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Intersecting Worlds #2
A Universe Disrupted
They thought they were done with the parallel universe. But it wasn’t done with them.
Billy Boustany had the adventure of a lifetime. Now, all he wants to do is to go back to the amazing universe he discovered. But the power brokers over there warned him to stay away and keep his mouth shut.
At the same time, Diyami Red Hawk, an idealistic young man from that universe has connected with Billy’s daughter and is on a mission to build a modern Native American city in our world. But he’s getting nowhere—until he finds support in unexpected places.
A plea for help from the other universe gives Billy his chance to return. He and his wife immerse themselves in the beauty and splendor of this odd, intriguing world. Then they encounter dark secrets lurking beneath its surface.
Billy, Diyami and their friends have to make the biggest decision of their lives, with the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance.
Billy Boustany had the adventure of a lifetime. Now, all he wants to do is to go back to the amazing universe he discovered. But the power brokers over there warned him to stay away and keep his mouth shut.
At the same time, Diyami Red Hawk, an idealistic young man from that universe has connected with Billy’s daughter and is on a mission to build a modern Native American city in our world. But he’s getting nowhere—until he finds support in unexpected places.
A plea for help from the other universe gives Billy his chance to return. He and his wife immerse themselves in the beauty and splendor of this odd, intriguing world. Then they encounter dark secrets lurking beneath its surface.
Billy, Diyami and their friends have to make the biggest decision of their lives, with the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance.
310 pages, ebook
Published September 6, 2022
62 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Eric von Schrader
4 books5 followersIn my career, I have made documentary films and produced television shows. I work as an instructional design consultant. I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent most of my life there. I have always been fascinated by the older parts of the city and their echoes of a lost world.
A few years ago, my wife and I moved to Carpinteria, California. I've always wanted to live by the ocean. Still, the neighborhoods and streets of St. Louis are etched deep into my brain.
A few years ago, my wife and I moved to Carpinteria, California. I've always wanted to live by the ocean. Still, the neighborhoods and streets of St. Louis are etched deep into my brain.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 13, 2022
What do you do once you’ve visited the HD and are forced to go back to SD and just don’t feel a part of it anymore? You struggle: with the day to day tedium of life and relationships. This is exactly what happens to the Boustany family…and the person they brought back with them. Diyami came back with them because he is tasked with establishing Cahokia is SD. While all of this is happening, one government tech has begun investigating unusual occurrences which may lead her directly to the Boustanys.
There is a lot going on in this story but truly enjoyed it. A surprise ending and looking forward to book 3!
There is a lot going on in this story but truly enjoyed it. A surprise ending and looking forward to book 3!
September 3, 2022
This book was better than the first. Come along on a wonderful, fast paced journey to build a new Cahokia. But how can it be done without the alternate world? Quite a few surprises. Of course, there are trials, disappointments and danger. Surprise ending. Well worth the read.
July 28, 2022
A Universe Disrupted is amazing storytelling that makes you feel like you are part of the story. Wish it was possible to visit HD Cahokia / St Louis. This has definite movie trilogy potential when you take the first two stories and the future third story and compile them together. I am so looking forward to the third book. Waiting with lots of anticipation. Bryan D
October 23, 2022
This is the sequel to A Universe Less Traveled, and is the second in what will be an ongoing series called Intersecting Worlds. Here, we once again join Billy Boustany and his wife Carol, their daughter Meredith and her Native American (from a parallel world) boyfriend Diyami Red Hawk. The doors had seemingly been closed at the end of the first book, and people were no longer able to cross back and forth between the St. Louis we know and the wild St. Louis variant in a world that diverged from ours back around 1904.
I think it's entirely possible to read this book without having read the first one, but it's a lot more fun if you start back there. Once you get here, you'll find that it's not so easy to convince the Native Americans of our reality to try to create some fabulous ultra-modern city of their own at Cahokia. You'll see that the Boustanys are moving into a rehab job at the old Pelican building just a few short blocks from my own home here in St. Louis. You'll meet an enthusiastic young mathematician who will play a major role in the story as it unfolds.
Once the crossing over starts again, the book really takes off as we see what's been happening with our old friend John who left our world for the other, and his girlfriend Leonora, who has to solve a major problem with the fancy electric-generating bricks which power everything over there. We get to visit several places in what Von Schrader dubs the HD St. Louis we haven't seen before, and hints that there are some structural divides between the rich and the non-rich we didn't know before. There is a crazed imaginary Water Festival that sounds to me like a nightmare, where everybody squirts each other for whole city blocks.
Meanwhile, back on our world, I actually appear on page 134, helping Leonora identify a Chuck Berry song, and buy some jazz CDs from Euclid Records. This is an eerie sort of thing that I've never done - read about myself in a novel. (Full disclosure - I've known Von Schrader for more than 35 years, and wrote a blurb for his first book and read an early draft of this one. Still, I wouldn't write anything about it if I didn't like it.)
Ideas jump out across the pages of this book, especially in the back half. It's a fast and breezy, highly entertaining read.
I think it's entirely possible to read this book without having read the first one, but it's a lot more fun if you start back there. Once you get here, you'll find that it's not so easy to convince the Native Americans of our reality to try to create some fabulous ultra-modern city of their own at Cahokia. You'll see that the Boustanys are moving into a rehab job at the old Pelican building just a few short blocks from my own home here in St. Louis. You'll meet an enthusiastic young mathematician who will play a major role in the story as it unfolds.
Once the crossing over starts again, the book really takes off as we see what's been happening with our old friend John who left our world for the other, and his girlfriend Leonora, who has to solve a major problem with the fancy electric-generating bricks which power everything over there. We get to visit several places in what Von Schrader dubs the HD St. Louis we haven't seen before, and hints that there are some structural divides between the rich and the non-rich we didn't know before. There is a crazed imaginary Water Festival that sounds to me like a nightmare, where everybody squirts each other for whole city blocks.
Meanwhile, back on our world, I actually appear on page 134, helping Leonora identify a Chuck Berry song, and buy some jazz CDs from Euclid Records. This is an eerie sort of thing that I've never done - read about myself in a novel. (Full disclosure - I've known Von Schrader for more than 35 years, and wrote a blurb for his first book and read an early draft of this one. Still, I wouldn't write anything about it if I didn't like it.)
Ideas jump out across the pages of this book, especially in the back half. It's a fast and breezy, highly entertaining read.
April 4, 2023
Okay.
I flip-flopped back and forth on what rating I should give this book. The concept of two overlaying worlds is extremely interesting! However, it's the execution that left me lukewarm.
Von Schrader created excellent characters that I did care about, most of the time. I found the story to be a bit dry in places, as well as the characters. Again, the concept is very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the idea, but, for me, it fell a bit flat. The build-up at the end, it should have led to something and instead, the conflict essentially dissipated. A few too many questions were left unanswered for me, and I found the ending dissatisfactory.
With all that said, if you are a scifi fan and find this premise interesting, I would still recommend this book. As previously stated, the characters are generally interesting and, if you like Native American history and lore (to an extent), this is, in my opinion, a good book for you.
All in all, I gave this book 3 stars because, while it did fall flat in places, overall, I found it an enjoyable reading experience.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
(POSTED FROM PREVIOUS ACCT)
I flip-flopped back and forth on what rating I should give this book. The concept of two overlaying worlds is extremely interesting! However, it's the execution that left me lukewarm.
Von Schrader created excellent characters that I did care about, most of the time. I found the story to be a bit dry in places, as well as the characters. Again, the concept is very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the idea, but, for me, it fell a bit flat. The build-up at the end, it should have led to something and instead, the conflict essentially dissipated. A few too many questions were left unanswered for me, and I found the ending dissatisfactory.
With all that said, if you are a scifi fan and find this premise interesting, I would still recommend this book. As previously stated, the characters are generally interesting and, if you like Native American history and lore (to an extent), this is, in my opinion, a good book for you.
All in all, I gave this book 3 stars because, while it did fall flat in places, overall, I found it an enjoyable reading experience.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
(POSTED FROM PREVIOUS ACCT)
July 26, 2022
I couldn't wait for a follow-up to Von Schrader's first book, "A Universe Less Traveled". That book was the most fun reading I did in 2020. The characters were just so well-drawn, and the plot was so engrossing, I wanted to inhale it in one sitting. The "HD" world that von Schrader built was so complex, wonderful and fascinating, I wanted to live in it. I hoped that there would be more coming, and I wasn't disappointed by "A Universe Disrupted". The characters are fleshed out even more, they are confronted with new, alarming challenges, and are given stark choices. Fascinating new players are introduced -villains, and loveable new players in the ever-evolving web. The plot plays out without the use of magic, or other gimmicks - it's believable, and carries you along nicely. I enjoyed this read so much, I've recommended it to my best pals who appreciate the opportunity of diving into a whole new world.
May 24, 2022
A UNIVERSE DISRUPTED follows Eric von Schrader's first book, A UNIVERSE LESS TRAVELED, in his series "Intersecting Worlds." A UNIVERSE DISRUPTED is an interesting, fun read. The author has crafted a stronger, more layered book this time; there's more going on. Written like a mystery, each new bit - whether character, comment, event or whatever - hooked me into turning more pages. I only wish this 2nd volume included more than the very brief overview of Volume One that is offered. A more detailed summary/explanation of the first book could help the reader jump into DISRUPTED more quickly. Reading the beginning of DISRUPTED felt unsettling because I kept having to rebuild what was going on. Readers may want to re-read or at least review LESS TRAVELED to most fully enjoy DISRUPTED - it's worth it!
September 6, 2022
Juxtaposing worlds just got creepier
I just finished the previous book (A Universe Less Travelled), so the storyline is fresh in my mind.
This book adds some IRL surveillance and conspiracy – reminiscent of Big Brother et al. Where should government agencies draw the line at ‘national security’ measures? How should government agencies define ‘national security’ threats?
Where should citizens draw the line at compliance? How far should citizens take the concept of individual freedom?
Gotta love it when people say this is easier than asking permission:
‘We’ll beg forgiveness for the unauthorized search.’
I appreciated how the author brought in the local landmarks (my dad grew up in the StL metro and the vast majority of his family still lives and works there) as well as the cultural history (my uncle once took me to see Cahokia). I spent sooo much time on Google Maps and the internet!
Also, the author compared/contrasted the Standard Definition’s (SD) mores to/with the High Definition (HD). This brings up many questions about how we view our roles in life (including from a socio-economic standpoint):
Do “white culture” movies like ‘Dancing with Wolves’ accurately depict Native American life? Are we doing anything to improve on that?
Reservation casinos – positive results or negative influence? How are we dealing with the aftermath?
Are we using eco-friendly fuels?
Why do people live segregated by color and/or income?
Etc.
This book is sooo much more than an alternative history to read for pleasure.
I just finished the previous book (A Universe Less Travelled), so the storyline is fresh in my mind.
This book adds some IRL surveillance and conspiracy – reminiscent of Big Brother et al. Where should government agencies draw the line at ‘national security’ measures? How should government agencies define ‘national security’ threats?
Where should citizens draw the line at compliance? How far should citizens take the concept of individual freedom?
Gotta love it when people say this is easier than asking permission:
‘We’ll beg forgiveness for the unauthorized search.’
I appreciated how the author brought in the local landmarks (my dad grew up in the StL metro and the vast majority of his family still lives and works there) as well as the cultural history (my uncle once took me to see Cahokia). I spent sooo much time on Google Maps and the internet!
Also, the author compared/contrasted the Standard Definition’s (SD) mores to/with the High Definition (HD). This brings up many questions about how we view our roles in life (including from a socio-economic standpoint):
Do “white culture” movies like ‘Dancing with Wolves’ accurately depict Native American life? Are we doing anything to improve on that?
Reservation casinos – positive results or negative influence? How are we dealing with the aftermath?
Are we using eco-friendly fuels?
Why do people live segregated by color and/or income?
Etc.
This book is sooo much more than an alternative history to read for pleasure.
December 15, 2023
I absolutely loved this series
I've always enjoyed stories where the "everyman/woman" finds something extraordinary--- powers, time travel, aliens, alternate or parallel dimensions. The characters here are fantastic. Great ideas and depictions of an alternative St. Louis -- vibrant descriptions and excellent action scenes and situations. I can't recommend these books enough. Anxiously awaiting #3.
I've always enjoyed stories where the "everyman/woman" finds something extraordinary--- powers, time travel, aliens, alternate or parallel dimensions. The characters here are fantastic. Great ideas and depictions of an alternative St. Louis -- vibrant descriptions and excellent action scenes and situations. I can't recommend these books enough. Anxiously awaiting #3.
July 17, 2022
Von Schrader’s second installment is strongly plot driven. The glitter of High Def (HD) Saint Louis gets more tarnished. Each of the alternate realities has it’s unique shortcomings. The power of family units, bridging these two worlds, and their close friends to overcome challenges scientific, human, natural and man made is most hopeful. A fun weekend read.
Read
August 4, 2022Superb read. Great compliment to your favorite beverage and great way to start and/or end a day. Pure relaxation.
The intersecting universes present an interesting format that the author employs for presenting a world that could be, a world that is, and the upsides and downsides of both universes. Look forward to the next episode.
The intersecting universes present an interesting format that the author employs for presenting a world that could be, a world that is, and the upsides and downsides of both universes. Look forward to the next episode.
June 2, 2024
Four stars because...
This one was almost as much cloak and dagger as it was world-building. The author is a dab hand at the latter, not so great at the former. It served its purpose -- and the inevitable comeuppance was spot on -- but it was mostly a distraction. A fun read, regardless!
This one was almost as much cloak and dagger as it was world-building. The author is a dab hand at the latter, not so great at the former. It served its purpose -- and the inevitable comeuppance was spot on -- but it was mostly a distraction. A fun read, regardless!
November 15, 2022
The concept of these books is very interesting and the story is pretty decent. The writing could use some improvement but overall worth having read. I can not say I would run around trying to get people to read them though.
December 5, 2022
I enjoyed the premise and world-building of the first book, but this installment fell flat. Interesting bits and pieces throughout but buried in storylines that were ultimately inconsequential or didn't add much. 2.5 stars.
Read it because:
Enjoyed the first book in this series
Read it because:
Enjoyed the first book in this series
November 18, 2025
I can’t wait to read the final book in the trilogy. Such a fun read. The writing keeps the story moving with a lot of over technical sci-fi mumbo-jumbo. It’s a great story and a really fun read.
January 3, 2026
A Universe Disrupted 2
Another good book, but did not hold the suspense of the first. I guess that is hard to do. I will probably go to the next one, though.
Another good book, but did not hold the suspense of the first. I guess that is hard to do. I will probably go to the next one, though.
July 19, 2025
This is a really boring follow-up to the first book. In a lot of ways it's a rinse & repeat. NO ONE can keep a secret. They ALL feel entitled to access a world they have zero business in. The characters aren't very likeable in the first book and less so in this one. I will not be continuing on with Book 3. Diyami Red Hawk has to be one of the most one dimensional characters I've read in a long time. It's just painful to read his character.
September 9, 2022
Eric von Schrader’s sequel to A Universe Less Traveled, A Universe Disrupted expands on Billy Boustany’s once in a lifetime adventure as he, his family and friends, uncover secret passageways between SC and HD St. Louis and soon discover the dangerous forces lurking behind the scenes in both worlds. Filled with memorable characters and even more memorable inventions, Eric’s story draws the reader into a not-so-implausible world of possibilities, where good triumphs and understanding is the norm, especially when Native American history and ingenuity take center stage. It’s part thriller, part mystery, but most of all, a fast and appealing read. Can’t wait for another sequel. More, Mr. von Schrader, more!
Kim Block
Kim Block
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews