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The Light of Our Yesterdays
As a U.S. Homeland Security investigator becomes ensnared in a thicket of terrorist puzzles and codes unraveling his troubled past, his counterpart in a parallel Earth without Christianity experiences strange visions of our world after meeting a charismatic preacher with a new message of peace and forgiveness. The two men wade through intolerance, hatred and terrorism while struggling with their own skepticism as a growing connection between them unwittingly leads toward destruction, redemption, or both.
In our world, Chris Huxley, a former Catholic altar boy who has lost his faith, must decipher a series of clever codes hidden as contacts in a dead Islamic terrorist’s cell phone. The puzzles toy with his past and take him through an odyssey of religious and historical sites as he hunts for the Ghost Leopard, a terrorist who may have a Vatican connection. As one of the terrorists vacillates over the dictates of his Islamic faith, Huxley is also forced to confront his own beliefs in the midst of troubling echoes from the parallel world.
In the parallel world dominated by Muslim empires, Tomadus, a prominent Romani technologist and merchant, experiences an intense flash of light when he meets the charismatic preacher, Isa, who has attracted both Islamic and Jewish followers. Trying to follow his inner “creature” and further confused by his ongoing visions, Tomadus befriends a downtrodden and disillusioned democratic terrorist, begins following Isa despite his ongoing disbelief, and seeks help from First Consul of Roma, a powerful mediator of emperors, who encourages him to keep tabs on the new preacher. As Tomadus tries to understand the source and nature of his visions and the world they represent, he becomes increasingly bent on saving his new friends and his world. But in the end, it may be Tomadus who needs saving.
In our world, Chris Huxley, a former Catholic altar boy who has lost his faith, must decipher a series of clever codes hidden as contacts in a dead Islamic terrorist’s cell phone. The puzzles toy with his past and take him through an odyssey of religious and historical sites as he hunts for the Ghost Leopard, a terrorist who may have a Vatican connection. As one of the terrorists vacillates over the dictates of his Islamic faith, Huxley is also forced to confront his own beliefs in the midst of troubling echoes from the parallel world.
In the parallel world dominated by Muslim empires, Tomadus, a prominent Romani technologist and merchant, experiences an intense flash of light when he meets the charismatic preacher, Isa, who has attracted both Islamic and Jewish followers. Trying to follow his inner “creature” and further confused by his ongoing visions, Tomadus befriends a downtrodden and disillusioned democratic terrorist, begins following Isa despite his ongoing disbelief, and seeks help from First Consul of Roma, a powerful mediator of emperors, who encourages him to keep tabs on the new preacher. As Tomadus tries to understand the source and nature of his visions and the world they represent, he becomes increasingly bent on saving his new friends and his world. But in the end, it may be Tomadus who needs saving.
704 pages, Paperback
Published February 21, 2019
40 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Ken Hansen
1 book23 followersKen Hansen is now a writer, pilot, biker, woodworker and occasional scuba diver but never again attorney. Though he majored in political science at the University of Wisconsin and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law, his early political naiveté took him to a lobbying law firm in Washington, DC, where he discovered a few too many ugly truths. Turning his ambitions toward more productive endeavors, he ultimately served as VP & General Counsel of Epic Systems Corporation, a health care software company that grew much larger than he ever thought possible. He retired in 2013 to once again explore that seemingly simple question posed so many years ago in a philosophy class: “Why?” Luckily, his incredibly patient wife of thirty years, who helped him raise three great kids, keeps asking him, “Why not?”
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 18, 2019
This book was on one hand, a homeland agent working against time to solve an intricate puzzle to virtually save the world. On the other hand, it was the story of a rebellion in an post-apocalyptic world. The story was very well thought out, with timelines and everything in the appendix, which was pretty cool (and reminiscent of LOtR). Unfortunately, there was a lot of language, which kept jarring me out of the story.
Still, if you want a brainy thriller with two timelines, this is the book for you!
I received a copy of this book from the author, and the opinions are my own.
Still, if you want a brainy thriller with two timelines, this is the book for you!
I received a copy of this book from the author, and the opinions are my own.
May 14, 2021
Wow, what a wonderful novel. Brilliant! Just read it!
June 29, 2019
This book was well-written. It had a great “time-travel” idea. Excellent world building. The author is a great writer. I was very excited to read it. I have only two problems with it. The first is the whole reincarnation/rebirth of Jesus was disturbing to me. The second was that it was extremely long. I might have liked it better just a tad less detailed. Overall a pretty good book.
April 24, 2019
Ken Hansen’s debut novel is a fascinating mystery thriller that is embedded within deeper philosophical and theological questions. The story takes place among two parallel timelines. One timeline is 21st century AD in which Christian Huxley, a U.S. Homeland Security investor, is the main character. The second timeline is an alternative history in which Christianity never existed and in which Tomadus, a technologist and merchant, is the main character. It is a long book but a very fast read as Mr. Hansen is able to create mystery and tension that resembles a Dan Brown thriller. Mr. Hansen does a masterful job of creating an alternative history and weaving both timelines together. Beyond the mystery thriller aspects, the book addresses deep philosophical and religious questions of purpose and meaning. Overall, I highly recommend this book.
July 19, 2019
This novel reminds me of a huge box put in front of me at a Christmas gift exchange. When I open the box, inside are dozens and dozens of smaller gifts. Some gifts are thought provoking, some funny, some confusing, some very serious; but all chosen for just the right reason. Some packages are hard to unwrap with lots of layers to peel away before getting to the essence of the gift. At the bottom of the huge box I eventually have one remaining gift. It is a bittersweet moment. Then I realize all of my time and effort opening each of these gifts was worth every minute of my time. Open and read this novel written by Ken Hansen. You will not be disappointed.
May 23, 2019
This novel has a very interesting, creative, and yet realistic story line. A story line with a message that is as old as life itself and one that should be the inner guidance for all to follow.
Definitely add this book to your "read soon" list.
Definitely add this book to your "read soon" list.
July 3, 2019
Okay, Ken Hansen's The Light of Our Yesterdays novel is a contemporary/future mash-up. Two worlds of humanity run in different universes. Fine and good. But what does one have to do with the other?
Enter US Homeland Security Agent Chris Huxley who combats a Middle Eastern terrorist crisis when an explosion erupts in Israel. He does what he does in tracking the culprit across the globe including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Italy. Among a huge cast of characters, he meets Sonatina D'Amare, a Vatican Museums Deputy Director. They flirt, they pass along critical information, and they exchange feelings of deep emotion over the course of the investigation. Speaking of investigation, it gets a little complex with a phone list of names, numbers and later a poem that may hold the keys to catching the terrorist element responsible for the incident.
Hansen introduces the Ghost Leopard. Who is he? If he did it what was the purpose? Did he act alone or does he represent some terrorist group? What does he want?
Great start.
Then the story kicks into this alternate world following one group of people known as the Demoseps seen as freedom fighters to some and terrorists to others. Led by Yohanan, they have a plan to overthrow the reigning government authorities via violence in efforts to lead to a better life for his people.
These are but two points of view characters in the story. In today’s world, war hero Afghan Abdul Saboor Anwari who assisted US forces in their Middle East battles with America's enemies and Huxley's friend, and D'Amare to a degree. In the alternate world, Tomadus, a technologist of Roma and Jochi, Yohanan's sister.
I didn't want to reveal too much but just give a bare-bones description of the plot and a few characters.
Here's the crux: The worlds' events run parallel to one another and similarities emerge. Something unites them, but what? For that, read The Light of Our Yesterdays.
Here were my challenges. I locked into the Huxley/D'Amare contemporary story more than the alternate world one with Yohanan/Tomadus. The latter grew on me the further into the tale I read. Hansen has a lot to say but maybe too much in spots. I recall one chapter where Huxley talked to an elderly priest on a train that took up some thirty-five pages of dialogue and reflection. Wow. That's a lot in my book.
So, the thriller aspect, which both worlds depicted, didn't jive with the more literary bent of the alternate world. Lots of characters espouse biblical and philosophical ideas and ideals. Though spiritual and intellectual, they slowed down the read. I felt after a time the intricate puzzles Huxley attempted to unravel read so complex I disengaged and waited for him to discover the answers. Hansen wrote Huxley had that kind of mind and I believe the author does too. Too much to me.
I didn't care for the structure either. Readers spend a certain amount of time in one world and then jump to the other one for a time. This was a big book and maybe these types of mash-ups require such length. I think Hansen has two books here and with the craft and talent on display, could tie two books together. Start with either as Book One that ties into Book Two then connect plot points to remind readers of the prior story or hint at the readers about the ensuing one.
Last but far from least this is an R rated read. That stunned me. Considering the subject (terrorism) and to that effect that's why Hansen wrote it that way, I would have expected to read little to none of it. Most offensive was the three instances of God's name taken in the worst vain. I always ask myself when reading or viewing fiction stories if the profanities are necessary? In most instances, the story doesn't need them. In this TV age, the FCC has fallen asleep at the switch with the reality TV bleeps and the dreaded TV-MA designation. It's a disappointment to read it within this story. Consider this a head's up to readers in this group and all otherwise.
Hansen is without question a talented writer with much to say and says it well. If he insists and persists to write longer books, to some this wasn’t, then perhaps create two volumes instead of one next time if the story permits.
Enter US Homeland Security Agent Chris Huxley who combats a Middle Eastern terrorist crisis when an explosion erupts in Israel. He does what he does in tracking the culprit across the globe including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Italy. Among a huge cast of characters, he meets Sonatina D'Amare, a Vatican Museums Deputy Director. They flirt, they pass along critical information, and they exchange feelings of deep emotion over the course of the investigation. Speaking of investigation, it gets a little complex with a phone list of names, numbers and later a poem that may hold the keys to catching the terrorist element responsible for the incident.
Hansen introduces the Ghost Leopard. Who is he? If he did it what was the purpose? Did he act alone or does he represent some terrorist group? What does he want?
Great start.
Then the story kicks into this alternate world following one group of people known as the Demoseps seen as freedom fighters to some and terrorists to others. Led by Yohanan, they have a plan to overthrow the reigning government authorities via violence in efforts to lead to a better life for his people.
These are but two points of view characters in the story. In today’s world, war hero Afghan Abdul Saboor Anwari who assisted US forces in their Middle East battles with America's enemies and Huxley's friend, and D'Amare to a degree. In the alternate world, Tomadus, a technologist of Roma and Jochi, Yohanan's sister.
I didn't want to reveal too much but just give a bare-bones description of the plot and a few characters.
Here's the crux: The worlds' events run parallel to one another and similarities emerge. Something unites them, but what? For that, read The Light of Our Yesterdays.
Here were my challenges. I locked into the Huxley/D'Amare contemporary story more than the alternate world one with Yohanan/Tomadus. The latter grew on me the further into the tale I read. Hansen has a lot to say but maybe too much in spots. I recall one chapter where Huxley talked to an elderly priest on a train that took up some thirty-five pages of dialogue and reflection. Wow. That's a lot in my book.
So, the thriller aspect, which both worlds depicted, didn't jive with the more literary bent of the alternate world. Lots of characters espouse biblical and philosophical ideas and ideals. Though spiritual and intellectual, they slowed down the read. I felt after a time the intricate puzzles Huxley attempted to unravel read so complex I disengaged and waited for him to discover the answers. Hansen wrote Huxley had that kind of mind and I believe the author does too. Too much to me.
I didn't care for the structure either. Readers spend a certain amount of time in one world and then jump to the other one for a time. This was a big book and maybe these types of mash-ups require such length. I think Hansen has two books here and with the craft and talent on display, could tie two books together. Start with either as Book One that ties into Book Two then connect plot points to remind readers of the prior story or hint at the readers about the ensuing one.
Last but far from least this is an R rated read. That stunned me. Considering the subject (terrorism) and to that effect that's why Hansen wrote it that way, I would have expected to read little to none of it. Most offensive was the three instances of God's name taken in the worst vain. I always ask myself when reading or viewing fiction stories if the profanities are necessary? In most instances, the story doesn't need them. In this TV age, the FCC has fallen asleep at the switch with the reality TV bleeps and the dreaded TV-MA designation. It's a disappointment to read it within this story. Consider this a head's up to readers in this group and all otherwise.
Hansen is without question a talented writer with much to say and says it well. If he insists and persists to write longer books, to some this wasn’t, then perhaps create two volumes instead of one next time if the story permits.
September 20, 2019
This book was so many things! Twisted, fascinating, thought-provoking, bizarre and suspenseful. I found myself really questioning various things. How many cover-ups happen, what if we lived in a world without Christianity, could we really survive in a post-apocalyptic world? The author dives you into one parallel universe to the other and you begin to see the melding of the two universes in how similar things can be. Not only that but the incredible knowledge base that it must have taken the author to delve into in order to create this absolute crazy fascinating thriller. It's very well written and I enjoyed it. The only downside I would say is at times I was overwhelmed by the information. Well done!
January 16, 2021
Hard to get through because of organization - initially alternated between timelines in very large chunks of text which had little obvious connection - hints, not solid info - and too much philosophy (which ripped apart the plot). Later the timelines were juxtaposed more often, with more specific timeline connections, but by then I'd put it down so many times it was difficult to reconnect. If you are not Christian, Muslim or Jewish, I wonder if the symbology and metaphors would work. The terrorism plot was too watered down by the rest of the story. Neither good science-fiction timeline or thriller for me.
February 21, 2020
Events of parallel earths where one has not yet experienced Christianity and chasing terrorists in the other. What’s not to like? A few things as it turns out. Mostly the extraordinary long and tedious working out the puzzle in the race to avert catastrophic disaster. Also, while I enjoy good spiritual discussions, even for me they seemed to drone on. I wanted to like this book, but the tedium was too much to overcome.
gave-up-on
February 13, 2020At the outset, more complex than I want to deal with at the moment. Maybe I'll come back to this one story as it does look very interesting.
March 1, 2020
I couldn't finish this. I got to 51% and I just don't care what happens to these people. It is too confusing trying to figure out what is going on with both sets of people. I give up.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews