By: Russ Colchamiro
Publisher: Crazy 8 Press
Publish Date: March 2013
Format: Trade 315pgs, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand-alone
Recommendation: For space travel fans with a twist to it.
Synopsis:
How does a poor, uneducated gas station attendant from nowhere USA transform himself into the world's richest oil tycoon, and then revolutionize the space program?
And when an American test pilot is thrust into a familiar yet mysterious world millions of miles from home, what must he risk to make it back alive?
How did the lives of these two men intersect? How do their worlds overlap?
And what do their fates mean for us all?
Filled with mystery, suspense, and unforgettable characters, CROSSLINE is the exciting tale of two parallel worlds, and of two ambitious men whose incredible daring - and remarkable destiny - reveal the question: once you've crossed the line, can you ever really go back?
First Sentence:
Marcus Powell felt like the most powerful man in the world - and in a way, he was.
Purchase At:
Amazon
**I read this book for an honest review from the author.
My Thoughts and Summary:
Marcus Powell, aboard Crossline - a one man spacecraft, thrusts into space with the warp drives that could bring space travel to a new age. Powell understands what the maker of the warp drives talked him about nights before launch. When in outer space, to keep going. Marcus jumps an unexpected second time, and another. Six jumps later Marcus takes in the sight of Saturn. Powell is readying to return to Earth when he sees another ship mixed between Saturn's rings. A ship that looks identical to his. Secretively, they thought something was out here and if Powell saw it, he was to destroy it. Marcus isn't a man of killing without being attacked. When he is attacked and pursues the ship, what Marcus finds on the other side of the flash is...mind numbing.
Keela is looking for her husband, missing two years now in a ship like Marcus's. A world at war and prophecy's. They want to get away from their war and find another habitable planet to live on in peace.
There is a mix of American Indian heritage and believe here. It is the connection between the parallel worlds. Or helps keep things at our attention we might be missing. Yet there is a small bit of misunderstanding as the one relating the tiny bits of information is a little girl, and pronunciation is a little off.
I really liked Powell's thoughts on Earth and life on page 8:
The Earth was an elegant marble, cool and slick, glossed with a sheen of perfection. Continents set against the deep blue oceans. Immense white weather swirls. Never before did he truly consider just how magnificent the planet was. How the atmosphere around it had just the right mixture of gases to sustain life. How the Sun kept it warm. How the Moon influenced the tides. How stars inspired dreams. How our place in the Universe - our very origin - was still unknown to us.The worlds are parallel to each other. People aren't all that you think they are. There is a twist to it all.
We have a few characters here. There is Marcus Powell, his wife and child. They are an interesting family. Not the combination you would expect, but that is life through and through. I really enjoyed his wife's spunk and the connection his daughter has. You have to read to understand. There is Dale Aranuke who works in charge at the space center. Dale is...a jerk for lack of a better word. But there are reasons why. Then we have Buddy Rheams Jr. Interesting fella here. He seems to be the one pulling all the strings for his desired end.
Russ starts us right into space, quickly. This is great. Russ uses memories of the preparation period to explain things as we are going. I like this as we don't get bored with life before we get to the story. We get the back stories as we go. We do take a step back in time with Buddy Rheams Jr. to learn his motives. All is easy to follow as you read through, knowing when and where you are each step along the way.
I knew going in what the book was about. I thought I'd enjoy it a but more. But, the story is calmer than what I usually read, and found it's not quite for me. Not that it's not well done, it is. But I needed more...fight. After reading Finders Keepers, I thought this book would have more humor in it than it did. It had funny spots, but I was expecting more.
This book is a great read for those who travel space and alternate worlds. A science fiction fan through and through would enjoy it.
