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A Traveler from an Antique Land
Mix one shot of George R. R. Martin with one shot of Robert A. Heinlein for a potent cocktail of epic battles, thrilling adventures, non-stop action, and astonishing marvels!
When a young woman is whisked away to a planet populated by kidnapped humans and strange extraterrestrials, she faces perilous swordfights, flying battleships, mind-controlling alien lifeforms, crocodiles with wings, snakes that devour horses, an extinct race that communicates through its singing sculptures, an "uncertainty sink" that warps time, an interplanetary translocator guided by disembodied human brains, a gloomy castle seething with secrets, and labyrinthine catacombs filled with deadly assassins.
When a young woman is whisked away to a planet populated by kidnapped humans and strange extraterrestrials, she faces perilous swordfights, flying battleships, mind-controlling alien lifeforms, crocodiles with wings, snakes that devour horses, an extinct race that communicates through its singing sculptures, an "uncertainty sink" that warps time, an interplanetary translocator guided by disembodied human brains, a gloomy castle seething with secrets, and labyrinthine catacombs filled with deadly assassins.
286 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2018
15 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Harvey Click
8 books49 followersHarvey Click earned an M.A. in English from Ohio State University, using his first novel as a master's thesis. He has written six other novels, four of them in the horror genre, and two collections of short horror stories. He has taught both English and creative writing for Ohio University, Ohio State University, the James Thurber House, and OSU's Creative Arts Program.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 9, 2019
In my earliest days of reading, I began with the sci fi classics from series greats Heinlein and Asimov. That’s a bit what Harvey Click’s A Traveler from an Antique Land reminds me of. After getting kidnapped and being brought to an alien world, Mary is in for a healthy dose of adventure. I loved the discovery aspect of this book. Around every corner was a singing statue, a strange alien, or a basement full of assassins. It was exciting flipping ahead to see what would pop out and Click’s writing brings it all to life marvelously! This is a fun read for any sci fi lovers out there, both classic and contemporary!
June 29, 2018
This book reads more like a movie, a wild, hitch-hiker's guide through a crazy alternative world...or is it another planet? It makes frequent vague and not-so-vague allusions to seminal sci-fi/fantasy works - like an invisible book-bunny dropped random-fandom easter eggs in each chapter. You'll hevae to read it to see if you can spot the bunny tracks, yourselves - no spoilers! The action and pacing are in fifth gear, but there is heavy dialogue throughout, making up 75-80% of the total content. This is not my personal preference in a novel; however, the characters have such strong personalities and voices that "eaves-dropping" on their conversations, as it were, remains amusing and engaging, throughout. It seems destined for a sequel, and if it were to become a series, it's a sure bet that it would just keep getting better and better. "Vivid", "ribald", and "space princess" all come to mind in what I would describe as high adventure, reminiscent of Heavy Metal magazine at its height. I loved it.
October 5, 2020
Love the title, the characters, the Shelly quotes, the surprises--fantastic story! Horror-Meister Harvey Click takes a stab at Science Fiction, and wow, oh wow, does he spin a great tale!
There's a secondary character I fell in love with from his first appearance, but--dang! Spoilers! Always, I'm accused of spoilers. I don't know how to write about this fantastic story, other than to say those we expect the least of can surprise us the most.
Harvey Click is a college professor, a writing teache. His prose is flawless, his stories spellbinding. This is his first science fiction vs **Horror** - and you know he's a master storyteller if he can get me to read horror! See my 5-star review of "The Bad Box" if you think I exaggerate.
"The story poured out of me like silvery light from a full moon," he writes. Readers will find themselves immersed in the silvery enchantment of clashing swords, epic battles, thrilling adventures, non-stop action, and astonishing marvels in a strange world called Notearth.
He captivated me! Held me hostage with great prose.
The heroine's mother is a piece of work. But then, a lot of mothers are awful, right?
The opening pages are riveting: a young college co-ed is swept from Earth to a new planet, called Notearth. Her abductors become her escorts, allies, and even buddies, though not one of them seems at all trustworthy.
There's an interesting contrast between those in power who have *power* (as in electrical power, not just political), while those who have been vanquished must live without electricity or machinery.
This is public domain now, so I urge you to read Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" - source of the title:
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies....
.... on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
----------------------------
I'm not doing justice to this novel, but I hope you'll buy it (or at least download a sample chapter)
and see for yourself!
~ DESMOND Desmond DESMOND ~
And that's all I dare to say about that.
There's a secondary character I fell in love with from his first appearance, but--dang! Spoilers! Always, I'm accused of spoilers. I don't know how to write about this fantastic story, other than to say those we expect the least of can surprise us the most.
Harvey Click is a college professor, a writing teache. His prose is flawless, his stories spellbinding. This is his first science fiction vs **Horror** - and you know he's a master storyteller if he can get me to read horror! See my 5-star review of "The Bad Box" if you think I exaggerate.
"The story poured out of me like silvery light from a full moon," he writes. Readers will find themselves immersed in the silvery enchantment of clashing swords, epic battles, thrilling adventures, non-stop action, and astonishing marvels in a strange world called Notearth.
He captivated me! Held me hostage with great prose.
The heroine's mother is a piece of work. But then, a lot of mothers are awful, right?
The opening pages are riveting: a young college co-ed is swept from Earth to a new planet, called Notearth. Her abductors become her escorts, allies, and even buddies, though not one of them seems at all trustworthy.
There's an interesting contrast between those in power who have *power* (as in electrical power, not just political), while those who have been vanquished must live without electricity or machinery.
This is public domain now, so I urge you to read Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias" - source of the title:
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies....
.... on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
----------------------------
I'm not doing justice to this novel, but I hope you'll buy it (or at least download a sample chapter)
and see for yourself!
~ DESMOND Desmond DESMOND ~
And that's all I dare to say about that.
June 7, 2018
A Traveler from an Antique Land is an interesting read written by Harvey Click. I admit, I am a fan of this author and have read most of his book to date, so naturally I had to read this book as well. This is very different from every book I have read to do from him and it is more a science fiction book with an medial feel to it, and I find it worked. It is definitely different and unique from all the books I have read to date, which is always a huge plus in my book. It had a great flow to it and it seemed there was always something happening keeping me glued to the pages. The plot was very well thought through and the author hid some nice twists within the story that he slowly unraveled on his terms. The pace of the book was just right, never rushed nor did it ever feel like the story was dragging out. The author came up with a complete new world depicting it beautifully and making it come alive in my own imagination, just perfect!
Mary is a very interesting character and has quite the tale to tell. She has a lot thrown at her and thankfully was raised in a way that was somewhat supportive of it all. She had a very steep learning curve ahead of her but did amazingly well. Thankfully she was accompanied by a great group that helped her through her interesting trials on "Notearth". There was a ton of character development that went into her, but quite frankly I expect no less from this author. There were a few more interesting characters and some I did not care for, but I wasn't supposed to so that all worked out well.
This book was definitely not what I expected and I truly enjoyed this book! If you are looking for a well written and unique book that is different from your every day science fiction bore, this one should be on your list!
Mary is a very interesting character and has quite the tale to tell. She has a lot thrown at her and thankfully was raised in a way that was somewhat supportive of it all. She had a very steep learning curve ahead of her but did amazingly well. Thankfully she was accompanied by a great group that helped her through her interesting trials on "Notearth". There was a ton of character development that went into her, but quite frankly I expect no less from this author. There were a few more interesting characters and some I did not care for, but I wasn't supposed to so that all worked out well.
This book was definitely not what I expected and I truly enjoyed this book! If you are looking for a well written and unique book that is different from your every day science fiction bore, this one should be on your list!
July 14, 2018
A TRAVELER FROM AN ANTIQUE LAND is an unusual book to say the least. It is a well-written book that will mean different things to different readers and is a fine example of escapist speculative fiction. To some, it will be an alien abduction; to others, it will be allegory for the evils of exploitation of the 'other.' The current political climate in our world today is fraught with the us and them rhetoric. The climate in the book is not written to raise your indignation. It is more understated. Perhaps the most disturbing factor is the suggestion of mind control with wide reaching goals.
One of the alien species is the Katooloo. If you are like me, when you come across such a name, you sound it out in your head. I've read enough Lovecraft to be immediately struck by the phonetic similarity to Cthulhu. Is this alien race an homage to the Elder Gods? Funny how the mind works.
I was most impressed with the complexity of the plot. Kudos to the author who can create a world, let's call it Notearth, populate it with all manner of beast, and stage epic battles without confusing the reader. Harvey Click is that author. It takes real skill to write a totally outlandish narrative that also totally suspends disbelief. There is also quite enough humor to go around. It's not belly laugh out loud humor but a more subtle use of recognizable names or places or events within the context of story as in Luigi Borgia, the assassin.
TRAVELER is a first person narrative, a diary, if you will, of one young woman's experience being that "traveler from an antique land."
One of the alien species is the Katooloo. If you are like me, when you come across such a name, you sound it out in your head. I've read enough Lovecraft to be immediately struck by the phonetic similarity to Cthulhu. Is this alien race an homage to the Elder Gods? Funny how the mind works.
I was most impressed with the complexity of the plot. Kudos to the author who can create a world, let's call it Notearth, populate it with all manner of beast, and stage epic battles without confusing the reader. Harvey Click is that author. It takes real skill to write a totally outlandish narrative that also totally suspends disbelief. There is also quite enough humor to go around. It's not belly laugh out loud humor but a more subtle use of recognizable names or places or events within the context of story as in Luigi Borgia, the assassin.
TRAVELER is a first person narrative, a diary, if you will, of one young woman's experience being that "traveler from an antique land."
October 24, 2023
There is a sense of familiarity in the way the author uses his words. It reminds me greatly of early sci-fi tales we have all come to know. I find the author might need a few more books to expand the universe further, as I just somewhat feel it is slightly empty without a sequel. But this is a solid tale from start to end.
I can confidently tell you this will be a sci-fi experience you'll never forget.
-Pointy Hats Reviews
I can confidently tell you this will be a sci-fi experience you'll never forget.
-Pointy Hats Reviews
August 1, 2020
The narrator's voice gives the whole book a classical feel while enthralling you with intrigue and suspense. Beware of amazing cliffhangers!
Read
March 11, 2021A young woman is transported to another world and must fight to defend Earth from alien body-snatchers.
The setup is cliche young adult portal fantasy: young Mary is packed off unceremoniously to a strange new world, where she finds out she’s a Queen’s daughter sent to Earth as a baby (for reasons). Refreshingly, though, this is more science fiction than fantasy (although it may well appeal to fantasy readers too) and it doesn’t play on the usual wish-fulfillment themes. The family reunion’s far from sentimental, there’s little romance, and the whole thing’s a bit more mature than young adult.
The fast-paced adventure plot, told with a nice sense of humour, tours through a rather interesting world loaded with inventive detail. It’s well-written and edited with few errors. The only thing letting the story down is that the protagonist is pretty much passive, witnessing the events, not making things happen. Despite that, this is a very readable and enjoyable story.
Expect a very high body count and some sexual references.
The setup is cliche young adult portal fantasy: young Mary is packed off unceremoniously to a strange new world, where she finds out she’s a Queen’s daughter sent to Earth as a baby (for reasons). Refreshingly, though, this is more science fiction than fantasy (although it may well appeal to fantasy readers too) and it doesn’t play on the usual wish-fulfillment themes. The family reunion’s far from sentimental, there’s little romance, and the whole thing’s a bit more mature than young adult.
The fast-paced adventure plot, told with a nice sense of humour, tours through a rather interesting world loaded with inventive detail. It’s well-written and edited with few errors. The only thing letting the story down is that the protagonist is pretty much passive, witnessing the events, not making things happen. Despite that, this is a very readable and enjoyable story.
Expect a very high body count and some sexual references.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews