Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Doubleday (2007), 368 pages
Description
In The traveler, John Twelve Hawks introduced readers to a dangerous world inspired by the modern technology that monitors our lives. Under constant surveillance of the 'Vast Machine,' a sophisticated computer network run by a ruthless group, society is mostly unaware of its own imprisonment. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan, brothers who were raised "off the grid," have recently learned they are Travelers like their long-lost father, part of a centuries-old line of prophets able to journey to different realms of consciousness and enlighten the world to resist being controlled. But power affects the brothers differently. As The Traveler ends, Gabriel hesitates under the weight of responsibility. Michael seizes the opportunity and joins the enemy.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bethmal
I have't read this one yet but loved the first one. I have a copy on hold at the library and am just waiting for it to come in.
LibraryThing member cranjetta
I wasn't nearly as impressed with this book as I was with the first in the series (The Traveler). I didn't feel any emotional connection with the characters who met their fate in this book because their ending either seemed too contrived or I didn't know the character well enough for there to be
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any kind of emotional impact. I understood what the writer was attempting to impart upon the reader emotionally, I just don't think it connected. The characters in this novel seemed two dimensional and weak. The story seemed too short and there was no real payoff in the end. Now I'm stuck having to wait for the next book in the series before I can hopefully find closure to some issues. Show Less
LibraryThing member blueslibrarian
Two brothers are at the heart of a story with the fate of humanity at stake. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan are Travelers, those able to leave their bodies at will and pass through other realms of existence. Gabriel remains independent, using his power for the greater good, while Michael aids the
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shadowy group The Brethren, who are trying to take over the world. This book sets the stage for the inevitable showdown between Gabriel and Michael and their respective factions. Middle books in a trilogy are always the toughest to read, trying to connect the threads of the first book without giving away the big conclusion to come. Twelve Hawks succeeds pretty well, developing some of characters from his first book, The Traveler, and providing some more information and back story. There is a brief synopsis at the beginning of this volume, but with a story this complex, it’s recommended only for those who have read the first book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member kd9
The author has finally found some adjective and conjunctions. He seems to have an easier time telling this story and yet builds in the same furious pace and twists of plot that were seen in the first novel. There are some horrific scenes of death in this novel. The Brethren seem even less afraid of
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the consequences of large scale actions as they gather up more and more of the information landscape. And yet they can be hurt by taking down some of their large computer centers. Still, with inclusive technology growing by leaps and bounds, it is hard to see how anyone can escape the Vast Machine. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Readable, no really, that's probably as good as this review is going to get. It's an interesting concept with such a lot of potential and it's mostly blown by the listing of places that the characters go. Places that really show no definitive personality of their own and instead end up feeling like
It's not as good as the first one and it wasn't all that great to start with. The two brothers are hunting their father and the race is on to find him and help society, but it's never explained how Travellers help society and it really isn't obvious why people are doing some of the things they do.
Readable, yeah, but it has a long way to go to be great.
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the same place over and over.It's not as good as the first one and it wasn't all that great to start with. The two brothers are hunting their father and the race is on to find him and help society, but it's never explained how Travellers help society and it really isn't obvious why people are doing some of the things they do.
Readable, yeah, but it has a long way to go to be great.
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LibraryThing member lbriggs
I loved the first book in this series (The Traveler). I am enjoying this book but it is missing something that the first installment had. I find that I don't really care what happens to Gabriel but I do very much care what happens to Maya. The introduction of Hollis and Vicki are welcome
I am looking forward to the third book.
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characters. You wonder if Hollis will fully embrace the Harlequin lifestyle.I am looking forward to the third book.
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LibraryThing member turtlesleap
Both "The Traveler" and "The Dark River" are based on an interesting, even alarming, premise--that a secret cabal is trying to set up a prison for the entire populace based on electronic surveillance. The irritationan and alarm that almost everyone experiences about increasingly intrusive
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data-tracking lend the book a certain credence. In "Dark River", however, the author presents a book that appears to be nothing more than a cliffhanger for the next in the series, leaving the reader with nothing resolved and a pile of questions: Will Maya and Gabriel fnd each other? Has brother Michael really gone over to the dark side--or is he going to have a change of heart? Will Hollis become a Harlequin? Will father be found? Does anyone care? Not me. Two of these were more than enough.. Show Less
LibraryThing member Serayna
I like the idea of the book, and I also wanted to like the book. However, what can I do: characters are shallow and writing is quite poor. I'm disappointed.
LibraryThing member Tasker
not as good as the first ("The Traveler") in the Fourth Realm Trilogy - obviously a "to be continued" book - but it's just my opinion
LibraryThing member awithyco
I thought this book, which is book 2 in the trilogy, was just as good as the first book. You definitely learn more about the characters and wonder if the travelers will ever find their father.
LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
The second book in the Fourth Realm trilogy. As so often happens in trilogies the middle book tends to be not as good as the first and hopefully the last, this was no exception. The repetition of what had gone on before was over long IMHO and overall I felt that I learnt nothing new about the main
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characters, in fact it rather muddied the waters somewhat. However, that said whereas the goodies in the first book were rather submissive at least in this book the at least show some aggresion and at least start to fight back which augurs well for the concluding book so here's hoping Show Less
LibraryThing member bilbo13
Once I actually started, I finished this book in about a day. Hoping that book 3 arrives soon (via inter-library loan to Ouray Public Library). I like the second book better than the first...the story gets more interesting, fast-paced and I was completely sucked in. Upon what categories to give
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stars? The book was just fun, dammit. I should expound, but I'm procrastinating and deadline approaches... Show Less
LibraryThing member bibliophile_pgh
This is the second book in the Fourth Realm trilogy. It wasn't as good as the first. But still enjoyable. There were parts that it seemed the author used as an escape and were unbelievable which I think the author may have done just so that he could keep the story moving and didn't make the story
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to long. He also has been increasing the amount of the emotional attachment between the Traveler and the harlequin. Romance is at a minimum but... Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksOn23rd
I enjoyed this second book of John Twelve Hawks’ trilogy much less than I did the first. It seems riddled with clichés and expected scenario outcomes. Not much originality here.
LibraryThing member David_Brown
Remember when Michael Jordan retired? I mean, the first time? He made that amazing, game-winning shot, and left at the top of his game. When he returned from retirement, I was disappointed. I felt it would be almost impossible for him to improve on his amazing success.
John Twelve Hawks' first book
Of course, this review isn't about The Traveler, but rather about it's sequel, The Dark River. Which is a shame, because there was so much to say about The Traveler, and only one striking thing to say about The Dark River: Like Jordan, Hawks should have stopped when he was on top. The Dark River is a profound disappointment on so many levels. The novel reads more like a script for a Hollywood sequel, picking up where the The Traveler left off, but capitalizing only on the fact that we wanted to know what would happen to Gabriel, Maya, and the rest of his characters. No new twists to Hawks' fictional world are presented until the end, and then in such a way as to make the reader think he was hastily throwing together a mish-mash of world religions to perpetuate his nebulous ideas and intentionally leave a cheap cliff-hanger ending so as to keep the reader returning for the third book in the series.
The book isn't all bad. Hawks does develop his characters a bit, but it is difficult to do as violent action sequences begin with the first five pages and don't stop until the final scene. The development that does occur feels forced and formulaic at times. In short, The Dark River left me with the same impression as one gets when an excellent and original feature film is turned into a television series for continued profit. There really isn't much here that's new, only a continuation of the same ideas that leads to different spectacular fights and occasional intrigue.
For this series to take such an enormous fall in quality between the two novels is astoundingly disappointing. So disappointing that I likely won't be returning for the third book. The epic shot was made at the end of the first, and I prefer to remember the series as it was when it was on top of it's game.
John Twelve Hawks' first book
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in the Fourth Realm Trilogy, The Traveler, was suggested to me by a friend and fellow science-fiction lover. I was immediately impressed with the freshness of the idea, and completely plausible near-future, surveillance society dystopia in which the characters struggled to survive. The conflict between the Harlequins and Brethren was gripping, and some fascinating metaphysical questions were raised. The action was not overstated, and the characters engaging. The originality of the premise kept me turning pages, eager for more. Of course, this review isn't about The Traveler, but rather about it's sequel, The Dark River. Which is a shame, because there was so much to say about The Traveler, and only one striking thing to say about The Dark River: Like Jordan, Hawks should have stopped when he was on top. The Dark River is a profound disappointment on so many levels. The novel reads more like a script for a Hollywood sequel, picking up where the The Traveler left off, but capitalizing only on the fact that we wanted to know what would happen to Gabriel, Maya, and the rest of his characters. No new twists to Hawks' fictional world are presented until the end, and then in such a way as to make the reader think he was hastily throwing together a mish-mash of world religions to perpetuate his nebulous ideas and intentionally leave a cheap cliff-hanger ending so as to keep the reader returning for the third book in the series.
The book isn't all bad. Hawks does develop his characters a bit, but it is difficult to do as violent action sequences begin with the first five pages and don't stop until the final scene. The development that does occur feels forced and formulaic at times. In short, The Dark River left me with the same impression as one gets when an excellent and original feature film is turned into a television series for continued profit. There really isn't much here that's new, only a continuation of the same ideas that leads to different spectacular fights and occasional intrigue.
For this series to take such an enormous fall in quality between the two novels is astoundingly disappointing. So disappointing that I likely won't be returning for the third book. The epic shot was made at the end of the first, and I prefer to remember the series as it was when it was on top of it's game.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007-07-10
Physical description
368 p.; 6.56 inches
ISBN
0385514298 / 9780385514293