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The Beautiful Land
Takahiro O’Leary has a very special job…
…working for the Axon Corporation as an explorer of parallel timelines—as many and as varied as anyone could imagine. A great gig—until information he brought back gave Axon the means to maximize profits by changing the past, present, and future of this world.
If Axon succeeds, Tak will lose Samira Moheb, the woman he has loved since high school—because her future will cease to exist. A veteran of the Iraq War suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Samira can barely function in her everyday life, much less deal with Tak’s ravings of multiple realities. The only way to save her is for Tak to use the time travel device he “borrowed” to transport them both to an alternate timeline.
But what neither Tak nor Axon knows is that the actual inventor of the device is searching for a timeline called the Beautiful Land—and he intends to destroy every other possible present and future to find it.
The switch is thrown, and reality begins to warp—horribly. And Tak realizes that to save Sam, he must save the entire world…
…working for the Axon Corporation as an explorer of parallel timelines—as many and as varied as anyone could imagine. A great gig—until information he brought back gave Axon the means to maximize profits by changing the past, present, and future of this world.
If Axon succeeds, Tak will lose Samira Moheb, the woman he has loved since high school—because her future will cease to exist. A veteran of the Iraq War suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Samira can barely function in her everyday life, much less deal with Tak’s ravings of multiple realities. The only way to save her is for Tak to use the time travel device he “borrowed” to transport them both to an alternate timeline.
But what neither Tak nor Axon knows is that the actual inventor of the device is searching for a timeline called the Beautiful Land—and he intends to destroy every other possible present and future to find it.
The switch is thrown, and reality begins to warp—horribly. And Tak realizes that to save Sam, he must save the entire world…
362 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
38 people are currently reading
2685 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
June 18, 2016
This is going to make a fine PG-rated movie on the Syfy channel someday. It’s got all the elements! There’s a strange Machine created by an insane, evil genius. It takes the user to another timeline & helpfully fits inside a briefcase. There are lots of giant baby birds who are trying to kill the protagonists, Tak & Sam, as they stand around & tell each other, “We have to go,” and then, “We have to go NOW.” Tak is forever leaping to his feet & kicking chairs over or screaming “Fuck!” when things don’t go smoothly, even when said baby birds are around & you’d think being quiet would be key. When everyone else seems to be dead, Tak finds a cross-eyed survivor who can’t complete a sentence until she finally becomes lucid enough to say, “Please. Kill me.” A sadly tangential scientist character makes a final stand against the bad guy because she’s been cut in half & not long for the world as it is, so she happens to find a lone cigarette rolling around on the floor & is able to have one last puff before she dies because she’s carrying a matchbook that she’s had for four years that’s never been mentioned before. The ending doesn’t make a lot of sense, but hey, it’s happy for everyone anyway.
B read this before I did & I’m surprised he was able to get through the whole thing, because if you ask him there’s nothing more terrifying than a giant bird (excuse me while I lose my mind laughing for a second, because if you ask me there is nothing more hilarious than this). If you mention this giant bird to him, you can see his eyes get cloudy with fear & he always looks at the ceiling very ominously & it absolutely tickles me to death. But please don’t make the same mistake that I did & actually say “giant bird,” for you’ll find yourself swiftly corrected. Sez B: “I’m afraid of giant raptors. I wouldn’t be afraid of a giant sparrow. Or a giant duck.” And there you have it. The thought of a giant duck standing over our house & quacking some earth-shaking quack made me laugh so hard I cried.
B read this before I did & I’m surprised he was able to get through the whole thing, because if you ask him there’s nothing more terrifying than a giant bird (excuse me while I lose my mind laughing for a second, because if you ask me there is nothing more hilarious than this). If you mention this giant bird to him, you can see his eyes get cloudy with fear & he always looks at the ceiling very ominously & it absolutely tickles me to death. But please don’t make the same mistake that I did & actually say “giant bird,” for you’ll find yourself swiftly corrected. Sez B: “I’m afraid of giant raptors. I wouldn’t be afraid of a giant sparrow. Or a giant duck.” And there you have it. The thought of a giant duck standing over our house & quacking some earth-shaking quack made me laugh so hard I cried.
April 6, 2015
It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve read an entire, adult-length book in one day. With the exception of the first 40 or so pages of Averill’s The Beautiful Land, I read the entire book over the course of a particularly slow day at the office. Averill’s debut novel is at once fun, quirky and engaging, with just the right about of heartbreak.
The basic premise can be read in the Goodreads summary of the book, so I won’t repeat it here. What I will say is that Averill tells a solid narrative, and that both Tak and Samira are characters you quickly come to relate to and root for. The secondary characters—primarily in the form or Judith and Dr. Yates—are not nearly as fully-rounded, but manage not to fall into cliché or trope territory, either.
The chapters are fairly short and go by quickly, each one giving you just enough to make you want to keep reading, all without resulting to some overly-dramatic faux-cliffhanger (I mention this because the book I read just prior to this one was by Dan Brown, and the man doesn’t seem to realize you can actually end a chapter without a Dramatic!Moment!. The sudden lack of them here was refreshing.)
The Beautiful Land is not without its flaws. There a number of plot points that make the journey to restore the world a little too easy for our intrepid heroes.
There conveniently happens to be another Machine that was constructed in secret.
It conveniently happens to be so secret that it’s not well-guarded.
There conveniently happens to be another briefcase unit, with more permanent traveling capabilities than Tak’s version.
The “birds” conveniently ignore those who have used the Machine.
And The Beautiful Land itself conveniently adheres to the will of its inhabitants.
So, while there is a sense of wonder at what’s going to happen next that will keep you turning the pages, there’s not necessarily a sense of urgency, or of wondering what crafty plans Tak and Samira will have to come up with to overcome their obstacles. Most of those obstacles are never an issue to begin with.
Still, as I said before, the book pulls you in and is worth a read, if for no other reason than for the world Averill has created. I am definitely looking forward to future works from this author.
The basic premise can be read in the Goodreads summary of the book, so I won’t repeat it here. What I will say is that Averill tells a solid narrative, and that both Tak and Samira are characters you quickly come to relate to and root for. The secondary characters—primarily in the form or Judith and Dr. Yates—are not nearly as fully-rounded, but manage not to fall into cliché or trope territory, either.
The chapters are fairly short and go by quickly, each one giving you just enough to make you want to keep reading, all without resulting to some overly-dramatic faux-cliffhanger (I mention this because the book I read just prior to this one was by Dan Brown, and the man doesn’t seem to realize you can actually end a chapter without a Dramatic!Moment!. The sudden lack of them here was refreshing.)
The Beautiful Land is not without its flaws. There a number of plot points that make the journey to restore the world a little too easy for our intrepid heroes.
There conveniently happens to be another Machine that was constructed in secret.
It conveniently happens to be so secret that it’s not well-guarded.
There conveniently happens to be another briefcase unit, with more permanent traveling capabilities than Tak’s version.
The “birds” conveniently ignore those who have used the Machine.
And The Beautiful Land itself conveniently adheres to the will of its inhabitants.
So, while there is a sense of wonder at what’s going to happen next that will keep you turning the pages, there’s not necessarily a sense of urgency, or of wondering what crafty plans Tak and Samira will have to come up with to overcome their obstacles. Most of those obstacles are never an issue to begin with.
Still, as I said before, the book pulls you in and is worth a read, if for no other reason than for the world Averill has created. I am definitely looking forward to future works from this author.
July 12, 2014
This was one of those books that hit just the right note with me at just the right time. I probably would have finished it in record time had life not gotten in the way. Parallel timelines, creepy horror-style weirdness, the end of the world, and characters I found myself pretty dang invested in. The writing is solid, and my brand of fast-paced and quirky (which may or may not appeal to some). And more than anything there is something different about this book. You can tell it wasn't born in the publishing industry and didn't get quite so homogenized by the process. It was refreshing. If you have an interest in parallel realities, unusual settings, or just want to try something a bit strange and out of the ordinary I cannot recommend this book enough.
Book #30 for 2013
Sci-fi Book Club - 9/14
Book #30 for 2013
Sci-fi Book Club - 9/14
February 24, 2020
70% Satisfying & Interesting
The Beautiful Land was a fascinating read. Compelling and at times scary, this book was a page-turner with lots of twists and turns.
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Pages: 362
Author:Alan Averill
Ages: 12+ for violence and action.
The Beautiful Land was a fascinating read. Compelling and at times scary, this book was a page-turner with lots of twists and turns.
-------------
Pages: 362
Author:Alan Averill
Ages: 12+ for violence and action.
June 20, 2013
here i was just yesterday bitching about how sf needs to grow up, and lookie here... sf grew up.
this story is about adventurer Tak and PTSD-ridden Samira, and their attempt to save the world from a "time travel" experiment gone hideously wrong. but really, this book is all about Samira. i suspect the author set out to write mostly about Tak, and found his story press-ganged by Samira, and joy of joys, he let it be.
Samira is a fabulous character--a young woman of Iranian descent who volunteers for the US Army as a translator, and then finds the experience of war rather more than she can handle. who wouldn't? the author's handling of her fractured emotional state is delicate but sure. she's a rich, fully-rounded character, which is a pleasure to behold in any book, but after yesterday... yikes, it restores my faith in the genre.
Tak does get very much less ink and is somewhat sketchier but still believable. his deeply-buried love for Samira, a high-school non-romance, is sweetly drawn. one roots for them both.
the eViL corporate head in this book, alas, is pretty much a standard eViL corporate head, with a few dribbly parts. but his eViL (?) sidekick Judith is another intriguing person who ends up playing a surprising part in the plot.
the plot is something i'm not going to say much about--it's done well, but the facts of it are somewhat cliched. it doesn't matter, though, because the book's character-driven, not plot-driven, and that's just the way i like it.
a thoroughly enjoyable read for grown-ups.
this story is about adventurer Tak and PTSD-ridden Samira, and their attempt to save the world from a "time travel" experiment gone hideously wrong. but really, this book is all about Samira. i suspect the author set out to write mostly about Tak, and found his story press-ganged by Samira, and joy of joys, he let it be.
Samira is a fabulous character--a young woman of Iranian descent who volunteers for the US Army as a translator, and then finds the experience of war rather more than she can handle. who wouldn't? the author's handling of her fractured emotional state is delicate but sure. she's a rich, fully-rounded character, which is a pleasure to behold in any book, but after yesterday... yikes, it restores my faith in the genre.
Tak does get very much less ink and is somewhat sketchier but still believable. his deeply-buried love for Samira, a high-school non-romance, is sweetly drawn. one roots for them both.
the eViL corporate head in this book, alas, is pretty much a standard eViL corporate head, with a few dribbly parts. but his eViL (?) sidekick Judith is another intriguing person who ends up playing a surprising part in the plot.
the plot is something i'm not going to say much about--it's done well, but the facts of it are somewhat cliched. it doesn't matter, though, because the book's character-driven, not plot-driven, and that's just the way i like it.
a thoroughly enjoyable read for grown-ups.
July 28, 2015
Alan Averill’s sci-fi thriller, THE BEAUTIFUL LAND, is a captivating journey into the world of parallel timelines. Takahiro O’Leary is a former reality TV superstar who is rescued from his suicide by a mysteriously well-timed phone call. The anonymous caller makes an offer Tak cannot refuse, and he is whisked away to the remote Australia desert to assist Charles Yates, a scientist working for the Axon Corporation. Takahiro’s new job is unlike any other: he explores strange, and often dangerous, alternate realities.
But then information Takahiro brings back from his travels allows Axon to manipulate time and puts the life of Samira, the woman Takahiro loves, in mortal danger. The only way to save Samira is to take her to a parallel timeline. When Takahiro realizes that Axon’s plan is to change the history of the entire world, he has to choose between saving humanity, Samira, and even himself.
Averill’s story is ripe with humor, adventure, and relatable characters with believable flaws and imperfections. There is a slight overuse of deus ex machinas to conveniently rescue the characters from their perilous situations, but overall THE BEAUTIFUL LAND is impossible to put down, and a worthy read for any science fiction lover!
But then information Takahiro brings back from his travels allows Axon to manipulate time and puts the life of Samira, the woman Takahiro loves, in mortal danger. The only way to save Samira is to take her to a parallel timeline. When Takahiro realizes that Axon’s plan is to change the history of the entire world, he has to choose between saving humanity, Samira, and even himself.
Averill’s story is ripe with humor, adventure, and relatable characters with believable flaws and imperfections. There is a slight overuse of deus ex machinas to conveniently rescue the characters from their perilous situations, but overall THE BEAUTIFUL LAND is impossible to put down, and a worthy read for any science fiction lover!
June 21, 2013
.... So where does that leave me with The Beautiful Land? I absolutely loved Averill’s writing style which is tight, flowing and fairly lyrical. His prose can’t help but absorb you into the plot. Tak and Samira are very well rounded characters, each tragic in their own way, but you can’t help but love them. The plot is interesting, absorbing and nicely paced. However, all of that is balanced by a few too-convenient plot points, two dimensional characters, and antagonists (both people and corporations) that are so far into the “antagonist” category they lacked believability.
After all that is said and picked over, the simple truth of the matter is that you don’t really read this book for the fantastic plot or the thought provoking nature of (whatever). You read this book because the author has a hell of an ability to write, and you love the two main protagonists. This is a character driven novel, and based on that and his protagonists, Averill hit the nail on the head with his first foray into speculative fiction.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/06/...
After all that is said and picked over, the simple truth of the matter is that you don’t really read this book for the fantastic plot or the thought provoking nature of (whatever). You read this book because the author has a hell of an ability to write, and you love the two main protagonists. This is a character driven novel, and based on that and his protagonists, Averill hit the nail on the head with his first foray into speculative fiction.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/06/...
May 8, 2020
This book was a big bowl of meh.
I thought that based on the synopsis, this would be more about time-travel and adventure. But it's more of a dystopian story that is character-driven. My favourite character was Samira Moheb, an Iranian-American translator in the military who suffers from PTSD. Her perspective was so much more interesting than her friend Takahiro's. I immensely enjoyed the first 70 or so pages, but then this book fell into a predictable plot, and a villain who was really flat. There were so many random and unnecessary scenes and dialogue in this book I wanted to roll my eyes. At one point both Sam and Tak are having a conversation with their driver, and they have this conversation about Sam's name and where she's from and how 'exotic' it is. And then at another point the villain has kidnapped Sam and asks her where she's from, and then where she's REALLY from and that really annoyed me, because it was so abrupt and literally adding nothing. And there was so much happening but it didn't even add to the story? Also, there's a scene where Tak is listening to Judith (a theoretical physicist) explain how to save the world and all he can think about is her red underwear, which is mentioned 3 times on the same page??
Ugh, when will sci-fi books stop disappointing me 😩
I thought that based on the synopsis, this would be more about time-travel and adventure. But it's more of a dystopian story that is character-driven. My favourite character was Samira Moheb, an Iranian-American translator in the military who suffers from PTSD. Her perspective was so much more interesting than her friend Takahiro's. I immensely enjoyed the first 70 or so pages, but then this book fell into a predictable plot, and a villain who was really flat. There were so many random and unnecessary scenes and dialogue in this book I wanted to roll my eyes. At one point both Sam and Tak are having a conversation with their driver, and they have this conversation about Sam's name and where she's from and how 'exotic' it is. And then at another point the villain has kidnapped Sam and asks her where she's from, and then where she's REALLY from and that really annoyed me, because it was so abrupt and literally adding nothing. And there was so much happening but it didn't even add to the story? Also, there's a scene where Tak is listening to Judith (a theoretical physicist) explain how to save the world and all he can think about is her red underwear, which is mentioned 3 times on the same page??
Ugh, when will sci-fi books stop disappointing me 😩
December 7, 2014
Reading this book was like eating a Kit Kat. You enjoy it while it's happening, then realize that what you just had wasn't quite as substantial as it seemed while you were in the process.
The prologue of the book felt like a really good pitch- a guy gets a phone call just as he's about to commit suicide. Will he pick up the phone? Well, since the book continues, of course he will. It was a well written bit, but the character of Tak was inconsistent. First, he's committing suicide because "there are no more adventures, no more frontiers." Realize that this guy used to host a nature survival show. So, a survivalist decides to commit suicide from boredom. Pretty contradictory, right? Or maybe the author was going for irony. But Tak's pretty happy-go-lucky and full of quips for the rest of the book, almost manically, considering the stakes, which are not only the survival of the world, but of every other alternate dimension that exists. Tak's the quintessential nerd hero protagonist. And, of course, he gets the girl.
The girl here is Samira. She's incredibly fragile, unable to deal with her traumatic memories of her time spent in the military during the Gulf Wars. She's pretty well-written, really. What I couldn't understand was why she was interested in Tak, other than that he was really the only male available to her during the course of the book. As far as I can tell, Tak left just after high school graduation and never looked back. Never thought about Samira as he considered suicide. So what made her the one person he decides to save when he realizes the shit is about to hit the fan? The plot demands it, but motivation was shaky.
Now, realize, this is all looking back at the book and realizing that I'm still hungry. While reading the book, I blazed happily along and finished in (mostly) one day. The vignettes that Averill uses for characterization feel real and have emotion involved. You want these two messed-up people to have some happiness together. Plus, they have to save the world (s).
So, even though timelines are referred to throughout the book, it's really different dimensions. Tak has been exploring them. Now, it looks like the company he works for wants to erase all alternate dimensions into one that the company will rule. Tak seems most upset by the fact that Samira may cease to exist, not about the rest of the worlds. Eventually, the two of them do decide that they need to save more than themselves.
The tone of the book was sort of low-grade creepy. There's some sort of undead birdmen being unleashed which will destroy all life for a rather shaky sci-fi reason. The birdmen are creepy, no doubt. But only once do we actually really see them wreaking carnage. Mostly, we see aftereffects and our heroes are chased by the birdmen. I have to say, I never felt a lot of tension plot-wise. I was never worried that our protagonists would not succeed. I did enjoy reading the journey, which was written imaginatively.
Anyone remember "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag" by Robert Heinlein? There was an organization called "Sons of the Bird" in that story and the Bird was cruel. I kept on being reminded of it while reading this book about creepy cruel birdmen.
So, characters that are inconsistent looking back but that I liked a lot while I was reading about them. A relatively by-the-numbers save-the-world plot. The science in this science fiction was pretty weak at best, although I do love my alternate dimensions. Something about the travel between dimensions reminded me of old Madeleine L'engle books. Tone was pretty well done.
Why four stars? Because the book had some sort of ineffable something that I really liked, even though I can list all the book's weaknesses. I'll happily try this author again to see what he can do. Some of the behind-the-scenes weaknesses can be worked on. The fact is that basically, he's a pretty good writer.
The prologue of the book felt like a really good pitch- a guy gets a phone call just as he's about to commit suicide. Will he pick up the phone? Well, since the book continues, of course he will. It was a well written bit, but the character of Tak was inconsistent. First, he's committing suicide because "there are no more adventures, no more frontiers." Realize that this guy used to host a nature survival show. So, a survivalist decides to commit suicide from boredom. Pretty contradictory, right? Or maybe the author was going for irony. But Tak's pretty happy-go-lucky and full of quips for the rest of the book, almost manically, considering the stakes, which are not only the survival of the world, but of every other alternate dimension that exists. Tak's the quintessential nerd hero protagonist. And, of course, he gets the girl.
The girl here is Samira. She's incredibly fragile, unable to deal with her traumatic memories of her time spent in the military during the Gulf Wars. She's pretty well-written, really. What I couldn't understand was why she was interested in Tak, other than that he was really the only male available to her during the course of the book. As far as I can tell, Tak left just after high school graduation and never looked back. Never thought about Samira as he considered suicide. So what made her the one person he decides to save when he realizes the shit is about to hit the fan? The plot demands it, but motivation was shaky.
Now, realize, this is all looking back at the book and realizing that I'm still hungry. While reading the book, I blazed happily along and finished in (mostly) one day. The vignettes that Averill uses for characterization feel real and have emotion involved. You want these two messed-up people to have some happiness together. Plus, they have to save the world (s).
So, even though timelines are referred to throughout the book, it's really different dimensions. Tak has been exploring them. Now, it looks like the company he works for wants to erase all alternate dimensions into one that the company will rule. Tak seems most upset by the fact that Samira may cease to exist, not about the rest of the worlds. Eventually, the two of them do decide that they need to save more than themselves.
The tone of the book was sort of low-grade creepy. There's some sort of undead birdmen being unleashed which will destroy all life for a rather shaky sci-fi reason. The birdmen are creepy, no doubt. But only once do we actually really see them wreaking carnage. Mostly, we see aftereffects and our heroes are chased by the birdmen. I have to say, I never felt a lot of tension plot-wise. I was never worried that our protagonists would not succeed. I did enjoy reading the journey, which was written imaginatively.
Anyone remember "The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag" by Robert Heinlein? There was an organization called "Sons of the Bird" in that story and the Bird was cruel. I kept on being reminded of it while reading this book about creepy cruel birdmen.
So, characters that are inconsistent looking back but that I liked a lot while I was reading about them. A relatively by-the-numbers save-the-world plot. The science in this science fiction was pretty weak at best, although I do love my alternate dimensions. Something about the travel between dimensions reminded me of old Madeleine L'engle books. Tone was pretty well done.
Why four stars? Because the book had some sort of ineffable something that I really liked, even though I can list all the book's weaknesses. I'll happily try this author again to see what he can do. Some of the behind-the-scenes weaknesses can be worked on. The fact is that basically, he's a pretty good writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2020
This book has been on my list for over 7 years. It's taken me a while to discover the art that it is, but I'm happy with what I found. Although this book is far from perfect, the worldbuilding is fantastic, the characters are well-developed, interesting, and unique (i.e. not the cliché characters you'd find in a typical young adult novel), the pacing is great, the war is terrifying, the background-building is fine, and the science is intriguing. On the other hand, there are some unanswered questions at the end of the book, like . There is also the fact that while some of the pictures were very vivid, they were very ill-suited for the situation. Plus, the Beautiful Land, which the book is named after . These, of course, are only small nuisances. Worse is how badly religion and faith are portrayed in this book. I would have loved to give the imagery, the thought, and the effort put into this book (3.5) more stars, but it's the small details that make a book, isn't it?
P.s. Goodreads should really start working on making half-stars available.
P.s. Goodreads should really start working on making half-stars available.
August 23, 2018
I wish more people knew about this book.
The concept of time travel in this book is original and creative. The author has this way with words... how do I even describe it?
Just read it.
It was amazing. It was creative. Addictive. Scary. Sad. Shocking.
The concept of time travel in this book is original and creative. The author has this way with words... how do I even describe it?
Just read it.
It was amazing. It was creative. Addictive. Scary. Sad. Shocking.
July 24, 2013
There are several elements in the synopsis of this novel that would usually get me interested in checking it out: parallel timelines, PTSD, a multi-cultural cast. The novel also won the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. All of this meant I had fairly high expectations for this debut. In the end, some of those were met, and some of them weren’t. My opinion boils down to just a a few words: amazing characters, ludicrous plot.
Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
July 2, 2013
I think I enjoyed this one more than anything else I've read in a few months, at the very least. I blazed through this book in about two days. This is essentially a wonderful love story couched in the trappings of a multiverse thriller. The author's portrayal of PTSD was spot-on, and I really, really ate this thing up. Give it a shot--I think you might be surprised.
November 17, 2023
I don’t generally go for sci-fi, but this one was really unique and engaging. I think it would make a great movie.
Read
August 1, 2013I don't use star ratings, so please read my review!
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“Takahiro O’Leary has a very special job working for the Axon Corporation as an explorer of parallel timelines—as many and as varied as anyone could imagine. A great gig—until information he brought back gave Axon the means to maximize profits by changing the past, present, and future of this world.
If Axon succeeds, Tak will lose Samira Moheb, the woman he has loved since high school—because her future will cease to exist. A veteran of the Iraq War suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Samira can barely function in her everyday life, much less deal with Tak’s ravings of multiple realities. The only way to save her is for Tak to use the time travel device he “borrowed” to transport them both to an alternate timeline.
But what neither Tak nor Axon knows is that the actual inventor of the device is searching for a timeline called the Beautiful Land—and he intends to destroy every other possible present and future to find it.
The switch is thrown, and reality begins to warp—horribly. And Tak realizes that to save Sam, he must save the entire world.”
The idea of alternate realities is, of course, nothing new. Science fiction writers have been tackling this trope for decades. This one is unique, though, in exploring the concept of what would happen if realities were eliminated, and how one might go about accomplishing such an end. There are some elements of horror embedded in this story, as the head of the Axon Corporation is willing to commit some truly heinous acts to get what he wants.
Despite some scenes with nasty things in them, there’s a surprising amount of humor in this novel. One of the early chapters showing what happens when Tak vanishes from an airplane mid-flight had me laughing out loud. The humor does become less pronounced as the story progresses and things degenerate from bad to worse. By the end, the humor is mostly of the grim variety, but it does help to underscore what’s going on.
What makes this book work so well, in my opinion, are the characters. Tak and Samira mesh together perfectly despite their differences, and you can really sense the connection between them. I was especially drawn to Samira, who is the victim of severe trauma due to her experiences in the Iraq war. The author creates a vivid portrait of a woman going through intense suffering and yet still managing to hang on, even if she teeters on the brink as often as not. Tak’s natural happy-go-lucky attitude is a good foil for her depression, and the two keep each other going as the world falls down around them.
There’s something about this novel that sucked me in, and I’m not sure I can put into words exactly what it is. I’m pretty sure the heart of it lies with the relationship between Tak and Samira, though. This story is beautiful and tragic at the same time, not in a smarmy way, but in a way that makes your breath catch in your throat. To read this book is to watch two good people go through hell and know that it’s not likely that things will end well, even if they manage to save the world. And if you’re like me, you’re going to want to reach into the book and find some way to help these two because you’ve come to like them and understand them so well.
I don’t often read a debut novel with such depth, or one that makes me feel so deeply for the characters. The Beautiful Land is a wonderful story, filled with both humor and pathos, and I hope that Averill continues writing and produces more books for me to devour.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on August 1, 2013.
http://www.owlcatmountain.com/the-bea...
(Description nicked from B&N.com.)
“Takahiro O’Leary has a very special job working for the Axon Corporation as an explorer of parallel timelines—as many and as varied as anyone could imagine. A great gig—until information he brought back gave Axon the means to maximize profits by changing the past, present, and future of this world.
If Axon succeeds, Tak will lose Samira Moheb, the woman he has loved since high school—because her future will cease to exist. A veteran of the Iraq War suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Samira can barely function in her everyday life, much less deal with Tak’s ravings of multiple realities. The only way to save her is for Tak to use the time travel device he “borrowed” to transport them both to an alternate timeline.
But what neither Tak nor Axon knows is that the actual inventor of the device is searching for a timeline called the Beautiful Land—and he intends to destroy every other possible present and future to find it.
The switch is thrown, and reality begins to warp—horribly. And Tak realizes that to save Sam, he must save the entire world.”
The idea of alternate realities is, of course, nothing new. Science fiction writers have been tackling this trope for decades. This one is unique, though, in exploring the concept of what would happen if realities were eliminated, and how one might go about accomplishing such an end. There are some elements of horror embedded in this story, as the head of the Axon Corporation is willing to commit some truly heinous acts to get what he wants.
Despite some scenes with nasty things in them, there’s a surprising amount of humor in this novel. One of the early chapters showing what happens when Tak vanishes from an airplane mid-flight had me laughing out loud. The humor does become less pronounced as the story progresses and things degenerate from bad to worse. By the end, the humor is mostly of the grim variety, but it does help to underscore what’s going on.
What makes this book work so well, in my opinion, are the characters. Tak and Samira mesh together perfectly despite their differences, and you can really sense the connection between them. I was especially drawn to Samira, who is the victim of severe trauma due to her experiences in the Iraq war. The author creates a vivid portrait of a woman going through intense suffering and yet still managing to hang on, even if she teeters on the brink as often as not. Tak’s natural happy-go-lucky attitude is a good foil for her depression, and the two keep each other going as the world falls down around them.
There’s something about this novel that sucked me in, and I’m not sure I can put into words exactly what it is. I’m pretty sure the heart of it lies with the relationship between Tak and Samira, though. This story is beautiful and tragic at the same time, not in a smarmy way, but in a way that makes your breath catch in your throat. To read this book is to watch two good people go through hell and know that it’s not likely that things will end well, even if they manage to save the world. And if you’re like me, you’re going to want to reach into the book and find some way to help these two because you’ve come to like them and understand them so well.
I don’t often read a debut novel with such depth, or one that makes me feel so deeply for the characters. The Beautiful Land is a wonderful story, filled with both humor and pathos, and I hope that Averill continues writing and produces more books for me to devour.
This review originally appeared on Owlcat Mountain on August 1, 2013.
http://www.owlcatmountain.com/the-bea...
April 28, 2014
Tak does not lead a normal life. As a sort of Asian-American version of Man vs Wild he's spent his life adventuring all over the world. At the opening of THE BEAUTIFUL LAND we discover that life isn't going the way he planned. In the middle of a suicide attempt, Tak gets a fateful call that will give him a new purpose in life.
Samira suffers from PTSD due to her tours in Iraq. But she can remember a time when she was happy. Like before her mother died. Or her high school friendship with Tak. Then out of the blue she gets a frantic call from Tak who is convinced that if she doesn't get on a plane and meet him within fifteen hours that she will die.
And thus begins the strange journey Tak and Samira must take in order to stop a mad scientist, a greedy corporation, and the Machine that will rewrite the current reality with one that will give the scientist/corporation the power they crave. The Machine isn't a time machine, it's a portal to the alternate realities, and there are thousands of them. One of them is called "the beautiful land," a reality where the perfect land is the one you imagine, and the scientist who invented the Machine will do anything to live there, even if it means wiping out every living thing to do it.
THE BEAUTIFUL LAND is weird and compelling at the same time. Averill tells the story with creativity and energy from Tak and Samira's PoVs (sometimes jumping between their heads within paragraphs, but it works out ok despite the confusion) with a few side trips from secondary characters. However, Averill's portrayal of these two messed-up people who regret the choices they've made is often over-the-top. When authors try this hard it makes a reader step back because it feels like manipulation. It's not that I hated the characters, but I had a hard time liking them, even if their interaction with each other was believable.
Even though the characterization was a little rough, at least Averill knows how to move a story along. The pace moved fast from the get-go, and carries you clear to the end. It's set in the present-day, in a world where people like Tak and Samira get lost in the shuffle, but discover that even "normal" people can be the agents of change. The mad scientist angle is cliché, but that doesn't make Averill's take any less creepy and scary when Tak discovers the evil plan, and when we see the fallout from his decisions. I might have liked more trips to these alternate realities Tak got to visit--if only for the sake of seeing them--but in the end that's not what the story was about so it would have been a distraction.
My favorite part was Averill's engaging prose. He writes each scene with well-written imagery and a morbid sense of humor that sets the tone for the book. Tak's hilarious observations about his situation and the realities he visits are fun (and sometimes disturbing) to read. Some of you will love Tak's irreverent humor.
I've read enough dumb thrillers lately (i.e., VIRUS THIRTEEN and PANDEMONIUM) that I was wary about THE BEAUTIFUL LAND. Fortunately Averill provided more than just a thriller or horror story, but also a wild ride.
Recommended Age: 16+
Language: Something almost every page
Violence: Plenty
Sex: One implied scene
**Find this and other reviews at Elitist Book Reviews.***
Samira suffers from PTSD due to her tours in Iraq. But she can remember a time when she was happy. Like before her mother died. Or her high school friendship with Tak. Then out of the blue she gets a frantic call from Tak who is convinced that if she doesn't get on a plane and meet him within fifteen hours that she will die.
And thus begins the strange journey Tak and Samira must take in order to stop a mad scientist, a greedy corporation, and the Machine that will rewrite the current reality with one that will give the scientist/corporation the power they crave. The Machine isn't a time machine, it's a portal to the alternate realities, and there are thousands of them. One of them is called "the beautiful land," a reality where the perfect land is the one you imagine, and the scientist who invented the Machine will do anything to live there, even if it means wiping out every living thing to do it.
THE BEAUTIFUL LAND is weird and compelling at the same time. Averill tells the story with creativity and energy from Tak and Samira's PoVs (sometimes jumping between their heads within paragraphs, but it works out ok despite the confusion) with a few side trips from secondary characters. However, Averill's portrayal of these two messed-up people who regret the choices they've made is often over-the-top. When authors try this hard it makes a reader step back because it feels like manipulation. It's not that I hated the characters, but I had a hard time liking them, even if their interaction with each other was believable.
Even though the characterization was a little rough, at least Averill knows how to move a story along. The pace moved fast from the get-go, and carries you clear to the end. It's set in the present-day, in a world where people like Tak and Samira get lost in the shuffle, but discover that even "normal" people can be the agents of change. The mad scientist angle is cliché, but that doesn't make Averill's take any less creepy and scary when Tak discovers the evil plan, and when we see the fallout from his decisions. I might have liked more trips to these alternate realities Tak got to visit--if only for the sake of seeing them--but in the end that's not what the story was about so it would have been a distraction.
My favorite part was Averill's engaging prose. He writes each scene with well-written imagery and a morbid sense of humor that sets the tone for the book. Tak's hilarious observations about his situation and the realities he visits are fun (and sometimes disturbing) to read. Some of you will love Tak's irreverent humor.
I've read enough dumb thrillers lately (i.e., VIRUS THIRTEEN and PANDEMONIUM) that I was wary about THE BEAUTIFUL LAND. Fortunately Averill provided more than just a thriller or horror story, but also a wild ride.
Recommended Age: 16+
Language: Something almost every page
Violence: Plenty
Sex: One implied scene
**Find this and other reviews at Elitist Book Reviews.***
November 15, 2017
I hardly know what to think of this book.
The premise was interesting, the story was engaging enough to keep me reading furiously until I finished it, and I found the ending very satisfying. Tak and Sam were good heroes. That's about all I can say for positives.
Tak and Sam were not great characters. The author drops you into this story with next to no information on the characters; this method works fine for some authors, but Mr. Averill never seemed to figure out what he wanted to tell us about Tak and Sam. Most everything we learn about them as people is told through "flashbacks" when they're timeline-jumping, and the flashbacks are pretty random and you aren't always able to tell how they're supposed to be relevant (I found the parental interactions shown for both characters to be completely pointless).
The best way I can think of to describe my problem with this book is to say this - it suffered from an unnecessary amount of detail (as with the flashbacks, Judith's life story, the entire scene with the teenage guard, etc.), and yet... it should have been longer and more detailed. World-building, my friends. Tak and Sam are selfless, brave, and noble enough to save the world at great personal cost, but I don't really know why they're that way beyond a vague implication of making amends for things they've done and being secretly in love for years or something. It's like the way the changing of the solid timeline is described in the book - like no one's supposed to realize that Tak and Sam weren't always that way (suicidal and traumatized, respectively). Who were they before the main events of this book? What was it that shocked Tak into the realization that Axon was evil and needed stopping, when the treatment of the conduits didn't do it? Are we really supposed to believe that Sam and Tak were secretly so much in love as teens that she is able to muscle through her PTSD to help someone she thought was dead for years and had drifted apart from before that? Why is Yates the way he is? Is he simply crazy, or straight-up willfully evil? How did he catch the bird whose essence he drank? Where did the birds (virus, whatever) come from in the first place? Magic?? I mean...
I wouldn't have minded seeing more of the timelines Tak explored either. I guess I could have summed up most of this review by saying that this book could have used a few chapters (to fill in all these questions) between Tak accepting the job with Axon and stealing the briefcase, but that wouldn't have been as satisfying as ranting about all the unanswered questions this book left.
I want to like it more, but... it just needed MORE.
The premise was interesting, the story was engaging enough to keep me reading furiously until I finished it, and I found the ending very satisfying. Tak and Sam were good heroes. That's about all I can say for positives.
Tak and Sam were not great characters. The author drops you into this story with next to no information on the characters; this method works fine for some authors, but Mr. Averill never seemed to figure out what he wanted to tell us about Tak and Sam. Most everything we learn about them as people is told through "flashbacks" when they're timeline-jumping, and the flashbacks are pretty random and you aren't always able to tell how they're supposed to be relevant (I found the parental interactions shown for both characters to be completely pointless).
The best way I can think of to describe my problem with this book is to say this - it suffered from an unnecessary amount of detail (as with the flashbacks, Judith's life story, the entire scene with the teenage guard, etc.), and yet... it should have been longer and more detailed. World-building, my friends. Tak and Sam are selfless, brave, and noble enough to save the world at great personal cost, but I don't really know why they're that way beyond a vague implication of making amends for things they've done and being secretly in love for years or something. It's like the way the changing of the solid timeline is described in the book - like no one's supposed to realize that Tak and Sam weren't always that way (suicidal and traumatized, respectively). Who were they before the main events of this book? What was it that shocked Tak into the realization that Axon was evil and needed stopping, when the treatment of the conduits didn't do it? Are we really supposed to believe that Sam and Tak were secretly so much in love as teens that she is able to muscle through her PTSD to help someone she thought was dead for years and had drifted apart from before that? Why is Yates the way he is? Is he simply crazy, or straight-up willfully evil? How did he catch the bird whose essence he drank? Where did the birds (virus, whatever) come from in the first place? Magic?? I mean...
I wouldn't have minded seeing more of the timelines Tak explored either. I guess I could have summed up most of this review by saying that this book could have used a few chapters (to fill in all these questions) between Tak accepting the job with Axon and stealing the briefcase, but that wouldn't have been as satisfying as ranting about all the unanswered questions this book left.
I want to like it more, but... it just needed MORE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2014
Alan Averill's THE BEAUTIFUL LAND was a real surprise for me. I picked it up on a bit of a whim; the premise was interesting and I knew it won the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, so I was curious. Technically it is speculative fiction, but the physics concept is so far beyond the bleeding edge that it is more fantasy than science fiction. The underlying physics premise is that of parallel universes, and Averill's story treats them as pliable to the point of being something that can be written and rewritten like scribbles on a dry erase board. Normally this loose treatment would bug me (I think the whole parallel universes thing is silly anyway), but not here. Averill uses the premise as little more than a crucible in which to grind and evolve his characters, and at this he does a masterful job.
Tak and Samira are both outsiders and old friends, and they are individually interesting from the outset. They are both on the edge of life and about to fall off as the story begins. They are drawn into a situation where all of reality is threatened and they are in a unique position to try and save it. This is where things get interesting. If these two had just picked up the task of saviors from the start, the story would ring false. Their individual realities are awful and it would be unrealistic for them to just jump in and try to save a universe(s) of people who never cared about them. But it is their unrequited love for each other that motivates them and draws them in. As the story develops, so do Tak and Samira. By story end they have evolved to the point where they pass up a selfish chance to save only each other to finally care about the larger world.
The story is particularly sustained by Averill's writing. His prose are engaging and a pleasure to read. His plotting is fast and linear, pulling the reader along from one disaster to the next. His scenes are just the right size to engage the reader while still serving the rapid plot pace. All together the effect is such that it is hard to put the book down once you start reading. There is no particularly radical theme and this novel will not change the world for you, but you will definitely be happy that you read it. I personally look forward to what Averill does next.
Tak and Samira are both outsiders and old friends, and they are individually interesting from the outset. They are both on the edge of life and about to fall off as the story begins. They are drawn into a situation where all of reality is threatened and they are in a unique position to try and save it. This is where things get interesting. If these two had just picked up the task of saviors from the start, the story would ring false. Their individual realities are awful and it would be unrealistic for them to just jump in and try to save a universe(s) of people who never cared about them. But it is their unrequited love for each other that motivates them and draws them in. As the story develops, so do Tak and Samira. By story end they have evolved to the point where they pass up a selfish chance to save only each other to finally care about the larger world.
The story is particularly sustained by Averill's writing. His prose are engaging and a pleasure to read. His plotting is fast and linear, pulling the reader along from one disaster to the next. His scenes are just the right size to engage the reader while still serving the rapid plot pace. All together the effect is such that it is hard to put the book down once you start reading. There is no particularly radical theme and this novel will not change the world for you, but you will definitely be happy that you read it. I personally look forward to what Averill does next.
January 10, 2015
This book is really an argument for the traditional publishing industry, or at least why newer methods are not up to spec yet. This isn't quite that standard self-published book, it won an Amazon award and was then published by Ace, but clearly without all the editorial work.
The author has so much raw talent. That's clear from the opening scene that really grabbed me, among many other points. But there was also a lot of lazy writing, a ton of things that I wish someone had told him to fix. I don't think there is any one way to fix these issues, just that someone needed to point them out and make him come up with something satisfactory. The thanks at the end list an editor, but I can imagine that she was only involved after he won the Amazon award and perhaps didn't wield as much influence as an editor otherwise might.
I understand that the lack of publishing industry influence also freed the author in various ways to buck trends that may (usually) sell books, but that don't necessarily make them better. But in order to fully benefit from that, an author needs some other way to fully polish their work, some other set of people to hold their feet to the fire.
The author has so much raw talent. That's clear from the opening scene that really grabbed me, among many other points. But there was also a lot of lazy writing, a ton of things that I wish someone had told him to fix. I don't think there is any one way to fix these issues, just that someone needed to point them out and make him come up with something satisfactory. The thanks at the end list an editor, but I can imagine that she was only involved after he won the Amazon award and perhaps didn't wield as much influence as an editor otherwise might.
I understand that the lack of publishing industry influence also freed the author in various ways to buck trends that may (usually) sell books, but that don't necessarily make them better. But in order to fully benefit from that, an author needs some other way to fully polish their work, some other set of people to hold their feet to the fire.
August 29, 2016
Good, but not fulfilling enough to recommend. I feel like the writing was decent (I enjoyed the tone) and it had a good premise (interesting concept, some obvious thought put into the PTSD angle, definite possibility for expansion of parallel worlds), but fell somewhat short. I feel like I read two books - Tak's sci-fi and Samira's journey with PTSD. Both were interesting, but colliding the two worlds together sometimes felt unrelated, to the point where we didn't get to delve into either angle deeply enough to satisfy. Which is interesting, because I read the book in one sitting (well, two; i started on the couch at 10pm and finished reading by flashlight in bed at 2am). Obviously it kept my attention and interest, so I'm not sure why it left me feeling this way.
May 13, 2014
Wow. Based on the back cover, I knew it'd be something that I liked. Then I started reading, and was a bit meh. But I try to give every book at least fifty pages - and I'm so glad I did.
It's a nice mix of sci-fi, fiction, non-fiction (the PTSD of Samira was handled very well, considering how some writers seem to just read the Wiki page on it, and that's it), and just the right amount of creepy/horror-y. Bordering on horror-y. Because I don't do horror.
The imagery, the creativity in the story itself (although I admit to having to re-read a paragraph or two to fully comprehend what was going on), the characters - I'm just so pleased with this book, and want to read more.
It's a nice mix of sci-fi, fiction, non-fiction (the PTSD of Samira was handled very well, considering how some writers seem to just read the Wiki page on it, and that's it), and just the right amount of creepy/horror-y. Bordering on horror-y. Because I don't do horror.
The imagery, the creativity in the story itself (although I admit to having to re-read a paragraph or two to fully comprehend what was going on), the characters - I'm just so pleased with this book, and want to read more.
February 22, 2016
Solid writing and great character development. Tak and Samira were both fully realized characters - almost like Averill was writing about friends and family members. There were large gaps in the "science" of this book and the idea of traveling across alternate dimensions and timelines is often referred to as "time travel", which didn't seem quite right. An engrossing read - perfect for a quiet weekend getaway.
3.5 stars - rounded up to 4 because it is worth the time for the characters alone!
3.5 stars - rounded up to 4 because it is worth the time for the characters alone!
August 29, 2015
This was such an engaging and intense read. I loved the unique take and such an emotional story which is not often seen in Science Fiction. I almost think labeling this as such limits it's readership!
May 12, 2016
It could have been a really cool book...I mean parallel universes sounds awesome, but it was kind of boring and it dragged on and would not end...
February 3, 2024
Real Rating: 2.5* of five
PEARL RULED @ p38
The Publisher Says: Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy steals a time machine that’s low on batteries and attempts to save girl from impending annihilation. ...You know how this goes.
Tak O’Leary is a Japanese-American television host who vanished off the grid after a failed suicide attempt. Samira Moheb is an Iranian-American military translator suffering from PTSD as a result of her time in the Iraq War. They have been in love from the moment they met, and because they never told each other, they are destined to be apart forever. But thanks to a mysterious invention buried deep in the Australian Outback, they now have one more chance to get it right.
Of course, it won’t be easy. Love never is. First they have to avoid being captured by a powerful and mysterious corporation. Then they must take down a deranged scientist who is trying to unleash a monstrous creature upon the world. Finally, there’s the matter of the invention—an impossible machine with the ability to destroy time itself. If Tak and Samira hope to reunite and save the world, they must use this machine to find a theoretical reality constructed by the thoughts of whoever is inside it. They must find the Beautiful Land.
Skillfully blending non-stop action with compassionate characters and a sharp sense of humor, The Beautiful Land is a novel unique in style and scope. It’s a love story with time machines. A science-fiction novel for people who don’t read science fiction. And an elegantly timeless tale about the nature of memory, heartache, and redemption.
I RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER. THANK YOU.
My Review: Ten years ago, I’d’ve lapped this up...strange timeline shenanigans, portentous foreshadowing, and so on...but now, this manic pixie girl as love object of depressed dudebro makes me want to scream. I would probably not *love* the same basics with two men in the leads, but in the intervening time, that has become something I can actually find.
Off to the Little Free Library with you, tedious cishet stereotypes-from-the-1990s. Bring me the SFF with men in love, lust, or even just a defining partnership with each other. Maybe I only need queer SF now, and for sure I need SF for people who DO read SF.
PEARL RULED @ p38
The Publisher Says: Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy steals a time machine that’s low on batteries and attempts to save girl from impending annihilation. ...You know how this goes.
Tak O’Leary is a Japanese-American television host who vanished off the grid after a failed suicide attempt. Samira Moheb is an Iranian-American military translator suffering from PTSD as a result of her time in the Iraq War. They have been in love from the moment they met, and because they never told each other, they are destined to be apart forever. But thanks to a mysterious invention buried deep in the Australian Outback, they now have one more chance to get it right.
Of course, it won’t be easy. Love never is. First they have to avoid being captured by a powerful and mysterious corporation. Then they must take down a deranged scientist who is trying to unleash a monstrous creature upon the world. Finally, there’s the matter of the invention—an impossible machine with the ability to destroy time itself. If Tak and Samira hope to reunite and save the world, they must use this machine to find a theoretical reality constructed by the thoughts of whoever is inside it. They must find the Beautiful Land.
Skillfully blending non-stop action with compassionate characters and a sharp sense of humor, The Beautiful Land is a novel unique in style and scope. It’s a love story with time machines. A science-fiction novel for people who don’t read science fiction. And an elegantly timeless tale about the nature of memory, heartache, and redemption.
I RECEIVED AN ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER. THANK YOU.
My Review: Ten years ago, I’d’ve lapped this up...strange timeline shenanigans, portentous foreshadowing, and so on...but now, this manic pixie girl as love object of depressed dudebro makes me want to scream. I would probably not *love* the same basics with two men in the leads, but in the intervening time, that has become something I can actually find.
Off to the Little Free Library with you, tedious cishet stereotypes-from-the-1990s. Bring me the SFF with men in love, lust, or even just a defining partnership with each other. Maybe I only need queer SF now, and for sure I need SF for people who DO read SF.
April 9, 2024
What happens when the world is one of many, and you're asked to find the perfect world? What do you do when you find out that the person who is behind the time machine that links these worlds is bat shit crazy?
Blurb:
Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy steals a time machine and attempts to save girl - and the world - from impending annihilation.
Tak O'Leary is a Japanese-American television host who vanished off the grid after a failed suicide attempt. His childhood friend Samira Moheb is an Iranian-American military translator suffering from PTSD as a result of her time in the Iraq War. In love from the moment they met, they are destined to be apart forever. But thanks to a mysterious invention buried deep in the Australian outback. they now have one more chance to get it right...
This is a novel that creeps up on you and side-swipes you with how good it is. I was thoroughly drawn in and could not put it down. I was so invested in the story of Tak and Samira, and felt it definitely had a Stephen King vibe to it (in a good way!).
I won't give the plot away - especially as I might well want to re-read this! - but it all made perfect sense. And had such a creepy atmosphere; you can see this happening. If you had the choice, would you save the world at the cost of your own life? Or would you retreat to the Beautiful Land, where nothing is fixed, and can be as perfect as you'd like, with the world going to pot? A dilemma and a half!
A cracking good read, and an author I'm going to keep an eye out for. Love the imagination, world building and characterisation.
Blurb:
Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy steals a time machine and attempts to save girl - and the world - from impending annihilation.
Tak O'Leary is a Japanese-American television host who vanished off the grid after a failed suicide attempt. His childhood friend Samira Moheb is an Iranian-American military translator suffering from PTSD as a result of her time in the Iraq War. In love from the moment they met, they are destined to be apart forever. But thanks to a mysterious invention buried deep in the Australian outback. they now have one more chance to get it right...
This is a novel that creeps up on you and side-swipes you with how good it is. I was thoroughly drawn in and could not put it down. I was so invested in the story of Tak and Samira, and felt it definitely had a Stephen King vibe to it (in a good way!).
I won't give the plot away - especially as I might well want to re-read this! - but it all made perfect sense. And had such a creepy atmosphere; you can see this happening. If you had the choice, would you save the world at the cost of your own life? Or would you retreat to the Beautiful Land, where nothing is fixed, and can be as perfect as you'd like, with the world going to pot? A dilemma and a half!
A cracking good read, and an author I'm going to keep an eye out for. Love the imagination, world building and characterisation.
February 27, 2020
The beautiful land
4.1
Takahiro o'Leary is fed up with his life of travel, tv fame and empty accomplishments. On the eve of his suicide attempt a mysterious corporation offers him the job of a life time, the exploration of world(s) completely unknown through a device of their own inventing but when the job seems to good to be true, it usually is. Tak must abruptly leave the company find his best friend/partner in crime and stop a deadly plan before it's set in motion and everyone he loves Is jeopardized. So without spoilers that's the main focus of his fast paced syfy novel.
Pros
The beautiful land did a lot of things right for me to blast through through this book in 3 sittings. Tak and sam have a good dynamic, the pacing is quick but not unbelievably so that the story loses focus. The villan while not unique or exciting does enough to set the dark tone. And the growth we see in tak and sam by the end is earned and believable.
Cons
The science is only barely touched on. There are many things left unexplained. And there were times especially with Sam that left me uncomfortable or unsure of how accurately her ptsd was handled. I'm not normally too picky about things like representation, I often overlook it or dont care but her mental state plays a big part in her character arc and some of her tics felt exaggerated. Beyond that I have no issues besides wishing the author had more to offer for me to read.
4.1
Takahiro o'Leary is fed up with his life of travel, tv fame and empty accomplishments. On the eve of his suicide attempt a mysterious corporation offers him the job of a life time, the exploration of world(s) completely unknown through a device of their own inventing but when the job seems to good to be true, it usually is. Tak must abruptly leave the company find his best friend/partner in crime and stop a deadly plan before it's set in motion and everyone he loves Is jeopardized. So without spoilers that's the main focus of his fast paced syfy novel.
Pros
The beautiful land did a lot of things right for me to blast through through this book in 3 sittings. Tak and sam have a good dynamic, the pacing is quick but not unbelievably so that the story loses focus. The villan while not unique or exciting does enough to set the dark tone. And the growth we see in tak and sam by the end is earned and believable.
Cons
The science is only barely touched on. There are many things left unexplained. And there were times especially with Sam that left me uncomfortable or unsure of how accurately her ptsd was handled. I'm not normally too picky about things like representation, I often overlook it or dont care but her mental state plays a big part in her character arc and some of her tics felt exaggerated. Beyond that I have no issues besides wishing the author had more to offer for me to read.
July 13, 2018
The Beautiful Land has a killer opening line, but past that, there wasn't a whole lot to get excited about. I don't mean to be harsh: this isn't a bad book, it just isn't really special enough to stand out. Highlights for me included Tak's creative curses (utterly ridiculous, but amusing to read) and the concept of parallel universes nearly identical to ours but with one detail completely changed, like the the sink with three taps marked with strange symbols. I wish the book had explored this more and taken us timeline-hopping through worlds like this; I thought it was the most creative idea in the book. I guess I was hoping for more of an exploration story rather than a "save the world" one.
I also enjoyed Samira's character, who I thought was well-written for the most part, though she lacked agency throughout pretty much the entire book and her issues were "solved" in a sort of lazy manner by the end. Tak, however, never came together as a character for me. I kept forgetting he was a survivalist; it just never seemed to click. Part of the problem may be that we got the background on the main characters mainly from flashbacks, which felt like a cliche solution. In the end, Tak's character wasn't the only element of the book that didn't add up.
I can't say The Beautiful Land resonated with me, but I'm glad I read it.
I also enjoyed Samira's character, who I thought was well-written for the most part, though she lacked agency throughout pretty much the entire book and her issues were "solved" in a sort of lazy manner by the end. Tak, however, never came together as a character for me. I kept forgetting he was a survivalist; it just never seemed to click. Part of the problem may be that we got the background on the main characters mainly from flashbacks, which felt like a cliche solution. In the end, Tak's character wasn't the only element of the book that didn't add up.
I can't say The Beautiful Land resonated with me, but I'm glad I read it.
August 2, 2017
This is a dark and twisted story that really spoke to me. The prose was written in such a way that it was simple and complicated at the same time. It was the first book I read of 2017, and all things considered, it was one that I was happy to begin with. It would be very interesting to be in Tak's place, asked to jump through different alternate timelines, though I might be hesitant about finding all the horrors and despair, with the weight of saving the world on my shoulders.
Depending on your own life experiences, this book might be a bit too much for you: it gets very existential, and talks very honestly about suicide, as well as what PTSD after war is like. It is surely an intense read. You truly live in the world with Tak and Samira, even as it is ever-changing around them. For the short time that it will take to get to the end, you will be there with them every step of the way.
Depending on your own life experiences, this book might be a bit too much for you: it gets very existential, and talks very honestly about suicide, as well as what PTSD after war is like. It is surely an intense read. You truly live in the world with Tak and Samira, even as it is ever-changing around them. For the short time that it will take to get to the end, you will be there with them every step of the way.
September 6, 2017
This entire story was meh to me. I will say that the best thing about this novel were the characters. I felt that Tak and Samira were real people, with their quirks and unique conversations and backgrounds. That is what kept me turning pages throughout, the characters. The villain was too much like a Saturday morning cartoon bad guy. He had no qualities other than be the bad guy and destroy things. Pretty lame. The plot had some MAJOR holes in it, but I guess that's to be expected when you're mashing time-travel and multi-verse theory together. All in all, I would not recommend this book. It reads like a young adult novel, with super easy sentences, low vocabulary, and the characters never have more than superficial convos.
Two stars. Thumbs down. Except for the characters. The characters did indeed make me smile once or twice.
Two stars. Thumbs down. Except for the characters. The characters did indeed make me smile once or twice.
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