she and her companions also have to learn how to deal with the changes in politics, technology, philosophy, religion, and just about every other area of human endeavor. Ellen, who has fallen in love with the captain of the ill-fated sailing ship, has to find a way to cope with his loss. And as for Maria, will she ever be able to escape the shadows of her past?
Not only is Lady Farrell’s marriage thwarted, but she and her companions also have to learn how to deal with the changes in politics, technology, philosophy, religion, and just about every other area of human endeavor. Ellen, who has fallen in love with the captain of the ill-fated sailing ship, has to find a way to cope with his loss. And as for Maria, will she ever be able to escape the shadows of her past?
- GenresFiction
159 pages, Unknown Binding
72 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Travis
12 books11 followersMr. Travis has a long professional career (30 years) in computing technology. Starting out in what was once called Data Processing (DP), then Information Management (IM) and now Information Technology (IT), he has written a tremendous amount of technical documentation to support his evolving IT roles (programmer, technical support specialist, designer, engineer, and consultant). In addition, he occasionally conducts classroom training in the IT field. This experience has given him the ability to write quickly while coordinating very complex material, and make it interesting at the same time.
Much of his early career was spent working for the State of Washington as a civil servant. In 1997 he moved his family to the San Francisco bay area, where he could work as a consultant. Two of his first three years there were spent consulting for Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP). Since then he has traveled all over the United States, working for various US government agencies and their closely related corporations.
He’s worked at the following Federal and related organizations (in alphabetical order); The Aerospace Corporation, Bechtel Nevada, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Justice - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Fluor Hanford, HRL Laboratories, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Uranium Disposition Services (UDS), and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
This experience has given him keen and even stark insights into government and politics, which he likes to pass on to his readers. Though still fascinated by computers, most of his other interests are geared towards science itself. They include (also in alphabetical order) astronomy, chemistry, cosmology, mathematics, physics, and psychology. He also has life long interests in the humanities including history, metaphysics, philosophy and religion. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Evergreen State College.
In writing fiction, he draws on all his interests and personal experience to convey the story. He strives for realism and does not like to “invent” things, just to make the story line go in a desired direction. Where he lacks knowledge, he does research. And where he lacks experience, he recruits help from those who have it. He likes to write about non-trivial subjects by addressing critical scientific, social and technological issues that directly impact the future of our civilization, and humanity itself.
For recreation, he likes to ride his motorcycle in the deserts of the Southwest. He collects old personal computers and handheld calculators, enjoys reading scientific texts and science fiction stories.
Much of his early career was spent working for the State of Washington as a civil servant. In 1997 he moved his family to the San Francisco bay area, where he could work as a consultant. Two of his first three years there were spent consulting for Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP). Since then he has traveled all over the United States, working for various US government agencies and their closely related corporations.
He’s worked at the following Federal and related organizations (in alphabetical order); The Aerospace Corporation, Bechtel Nevada, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Justice - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Fluor Hanford, HRL Laboratories, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Uranium Disposition Services (UDS), and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
This experience has given him keen and even stark insights into government and politics, which he likes to pass on to his readers. Though still fascinated by computers, most of his other interests are geared towards science itself. They include (also in alphabetical order) astronomy, chemistry, cosmology, mathematics, physics, and psychology. He also has life long interests in the humanities including history, metaphysics, philosophy and religion. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Evergreen State College.
In writing fiction, he draws on all his interests and personal experience to convey the story. He strives for realism and does not like to “invent” things, just to make the story line go in a desired direction. Where he lacks knowledge, he does research. And where he lacks experience, he recruits help from those who have it. He likes to write about non-trivial subjects by addressing critical scientific, social and technological issues that directly impact the future of our civilization, and humanity itself.
For recreation, he likes to ride his motorcycle in the deserts of the Southwest. He collects old personal computers and handheld calculators, enjoys reading scientific texts and science fiction stories.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 26, 2009
Maria, a young girl, runs away from home to escape the abuse she has suffered at the hands of her father. She decides to stow away on a ship. She has no idea where the ship is going, but doesn't care; anywhere would be better than her present life.
On the ship, Maria meets two women who become her friends. One of the women, Lady Farrell (an aristocratic woman, as her title suggests) is on her way to marry a Count in Italy. The other woman is Ellen, The lady's long-time companion. Both women are highly educated and Maria learns a great deal from them along the way.
When pirates attack the ship, the women manage to escape together, on a long-boat. They are left to battle for survival against all odds. The women are eventually rescued but their rescuers appear to be from a different world. What will become of them? You will have to read the book to find out!
This is a fantasy adventure set way back in the 16th/17th Century and then also sometime in the future. There is a great deal of scientific, astronomical and mathematical theory contained in the book which will appeal to anyone with an interest in such matters. I found that most of the technical content was well-written and fitted in with the story and I was able to follow it even though I have limited knowledge in these areas and, therefore, cannot comment on the accuracy of the information in the book. The author did a good job of explaining what The Safety Factor (the book's title) actually means.
The author has a talent for drawing the reader into the story and for neatly progressing the action. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read with many exciting twists and turns.
I did have a couple of problems with the story, however. Sometimes I found that the author (who is obviously very knowledgeable about mathematics, astronomy and science) tended to labour the points when the characters were having discussions about technical matters. I often felt that the characters were lecturing on certain subjects and this was distracting. Some of the information was necessary for the progression of the story, but I felt that some of it could have been condensed.
The book deals with many fundamental questions about the Universe and our existence and will definitely make you think more about why we are here and what we are here for.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
On the ship, Maria meets two women who become her friends. One of the women, Lady Farrell (an aristocratic woman, as her title suggests) is on her way to marry a Count in Italy. The other woman is Ellen, The lady's long-time companion. Both women are highly educated and Maria learns a great deal from them along the way.
When pirates attack the ship, the women manage to escape together, on a long-boat. They are left to battle for survival against all odds. The women are eventually rescued but their rescuers appear to be from a different world. What will become of them? You will have to read the book to find out!
This is a fantasy adventure set way back in the 16th/17th Century and then also sometime in the future. There is a great deal of scientific, astronomical and mathematical theory contained in the book which will appeal to anyone with an interest in such matters. I found that most of the technical content was well-written and fitted in with the story and I was able to follow it even though I have limited knowledge in these areas and, therefore, cannot comment on the accuracy of the information in the book. The author did a good job of explaining what The Safety Factor (the book's title) actually means.
The author has a talent for drawing the reader into the story and for neatly progressing the action. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read with many exciting twists and turns.
I did have a couple of problems with the story, however. Sometimes I found that the author (who is obviously very knowledgeable about mathematics, astronomy and science) tended to labour the points when the characters were having discussions about technical matters. I often felt that the characters were lecturing on certain subjects and this was distracting. Some of the information was necessary for the progression of the story, but I felt that some of it could have been condensed.
The book deals with many fundamental questions about the Universe and our existence and will definitely make you think more about why we are here and what we are here for.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
January 2, 2010
Disclaimer: I dislike 5 star reviews because I’ve been in school for too long and 4 out of 5 still translates as a B in my mind. This book is not B work. It’s A-, a 4.45, but there is no 4.45 category, so I went with 4, but please be advised that The Safety Factor deserves better than a mere 4. Here’s why:
This is a quick-moving, action-packed journey story that explores many universal themes: the search for one’s role in society and the world, the quest for personal fulfillment, and even the longing for genuine romance. And although the book incorporates a rather complex look into what it means to be human, while spanning time and space in a way only a delicate balance of science and imagination can, The Safety Factor will keep any reader engaged and aware throughout.
Jerry Travis and Josephine Mayes incorporate numerous thought-provoking facts about Astronavigation, Mathematics and Philosophy that the reader can take away—an important and difficult feat for such a dynamic, plot-driven book. I genuinely love this, the idea that I can leave a book feeling a little more knowledgeable about something [exp: I am now able to explain Zeno’s Paradox and just go ahead and ask me what a Babbage Engine is; really, go ahead…] and yet after completing this book, I also felt as though I read a solid story, and I cared about what happened.
Character-wise, I felt the book could be tightened a little—the dialogue could be pared down and the internal shifts often didn’t need explained. Some of the smaller details could have been illustrated, rather than stated. But these gripes are small when contrasted to the tremendous feat of incorporating such a complex plot with such powerful ideas.
I recommend this book to just about anyone who wants to read a fast-moving tale that causes the reader to pause every few pages. And, if you’re like me, causes the reader to jot notes every now and then so that she can further educate herself on certain theories that pique her interest. The Safety Factor offers complex thoughts and raises intelligent questions about the human condition in many respects, and it challenged me to stretch the left side of my brain (without making it hurt).
This is a quick-moving, action-packed journey story that explores many universal themes: the search for one’s role in society and the world, the quest for personal fulfillment, and even the longing for genuine romance. And although the book incorporates a rather complex look into what it means to be human, while spanning time and space in a way only a delicate balance of science and imagination can, The Safety Factor will keep any reader engaged and aware throughout.
Jerry Travis and Josephine Mayes incorporate numerous thought-provoking facts about Astronavigation, Mathematics and Philosophy that the reader can take away—an important and difficult feat for such a dynamic, plot-driven book. I genuinely love this, the idea that I can leave a book feeling a little more knowledgeable about something [exp: I am now able to explain Zeno’s Paradox and just go ahead and ask me what a Babbage Engine is; really, go ahead…] and yet after completing this book, I also felt as though I read a solid story, and I cared about what happened.
Character-wise, I felt the book could be tightened a little—the dialogue could be pared down and the internal shifts often didn’t need explained. Some of the smaller details could have been illustrated, rather than stated. But these gripes are small when contrasted to the tremendous feat of incorporating such a complex plot with such powerful ideas.
I recommend this book to just about anyone who wants to read a fast-moving tale that causes the reader to pause every few pages. And, if you’re like me, causes the reader to jot notes every now and then so that she can further educate herself on certain theories that pique her interest. The Safety Factor offers complex thoughts and raises intelligent questions about the human condition in many respects, and it challenged me to stretch the left side of my brain (without making it hurt).
January 20, 2010
This story is about three women who find themselves sailing the ocean on the same ship, sometime during the 17th century. One is getting maried, the other her companion and the third a stowaway. The women escape from a pirate attack in the longboat and are eventually picked up by a submarine from the future. The women, greatful for there rescue, ask to be returned to civilization. Unfortunately, that can not be done.
The captain explains that they are from the future and that, because of the rules of time travel, the women have basically ceased to exists in the world of their time. The rest of the story deals with the various discussions between the women and the crew, as they try to come to grasp with the strange and new concepts that they are confronted with.
These discussions are actually quite scientific in nature, explaining subjects that took, e.g, Plato, Newton and Einstein a lifetime to discover. I found the discussion on the perfectness of the world and its religious consequences particularly interesting. I will probably take some time to do some more reading on the subject, even though physics and philosophy are not my strong points.
But, even though I liked the book, I think a little bit more could have been done with the setting of this book. Perhaps if the women actually did some time travel and met the scientists, this book could have been more than it is now. Or does the safety factor prevent that? ;) Anyway, for those of you who recognize this, I recommend reading Parrot's Theorem by Denis Guedj.
All-in-all, this book is an interesting addition to my bookshelves and I would like to thank the authors for sending it to me (as a Goodreads free giveaway winner).
/Martijn
The captain explains that they are from the future and that, because of the rules of time travel, the women have basically ceased to exists in the world of their time. The rest of the story deals with the various discussions between the women and the crew, as they try to come to grasp with the strange and new concepts that they are confronted with.
These discussions are actually quite scientific in nature, explaining subjects that took, e.g, Plato, Newton and Einstein a lifetime to discover. I found the discussion on the perfectness of the world and its religious consequences particularly interesting. I will probably take some time to do some more reading on the subject, even though physics and philosophy are not my strong points.
But, even though I liked the book, I think a little bit more could have been done with the setting of this book. Perhaps if the women actually did some time travel and met the scientists, this book could have been more than it is now. Or does the safety factor prevent that? ;) Anyway, for those of you who recognize this, I recommend reading Parrot's Theorem by Denis Guedj.
All-in-all, this book is an interesting addition to my bookshelves and I would like to thank the authors for sending it to me (as a Goodreads free giveaway winner).
/Martijn
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2009
Maria, a young girl, runs away from home to escape the abuse she has suffered at the hands of her father. She decides to stow away on a ship. She has no idea where the ship is going, but doesn't care; anywhere would be better than her present life.
On the ship, Maria meets two women who become her friends. One of the women, Lady Farrell (an aristocratic woman, as her title suggests) is on her way to marry a Count in Italy. The other woman is Ellen, The lady's long-time companion. Both women are highly educated and Maria learns a great deal from them along the way.
When pirates attack the ship, the women manage to escape together, on a long-boat. They are left to battle for survival against all odds. The women are eventually rescued but their rescuers appear to be from a different world. What will become of them? You will have to read the book to find out!
This is a fantasy adventure set way back in the 16th/17th Century and then also sometime in the future. There is a great deal of scientific, astronomical and mathematical theory contained in the book which will appeal to anyone with an interest in such matters. I found that most of the technical content was well-written and fitted in with the story and I was able to follow it even though I have limited knowledge in these areas and, therefore, cannot comment on the accuracy of the information in the book. The author did a good job of explaining what The Safety Factor (the book's title) actually means.
The author has a talent for drawing the reader into the story and for neatly progressing the action. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read with many exciting twists and turns.
I did have a couple of problems with the story, however. Sometimes I found that the author (who is obviously very knowledgeable about mathematics, astronomy and science) tended to labour the points when the characters were having discussions about technical matters. I often felt that the characters were lecturing on certain subjects and this was distracting. Some of the information was necessary for the progression of the story, but I felt that some of it could have been condensed.
The book deals with many fundamental questions about the Universe and our existence and will definitely make you think more about why we are here and what we are here for.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
On the ship, Maria meets two women who become her friends. One of the women, Lady Farrell (an aristocratic woman, as her title suggests) is on her way to marry a Count in Italy. The other woman is Ellen, The lady's long-time companion. Both women are highly educated and Maria learns a great deal from them along the way.
When pirates attack the ship, the women manage to escape together, on a long-boat. They are left to battle for survival against all odds. The women are eventually rescued but their rescuers appear to be from a different world. What will become of them? You will have to read the book to find out!
This is a fantasy adventure set way back in the 16th/17th Century and then also sometime in the future. There is a great deal of scientific, astronomical and mathematical theory contained in the book which will appeal to anyone with an interest in such matters. I found that most of the technical content was well-written and fitted in with the story and I was able to follow it even though I have limited knowledge in these areas and, therefore, cannot comment on the accuracy of the information in the book. The author did a good job of explaining what The Safety Factor (the book's title) actually means.
The author has a talent for drawing the reader into the story and for neatly progressing the action. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read with many exciting twists and turns.
I did have a couple of problems with the story, however. Sometimes I found that the author (who is obviously very knowledgeable about mathematics, astronomy and science) tended to labour the points when the characters were having discussions about technical matters. I often felt that the characters were lecturing on certain subjects and this was distracting. Some of the information was necessary for the progression of the story, but I felt that some of it could have been condensed.
The book deals with many fundamental questions about the Universe and our existence and will definitely make you think more about why we are here and what we are here for.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
July 6, 2010
In a story that begins in the 18th Century and ends up in 2080, THE SAFETY FACTOR has it all.
Abused by her drunkard father, young Maria stows away on a cargo ship headed anywhere but there. Hiding below decks, she considers her actions and the life she left behind; hoping she never gets sent back. Lady Farrell and her handmaiden Ellen board just before the ship leaves. Lady Farrell is traveling to Venice to marry and along the way, her handmaiden and her long-time friend, the ship’s captain fall in love and plan to marry.
Then everything goes sour.
Pirates! Like the hero that he is, the Captain lowers the two women and the girl over the far side in a long boat so they may escape while he and his men battle the pirates. The women float out to sea for 6 weeks until they are picked up by a strange-looking mirage that couldn’t possibly be real. Here is where your science-fiction tale really begins!
Jerry Travis and Josephine Mayes have given us tender characters with depth and amazing intelligence that the reader will root for throughout. This book touches human topics such as sexual abuse, social class structure and the existence of God, as well as eye-opening scientific revelations regarding the theories of past philosophers and the possibility of Time Travel. THE SAFETY FACTOR is truly an epic science fiction adventure that offers the most original theories of Time Travel ever seen in print. Read it and see for yourself.
Recommended. 5-Stars.
Ellen C Maze
Author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider
Contributing Author: Out of the Darkness and Into the Light
Abused by her drunkard father, young Maria stows away on a cargo ship headed anywhere but there. Hiding below decks, she considers her actions and the life she left behind; hoping she never gets sent back. Lady Farrell and her handmaiden Ellen board just before the ship leaves. Lady Farrell is traveling to Venice to marry and along the way, her handmaiden and her long-time friend, the ship’s captain fall in love and plan to marry.
Then everything goes sour.
Pirates! Like the hero that he is, the Captain lowers the two women and the girl over the far side in a long boat so they may escape while he and his men battle the pirates. The women float out to sea for 6 weeks until they are picked up by a strange-looking mirage that couldn’t possibly be real. Here is where your science-fiction tale really begins!
Jerry Travis and Josephine Mayes have given us tender characters with depth and amazing intelligence that the reader will root for throughout. This book touches human topics such as sexual abuse, social class structure and the existence of God, as well as eye-opening scientific revelations regarding the theories of past philosophers and the possibility of Time Travel. THE SAFETY FACTOR is truly an epic science fiction adventure that offers the most original theories of Time Travel ever seen in print. Read it and see for yourself.
Recommended. 5-Stars.
Ellen C Maze
Author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider
Contributing Author: Out of the Darkness and Into the Light
January 11, 2010
When I showed a draft of this book to Sheila Pfeiffer, who became one of my editors, she said, “Why would you even want to write a book that talks about child sexual abuse?” That’s a good question. She thought it was pointless to write such a book, that men (and unfortunately a few women as well) in positions of power to perpetrate such acts are seldom exposed, let alone sufficiently restricted by society so that they don’t repeat offend.
In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse” by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?
Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.
Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.
The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it”. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.
Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.
The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.
If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPSx2C...
But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWplLQ...
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMZ__...
Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.
Can I take credit for these “unusual” ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.” Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.”
Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower” areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?
If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before” then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy”, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.
While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole” to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?”
When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.
Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland”, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!
In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse” by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?
Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.
Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.
The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it”. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.
Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.
The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.
If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPSx2C...
But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWplLQ...
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMZ__...
Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.
Can I take credit for these “unusual” ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.” Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.”
Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower” areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?
If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before” then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy”, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.
While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole” to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?”
When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.
Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland”, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!
January 11, 2010
When I showed a draft of this book to Sheila Pfeiffer, who became one of my editors, she said, “Why would you even want to write a book that talks about child sexual abuse?” That’s a good question. She thought it was pointless to write such a book, that men (and unfortunately a few women as well) in positions of power to perpetrate such acts are seldom exposed, let alone sufficiently restricted by society so that they don’t repeat offend.
In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse” by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?
Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.
Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.
The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it”. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.
Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.
The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.
If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPSx2C...
But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWplLQ...
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMZ__...
Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.
Can I take credit for these “unusual” ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.” Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.”
Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower” areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?
If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before” then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy”, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.
While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole” to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?”
When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.
Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland”, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!
In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse” by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?
Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.
Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.
The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it”. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.
Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.
The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.
If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPSx2C...
But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWplLQ...
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMZ__...
Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.
Can I take credit for these “unusual” ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.” Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.”
Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower” areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?
If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before” then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy”, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.
While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole” to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?”
When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.
Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland”, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!
February 7, 2011
I will begin this review with an apology. I received this as a first reads on Goodreads and I was very excited to read it. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten around to reading and reviewing it until now. Or maybe it's for the best since I'm not going to write a very positive review. Even though I started this book with a very positive attitude, it didn't take long before my positivity was gone and was replaced by annoyance and I in fact started taking notes to some of all the things that were wrong with this book.
Let's start with the most positive aspect first - the story itself.
Maria escapes from her abusive father by hiding away on a ship. Here, she meet Lady Farrell and her handmaiden Ellen who is on their way to Venice where Lady Farrell is to be married. But the ship is attacked by pirates and the three women try their luck on the sea instead of with their pirates. The women are saved by a submarine from the future.
This is all there is to the book - and you can read all this on the back cover... I'm not sure if this was written to cover all three parts of the trilogy but that's the only way it makes sense to reveal this much on the back.
The future the women are taken back to is 2080. Unfortunately, most of their technology feels like our day technology with just a few advancements - mostly in weaponry. So the sci-fi parts of the book don't feel advanced enough to be 70 years in the future.
And then, unfortunately, the writing let the story down. One problem was a lot of spelling mistakes and sentences with missing words - enough mistakes to interrupt the reading rather regularly. And the writers need to learn to show how the characters are and how they feel and not just tell it. It kind of also felt strange that one of the characters were almost always referred to as The Lady - even when two of her close friends talked about her. Or - in one case - they started saying The Lady, switched one time to Eileen and then back to The Lady. But that was just a minor quibble.
A couple of times, the author inserted their own opinions into the thoughts of the characters (like this: "And in her heart she (erroneously) felt it was her fault" (p. 27) - either she feels it's her fault or not, this doesn't work). And how can you quietly exclaim something (p. 18)?
My biggest issue was with the conversations between the characters. I'm not sure they felt real at any point. On the contrary. Not only were the conversations long-winded and nothing a real person would say, they occurred at the weirdest points. For instance, when lying in a boat alone and lost, the three women have discussions about how Aristotle and others viewed the universe, what they thought about the stars, how philosophy and science has evolved etc - and I like philosophy (having a university degree in Philosophy, I better like it!), but it just doesn't make sense to have such a conversation at that point. Or - when you've learned that you have left your world, life and everything you've ever known behind - then you of course have a conversation about whether God is a finite or infinite being and if the Greek philosophers could possibly be wrong... Again - it doesn't make sense to have such a conversation at such a time! At one point - while still being on the ocean with no rescue in sight - they even have discussions with formulas ... And instead of feeling sorrow about never seeing your fiancé again, one of our main characters feel sorry for the world for loosing her and her friend because they are so educated...! Really?! Oh yes really!
Let me just mention the title as well. The idea behind the title is that there is a safety factor built into the Universe so that there is no chance of paradoxes when time traveling. So if things are to be used in any way in their own time, then travelers from the future can't touch them - very simply put. Or - well - this is actually all there is to the idea. Even though I appreciate the idea, it isn't presented in a convincing way.
In the end, the story let it all down as well. I know this is a trilogy but I don't see myself reading the next two books in it. Actually, I haven't even spared a passing thought to the characters since I closed the book and it was a task to finish it in the first place.
It's a shame because Jerry Travis, the author I had some dealings with when receiving the book, seemed to be a really nice person - and therefore, I'm sad to write such a harsh review. But even when - or maybe especially when - you receive a book to review, you have to be honest and tell it like you see it. And that is what I've done - to the best of my abilities. This is a book that would have benefitted greatly from a very harsh editor - maybe something good would have come of it then.
Let's start with the most positive aspect first - the story itself.
Maria escapes from her abusive father by hiding away on a ship. Here, she meet Lady Farrell and her handmaiden Ellen who is on their way to Venice where Lady Farrell is to be married. But the ship is attacked by pirates and the three women try their luck on the sea instead of with their pirates. The women are saved by a submarine from the future.
This is all there is to the book - and you can read all this on the back cover... I'm not sure if this was written to cover all three parts of the trilogy but that's the only way it makes sense to reveal this much on the back.
The future the women are taken back to is 2080. Unfortunately, most of their technology feels like our day technology with just a few advancements - mostly in weaponry. So the sci-fi parts of the book don't feel advanced enough to be 70 years in the future.
And then, unfortunately, the writing let the story down. One problem was a lot of spelling mistakes and sentences with missing words - enough mistakes to interrupt the reading rather regularly. And the writers need to learn to show how the characters are and how they feel and not just tell it. It kind of also felt strange that one of the characters were almost always referred to as The Lady - even when two of her close friends talked about her. Or - in one case - they started saying The Lady, switched one time to Eileen and then back to The Lady. But that was just a minor quibble.
A couple of times, the author inserted their own opinions into the thoughts of the characters (like this: "And in her heart she (erroneously) felt it was her fault" (p. 27) - either she feels it's her fault or not, this doesn't work). And how can you quietly exclaim something (p. 18)?
My biggest issue was with the conversations between the characters. I'm not sure they felt real at any point. On the contrary. Not only were the conversations long-winded and nothing a real person would say, they occurred at the weirdest points. For instance, when lying in a boat alone and lost, the three women have discussions about how Aristotle and others viewed the universe, what they thought about the stars, how philosophy and science has evolved etc - and I like philosophy (having a university degree in Philosophy, I better like it!), but it just doesn't make sense to have such a conversation at that point. Or - when you've learned that you have left your world, life and everything you've ever known behind - then you of course have a conversation about whether God is a finite or infinite being and if the Greek philosophers could possibly be wrong... Again - it doesn't make sense to have such a conversation at such a time! At one point - while still being on the ocean with no rescue in sight - they even have discussions with formulas ... And instead of feeling sorrow about never seeing your fiancé again, one of our main characters feel sorry for the world for loosing her and her friend because they are so educated...! Really?! Oh yes really!
Let me just mention the title as well. The idea behind the title is that there is a safety factor built into the Universe so that there is no chance of paradoxes when time traveling. So if things are to be used in any way in their own time, then travelers from the future can't touch them - very simply put. Or - well - this is actually all there is to the idea. Even though I appreciate the idea, it isn't presented in a convincing way.
In the end, the story let it all down as well. I know this is a trilogy but I don't see myself reading the next two books in it. Actually, I haven't even spared a passing thought to the characters since I closed the book and it was a task to finish it in the first place.
It's a shame because Jerry Travis, the author I had some dealings with when receiving the book, seemed to be a really nice person - and therefore, I'm sad to write such a harsh review. But even when - or maybe especially when - you receive a book to review, you have to be honest and tell it like you see it. And that is what I've done - to the best of my abilities. This is a book that would have benefitted greatly from a very harsh editor - maybe something good would have come of it then.
August 15, 2011
Not impressed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews