Arboretum

by Ian Miller

Timothy Martin is a respected lecturer in Astronomy who has spent most of his life trying to put behind him the trauma of a childhood dominated by ‘visions’.But the visions have returned, more real than ever. Not only does see other places, but he is now able to step into them. When he becomes fixated on the star Delta Crucis in the Southern Cross constellation, he sees a vision of a world orbiting it and impulsively takes a step two hundred and forty-five light years into space. He did not expect to survive. Nor did he expect to land in the midst of an alien city. And he certainly did not expect to threaten the well-being of another world, one that he finds disturbingly at peace. At stake is not only his own destiny, but that of an entire world.

358 pages, Paperback

Published February 11, 2018

Reviews

[Adam Collings]

This book builds layers of mystery on one another like a cake. It begins with the introduction of a strange ability. Our hero can visualise other places and then step into them - crossing vast distances. This in itself is a cool sci-fi concept. This is then built upon as he decides to search for a planet outside our solar system and steps across interstellar space onto an alien world.

What he finds there challenges many of his assumptions and his worldview. The people he meets are equally shaken by him.

The story is very much written out of a Christian worldview, but in a subtle way that may not even be noticeable to a general market reader. It explores some theological ideas in much the same way that I understand C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy does. This exploration is not complete, but will undoubtedly continue through the series.

Arboretum reads very much like the first act of a trilogy. You'll be wanting to move straight into book 2, which is exactly what I plan to do today.

[Warren Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood visions and the failed attempts by his parents to discover their cause leave Timothy Martin angry and isolated. He is now a respected professor of astronomy but because of those early years he trusts no one and lives life with the view that if it can't be proven it can't be real. Sudden events start him on a scientific investigation which culminate in him arriving on a foreign planet where every defence he has used to protect himself is slowly dismantled and he begins to discover who he really is.

It takes the whole book for Timothy's character to be fully developed as he moves from fear and mistrust to compassion and trust. Ian manages to take the reader into the heart and mind of Timothy as every strongly held belief is challenged through the actions of those who accept him for who he is even when tragedy strikes.

I found it so easy to visualise both the landscape of Arboretum, as the group travel through this land, as well as the events which confront Timothy and expose his fears. The story flows so well. Nothing ever felt disjointed or contrived or even unimaginable. While the genre is sci-fi you are not asked to leave your brain at the door. The story and events are credible, satisfying those with a science understanding (like me), but never leaving the reader lost in unrealistic scenarios.

My biggest disappointment was that I finished the book wanting to know what is going to happen next. The story is complete in itself but is the perfect lead into volume 2. This will be hard to wait for. Till then it might be necessary to go back to the beginning to see what I have missed.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

For one week, Its was really hard for me to put this book down; to the point that it almost got me distracted from work and busy family life.

This is a story of a man searching for knowledge and in doing that, turning it to a quest into who he really is. Its deep psychological insight on the main character reminds me of Hesse’s novels, (specially the last one, “The Glass Bead Game”, almost a 1940s sci-fi blockbuster itself). Further, the wonderfully narrated journey of the group towards an uncertain mission in a very unique (albeit familiar) world, unveils some parallels with Tolkien’s fantasy masterpieces.

The imagination and creativity shown in the worlds and characters are outstanding, even more when considering the great care taken in explaining some of its scientific basis in a very accessible way. In some passages the description of the environment could be a bit overwhelming, specially when the reader is eager to know what is happening next, however that helps to pause and better digest some the multiple twists of the story.

All in all, I highly enjoyed this novel and will pick the second volume very soon!