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The Last Relicuin
In the 22nd century, twelve percent of the world's population chooses history. Safe inside the guarded borders of living museums, museum dwellers resist attempts by Metro leaders to seize their lands and force them back to the cities. When Alexander Kane, (son of a powerful Metro Senator) leaves the protection of the City to enter the Federal Museum Academy, he becomes the target of a growing political struggle. Crossing borders into the 12, 18th, and 20th centuries, The Last Relicuin follows three generations of a family torn between the past and the future.
524 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2013
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666 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 19, 2016
The Last Relicuin is one of those books that’s difficult for me to put into a specific genre category. On the one hand it’s definitely dystopian. But while it takes place in the future, it also in a sense takes place in history. And that’s what makes it such a fascinating read. There’s also some suspense and some politics and some romance and some family drama – a little something for everyone!
The museum dwellers spend years in training at a special academy, learning to live in various periods of world history. There is no time travel, per se, except in the ways each “museum” adapts to whichever era they represent. If you’ve seen one of the living history museums that continue to be popular, you have some sort of an idea of what this is like – but the museum dwellers take this to a whole other level. As readers of The Last Relicuin, we spend a lot of time at the American Farm Museum setting, right out of the 1950s – a community of people who dress, talk, eat, and live like a farming community from that era. It’s not the only museum we become acquainted with, however, and each one is equally as fascinating.
As tensions escalate between the glassers and the dwellers, the level of suspense in the book rises too and the tone of the book shifts ever so slightly. There are several of these adjustments throughout the story, and for me these shifts made it somewhat difficult to stay consistently engaged. The characters I thought were the focus end up not really being the focus. That actually happens two or three times over the course of the novel, and I felt like I was reading a story in at least three parts. If each section had been isolated/divided, it might have been less distracting.
Bottom Line: Overall, The Last Relicuin is quite compelling in its story concept, perhaps a bit less so in its execution. The idea of people who immerse themselves in an era of history is both fascinating and tempting, and the portrayal of the dystopian society is only a few believable steps away from our own present culture. Some tighter editing and a different structure (a story in parts, perhaps?) may have benefited the book in the long run, but fans of both science fiction and history will enjoy the novel on its own merits.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
The museum dwellers spend years in training at a special academy, learning to live in various periods of world history. There is no time travel, per se, except in the ways each “museum” adapts to whichever era they represent. If you’ve seen one of the living history museums that continue to be popular, you have some sort of an idea of what this is like – but the museum dwellers take this to a whole other level. As readers of The Last Relicuin, we spend a lot of time at the American Farm Museum setting, right out of the 1950s – a community of people who dress, talk, eat, and live like a farming community from that era. It’s not the only museum we become acquainted with, however, and each one is equally as fascinating.
As tensions escalate between the glassers and the dwellers, the level of suspense in the book rises too and the tone of the book shifts ever so slightly. There are several of these adjustments throughout the story, and for me these shifts made it somewhat difficult to stay consistently engaged. The characters I thought were the focus end up not really being the focus. That actually happens two or three times over the course of the novel, and I felt like I was reading a story in at least three parts. If each section had been isolated/divided, it might have been less distracting.
Bottom Line: Overall, The Last Relicuin is quite compelling in its story concept, perhaps a bit less so in its execution. The idea of people who immerse themselves in an era of history is both fascinating and tempting, and the portrayal of the dystopian society is only a few believable steps away from our own present culture. Some tighter editing and a different structure (a story in parts, perhaps?) may have benefited the book in the long run, but fans of both science fiction and history will enjoy the novel on its own merits.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
July 13, 2014
Thank you to Goodreads and the author for this free e-book in exchange for my review. I was excited to begin reading The Last Relicuin, as it offered up the promise of story both about the future and about the past. I was extremely disappointed, however, at the lack of editing, which is the reason for my rating and which I will expand upon at the end of my review.
In the future, big government has managed to brainwash the majority of the world’s population into believing that fresh air harbors deadly germs and bacteria. They've encased the largest cities and most of the population inside glass, nourishing the people with manufactured air, food, and thoughts. There is a world outside of the glass, although it is a dangerous world filled with harmful air and even more harmful reality. It is an alternative to life inside the glass that the government wants to abolish in order to keep their human sheep in their pens. Here, the past is still alive and is still being lived, and so is the reality that the air really won’t kill you. There are some people who would rather endeavor a life-long journey of living outside the glass, in pods of populations re-creating history, knows as museums. In the museums, people spend their lives learning about and filling authentic historical roles. They also learn that life is not so bad outside the glass, and that separating the people from their past is more harmful to humanity than the powerful lies that threaten to destroy what makes us human.
The Last Relicuin follows a family as they struggle to live inside and maintain the integrity of the world’s museums, even though they are linked to powerful government enemies who want to dismantle everything they love. Alexander Kane rebels against his famous political family, whose platform is centered on ridding the world of museums, to go live in one. He attends the training, meets the girl of his dreams, and plans to spend the remainder of his life in a 1950s farm museum, oblivious to the fractured political life inside the glass. Through a series of personal tragedies, he and his son find themselves at the very center of the battle for destroying the museums, and must fight back to keep their way of life from becoming obsolete. Kane innocently comes into possession of evidence of a conspiracy that could destroy his political enemies, and it puts him at great risk. They are assisted from many sides, from ousted politicians, from the people living on the fringes of society on the streets below the glass, from powerful leaders within the museum academy, and family friends from the past. But most importantly, they have befriended the last relicuin, the oldest living and most treasured member of museum society.
The life created inside this book was fascinating. Many times while reading, I thought how exciting it would be to live my own life inside of one of the museums, choosing my favorite time and place from the past, becoming an expert at living it, and staying there forever. But there is always progress, and I wondered how sustainable this kind of life could be. How long anyone could stay in one time period for their whole lives without things ever changing. Another question I had was if people are living in different points of history throughout the world, how do they interact? How can it be authentic if they’re meant to live specific events and activities from history that can’t happen without other parts of society or the world? The museums’ isolation from each other and sustainability seemed questionable.
It was disturbing how the government’s power had become absolute, and how threatened it was by such things as history and fresh air. It is amazing to ponder the shape our society will take once we are all gone. But although most of the population was living inside the glass, traveling between the two worlds was possible with a simple visitor’s pass and a change of clothes. If the government was so worried about the deadly germs outside the glass, how could people move about so freely? Were they not concerned with contagions? It didn’t seem to me, unless I missed something, that there were any restrictions or precautions, which I thought was not in line with the story. Additionally, the last relicuin himself was seemingly not a major character and his background and how important he was to the story seemed to have been glossed over. To be the title character, it would have been nice to know more about him.
This was my first e-book, and that is important to my review because although I was very interested in the story, I was disappointed by the lack of editing. I had to ask, are all e-books so poorly edited? I felt at times that the author didn’t even bother to read the book after he wrote it. Entire sentences were repeated, passages seemed to be left out or didn’t flow well from one to the next, names weren’t consistent, the grammar and in some cases the spelling were appalling. In many cases, I had to re-read entire pages to understand what was going on because the grammar was so bad, and I almost gave up on the book altogether. I thought this was unfortunate and unprofessional, nearly ruining what could have been a success. Although the basis of the story was interesting, the few plot holes and poor editing are reflected in my rating.
In the future, big government has managed to brainwash the majority of the world’s population into believing that fresh air harbors deadly germs and bacteria. They've encased the largest cities and most of the population inside glass, nourishing the people with manufactured air, food, and thoughts. There is a world outside of the glass, although it is a dangerous world filled with harmful air and even more harmful reality. It is an alternative to life inside the glass that the government wants to abolish in order to keep their human sheep in their pens. Here, the past is still alive and is still being lived, and so is the reality that the air really won’t kill you. There are some people who would rather endeavor a life-long journey of living outside the glass, in pods of populations re-creating history, knows as museums. In the museums, people spend their lives learning about and filling authentic historical roles. They also learn that life is not so bad outside the glass, and that separating the people from their past is more harmful to humanity than the powerful lies that threaten to destroy what makes us human.
The Last Relicuin follows a family as they struggle to live inside and maintain the integrity of the world’s museums, even though they are linked to powerful government enemies who want to dismantle everything they love. Alexander Kane rebels against his famous political family, whose platform is centered on ridding the world of museums, to go live in one. He attends the training, meets the girl of his dreams, and plans to spend the remainder of his life in a 1950s farm museum, oblivious to the fractured political life inside the glass. Through a series of personal tragedies, he and his son find themselves at the very center of the battle for destroying the museums, and must fight back to keep their way of life from becoming obsolete. Kane innocently comes into possession of evidence of a conspiracy that could destroy his political enemies, and it puts him at great risk. They are assisted from many sides, from ousted politicians, from the people living on the fringes of society on the streets below the glass, from powerful leaders within the museum academy, and family friends from the past. But most importantly, they have befriended the last relicuin, the oldest living and most treasured member of museum society.
The life created inside this book was fascinating. Many times while reading, I thought how exciting it would be to live my own life inside of one of the museums, choosing my favorite time and place from the past, becoming an expert at living it, and staying there forever. But there is always progress, and I wondered how sustainable this kind of life could be. How long anyone could stay in one time period for their whole lives without things ever changing. Another question I had was if people are living in different points of history throughout the world, how do they interact? How can it be authentic if they’re meant to live specific events and activities from history that can’t happen without other parts of society or the world? The museums’ isolation from each other and sustainability seemed questionable.
It was disturbing how the government’s power had become absolute, and how threatened it was by such things as history and fresh air. It is amazing to ponder the shape our society will take once we are all gone. But although most of the population was living inside the glass, traveling between the two worlds was possible with a simple visitor’s pass and a change of clothes. If the government was so worried about the deadly germs outside the glass, how could people move about so freely? Were they not concerned with contagions? It didn’t seem to me, unless I missed something, that there were any restrictions or precautions, which I thought was not in line with the story. Additionally, the last relicuin himself was seemingly not a major character and his background and how important he was to the story seemed to have been glossed over. To be the title character, it would have been nice to know more about him.
This was my first e-book, and that is important to my review because although I was very interested in the story, I was disappointed by the lack of editing. I had to ask, are all e-books so poorly edited? I felt at times that the author didn’t even bother to read the book after he wrote it. Entire sentences were repeated, passages seemed to be left out or didn’t flow well from one to the next, names weren’t consistent, the grammar and in some cases the spelling were appalling. In many cases, I had to re-read entire pages to understand what was going on because the grammar was so bad, and I almost gave up on the book altogether. I thought this was unfortunate and unprofessional, nearly ruining what could have been a success. Although the basis of the story was interesting, the few plot holes and poor editing are reflected in my rating.
January 26, 2019
My family has always enjoyed living history farms, and my kids were the kind of kids who loved being chosen by the docents to step into the story of the past and try whatever chore was being done. I remember one day when my 5 year old daughter spent the entire day doing laundry with a washboard and tub, and helping to hang linens on a line.
I have participated in demonstrations of spinning and lace making myself at state historic sites.
But, the people in "The Last Relicuin" live in a future world where they have gone much further, where the only way to know the past is to permanently step back in to it, and live in "museums."
Modern political and social culture does not trust the museum dwellers. Why would anyone adopt such a subversive lifestyle?
I don't describe this book very well, I am afraid.
Hargus Montgomery has envisioned a unique and frightening world, where intolerance and obsessive compulsive lifestyle come into deadly conflict. I am not saying exactly who is obsessive compulsive, either. You may be surprised.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review on Goodreads.
I have participated in demonstrations of spinning and lace making myself at state historic sites.
But, the people in "The Last Relicuin" live in a future world where they have gone much further, where the only way to know the past is to permanently step back in to it, and live in "museums."
Modern political and social culture does not trust the museum dwellers. Why would anyone adopt such a subversive lifestyle?
I don't describe this book very well, I am afraid.
Hargus Montgomery has envisioned a unique and frightening world, where intolerance and obsessive compulsive lifestyle come into deadly conflict. I am not saying exactly who is obsessive compulsive, either. You may be surprised.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review on Goodreads.
November 23, 2018
I tried reading this and, it was just really very quick paced and very low key dramatic. I couldn't get into the story, and at times it was just very boring, I thought I'd enjoy this a lot more than I did
May 5, 2016
Relicuin is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The synopsis appealed to me because I love dystopian fiction.
At first I actually thought it was YA particularly as when I first started reading the story was focused on Alex Kane a young man trying to make a decision about where to go to college, as the son of the poweful Senator Kane Alex is encouraged (or forced) to achieve great things as is expected of him.
It is the 22nd Century and the whole world has been ravaged by dangerous airbone disease and the majority of the population have moved well above the old cities into glass enclosures. Everything is virtual, from school to sex and people use holograms to visit each other all to protect themselves from coming into contact with other people and potential disease. History is preserved by the Federal Musuem Academy who train willing students to live in the real life museums where authenticity is key. Senator Kane, Alex’s father though is determined to shut the museums down.
The Last Relicuin is very in depth and full of interesting details about the museums. Although the story starts off belonging to Alex it swiftly moves to other characters and the story begins to build. I don’t (as usual) want to give spoilers about the storyline and plot so I’ll try not to say any more beyond Alex’s beginnings.
What I loved most about The Last Relicuin was the beauty of the different historical periods, unlike your standard dystopian novel this one is not just based on the new cities built above the old ones. The reader instead visits a 1950s American farming town full of corn chewing farmers in their trucks growing apples for cider, 12th Century France full of castles, knights, crusades and sword fights, tiny islands where the people live in tents and the women sit outside making clothes and blankets and finally a freezing winter in a territory inhabited by Native Americans.
The Last Relicuin is without doubt an adult novel, along side history and dystopia it features violence, drugs and sex. It explores politics in a time where you can’t even kiss your own wife (and don’t want to). It looks at extra marital affairs and relationships not just of the romance variety but between friends, colleagues, strangers and people who need handling with a little more care.
I can’t express how fantastic this novel really is. I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author.
At first I actually thought it was YA particularly as when I first started reading the story was focused on Alex Kane a young man trying to make a decision about where to go to college, as the son of the poweful Senator Kane Alex is encouraged (or forced) to achieve great things as is expected of him.
It is the 22nd Century and the whole world has been ravaged by dangerous airbone disease and the majority of the population have moved well above the old cities into glass enclosures. Everything is virtual, from school to sex and people use holograms to visit each other all to protect themselves from coming into contact with other people and potential disease. History is preserved by the Federal Musuem Academy who train willing students to live in the real life museums where authenticity is key. Senator Kane, Alex’s father though is determined to shut the museums down.
The Last Relicuin is very in depth and full of interesting details about the museums. Although the story starts off belonging to Alex it swiftly moves to other characters and the story begins to build. I don’t (as usual) want to give spoilers about the storyline and plot so I’ll try not to say any more beyond Alex’s beginnings.
What I loved most about The Last Relicuin was the beauty of the different historical periods, unlike your standard dystopian novel this one is not just based on the new cities built above the old ones. The reader instead visits a 1950s American farming town full of corn chewing farmers in their trucks growing apples for cider, 12th Century France full of castles, knights, crusades and sword fights, tiny islands where the people live in tents and the women sit outside making clothes and blankets and finally a freezing winter in a territory inhabited by Native Americans.
The Last Relicuin is without doubt an adult novel, along side history and dystopia it features violence, drugs and sex. It explores politics in a time where you can’t even kiss your own wife (and don’t want to). It looks at extra marital affairs and relationships not just of the romance variety but between friends, colleagues, strangers and people who need handling with a little more care.
I can’t express how fantastic this novel really is. I’ll definitely be reading more books by this author.
July 14, 2015
The Last Relicuin was an up and down adventure for me that ended with more up than down. It seemed every time I really got into the story something would happen that annoyed me and it would take a bit to get back into the story. This may be my personal expectations of what would/should happen though. Overall I ended up enjoying this book and the author did a good job pulling it all together at the end, I was concerned for awhile that he had left some things hanging.
The world that is created I found to be very enjoyable. I could the see the future leading to a world were society lives in a sterile, climate controlled, glass world due to fears of sickness and epidemic. The majority of the population lives here in the "mainstream", they are also called "glassers". They live in glass covered clean cities and do almost everything online or through virtual 3D. They have almost no personal contact with other people. They use high tech modifications to always look young and pristine. In stark contrast there are numerous living history museums were people live completely like the times of that museum (1950's Americana, 12th century feudal France, etc.) and I could personally see the enticement to live in a more a natural world. Finally there are the "readers" who are an underground (literally live under the cities) tribe of people who have rejected and abandoned the mainstream and collect book or magazines and read most of the day (very reminiscent of Fahrenheit 451). The Relicuins are museum dwellers that are born and live their whole lives in museums not knowing about the mainstream, and they are believed to be extinct.
In an attempt not to give away any spoilers I will keep it basic that this story covers a few generations and a number of museums. It turns into a thriller for awhile and has a little of everything. My only real complaint with this book is the constant change of perspective from paragraph to paragraph. It is written from one persons view and then instantly next paragraph it will be the thoughts of the other character. This got confusing at times and I don't think authors normally do this or if it was intentional or not. With that said it is not a big hindrance to reading this book. To conclude this long train of thought, I think this book was close to being a really good and settled on just good. I do not mean this as a slight and I would recommend this book to others.
The world that is created I found to be very enjoyable. I could the see the future leading to a world were society lives in a sterile, climate controlled, glass world due to fears of sickness and epidemic. The majority of the population lives here in the "mainstream", they are also called "glassers". They live in glass covered clean cities and do almost everything online or through virtual 3D. They have almost no personal contact with other people. They use high tech modifications to always look young and pristine. In stark contrast there are numerous living history museums were people live completely like the times of that museum (1950's Americana, 12th century feudal France, etc.) and I could personally see the enticement to live in a more a natural world. Finally there are the "readers" who are an underground (literally live under the cities) tribe of people who have rejected and abandoned the mainstream and collect book or magazines and read most of the day (very reminiscent of Fahrenheit 451). The Relicuins are museum dwellers that are born and live their whole lives in museums not knowing about the mainstream, and they are believed to be extinct.
In an attempt not to give away any spoilers I will keep it basic that this story covers a few generations and a number of museums. It turns into a thriller for awhile and has a little of everything. My only real complaint with this book is the constant change of perspective from paragraph to paragraph. It is written from one persons view and then instantly next paragraph it will be the thoughts of the other character. This got confusing at times and I don't think authors normally do this or if it was intentional or not. With that said it is not a big hindrance to reading this book. To conclude this long train of thought, I think this book was close to being a really good and settled on just good. I do not mean this as a slight and I would recommend this book to others.
September 28, 2018
The Last Relicuin, Hargus Montgomery
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction, Sci-fi and Fantasy
I was really intrigued by this book, a mix of future worlds and past one but sadly gave up at 30%. I found it too confusing and just wasn't gelling with the story.
We're in the 22nd century, where life for the vast majority of the population is lived in a secure and safe environment, behind glass, where everything is germ free. No touching another person, life is lived in a very solitary way so obsessed are they with germs and sterility. Its a strange existence but for them its the norm, the living museums, where they get glimpses of the past, seem an abhorrent way of life to them. Eating foods that's been grown in dirt? Talking directly to, touching, standing near another person? Risking germs by breathing in unsterile air? Life for them is very safe, very regulated and they can't imagine a world where people touch each other, breath ordinary air, grow food, gather in groups, and as for sex, horrible thought that, messy and unsanitary.....
Alex though, son of a prominent senator, isn't so sure about this life, rebels in small ways and then decides he wants to be one of those studying the past, museum dwellers living life as it was in certain periods of history.
I was really intrigued by the idea of this story but in practice I found it confusing, and sadly it was just going over my head. I didn't understand What was happening and Why, never mind the Who and How....
It soon became a story focused on a mystery, secrets and lies, a struggle for power where the protagonists are determined to keep the past hidden.
It's a story with strong minded and power hungry characters, set against those who think we have a duty to keep the past alive. There were so many characters I found it difficult sorting out who was who, and how they fitted in. I did like the section dealing with the practicalities of the past, loved for example the bit where Alex smells spring for the first time, his puzzling over what it is, and where he and other students are entranced by falling leaves. I felt sorry for those doomed to live the “safe” life, but I wasn't pulled into the story enough to continue with it.
Stars: Two, I'm sure for others its a terrific read, but the content just didn't gel with my taste. One of those stories where its book v reader and we just don't match.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction, Sci-fi and Fantasy
I was really intrigued by this book, a mix of future worlds and past one but sadly gave up at 30%. I found it too confusing and just wasn't gelling with the story.
We're in the 22nd century, where life for the vast majority of the population is lived in a secure and safe environment, behind glass, where everything is germ free. No touching another person, life is lived in a very solitary way so obsessed are they with germs and sterility. Its a strange existence but for them its the norm, the living museums, where they get glimpses of the past, seem an abhorrent way of life to them. Eating foods that's been grown in dirt? Talking directly to, touching, standing near another person? Risking germs by breathing in unsterile air? Life for them is very safe, very regulated and they can't imagine a world where people touch each other, breath ordinary air, grow food, gather in groups, and as for sex, horrible thought that, messy and unsanitary.....
Alex though, son of a prominent senator, isn't so sure about this life, rebels in small ways and then decides he wants to be one of those studying the past, museum dwellers living life as it was in certain periods of history.
I was really intrigued by the idea of this story but in practice I found it confusing, and sadly it was just going over my head. I didn't understand What was happening and Why, never mind the Who and How....
It soon became a story focused on a mystery, secrets and lies, a struggle for power where the protagonists are determined to keep the past hidden.
It's a story with strong minded and power hungry characters, set against those who think we have a duty to keep the past alive. There were so many characters I found it difficult sorting out who was who, and how they fitted in. I did like the section dealing with the practicalities of the past, loved for example the bit where Alex smells spring for the first time, his puzzling over what it is, and where he and other students are entranced by falling leaves. I felt sorry for those doomed to live the “safe” life, but I wasn't pulled into the story enough to continue with it.
Stars: Two, I'm sure for others its a terrific read, but the content just didn't gel with my taste. One of those stories where its book v reader and we just don't match.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers
October 26, 2018
Interesting story about the quality of life within a glass. The future world has sealed itself within an exclusive habitation zone above the polluted landscape below. Virtual reality is everywhere. Physical interactions of touch, emotion, and communicating in ways that might interfere with personal space are to be avoided. "Glassers" as they are known, can chose to live without fear or sickness. Far below, visual observation into the "Old world dwellers" are visible from observation points but rarely noticed by most. A severe political machine, headed by Senator Kane snakes its way deeper into the complete control as the "next President". His target is the people outside the glass, the museum dwellers. This group comprises people who crave the real live without the restraints enforced by "Glassers", including the pharmaceuticals that alter aging. One of the disaffected member joining the museum is Alex Kane, son of the great senator. A war rages above and will soon spread to the dwellers. What do we lose if that happens? Who is real?
August 11, 2018
Intriguing and unique
Thankyou to NetGalley, Kerious Pye Series LLC and Hargus Montgomery for the opportunity to read a copy of The Last Relicuin in exchange for an honest review.
I have always loved reading about history, of times gone by. Of how the past shaped the future.
I am finding it very difficult to put into words exactly how I feel after reading The Last Relicuin.
I loved this book. It was a beautifully written and engrossing story. It was very rich in detail, as if the various time periods had come alive. The central characters were well developed and relatable. I didn't want it to end.
By the end of the book, you will find yourself questioning what is the most important thing in your life and if you have been lucky enough to find it.
Whether you are a fan of historical fiction, sci-fi or fantasy, The Last Relicuin is definitely well worth a read.
Thankyou to NetGalley, Kerious Pye Series LLC and Hargus Montgomery for the opportunity to read a copy of The Last Relicuin in exchange for an honest review.
I have always loved reading about history, of times gone by. Of how the past shaped the future.
I am finding it very difficult to put into words exactly how I feel after reading The Last Relicuin.
I loved this book. It was a beautifully written and engrossing story. It was very rich in detail, as if the various time periods had come alive. The central characters were well developed and relatable. I didn't want it to end.
By the end of the book, you will find yourself questioning what is the most important thing in your life and if you have been lucky enough to find it.
Whether you are a fan of historical fiction, sci-fi or fantasy, The Last Relicuin is definitely well worth a read.
November 1, 2018
History or present
In the future, museums of living history are peopled with people disenfranchised with the present political reality. One family is disrupted by a truth none of them knew until the third generation. Political intrigue mixed with human frailty and feelings shows humanity at its best and worst. I recommend this book to people who like adventure and mystery. I received this book from Goodreads for free.
In the future, museums of living history are peopled with people disenfranchised with the present political reality. One family is disrupted by a truth none of them knew until the third generation. Political intrigue mixed with human frailty and feelings shows humanity at its best and worst. I recommend this book to people who like adventure and mystery. I received this book from Goodreads for free.
August 29, 2018
I liked the idea of the story and found I liked it more than I thought I was going to.
September 28, 2018
I really tried to enjoy this book. It has an interesting concept but for me, it failed to deliver.
July 6, 2020
interesting concept. Kept my interest. good book.
Read
September 1, 2016Source: Free copy from Hargus Montgomery
Rating: 5 stars for excellent
Summary:
In the 22nd century, part of the world returns to history. Safe inside the guarded borders of live-in museums, museum dwellers live authentic lifestyles from prehistory to the twentieth century. Separate from all modern influences, some dwellers forget that a modern world exists outside the borders.
When the son of a prominent anti-museum Senator marries a museum dweller, the young couple becomes the target of a worldwide struggle between the past and the future.
Crossing borders into the 12th, 18th and 20th centuries, The Last Relicuin unravels a mystery that pursues one family through three different periods of history.
My Thoughts:
In order to clarify the story. When I read the phrase, "returns to history," I thought they'd traveled back in time to a historical period. What this story is about, is people who study history and they live as museum dwellers in a particular historical period. There is no time travel. There are only people who have studied history, in order to live in the historical period of their choice. They do not want to live in the 22nd century. They prefer the past because it is authentic.
Several elements are swirling in the story.
Political thriller
A people study
Romance
Family saga
Dystopia-An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The Last Relicuin has both the totalitarian and environmental examples. Definition from the "Oxford Pocket American Dictionary."
Mystery
One of the most fascinating angles of the story is people living in 22nd century have dulled senses. Touch, sight, and smell have been diminished or withdrawn from society. We take for granted a normal human response of a sneeze or cough. Further, we touch and smell other humans. In this 22nd century society, people do not touch and thus there has been a rejection of normal human living.
Sex is virtual. Displays of affection between family members are not done. Life is sanitary, sterile, and gray. I can picture in my mind a society of people who do not smile. Because if the senses are gone, and there is no affection and no touching and no sex. People have become joyless mobile mannequins.
The next step in a society where people do not show love and affection, is a society where family members are unloving period. People are stiff, selfish, uncharitable; and a great loss has occurred-the qualities of being a human have been removed. This is cataclysmic. This also makes for a great story-line, because it makes the reader ponder "what if?"
The Last Relicuin is a strong study of people. And the dystopian element brings the reader to ask, "what if this really did happen?" I love thinking books. Books where there is a perplexing situation leading me to ask, "what would I do?"
The political angle of the story is not a far off kilter from our age. These are men and women who will do anything to keep their power and advance power. They want to be the god of their age.
I've learned a dystopian story has twists and is not a happy end-all story. Yes, there were moments when I did not like how the story unfolded. Yes, there were moments when I did not like the diminish of characters. This does not take away from the quality of the story. It does give it an edge. It does stay true to the dystopian element.
I loved reading The Last Relicuin. I became heavily involved from the first page!
Rating: 5 stars for excellent
Summary:
In the 22nd century, part of the world returns to history. Safe inside the guarded borders of live-in museums, museum dwellers live authentic lifestyles from prehistory to the twentieth century. Separate from all modern influences, some dwellers forget that a modern world exists outside the borders.
When the son of a prominent anti-museum Senator marries a museum dweller, the young couple becomes the target of a worldwide struggle between the past and the future.
Crossing borders into the 12th, 18th and 20th centuries, The Last Relicuin unravels a mystery that pursues one family through three different periods of history.
My Thoughts:
In order to clarify the story. When I read the phrase, "returns to history," I thought they'd traveled back in time to a historical period. What this story is about, is people who study history and they live as museum dwellers in a particular historical period. There is no time travel. There are only people who have studied history, in order to live in the historical period of their choice. They do not want to live in the 22nd century. They prefer the past because it is authentic.
Several elements are swirling in the story.
Political thriller
A people study
Romance
Family saga
Dystopia-An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The Last Relicuin has both the totalitarian and environmental examples. Definition from the "Oxford Pocket American Dictionary."
Mystery
One of the most fascinating angles of the story is people living in 22nd century have dulled senses. Touch, sight, and smell have been diminished or withdrawn from society. We take for granted a normal human response of a sneeze or cough. Further, we touch and smell other humans. In this 22nd century society, people do not touch and thus there has been a rejection of normal human living.
Sex is virtual. Displays of affection between family members are not done. Life is sanitary, sterile, and gray. I can picture in my mind a society of people who do not smile. Because if the senses are gone, and there is no affection and no touching and no sex. People have become joyless mobile mannequins.
The next step in a society where people do not show love and affection, is a society where family members are unloving period. People are stiff, selfish, uncharitable; and a great loss has occurred-the qualities of being a human have been removed. This is cataclysmic. This also makes for a great story-line, because it makes the reader ponder "what if?"
The Last Relicuin is a strong study of people. And the dystopian element brings the reader to ask, "what if this really did happen?" I love thinking books. Books where there is a perplexing situation leading me to ask, "what would I do?"
The political angle of the story is not a far off kilter from our age. These are men and women who will do anything to keep their power and advance power. They want to be the god of their age.
I've learned a dystopian story has twists and is not a happy end-all story. Yes, there were moments when I did not like how the story unfolded. Yes, there were moments when I did not like the diminish of characters. This does not take away from the quality of the story. It does give it an edge. It does stay true to the dystopian element.
I loved reading The Last Relicuin. I became heavily involved from the first page!
August 17, 2016
In the 22nd century the world is very different. Fearing diseases spread by human contact and believing that the outside air is too contaminated to sustain them, the metro population lives far above the ground level surrounded by glass and mostly in a virtual reality. In order to preserve history, the Federal Museum Administration runs authentic living history museums that encompass many periods throughout history. The museum dwellers must give up mainstream life, go through intense training and fully immerse themselves into the time period that they wish to live. Many do not make it through. Metro Senator Steven Kane opposes all museums and wants them shut down believing that they steal children, harbor diseases and are a hub for the drug trade. However, Senator Kane’s son, Alexander has a fascination with the past and when he chooses to enter a 1950’s farmstead museum, Alex sets off a chain of events with lasting impact.
I have always loved visiting living history museums and may have wanted to live there from time to time, so I absolutely could not resist a book that took place within them. However, this book is a whole lot more. There is a struggle as past and future collide, political espionage, family conflict, secrets and mystery and suspense. I was taken in by Alex’s character and his fascination with people who lived outside the glass. Alex struggled with being different, especially under his father’s watchful gaze. When he finally entered the museum school, everything clicked for him. This reminded me of people telling me that I seem better suited for a different time. I loved the authenticity of each of the time periods that were showcased. Alex’s chosen period, with his wife Kat and son Tom was perfect. I could imagine the long, winding driveway, the wooden farmhouse with the barking dogs and the fruit orchard perfectly. Even the speech patterns were on. As the characters travelled to museums in 12th century France and the 17th century Pacific island, I became immersed in each period with them. Overall, The Last Relicuin provided a whole lot more than I could ever ask for. It is wholly unique, not fitting neatly into any genre, fast paced and with wonderfully built worlds and characters. Masterful writing combined with a wholly unique plot has easily made The Last Relicuin one of my favorite books of the year.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
I have always loved visiting living history museums and may have wanted to live there from time to time, so I absolutely could not resist a book that took place within them. However, this book is a whole lot more. There is a struggle as past and future collide, political espionage, family conflict, secrets and mystery and suspense. I was taken in by Alex’s character and his fascination with people who lived outside the glass. Alex struggled with being different, especially under his father’s watchful gaze. When he finally entered the museum school, everything clicked for him. This reminded me of people telling me that I seem better suited for a different time. I loved the authenticity of each of the time periods that were showcased. Alex’s chosen period, with his wife Kat and son Tom was perfect. I could imagine the long, winding driveway, the wooden farmhouse with the barking dogs and the fruit orchard perfectly. Even the speech patterns were on. As the characters travelled to museums in 12th century France and the 17th century Pacific island, I became immersed in each period with them. Overall, The Last Relicuin provided a whole lot more than I could ever ask for. It is wholly unique, not fitting neatly into any genre, fast paced and with wonderfully built worlds and characters. Masterful writing combined with a wholly unique plot has easily made The Last Relicuin one of my favorite books of the year.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
December 16, 2014
Note: Received in Goodreads First Reads giveaway
I want to give this book five stars for the originality of the idea and plot alone. However, there were several things that ended up bothering me:
1) Why are so many quotation marks randomly placed? I don't know if this was intended, but it was annoying and pulled me out of the book frequently.
2) Word use errors... no need to say more on this point, I think. [Ok... so I can be sort of a grammar/spelling-Nazi. I'm not exactly free of blame in my own writing, but I do find it helpful when people point the occasional mistake out. So, here's me pointing it out.]
3) I think some things needed clarification, but this is more due to my desire to understand the story better, as a reader, and isn't necessarily a fault of the book.
4)
5)
6)The ending... worst cliffhanger ever. But in an oddly good way?
I loved the originality of this book and I think this could be a potential bestseller [maybe with a little editing]. I enjoyed reading this book a lot despite what I've commented on. I fell in love with the idea when I was only a few pages in... it gripped me fast and I enjoyed it all the way through to the end. The suspense of the story never lost its hold on me. I think that a lot of human truths were addressed very well and in a subtle way that kept me on my toes as much as the suspense of the plot kept me turning pages.
I want to give this book five stars for the originality of the idea and plot alone. However, there were several things that ended up bothering me:
1) Why are so many quotation marks randomly placed? I don't know if this was intended, but it was annoying and pulled me out of the book frequently.
2) Word use errors... no need to say more on this point, I think. [Ok... so I can be sort of a grammar/spelling-Nazi. I'm not exactly free of blame in my own writing, but I do find it helpful when people point the occasional mistake out. So, here's me pointing it out.]
3) I think some things needed clarification, but this is more due to my desire to understand the story better, as a reader, and isn't necessarily a fault of the book.
4)
5)
6)The ending... worst cliffhanger ever. But in an oddly good way?
I loved the originality of this book and I think this could be a potential bestseller [maybe with a little editing]. I enjoyed reading this book a lot despite what I've commented on. I fell in love with the idea when I was only a few pages in... it gripped me fast and I enjoyed it all the way through to the end. The suspense of the story never lost its hold on me. I think that a lot of human truths were addressed very well and in a subtle way that kept me on my toes as much as the suspense of the plot kept me turning pages.
April 17, 2016
It's the 22nd century and in a glass city where people are afraid to touch, and sex is virtual, a few want to escape the purified air and take the risks of living and loving . . . in the past.
These brave homesteaders face censure and persecution when they leave their families and friends behind to enroll in the Federal Museum Academy, where they will discover whether or not they have the right stuff to survive in the stone age, in the arctic, at the royal courts of the Renaissance, or on a midwest farm of the 1950s. What a concept.
These living museums are walled and secured to keep outside influences from intruding on the authentic environments. The rare visitor is only allowed in on a visa, and has to dress appropriately for the time and place, and speak in the vernacular. The dwellers want only to be left alone, to assume their chosen place in time, and forget the outside world exists.
On the outside, however, pressure is building to close the museums; to rehabilitate the anti-social dwellers and return them to the real world, where they belong. The divide between the two widens, and soon could come to war.
Twice as good as it needed to be to garner five stars and my unreserved raves, The Last Relicuin is rich with personality and atmosphere. Every museum, whether in the 12th or the 20th century, captures the bona fide, and sometimes deadly, rhythms of the period. The characters are fully dimensional, and their relationships grow in intensity--both love and hate.
Dive deep into the world of Federal Museums, and wish you were there. On the inside.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
These brave homesteaders face censure and persecution when they leave their families and friends behind to enroll in the Federal Museum Academy, where they will discover whether or not they have the right stuff to survive in the stone age, in the arctic, at the royal courts of the Renaissance, or on a midwest farm of the 1950s. What a concept.
These living museums are walled and secured to keep outside influences from intruding on the authentic environments. The rare visitor is only allowed in on a visa, and has to dress appropriately for the time and place, and speak in the vernacular. The dwellers want only to be left alone, to assume their chosen place in time, and forget the outside world exists.
On the outside, however, pressure is building to close the museums; to rehabilitate the anti-social dwellers and return them to the real world, where they belong. The divide between the two widens, and soon could come to war.
Twice as good as it needed to be to garner five stars and my unreserved raves, The Last Relicuin is rich with personality and atmosphere. Every museum, whether in the 12th or the 20th century, captures the bona fide, and sometimes deadly, rhythms of the period. The characters are fully dimensional, and their relationships grow in intensity--both love and hate.
Dive deep into the world of Federal Museums, and wish you were there. On the inside.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2014
Thanks to Mr. Montgomery for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review!
This book has one of the most unique worlds that I have stumbled across in quite a while. I found it totally engaging and honestly have found myself thinking about it quite a bit even while not reading. The thought of being able to live in a "museum" like someone out of a different time completely appeals to me. Now, I kind of doubt I'd do it, but as an anthropologist the whole "going native" thing is brought to a whole new level with this concept. It would be incredibly interesting to attempt to live like they did in the past. Granted, I kind of like showers and central heat/air so I don't know how long I'd fare (I did a dig for 3 months in a tent with no running water...not so eager to repeat that), but it's interesting to think about. Anyhow, the book itself did have some issues with copy-editing, which in general doesn't bother me too much but did get confusing here and there, and also had some pacing issues where I felt things got really bogged down from time to time. However, it was still an interesting read.
This book has one of the most unique worlds that I have stumbled across in quite a while. I found it totally engaging and honestly have found myself thinking about it quite a bit even while not reading. The thought of being able to live in a "museum" like someone out of a different time completely appeals to me. Now, I kind of doubt I'd do it, but as an anthropologist the whole "going native" thing is brought to a whole new level with this concept. It would be incredibly interesting to attempt to live like they did in the past. Granted, I kind of like showers and central heat/air so I don't know how long I'd fare (I did a dig for 3 months in a tent with no running water...not so eager to repeat that), but it's interesting to think about. Anyhow, the book itself did have some issues with copy-editing, which in general doesn't bother me too much but did get confusing here and there, and also had some pacing issues where I felt things got really bogged down from time to time. However, it was still an interesting read.
March 3, 2014
This was a goodreads 'first read' book sent to me.
This is a terrific and enjoyable book; it has depth and width in plot and characterisation. Even though it’s based in the sci-fi future it has all the hallmarks' of a Victorian melodrama, crime thriller, western and adventure novel. The sophisticated plot and narrative is vernacular concise in keeping the reader in a world with recognisable markers and then not the familiar, with a strange alternative space that kept me engaged with all the protagonists and narration line by line.
There are no superfluous or decorative descriptions attached to the narration as it all fits like a glove. The characters and dialogue are very credible with all the wholesomeness’ of apple pie, echoed in the pace of the narration as good as an old fashioned classic film e.g. Chisum, true grit, etc. Read the book before the movie arrives.
Hope it's made by a french film director like Luc Besson as Hollywood would just turn it into a shallow action sci-fi film.
This is a terrific and enjoyable book; it has depth and width in plot and characterisation. Even though it’s based in the sci-fi future it has all the hallmarks' of a Victorian melodrama, crime thriller, western and adventure novel. The sophisticated plot and narrative is vernacular concise in keeping the reader in a world with recognisable markers and then not the familiar, with a strange alternative space that kept me engaged with all the protagonists and narration line by line.
There are no superfluous or decorative descriptions attached to the narration as it all fits like a glove. The characters and dialogue are very credible with all the wholesomeness’ of apple pie, echoed in the pace of the narration as good as an old fashioned classic film e.g. Chisum, true grit, etc. Read the book before the movie arrives.
Hope it's made by a french film director like Luc Besson as Hollywood would just turn it into a shallow action sci-fi film.
January 17, 2014
The Last Relicuin, by Hargus Montgomery
This is an interesting concept wherein you have your “Glassers” (those that live within protected domed and synthetic cities) and your “Dwellers” (people preferring to live in the strictly enforced outdoor museums represented by specific historical times. It goes without saying that they don’t see eye-to-eye on much concerning the quality of life, but the animus between them can cause paranoia, cynicism and downright “them against us” mentalities. Anyone may make the adult decision to live their own life but to change sides can be akin to declaring war on your own family. Montgomery creates many fascinating people and sometimes disposes of them to devastating affect. Had I been born in the “clean” city, would I have had the courage to move to the “unsanitary” freedom of the country? I like to think so. How would you decide?
This is an interesting concept wherein you have your “Glassers” (those that live within protected domed and synthetic cities) and your “Dwellers” (people preferring to live in the strictly enforced outdoor museums represented by specific historical times. It goes without saying that they don’t see eye-to-eye on much concerning the quality of life, but the animus between them can cause paranoia, cynicism and downright “them against us” mentalities. Anyone may make the adult decision to live their own life but to change sides can be akin to declaring war on your own family. Montgomery creates many fascinating people and sometimes disposes of them to devastating affect. Had I been born in the “clean” city, would I have had the courage to move to the “unsanitary” freedom of the country? I like to think so. How would you decide?
January 30, 2014
This novel was absolutely amazing! I love reading and I love history and this novel not only brought both things together, but also added futuristic situations! I just can't believe all the crazy twist and turns with the characters and their blood lines! I had a feeling about the main characters Alex Kane and his son Tom Kane. Even though one of them dies the story continues and makes more sense then you would think. I definitely give this novel 5 stars and recommend history/fiction lovers to read it! I could say a lot more about it but i don't want to spoil it for anyone wanting to read it. also I reviewed it on my blog! Ladybug0909report.blogspot.com
January 11, 2014
I loved this book so much I wanted to ration myself with the pages because I felt like savouring it, of course the temptation to find out what the eventual result was was too high. Oh my gosh, I can't wait for the sequel, if there is a sequel. And the coupling in the end confused me greatly because she was with both of them at different points in her life. There were a series of spelling and punctuation errors throughout the novel, I'll list a couple for you below, but I would definitely recommend this book to others :)
p489 "gorilla" should be "guerilla"
p438 apostrophe missing
p422 missing speech marks
p398 and 144 "pubic" should be "public"
p285 extra speech marks
p489 "gorilla" should be "guerilla"
p438 apostrophe missing
p422 missing speech marks
p398 and 144 "pubic" should be "public"
p285 extra speech marks
April 27, 2016
pooled ink Reviews:
3.5 Stars
The Last Relicuin is a steady complicated read overflowing with history, injected with the grim future, and ignited by an assassination. This is a story of life, love, past, future, corruption, authenticity, tough journeys, and political intrigue. What begins as a simple search for belonging twists quickly into mystery thickly woven with lies, murder, scapegoats, and a call for war. Recommended for any reader seeking a story where history undergoes a full-scale FBI investigation.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2016/04/27/the-...
3.5 Stars
The Last Relicuin is a steady complicated read overflowing with history, injected with the grim future, and ignited by an assassination. This is a story of life, love, past, future, corruption, authenticity, tough journeys, and political intrigue. What begins as a simple search for belonging twists quickly into mystery thickly woven with lies, murder, scapegoats, and a call for war. Recommended for any reader seeking a story where history undergoes a full-scale FBI investigation.
Read my FULL review here: https://pooledink.com/2016/04/27/the-...
February 3, 2014
I received this book free from librarything.com.
This book is really fast paced. It started off at a seemingly normal pace, but then seemed to jump around a lot to different characters and seemed to rush some parts unnecessarily which could be confusing sometimes.
Apart from that, I thought it was a lot of fun to read. The characters were realistic and the story was fun, especially the jumping into different time periods through the Museums. I can picture this easily becoming a movie.
This book is really fast paced. It started off at a seemingly normal pace, but then seemed to jump around a lot to different characters and seemed to rush some parts unnecessarily which could be confusing sometimes.
Apart from that, I thought it was a lot of fun to read. The characters were realistic and the story was fun, especially the jumping into different time periods through the Museums. I can picture this easily becoming a movie.
January 31, 2014
I received a free copy of this book through Librarything.
I enjoyed this book with reservations. Most reading websites tell me to ignore grammar mistakes when I write an ARC book review. So, I am. The plot had me riveted for the most part, but the list of "Living History" websites caught my attention and I will visit them in the near future.
I recommend this book to History fans. I think you will enjoy it. 3 stars
I enjoyed this book with reservations. Most reading websites tell me to ignore grammar mistakes when I write an ARC book review. So, I am. The plot had me riveted for the most part, but the list of "Living History" websites caught my attention and I will visit them in the near future.
I recommend this book to History fans. I think you will enjoy it. 3 stars
February 19, 2014
Very original idea and certainly a fast paced book. The ending did feel rushed and a little all over the place which made it confusing at times. The history aspect of this novel is great as it opens up endless possibilities. It feels like there is the intention of a sequel which I would certainly pick up when the time comes. Overall pretty enjoyable.
January 10, 2014
A real page-turner. I hope there is a sequel to this because there are still questions that needs to be answered.
Also, in a strange way, it mirrors our own reality. There are those who look to the past for answers, and there are those who look to the present and/or future for answers. Both "sides" not really understanding the other, but not really wanting to learn either.
Also, in a strange way, it mirrors our own reality. There are those who look to the past for answers, and there are those who look to the present and/or future for answers. Both "sides" not really understanding the other, but not really wanting to learn either.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews