Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx – an adventure with beginnings in ancient Africa – is a sci-fi story filled with mysticism, magic, future technology, and the history and lore of ancient Egypt (Kemet), with its spells, Pharaohs and pyramids. It overflows with humor and the mischievous antics of school-aged kids. The authentic atmosphere and historical detail bridge the ages, from a past filled with prehistoric animals to a future of clones, holographic images, whimsical-African dwarfs, and rapping-mechanical ‘bots. The novel is a metaphor for self-discovery and a mesmerizing tale that may assist young readers make the often-difficult transition from youths to responsible adults.
Professional Reviews
Time Waits for No One
Guest Reviewer Swaggie Coleman of The RAWSISTAZ™, November 27, 2007
RAW Rating: 4.5
O. J. HARP, III, in a most intellectually imaginative way, takes the mind of his patients, the characters, on a spiritual and subconscious voyage into the past based on ancient pre-Egyptian history. In doing so, HARP brilliantly tells two stories simultaneously.
First, HARP guides the reader in the spiritual, mythical, magical, subconscious realm of ACROSS TIME through the specialized techniques of the character Dr. John Steele, an African-American psychologist. The second story runs parallel to that as the voyage continues in the carnal realm with the characters in the story unknowingly transporting the Kemots and the Anu and the Heka and other mythical, sci-fi characters from early Egyptian history in their dreams. In order to help bring closure to what is a battle of the pre-Egyptian ancestral spirits, Dr. Steele teaches his patients to overcome their fearful nightmares or end their disturbing, re-occurring dreams through age-regression techniques. Understanding they all have key roles in ACROSS TIME, the patients learn to look around their dreams for clues, messages, and supporting details. This allows the characters to become active in their dreams which is a genius element of the story and subconscious. They are also empowered. Certainly, readers will be dreaming differently after reading this exceptional mastermind story. Awesome!
With brief historical accounts at the outset of the story, the reader is benefited to understand and learn enough about prehistoric Egyptian ancestors to see the significance of the characters in the carnal story over time. The plot unfolds in a sci-fi way to recreate unfinished business of love and power, good and evil, and wisdom and destiny. The characters develop to perform their pre-assigned roles of the past for the future. You will meet Mutshat Ma'at, the beautiful patient/lover of psychologist Dr. John Steele. Ma'at suffers from memory loss and unknowingly holds the ultimate key to her civilization's pre-existence. Then Harp delights readers with some unique boys who have a talented legacy of their own. They are at-risk youths charged with great insight and power and full of humor to move the story along nicely. Dr. Steele must prepare them for their rightful inheritance in the future ancient spiritual civilization. Though a bit hurried, this story is awesomely tied together to accomplish that. It is told very well in simple language, appropriate for varying levels of literacy and that is what makes this book especially perfect for the reader who likes to think and learn critically, consciously and subconsciously.
Its a Rawsistaz Favorite.
"Rich with history and imagination, a perfect blend of fact and fiction.
October 16, 2007 By Books2Mention Magazine "Editor" 5-Stars
Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx will educate, empower and inspire readers of all ages."
"This amazing novel will take readers on a journey through time exploring the beginnings of ancient Africa. Presenting a culture that is filled with historical detail, creatively merging the past with the present and demonstrating what the future may hold."
"O. J. Harp III has created a powerful read that will forge a deep appreciation of African culture while delivering great messages of strength, determination and pride."
Highly Rocommended -- Educational, Entertaining & Refreshing: A Fantastic Book!!
Devalyn M. Kirkman, WAF Book Reviewer, August 30, 2007
WAF RATING:
Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx by author O.J. Harp III is a refreshing surprise. It tells the daunting tale of a group of people who bravely travel back and forth through time in an effort to discover their true identities, correct some mistakes of the past and reinforce some timeless principles into their present existence. When all is said and done, lost identities are discovered, true love is found, lessons of justice, morality and truth are learned and, best of all, good triumphs over evil.
Dr. John Steel, a Clinical Psychologist and recent Ph.D. graduate is happy with his present life. He still, however, has no memory of his childhood since he, as a pre-teen, mysteriously found himself by the Potomac River with nothing and no one to validate his existence. Deep down inside he knows that something is very different about him - a difference that goes way beyond just his childhood.
As the story unfolds, Dr. Steele slowly unlocks the keys to his past, unveiling a destiny unlike anything he could have ever imagined. Other main characters include Mutshat Ma’at, a police cadet and the long-lost love of Dr. Steele, Dr. Christopher Jones – a minister and philanthropist (with a past of his own) and students Eddie Richardson and Victor Carter, of the I Have a Dream Charter School.
Unbeknownst to this special group of people, they will all soon be caught up in a battle stemming from their past lives as Nubian warriors and Kemetic royalty from Ancient Egypt who are being pursued by an ancient tribe, the Anu and an evil, legendary Pharaoh who is seeking world domination for all ages to come. The help of some psychic practitioners, human geneticists and super-intelligent robots are enlisted along the way as these valiant trailblazers transcend the barriers of space and time, defying even the laws of gravity.
This book is a great read and is by no means for the faint of heart. A lot of historical, scientific and even paranormal information is covered in this novel, and I found the supplementary sections, i.e., the fact, prologue and glossary sections of great and necessary value.
It can be enjoyed by all readers, regardless of age. Some parts cater to a younger audience, making it relatable in today’s language while at the same time fostering a desire to learn more about history including prehistoric times, Egyptology and slavery.
For the more mature audience, it offers a different, more spontaneous reading experience. It speaks to the adult mindset through themes of romance, the discussion of art and travel and by dealing with sociopolitical and religious subjects such as cloning and reincarnation. I personally identified with the emphasis placed on the beauty, power and mystery of the Black race.
What I expected to be a dull, long and drawn-out history lesson actually turned out to be a virtual adventure. The author combined history, science and psychology and then cleverly blended in the imaginative elements of time travel, magic, wizardry and extreme science fiction in order to create this whirlwind tale of past, present and future ideas. A roller-coaster ride full of twists, turns, loops and tunnels, this novel goes beyond entertaining with enough substance to satisfy even the most ambitious thrill-seeker.
Across Time: Mystery of the Great Sphinx would be a great addition to the list of required reading for high schools and colleges across the nation. I recommend it highly and give it 5 stars *****.
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