“Prophets don’t descend from the skies, Jack. They rise from among us.”
With these words, Robert Reisler seems to sum up the central theme of his sprawling debut novel. An apocalyptic thriller that spans hundreds of pages and thousands of years, the author makes a strong case that if and when a climactic battle between good and evil happens, it won’t be a knight in shining armor who saves the world — it’ll be your next door neighbor in jeans and a t-shirt.
Weaving together an extraordinary collection of historical events (including The Battle of Little Big Horn) and disparate characters led by a stolid archaeologist and his enthusiastic security guard sidekick, Reisler takes readers on an epic adventure tale that’s equal parts H.G. Wells, Indiana Jones, and “The Walking Dead.” Reisler effortlessly moves between past, present, and future — often eradicating the boundaries between them so that characters from different centuries are able to interact. To summarize the plot would be nearly impossible, but most of Reisler’s story centers on the discovery of a quartet of ancient (…or are they?) scrolls and the twisted roadmap they provide when the forces of evil begin to take over the world.
Interpolating real-life events/people in a work of fiction is a risk for an author, often serving more as a gimmick than an effective storytelling tool. In the case of this novel, the gamble pays off, thanks mainly to Reisler’s confidence as a writer. There’s a palpable enthusiasm to his work here — a genuine excitement — which adds much-needed buoyancy to the densely-plotted novel and helps sell even the most fantastic plot twists.
Although by design it leaves readers with more questions than answers, THE FOUR MYTHS is a satisfying, engaging novel filled with vivid scenery, likable characters, and thoughtful discussions about the basic nature of humanity. In Robert Reisler’s world, there are heroes among us; they may not be the saviors we expect, but when the time comes, they’ll be more than up to the task.