While expanding her mind-view, Carmen Willathorpe sensed an intense concentration of consciousness as a point of light thousands of light-years from where she was sitting on a planet the Lorengi called Stone. Carmen, the Lorengi leader, Ahleeto and the sentient Lorengi ship, Thelika, are joined by other Sunaj scientists as they race to investigate the incredible light and find a large spherical … spherical object behind a translucent barrier. The barrier appears to be a kind of window that may be providing a view into another dimension.
Finding alien designed ships are also behind the barrier, they try to find out if there are conscious beings inside the ships. They are unable to contact them. How would they get to them if they are there? Are they still alive? Do they need to be rescued? Why does it seem like nothing behind the barrier is moving? If a rescue is needed, and they find their way in, will Carmen and her crew be able to find their way back out? Or will they be trapped inside an unknown dimension forever?
Finding the answers to these questions will set the scientists on a journey that is more than they ever imagined, and raise speculations about humanity’s role in the universe.
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Grateful thanks go to the author for giving me a paperback review copy of this very enjoyable read.
When anthropologist, Carmen Willathorpe, senses an intense concentration of consciousness thousands of light years away, a team of interstellar travellers embark on a mission. They decide to journey toward the light. Little do they know they are about to unveil the mysteries of The Universe, the future of mankind and of other sentient inhabitants.
The team begin their journey on a visit to Ocean, where the native Cheneshi live. Although the Cheneshi do not see with eyes, they have a remarkable grasp of the elemental flow and inter-connectedness of life on the planet.
These creatures influence Sam Baxter, Compass Enterprises Founder, and Head of Sunaj, a human born with a higher level of consciousness and sensitivity (H2.) He understands they will provide him with “new perspectives” on his research theories.
In addition, through inter-subjective “conversations” with Janus, a being of pure consciousness, Sam is on the path to enlightenment. By drawing on his emerging knowledge, and on that of the collective consciousness – the spirit of the inter-galactic age, he will drive his team and their mission forward.
Rosalind The Determined, a physicist, and part of the team, likes to prove concepts by doing first hand research in the field. With the help of Sways, the Cheneshi leader, she gains more “insights” when she becomes the driver of her voyage, sacrificing her eyesight for “mind-viewing.” She grows in consciousness to use this alternate way of seeing and perceiving the world.
The journey continues with a cast of characters who discover that there are other beings out there in space. Some of them have been lost, and there is a short window of opportunity to communicate with them and come to their aid …
We find out that there is so much more to the cosmos than physical phenomena. From an alternate vision, one sees “invisible” dimensions. A whole new ethos about the nature of The Universe, and what role mankind and other inhabitants are to play evolves.
Through inter-subjectivity, looking back into History and forward to the future in the manner of the Roman God, Janus, this shared consciousness and higher level of vibration builds a powerful vision for The Universe that bridges the divides of gender, class and race. Alongside this vision, Janus himself is growing in self-awareness and his knowledge of the vital part he will play begins to emerge …
Author C. A. Knutsen has created a rich text which is entertaining, mystical and metaphysical. Drawing on M-Theory, (an updated version of String Theory,) the author shows forth the illusive nature of Time itself and the multi-dimensional nature of reality. Truth, when it is unveiled, is ageless and timeless. We experience life as we journey on our quest, between the journey’s beginning, and the journey’s end. Perhaps there is no beginning and no end. We come in and out of physical realms, transcending boundaries that space and time, physical limitations or barriers create. Perhaps, indeed, the Aquarian Age has arrived!
Part philosophy, part psychology, part political allegory, part parable, this spiritual journey is always visionary.
Ancient Agendas is a science fiction story that draws on emergent scientific theory. It poses many questions for readers, taking them on a mimetic journey beyond the text that encourages them to look inward and beyond, seeking out answers for themselves.
One of the strengths of this book is the wonderful ease with which author C. A. Knutsen creates a world inside the book populated with charismatic, convincing characters.
Knutsen’s characters are humans and humanoids from the real world of science and technology, animal-like creatures, and characters crafted from the author’s observations of nature. His characters have a mythological twist about them.
I particularly enjoyed the ways in which Knutsen created depth and contrast in these characters, revealing and developing them in relationship to one another.
There were nice, subtle touches of humour. One such conversation, between Carmen, Ahleeto and Thelika, which effectively showed the difference between the literal thinking of scientific evidence-based observation, and more intuitive approaches, was a gem:
“I understand the meaning of barrier as you meant it, I don’t think that the word applies to what is before us.” (Thelika.)
“You think they are free to leave, but just unable to?” Ahletto asked.
“I don’t have sufficient information to speculate about those possibilities.”
Carmen occasionally found it frustrating to communicate with a being that was literal to a fault.
“Thelika, could you explain what you mean when you say you don’t think it’s a barrier?”
“That would be best Carmen, I don’t think it’s a barrier because it isn’t there.”
“Well, that was helpful,” Carmen thought, smiling.
The dualisms of theme in the novel were explored very effectively indeed: past/future, primitive/cultured, reality/fantasy or illusion, new generation/old generation, masculinities/femininities, matriarchy/patriarchy, war/peace, democracy/dictatorship, life/death, vision/blindness, sensing or feeling/seeing or witnessing, intuitive interpretation/positivism or fact-based evidence.
For me this book delivered. The pace was good, and each chapter was written in such a way that I was motivated to read on to the next.
The clarity and simplicity of the prose was sophisticated with a metaphorical subtext, highlighting the admirable skills of this author.
I highly recommend this enjoyable read and look forward to voyaging with the travellers on the next stage of their quest in the Janus Unfolding series. I am reminded of the atmosphere of wonder, mystery and excitement – the spirit of adventure – that resonates through this text to leave a lasting impression on readers which is captured, not without humour, by this evocative image:
“If we want to go anywhere out there,” Travis said, using an expansive arm swing toward the ceiling to indicate the vastness of space, “we just use one of the Lorengi ships.”
This science fiction novel is a work of its time. Author C. A. Knutsen has crafted both an epic panorama and a story made with careful attention to details of plot, character and theme.
The only criticism is occasional editing oversights from time to time. For this reason only, I have given this book a 4-star rating.