Ancient Future Trilogy

The Ancient Future #1-3

by Traci Harding

The best-selling epic adventure trilogy from one of Australia's most loved fantasy authors Late one evening, an accident near a ring of stones throws tory Alexander across the vortex of time and space to the Dark Ages. there she meets Prince Maelgwn of Gwynedd and his band of warriors, who initially brand her as a witch and are frightened by her strange appearance. they finally overcome their fears and soon the tales of her adventures, brave deeds and beauty spread across the land. twenty years later, tory Alexander, from the 20th century, has ruled as Queen in 6th century Britain. But dark forces are stirring... tory seeks the advice of the triple Goddess, and the women of the Otherworld send tory through time to Plato's City of the Golden Gates - Atlantis. Once there tory has to find her own way home, and a cure for the High King's sickness. In an epic climax, the Shining Ones and the Chosen, who are hiding within the circuits of times, gather to defeat the evil ones and bring about a new age of awareness to the world. Yet again, tory must draw on all of her courage, strength of character and resourcefulness.

Genres: Fantasy

912 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Traci Harding, is an Australian science-fantasy author who currently has twelve books in publication, on the Voyager label of HaperCollins Publishers Australia.

Her work blends fantasy, fact, esoteric belief, time travel and quantum physics, into adventurous romps through history, ulternative dimensions, universes and states of consciousness.


The Ancient Future Trilogy
Book 1 -The Ancient Future 1996
Book 2 -An Echo in Time 1997
Book 3 - Masters of Reality 1998

Stand Alone Novels
The Alchemists Key 1998
Book of Dreams 2002
Ghostwriting 2003

The Celestial Triad
Book 1 – Chronicle of Ages 1999
Book 2 – Tablet of Destinies 2000
Book 3 – The Cosmic Logos 2001

The Mystique Trilogy
Book 1 – Gene of Isis 2005
Book 2 – The Dragon Queens 2007
Book 3 – The Black Madonna 2008


Triad of Being
Book 1 - Being of the Field 2009
Book 2 - The Universe Parallel 2010
Book 3 - The Light Field 2012

The Time Keepers
Book 1 - Dreaming of Zhou Gong 2013
Book 2 - Forthcoming
Book 3 - Forthcoming

The Ancient Future is currently listed on both the Dymock’s Top 101 Books. Along with The Alchemist's Key, The Ancient Future has been published in Complex Chinese for worldwide release.

The first book of the Mystique Trilogy -Gene of Isis is now to be published in Russian, Czech, Slavic, Greek and Romanian, as is book two The Dragon Queens.

Reviews

[kashiichan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never managed to hate an entire trilogy before. I'd be impressed if it wasn't so utterly infuriating.

[Raiding Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Traci Harding since I was 13 years old – that’s 10 years. While her style greatly appealed to my adolescent self; it is her stories that keep me coming back to these old books.

Tory Alexander is an ass kicking (Australian!) heroine with awesome physical skills, wicked psychic skills (teleportation is the way of the future), and enviable people skills. Maelgywn, jealous rages aside, is a delightfully enlightened hero for a fantasy novel set in the dark ages.

What I Liked: Ancient Future: The Dark Ages is my favourite instalment of the trilogy. Tory’s adventures in time are fascinating and and the famous Welsh figures she encounters (Taliesin) bring the mythological history to life.

The series is a romantic epic – Tory and Maelgwyn’s love transcends time, space and even death, as they fight to remain side by side for eternity. Our adventures with Tory don’t end in the dark ages but travel into our technologically advanced past, and into our modern future where her descendants await her leadership. We visit Iraq, Babylon, Atlantis, the Moon and the very depths of the ocean to discover truth and raise the awareness of mankind.

Harding has a fascination with the Nephilim, who are the antagonists in her Ancient Future trilogy and her more recent Gene of Isis trilogy. They are portrayed as sociopathic demi-gods who enjoy watching the struggles of the developing humankind. She includes them in our history as Pharaoh’s, Goddesses and heroes, implying they had great influence over our development – they are presented as human kinds biggest obstacle to overcome.

The entire Atlantis storyline is breathtaking in its imaginativeness, and I love the ideas behind it. I wanted more from Turan, Adelgar and Duran. They were almost more fun, and certainly more enlightened than their Dark Ages counterparts.

What I Didn’t Like: Traci Harding has always weaved an excellent story. Harding’s understanding of history, ritualistic practice, mythology and spirituality bind together to create spell-binding epic with only one flaw. It’s not outrageously obvious, and doesn’t happen on every page, but Harding’s writing style can be a little immature. Her narrative and descriptions are beautiful and evocative but there are times when the dialogue let’s her down.

A common complaint, one that I share, is finding the use of ‘Brythonic English’ annoying rathering than endearing, a shame considering the number of thee’s, thou’s, and hast’s peppering the conversation. Since the dialogue is all in English instead of ancient Welsh or Brythonic, it might as well all match. There are also a few too many contemporary terms and phrases thrown about by basically uneducated medieval knights.

The Atlantis plot was definitely underdeveloped. It had the potential to develop the story further, and Tory’s character could have advanced spiritually with a little more time amongst the peaceful Atlantan people.
The characters could use more development, particularly Tory who is the heart and soul of the series. She needs more time to grow as a leader and an immortal; for someone who is meant to lead the immortal battalion against the Nephilim, she doesn’t develop much past her pot smoking introduction, despite supposedly conducting herself as a Queen and giving disapproving looks.

Conclusion: If you aren’t interested in time-travel, New Ages spiritualism, tae-kwon-do, or fantasy it isn’t worth picking up this book. If you are looking for an epic to enthral you, or a thrilling fantasy read you would be better off looking elsewhere.
This is a fun, light read that will only last a cursory reading. Deep analysis will be the downfall of these novels, despite their fun and imaginative plot.

[Juliet Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love these books!! I was first introduced to Traci Harding books over 20 years ago and have been reading them ever since. This particular trilogy is definitely one of my favourites and is a re-read for me time and time again. A great story set throughout space and time, starting on earth in the 20th century and spanning the past and the future. The characters, even 20 years, and many re-reads later, still make me laugh out loud and ugly cry to the point where I have to be careful where I read!
Time travel, Atlantis, Magic, Merlins, Dragons and ‘Gods’, reincarnation and immortality. Seriously, who could ask for more?

[Cathryn McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: did not finish. This was my 2nd attempt, first time (10 years ago) I got through 2 books, this time only the 1st. The story is great, I love the premise. But the writing just keeps losing me. Everything feels "too easy". Don't let this put you off giving it a try, though - as I said, the premise is good. Traci Harding clearly put a lot of effort into research and planning when she wrote the trilogy.

[Ari Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading these books and now that I am an adult I want to finally finish every related trilogy!

[Jeremy Cartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect blend of Fantasy and Science Fiction. If I was writing a simple review that sentence would just about cover it, but this epic trilogy from the pen of Traci Harding deserves a little more attention. The book covers the dark ages, Atlantis and the far future. As you would expect this novel has a large roster of characters, but as reincarnation plays a huge role they are instantly recognisable. Some people might find this jarring but I actually found it very reassuring because the notion of being reunited with your loved ones after they've left you is certainly appealing. I found the writing style very accessible and the characters simply came to life on the page. The whole thing comes full circle and rather wonderfully the final sentence of the trilogy was also the one used to set the whole thing in motion.
I'm glad I persevered with this and read all three books in one go, rather than reading one and coming back to it years later. This is wonderfully written trilogy that lingers in the memory long after the last page is turned

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This edition is a trilogy of full length books - so first up, it was s good deal :) The first book was a good medieval style story 4/5. The second more about people's relationship less action 3/5. The last set in a different time, quite good 3/5.

[Matt Ayoub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Have re-read the trilogy series several times!

Love the protagonist and the perspectives offered which can be applied to real life if so desired. I know many readers feel the trilogy series is somehow real...me too.

[Jan Greer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the greatest books I have read. A moderately interesting plot enabled me to finish this trilogy but I won't be rushing out to find more of this authors work

[Linda McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book, great author