The Future Past

Reading can take you around the world.  Read and watch your world grow. Every reading slogan I've read or heard over my lifetime of reading popped into my head as I turned page after page of this book.  But none of them prepared me for the place this book would take me.   It's been nearly 48 hours since I completed the reading of Pathfinder, a late fall release by Orson Scott Card,  and I have not left that world yet.  It is the first book in the proposed  Serpent World series. 

Rigg and his relationship with his Father are the umbrella under which all the intertwining plot lines dwell.  His Father's relentless tutelage in all subjects and possible life scenarios are puzzling and at times frustrating for Rigg given that he has spent most of the thirteen years of his life living off the land and trapping.  At the close of Chapter 1 the first of numerous shifts to life as Rigg knew it has occurred.  Heartbroken Rigg realizes that his closely guarded secret---the ability to see animals and people's paths from the past is not the only secret.  Why was his true identity kept from him?  Why was his best friend Umbo's gift of time travel not revealed to him? 

With the help of Umbo Rigg travels downriver to the ancient city of  Arressa Sessamo to seek answers.  Their journey is fraught with challenges due to their age, the bag of jewels that they carry, Rigg's true name, and the political duality between the Royals and the Revolutionary Council..  Along the way they are befriended by Leaky and her retired soldier husband, Loaf.  When Loaf, Umbo and Rigg bond as only companions with a common cause can, the danger, intrigue and mind-boggling moments created by the young men's gifts increases to a fever pitch. 

The very planet itself has secrets to reveal; some of  which are hinted at through the short conversations between a young starship pilot from Earth named Ram Odin and his human like expendable that begin each chapter. 

Even now writing my thoughts about this book I could just pick it up and start reading it again because I am sure that after thinking about the characters and plot as I have, I would come away with better insights into this outstanding representation of science fiction.  Orson Scott  Card is a master of the written word.  One can only admire a mind that has the capability to use our language to create a book that involves the reader every step of the way. 

My favorite quote is He could hear Father's voice:  For children love is a feeling; for adults, it is a decision.  Children wait to learn if their love is true by seeing how long it lasts; adults make their love true by never wavering from their commitment.