Genre: “Science Faction” – science fiction, action and adventure with fact-based science, theories, and mythologyIN ALMOST EVERY BELIEF SYSTEM ON EARTH, there exists a single unifying mythos: thousands of years ago a great flood devastated the Earth’s inhabitants. From the ruins of this cataclysm, a race of beings emerged from the sea bestowing knowledge and culture upon humanity, saving us from … upon humanity, saving us from our selfish drive toward extinction. Some say this race were “ancient aliens” who came to assist our evolution.
But what if they weren’t alien at all? What if they evolved right here on Earth, alongside humans . . . and they are still here? And, what if the World’s governments already know?
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Kelly Graham is a narcissistic self-assured freelance photographer specializing in underwater assignments. While on a project in the Amazon with his best friend, Chris D’Souza, a mysterious and beautiful government official, Freya Nilsson, enters Kelly’s life and turns it upside down. Her simple request to retrieve a strange object from deep underwater puts him in the middle of an international conspiracy. A conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history.
Awards
- Winner — 2017 London Book Festival — Science Fiction
- Finalist — 2018 Silver Falchion Award — SciFi/Fantasy/Horror
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Fascinating, in a strangely meandering way
Children of the Fifth Sun takes on Area 51, the end of the Mayan calendar, the Great Flood myths from cultures around the world, New Age/Enlightenment, conspiracy theories, organized crime, post-Cold War geopolitics and the presence of ancient extraterrestrial beings on Earth – and ties it all up in one big Gordian Knot. Centered at the attempt to unravel this mystery is Kelly, a free-diving underwater photog extraordinaire. He is roped into the story by virtue of his talents, but carries through by being the beautifully flawed, deeply empathetic, grief-crippled human hiding behind a flippant ass-hat persona. There is no way to summarize this story without spoilers, but SF readers will delight in the balance of theory, experimentation, military action, covert ops, red herrings and slow-burning romance. What remains at the end of the book is not truly hinted at in the book’s blurb. None of the well-set-up possible outcomes suggested by unfolding events occurs. Instead readers are treated to a strange anti-climactic finish which suggests that there is no true end – not to this story, nor to the spirits of those whose fill its pages. What triumphs here is the ever-resurgent tendency of humanity to bungle its attempts at discovering and understanding its own place in the scheme of things. This ARC review is voluntary and uncompensated. Thanx, BookSirens.
In Children of the Fifth Sun, Gareth Worthington has succeeded in doing something few authors are able to accomplish: The telling of a deeply personal story that lingers with the reader long after the final page has been turned. Yes, it’s a fun, fast-paced, globe-trotting, adventure. Yes, the author has incorporated literally 20 years of scientific research and development into building and shaping this story. But at its heart, it is a profound and inspiring story of humanity’s desire for true meaning and connection in a world hell-bent on greed and destruction.
Regardless of your political, philosophical or religious beliefs – Allow yourself to get lost in this fascinating story as you immerse yourself in Gareth’s world. It’s an exciting, profoundly intellectual tale that will resonate with you for years to come.
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Children of the Fifth Sun Kindle Edition
by Gareth Worthington (Author)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the Dulce Base fiasco to Charles Hapgood’s displacement theories to the Antikytheran Device to Mayan calendars, Mr. Worthington dumps nearly every ancient alien idea into his Indiana-Jones-flavored end of the world adventure. The adventure stars one Kelly Graham, a freelance photographer/adventurer who makes Josh Gates seem unlucky and lazy. He is recruited to help retrieve a device on the ocean floor by the beautiful and cold Freya Nilsson.
This book is fun. That’s about it. The TEOTWAWKI pieces, like the plague, are background noise for Kelly’s adventure and emotional turmoil. The other characters that litter the story and often have the responsibility of narration are fairly flimsy. This is particularly true of Freya. Her inner dialogue is often more of a male’s fantasy of what an ice-queen love interest thinks rather than what a living, breathing woman thinks. His father-in-law is also a cardboard cut out of a hard, and again, cold character.
But if a reader treats this book as a printed version of a mid 2000s adventure that went direct t streaming, you can have fun. There is a certain ‘A-ha’ feeling for readers of things like The Fortean Times or viewers of the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, as people, places and things pop up.
Fun is not well rounded…
3 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Children-Fifth-Sun-Gareth-Worthington-ebook/dp/B0716C5W3S
Children of the Fifth Sun by Gareth Worthington is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book reminds me of a wonderful mix of Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, and Douglas Preston. It has the science, mythology, the globe trotting, the suspense, the global intrigue, and the human emotional factors. This book is so wonderful! I was mad, glowing, sobbing, angry, scared, and resigned, and elated.
Evolution took life from the sea to land but some animals went back to the sea, like the whales. Man had several species at the same time. What if one of those went back to the sea? What if one of those species remains had been found in the ice and had been cloned? What chaos would it bring if the world found out? Should the government tell the world? Who should have it? What would it be like? What should it be used for? I want to add more but don’t want to give spoilers.
This book is one I could not stop, This story weaved so many small stories together to make one big great story! I loved it! A seven course meal for my brain with a giant dessert with a cheery on top! I was so satisfied when I finished this story! When I finished reading, I wanted more but felt very full and content. I haven’t felt that in a long time! Thanks.