Andrew Klavan has proven once again his ability to create and craft diverse worlds, stories, and people. I have to admit that the synopsis on the back of the book didn't seem as appealing as Klavan's other books. But once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Here is the synopsis:"Rick Dial has the potential to be a hero. He just doesn't know it yet.
Rick's high school football team couldn't be stopped when he was leading them as their quarterback. He was going to Syracuse on a scholarship. But then his dad abandoned them and a terrible accident left him crippled.
Certain his old life is completely lost, Rick spends months hiding away in his room playing video games. He achieves the highest scores on so many games that he's approached by a government agency who claims to be trying to thwart a cyber attack on America that would destroy the technological infrastructure of the entire country. The agents say that the quick-thinking of a quarterback coupled with Nick's gaming experience make him perfect for this assignment. The problem is that there are no extra lives and this isn't just a game . . . but Rick doesn't have many other options at the moment.
Entering "The Realm" gives Rick the one thing he thought he'd never have again: a body that's as fast and as strong as he ever was before the accident. But the more time he spends in The Realm, the more questions he has. What secrets are these agents keeping from him? What really happened to his father? How many others have gone into The Realm already . . . and failed? And perhaps most important, is he the hero they think he is?"
Content Advisory:
Violence: There is plenty of violence but nothing more than a PG-13 movie would have. Most of the violence happens in the Realm where if a person dies, they dissolve. It is mentioned that blood spatters once or twice but it is only a sentence or two and nothing more.
Language: None.
Sexuality/Crude Humor: There is only one mention of a boy kissing a girl but none of it is shown.
Positive Elements: God is shown to have power even in the Realm. There are various situations of bravery, goodness, selflessness, love, and character growth (especially with Rick).
Granted, the beginning tended to be slow. But to me it seemed just the right pace considering this is not a stand alone novel. The character development was not as strong as Klavan's other works lately but then again this is the first book in a trilogy. There is plenty of growing room.
Rick's emotional state seemed plausible and understandable. The Realm felt unreal and real at the same time. I couldn't help but see the world the author was describing (red grass and blue leaved trees and all), and feel the booming footsteps of gigantic monsters. It may sound far fetched and weird but hey, its a computer game. Its weird surrealness is the very thing that makes the book credible. Let's face it, video games can be on-the-other-side-of-the-galaxy weird
Oh, and I hope that a certain character named Victor One returns for the remaining two books. He is a small character but I couldn't help but love him. His coolness probably came from his strength of character and 3D personality.
Over all, I really loved this book. If you enjoy action, strong characters, and intriguing plots (Think a Matrix/Inception hybrid with some other unique story plot ideas mingled within).
This book is for you.
