"The Traveler" by John Twelve Hawkes

I bought this book in an airport on my vacation not quite knowing what to expect. Having heard nothing about it, and not being in to science fiction, I almost passed it up.

I'm certainly glad I did not. I thoroughly enjoyed just about every page of this book, which I consider to be a quasi-science fiction, quasi-realistic fiction story.

Even though the heroine, Maya, can have a rather cold personality at times, I found myself smitten with her. There is probably a character in this book that almost every reader will be able to identify or connect with.

The sci-fi element falls more in line with the ways of the travelers, while the realistic parts encompass the actual changes that have taken place in our post-911 world vis-à-vis the Patriot Act and the Total / "Terrorist" Information Awareness program.

The author writes with a clear understanding of the evils that accompany power and corruption that always fall hand in hand with the state or organizations which have a connection with the state. The underlying tone, that those who crave freedom will always triumph over those who wish to dominate, intimidate, and control, is one of hope for a world which desperately needs it.

I anxiously look forward to the next part in this trilogy.