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The Wall
While driving through Kansas a very ordinary man named John Christian encounters an extraordinary being called "The Keeper". He tells John that an age-old conflict between the inhabitants in his world is about to result in unthinkable death and destruction. This strange being believes that John can help prevent this tragedy. John is taken to the Keeper's world, where he meets Kate Fleur and Simon Platt. The Keeper has brought them there as well. One group of the inhabitants has built a magnificent wall to keep their enemy out. John observes that the wall has been equally effective inconfining its builders. The prejudices of the beings in the Keeper's world are familiar to the three strangers. And the politics practiced there mimics the all too familiar political chicanery in this world. Kate gives the people new hope for life. Simon exposes the cruelty of their traditions. John overcomes his self-doubt and discovers that he has the ability to lead. But the inhabitants of this world must ultimately make the decision to opt for peace themselves. Fortunately the hope for a better life can be found in the hearts of the inhabitants of that world, as well as our own.
444 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
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March 27, 2008
The mysterious Keeper chooses three very different people to save his world. The Keeper selects John Christian (the truck driver from Maryland), Simon Platt (the history professor from Chicago), and Kate Fleur (a talkative girl from Texas). Together, this odd grouping is sent into an alternate dimension where the water is orange and the people are gray. Fending for themselves in this strange world, the trio must their way to the walled city of Drusba without being attacked by the barbarian Regin. Then, the travelers must convince the inhabitants of this world that they are not enemies and actually mean to stop a calamity.
The title of this book, The Wall comes from the presence of a great wall surrounding the city of Drusba. This wall keeps the Regins out of the city but also constrains the Drusbanians within its bounds. In fact, over the last two centuries since the wall's inception, few Drusbanians have actually ever left Drusba or saw a Regin. This wall also serves as a symbolic reminder of the breakdown in the once cooperative and friendly actions of these two peoples and the intensification of the perceived differences between the two cultures over time.
The Wall is an well thought out science fiction adventure. The mix of character types allows for the examination of various perspectives concerning the Drusbanians and Regin as well as our own cultures. Furthermore, these characters evolve beyond common stereotypes to become fully developed people with both realistic strengths and flaws. The story illustrates a number of contemporary parallels concerning personal and cross cultural relationships as well as general issues in the role of government, society, and common hierarchies. However, the author carefully displays these issues as the characters have been presented, showing a variety of viewpoints without preaching that any particular idea, government, or culture is right, more evolved, or superior. Furthermore, the author has carefully crafted his story so that these imbedded issues do not cause a heavy feeling to the work but rather add depth to the story.
The title of this book, The Wall comes from the presence of a great wall surrounding the city of Drusba. This wall keeps the Regins out of the city but also constrains the Drusbanians within its bounds. In fact, over the last two centuries since the wall's inception, few Drusbanians have actually ever left Drusba or saw a Regin. This wall also serves as a symbolic reminder of the breakdown in the once cooperative and friendly actions of these two peoples and the intensification of the perceived differences between the two cultures over time.
The Wall is an well thought out science fiction adventure. The mix of character types allows for the examination of various perspectives concerning the Drusbanians and Regin as well as our own cultures. Furthermore, these characters evolve beyond common stereotypes to become fully developed people with both realistic strengths and flaws. The story illustrates a number of contemporary parallels concerning personal and cross cultural relationships as well as general issues in the role of government, society, and common hierarchies. However, the author carefully displays these issues as the characters have been presented, showing a variety of viewpoints without preaching that any particular idea, government, or culture is right, more evolved, or superior. Furthermore, the author has carefully crafted his story so that these imbedded issues do not cause a heavy feeling to the work but rather add depth to the story.
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