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Carrie Anne's World: An Odyssey through Space and Time
Mike O'Keefe arrives on the paradise island of Koh Tao only to be caught up in a terrorist attack by a radical environmental group. In a recurring dream, he encounters a mysterious young girl on a beach who cannot remember her past. She writes a message in the sand, 6 = 3, and begs him to help her find the "Saelak".
Dismissing the experience as the product of a fevered imagination, he settles into life on the island. But when the environmental threat ramps up and elements of his dream world begin bleeding into reality, Mike is propelled on a journey across time and space that must end in the destruction or salvation of Humanity.
Dismissing the experience as the product of a fevered imagination, he settles into life on the island. But when the environmental threat ramps up and elements of his dream world begin bleeding into reality, Mike is propelled on a journey across time and space that must end in the destruction or salvation of Humanity.
541 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2021
2 people want to read
About the author
Mark Whiteway
29 books50 followersMark Whiteway (1959- ) lives in rural West Sussex, England, near the former home of H G Wells. The Lodestone series of novels is built around the concept of negative matter-an extension of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 8, 2021
I received an arc copy trough BookSirens in exhange for an honest review.
Mike O'Keefe arrives on the paradise island of Koh Tao only to be caught up in a terrorist attack by a radical environmental group. In a recurring dream, he encounters a mysterious young girl on a beach who cannot remember her past. She writes a message in the sand, 6 = 3, and begs him to help her find the "Saelak".
Dismissing the experience as the product of a fevered imagination, he settles into life on the island. But when the environmental threat ramps up and elements of his dream world begin bleeding into reality, Mike is propelled on a journey across time and space that must end in the destruction or salvation of Humanity.
I think I can easily say there was a time in everyone’s life that we wondered what would happen if our dreams were an alternate reality. This is exactly what happened to Mike O’Keefe. It was so much more than just an alternate reality, it was a journey in time as well. That was the main thing that persuaded me to pick up the book. With such an interesting premise, if executed well, I expected it to be amazing. I can tell you it was.
The story is really fast paced and even though it’s a bit over 500 pages, there’s no long intro to it. You get the characters loosely introduced and right in the beginning, you get sucked into the story. The whole narrative is from Mike’s point of view but it switches from the real world to alternate world in different time (Carrie Anne’s world). All the characters are really interesting, some even heroic but each with their own set of flaws. Because of that, they all felt more real. The connection set up between Mike and Carrie Anne, who’s the girl he met in the alternate world, is really a genuine one and well written. It gave away a true sibling feeling. Since the characters were just loosely introduced in the beginning, you really get to know all of them through their journey in the story and are developed beautifully.
Another amazing thing about this book is the world building. Not so much the real world from which Mike is from, since it was based on real places in Thailand, but Carrie Anne’s world is something else. The imagination behind it was quite astounding, dealing with all the beauty and imagery. I could easily picture how it looked, even all the animals, and all the people and different creatures that lived there. It was written down to perfection.
The story also deals well with ongoing problems we’re facing as humanity at the moment: the pollution and global warming, which was included in the story quite well. It gives you a moment to think and deal with what might happen in the future.
It’s a pure blend of fantastical elements and sci-fi with reality. For those who enjoy their sci-fi taking place in space, this book might not be a great choice, but for everyone else who likes to explore new ideas behind it, I say give it a go. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Mike O'Keefe arrives on the paradise island of Koh Tao only to be caught up in a terrorist attack by a radical environmental group. In a recurring dream, he encounters a mysterious young girl on a beach who cannot remember her past. She writes a message in the sand, 6 = 3, and begs him to help her find the "Saelak".
Dismissing the experience as the product of a fevered imagination, he settles into life on the island. But when the environmental threat ramps up and elements of his dream world begin bleeding into reality, Mike is propelled on a journey across time and space that must end in the destruction or salvation of Humanity.
I think I can easily say there was a time in everyone’s life that we wondered what would happen if our dreams were an alternate reality. This is exactly what happened to Mike O’Keefe. It was so much more than just an alternate reality, it was a journey in time as well. That was the main thing that persuaded me to pick up the book. With such an interesting premise, if executed well, I expected it to be amazing. I can tell you it was.
The story is really fast paced and even though it’s a bit over 500 pages, there’s no long intro to it. You get the characters loosely introduced and right in the beginning, you get sucked into the story. The whole narrative is from Mike’s point of view but it switches from the real world to alternate world in different time (Carrie Anne’s world). All the characters are really interesting, some even heroic but each with their own set of flaws. Because of that, they all felt more real. The connection set up between Mike and Carrie Anne, who’s the girl he met in the alternate world, is really a genuine one and well written. It gave away a true sibling feeling. Since the characters were just loosely introduced in the beginning, you really get to know all of them through their journey in the story and are developed beautifully.
Another amazing thing about this book is the world building. Not so much the real world from which Mike is from, since it was based on real places in Thailand, but Carrie Anne’s world is something else. The imagination behind it was quite astounding, dealing with all the beauty and imagery. I could easily picture how it looked, even all the animals, and all the people and different creatures that lived there. It was written down to perfection.
The story also deals well with ongoing problems we’re facing as humanity at the moment: the pollution and global warming, which was included in the story quite well. It gives you a moment to think and deal with what might happen in the future.
It’s a pure blend of fantastical elements and sci-fi with reality. For those who enjoy their sci-fi taking place in space, this book might not be a great choice, but for everyone else who likes to explore new ideas behind it, I say give it a go. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
April 24, 2021
A mesmerizing story of love, humanity, and hope in the face of extinction. Mark Whiteway’s newest novel, Carrie Anne’s World, is a thrilling, action-packed speculative sci-fi adventure. The central character of the novel is Mike O’keefe, a young man heading to an environmental science institute for a volunteer position on Koh Tao. Almost as soon as he lands, Mike is caught in a terrorist attack by a radical environmental group. But this is only the beginning of the strange events happening around Mike. After the attack, he begins having peculiar dreams of a young girl asking for his help. As the edges between dream and reality begin to blur, the environmental dangers around Mike grow. Mike is thrust into a journey where not only the fate of himself and the little girl, Carrie Anne, are in grave danger, but the very fate of the world is at risk.
This non-stop exciting adventure is an intriguing and entertaining look at the possibilities that lie before us. While the science fiction elements of the story make it an engaging and sensational read, the questions it brings up about the consequences of global warming are relevant and important. These stakes give the story a powerful and thought-provoking layer that left me thinking about the story even after I had closed the book.
All of the characters in this book are interesting and full of depth. Mike worked well as someone with the conviction to act as the hero of the story, but I enjoyed the fact that he had his own flaws. For me, this made him feel much more real and allowed me to root for him with both excitement and stress as I watched to see if his latest idea worked or not. I also loved the relationship between him and Carrie Anne. It was really refreshing to see a novel that focused on a platonic relationship filled with trust and a protective older sibling nature. It was really sweet to watch the bond between the two of them grow stronger throughout the novel. The side characters like Clive, Surya, Erika, Barzaan, Amoon, and Arthur also all felt like fully developed characters with their own flaws and goals that existed outside of Mike and his story. All of the characters were complicated and thus felt like real people, making them appealing to read about.
Alongside the thrilling story and engaging characters, I also really loved the description in this book. I particularly loved the imagery created in Carrie Anne’s world. This atmosphere was created from the very beginning of the story when we are thrown headfirst in Carrie Anne’s way of viewing the world. It is so full of imagery, surreal imagination, and beauty. I could not help but be immediately entranced and could easily understand both Mike’s love of Carrie Anne as well as the way her world drew him in.
The balance created in this book between the fantastical and science elements wove together an impactful and fun read. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and would highly recommend it to speculative sci-fi readers!
This non-stop exciting adventure is an intriguing and entertaining look at the possibilities that lie before us. While the science fiction elements of the story make it an engaging and sensational read, the questions it brings up about the consequences of global warming are relevant and important. These stakes give the story a powerful and thought-provoking layer that left me thinking about the story even after I had closed the book.
All of the characters in this book are interesting and full of depth. Mike worked well as someone with the conviction to act as the hero of the story, but I enjoyed the fact that he had his own flaws. For me, this made him feel much more real and allowed me to root for him with both excitement and stress as I watched to see if his latest idea worked or not. I also loved the relationship between him and Carrie Anne. It was really refreshing to see a novel that focused on a platonic relationship filled with trust and a protective older sibling nature. It was really sweet to watch the bond between the two of them grow stronger throughout the novel. The side characters like Clive, Surya, Erika, Barzaan, Amoon, and Arthur also all felt like fully developed characters with their own flaws and goals that existed outside of Mike and his story. All of the characters were complicated and thus felt like real people, making them appealing to read about.
Alongside the thrilling story and engaging characters, I also really loved the description in this book. I particularly loved the imagery created in Carrie Anne’s world. This atmosphere was created from the very beginning of the story when we are thrown headfirst in Carrie Anne’s way of viewing the world. It is so full of imagery, surreal imagination, and beauty. I could not help but be immediately entranced and could easily understand both Mike’s love of Carrie Anne as well as the way her world drew him in.
The balance created in this book between the fantastical and science elements wove together an impactful and fun read. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and would highly recommend it to speculative sci-fi readers!
May 30, 2021
For fans of Michael Crichton and Stargate
Mike wants to spend his summer adding to his resume, and instead gets caught up in the actions of enviornmental terrorists by day and saving Carrie Anne in an alternate past of Earth by night.
Mike works with his new friends at the institute and Carrie Anne to save the world. I liked that Mike develops a protective sibling relationship with Carrie Anne. The action sequences were fast paced and carried the theme of environmental responsibility well. I also enjoyed the sense of closure and adventure at the end of the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mike wants to spend his summer adding to his resume, and instead gets caught up in the actions of enviornmental terrorists by day and saving Carrie Anne in an alternate past of Earth by night.
Mike works with his new friends at the institute and Carrie Anne to save the world. I liked that Mike develops a protective sibling relationship with Carrie Anne. The action sequences were fast paced and carried the theme of environmental responsibility well. I also enjoyed the sense of closure and adventure at the end of the book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 17, 2025
Carrie Anne’s World: An Odyssey Through Space and Time
In the “real” world, Mike has just arrived in Thailand to volunteer for a 3-month stint. The program that he is working under is focused on studying and reporting changes in the environment; particularly climate changes and the events that are causing them. All of the evidence points to an impending worldwide catastrophe due to global warming caused by irresponsible and greedy human behavior.
In his dreams, Mike and the mysterious Carrie Anne are working together to unravel the mystery of their shared dreamland, as well as the mysterious but wise voice that Carrie Anne alone can hear. When he dreams, he dreams of her plane where the Saelek and Korzkah are introduced to the story. These races from different times and places are critical in the journey ahead, although the Korzkah have a very different agenda than Mike or Carrie Anne.
When Carrie Anne dreams, she dreams of the end of all things.
Together, they must not only derive the meaning of the cryptic phrase “6=3”, but also discover a way to make governing bodies listen. These authorities are caught up in their politics and market price wars and are so far unwilling to make real, lasting changes in order to save the environment before it is too late to save the world.
Will these different races be able to work together to bring about the changes that must happen in order to save this world?
With the help of the lead characters in the story, there may be some hope for this world, but it is a harrowing journey filled with many losses. The enigmatic Carrie Anne develops into one of the most likable child characters I’ve ever read. With her ancient wisdom and her wistful childlike wonder, she is a genuine asset to the way the story is told.
Mike, while a much more straightforward character, has a delightful grasp on intercultural communication and a brave heart that wins him the loyalty of allies of all different races. His determination to keep those around him safe is typical of the ‘hero’ of the story, but his internal struggles to make the right choices are unique to Whiteway’s writing style.
Mark Whiteway continues to develop fascinating new worlds with equally fascinating characters. While his writing style is very straightforward, his storylines are woven and layered together with a true mastery of his genre!
In the “real” world, Mike has just arrived in Thailand to volunteer for a 3-month stint. The program that he is working under is focused on studying and reporting changes in the environment; particularly climate changes and the events that are causing them. All of the evidence points to an impending worldwide catastrophe due to global warming caused by irresponsible and greedy human behavior.
In his dreams, Mike and the mysterious Carrie Anne are working together to unravel the mystery of their shared dreamland, as well as the mysterious but wise voice that Carrie Anne alone can hear. When he dreams, he dreams of her plane where the Saelek and Korzkah are introduced to the story. These races from different times and places are critical in the journey ahead, although the Korzkah have a very different agenda than Mike or Carrie Anne.
When Carrie Anne dreams, she dreams of the end of all things.
Together, they must not only derive the meaning of the cryptic phrase “6=3”, but also discover a way to make governing bodies listen. These authorities are caught up in their politics and market price wars and are so far unwilling to make real, lasting changes in order to save the environment before it is too late to save the world.
Will these different races be able to work together to bring about the changes that must happen in order to save this world?
With the help of the lead characters in the story, there may be some hope for this world, but it is a harrowing journey filled with many losses. The enigmatic Carrie Anne develops into one of the most likable child characters I’ve ever read. With her ancient wisdom and her wistful childlike wonder, she is a genuine asset to the way the story is told.
Mike, while a much more straightforward character, has a delightful grasp on intercultural communication and a brave heart that wins him the loyalty of allies of all different races. His determination to keep those around him safe is typical of the ‘hero’ of the story, but his internal struggles to make the right choices are unique to Whiteway’s writing style.
Mark Whiteway continues to develop fascinating new worlds with equally fascinating characters. While his writing style is very straightforward, his storylines are woven and layered together with a true mastery of his genre!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews