Blending Native American myth, archaeological detail, government conspiracy and a sci-fi flair, Neitherworld covers lots of ground with dexterity and grace. This unique story is populated with alien civilizations, 17th-century Ojibwe shamans, shady government agents and archaeologists. Akiiwan begins in the 1600s, when a talented Native American shaman—Voice-in-the-Sky—is contacted by members of an alien race who are interested sharing with the Ojibwe people their secrets and talents. Fast-forward to the modern day: government agents hire skilled archaeologist Samantha Horner to learn more about Voice-in-the-Sky’s mysterious powers. But from the moment her excavation begins, strange occurrences — violent storms, unexpected attacks on crew members and baffling disappearances — suggest to Horner that something strange is afoot. Horner’s tale is told with skillful ease. The prose is elegant and precise. The descriptions—both of characters and of the natural world—are beautiful and evocative.
Blending Native American myth, archaeological detail, government conspiracy and a sci-fi flair, Baker covers a lot of ground, but does so with dexterity and grace. The author populates this unique story with alien civilizations, 17th-century Ojibwe shamans, shady government agents and professional archaeologists. In doing so, Baker tries to tap numerous niche audiences…Baker is a talented writer and an adept syncretist. Akiiwan begins in the 1600s, during which time a talented
Native American shaman—Voice-in-the-Sky—is contacted by members of an alien race who are interested in living with the Ojibwe people and sharing with them their secrets and talents. Fast-forward to the modern day, when government agents hire skilled archaeologist Samantha Horner to learn more about Voice-in-the-Sky and the mysterious powers he may have possessed. But from the moment her excavation begins, strange occurrences—violent storms, unexpected attacks on crew members and baffling disappearances—suggest to Horner that something strange is afoot. Baker tells Horner’s tale with a skillful ease. His prose is elegant and precise and his descriptions—both of his characters and of the natural world—are beautiful and evocative.
A well-done book…
-- KIRKUS DISCOVERIES
Excerpt
Prologue
“Because my grandmother was a shaman, that’s why!” Orenda ex-claimed, balling her fists in anger. “She healed people. Daddy said people felt…threatened by her. But she was just trying to help people.”
“But if she knew people were after her, why didn’t she go to the police, to someone who could make it stop?” Sam asked.
“Daddy said no one believed her. Well, I guess someone believed her - enough to run her and my grandfather off a cliff!” Orenda hesitated and looked down. “I never even got to meet them.”
“I’m so sorry Orenda. I wish there was something I could do. You’ve been through more than any child your age should ever have to go through. I’m sorry your great grandfather was crippled and your grand-parents were killed…and most of all, that your father died.”
“Cal and the other Sky Watchers think he was murdered,” Orenda said bitterly, while staring at the trunk between them - her father’s trunk.
“Oh, Orenda, I don’t know if they’re right or not. If I did, believe me, I’d help bring the people who did it to justice myself. If Cal could only offer some sort of proof….”
“All the proof is in that trunk,” Orenda said firmly. “But I guess you don’t believe it either,” she sighed.
“Believe what, exactly, Orenda?”
“In Voice-in-the-Sky. That he could do all those things. That his…uh, descendants could too.”
“Orenda, I’ve seen what’s in the trunk.” Sam held her purse with the diary inside close. “Just tell me the truth.”
Orenda shook her head and stared into space. “You sound like Ron did. I’m sure you and he will be very happy together.”
“That’s nice of you to say, I guess,” Sam said. Her voice quavered as she asked, “By the way, Orenda, do you know where he is…or any of the others?”
Orenda didn’t answer. She took three steps toward Sam. Sam backed away before telling herself it was silly to be afraid of a ten year old girl. “You’re different from the others,” Orenda said in a strangely distant voice. “You…you see things too, don’t you?” Orenda took another step closer and against all reason, Sam backed away again.
“I don’t know what you mean, Orenda.”
“Now who’s hiding things?” Orenda asked, taking another step closer.
They were both on the wooden platform now, between the trunk and the subbasement wall. Orenda was close enough for Sam to see the bril-liant shine in her green eyes, even in the dim lantern light. “You have dreams…visions, like me. We’re not that different actually,” Orenda said.
“Yes, Orenda, we have a lot in common, I’m sure. We should talk about that sometime. But I’m not going to run from you anymore, Orenda, no matter what you and your Gichi-mishoomis were talking about upstairs.”
“Oh, you overheard that too,” Orenda said disappointedly. “Then there’s really no choice, I guess.”
“Orenda, what are you talking about? What happened to Tim, Grace, Doctor Thompson and Ron?” Sam demanded.
“It won’t hurt, really,” Orenda said distantly, tears coming down her cheeks. Silvery dust swirled in the subbasement the way it did in the cave when... She knew it wouldn’t be doing so unless she was supposed to use it, unless it was providing her with an alternative now that her mother had forbidden her from going to the island. She was sure of that much. “By the way, Samantha, there’s a spider in your hair,” Orenda said.
Sam reached up to brush away the spider. Orenda suddenly grabbed her wrist. When Sam wrapped her stronger hand around the child’s arm, more in bemusement than fear, Orenda grabbed her other wrist. Sam stood still with a crooked smile, waiting; she didn’t want to hurt her. “Orenda?”
“Why didn’t you tell the police, or Jimmy about me?”
“Who says I didn’t?” Sam bluffed.
“No, I know you didn’t,” Orenda said, holding both of Sam’s wrists now.
“Alright, I…I have trust issues.”
Orenda nodded and sighed. “Yeah, so do I.”
“What do you mean…oh my God…”
The dark subbasement became even darker.
Professional Reviews
Kirkus Discoveries
NEITHERWORLD
Book One: Akiiwan
Author: Baker, Scott
Review Date: SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
Pages: 527
Publication Date: September 20, 2007
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-4303-1253-6
Category: AUTHORS
Classification: SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY
Blending Native American myth, archaeological detail, government conspiracy and a sci-fi flair, Baker covers a lot of ground, but does so with dexterity and grace.
Perhaps the only significant problem with the first in this planned series is its way of engaging on so many specific subject areas. The author populates this unique story with alien civilizations, 17th-century Ojibwe shamans, shady government agents and professional archaeologists. In doing so, Baker tries to tap numerous niche audiences. But his wide-ranging project seems to beg the following questions: Is a science-fiction fan going to want to read so much about Ojibwe tribal lore? Are readers interested in Native American culture going to want their indigenous histories served with a side of extraterrestrial life? Will archaeology buffs care about government cover-ups? Because Baker is a talented writer and an adept syncretist, the answer to these questions may well be yes; on the other hand, this could be a tough sell. Akiiwan begins in the 1600s, during which time a talented Native American shaman—Voice-in-the-Sky—is contacted by members of an alien race who are interested in living with the Ojibwe people and sharing with them their secrets and talents. Fast-forward to the modern day, when government agents hire skilled archaeologist Samantha Horner to learn more about Voice-in-the-Sky and the mysterious powers he may have possessed. But from the moment her excavation begins, strange occurrences—violent storms, unexpected attacks on crew members and baffling disappearances—suggest to Horner that something strange is afoot. Baker tells Horner’s tale with a skillful ease. His prose is elegant and precise and his descriptions—both of his characters and of the natural world—are beautiful and evocative. Though Baker sets for himself a difficult task in taking on so many odd storylines, he manages to establish among them a workable, if tenuous, balance.
Five years have passed. The sequel to the award-winning Chapel of Eternal Love, this book revisits the same couples in the first book, and where the lives have taken them since they left the altar at The Chapel of Eternal Love
South Baltimore serves as the backdrop for this gripping story of three brothers leading very different lives but joined forever by the secrets of a painful family past.
