Keeper of the Kingdom

(Book One of the Keeper Series)
by
H.J. Ralles

Top Publications, January 2001, 186 pp.
ISBN: 1-929976-03-8

Genre: Young Reader
Subgenre: Science Fiction
Reviewed: 7/10/2001

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Excerpt

Halt, Intruder!

"In the name of Zaul, the Protectors command you to surrender!"

Matt ignored the warning and continued to run. A vibrant blue ball of light flashed past his head. He fell to the ground and covered his ears as the shimmering sphere of Xeleron struck the wall and exploded with and almighty boom. The stench of burning chemicals filled the air. Tiny fragments of plaster rained down as if he were in the middle of a sandstorm. Matt could taste the dust on his tongue and feel bits of debris tangled in his hair.

Two Cybergon Protectors were visible in the distance; the fine silver barrels of their Xelerays were aimed straight at him. A direct hit would mean instant death.

Matt struggled to his feet and carried on, his life depended upon it. The walls of the corridor flashed by as he frantically searched for a way out.

"Halt, we command! You will not escape the Protectors. Surrender or be eliminated!"

A second ball streaked past, made contact with the floor twenty feet ahead and detonated. Using his personal computer, Matt shielded his face from splintered fragments of tile, which hurled through the air toward him. A sharp pain seared through the back of his hand. Gasping in agony, he pulled a jagged piece of floor tile from his flesh. A long crack now wound its way across the lid of his laptop.

The dust settled. An enormous blackened crater, still sizzling from the intense heat, blocking the way forward.

Synopsis

When Matt's computer crashes while he is playing the new game he just started, Keeper of the Kingdom, he is mysteriously transported into the game.

In the game, in the bubbled Zaul Kingdom, Matt finds refuge with three workers; Dana, Balder and Norak, who have just hidden away a boy who was ill named Targon. They take Matt to Doran, a man who they feel can help them find the CD-ROM of the game that Matt lost when he crossed over.

After Targon heals, he meets Varl, an elderly man who escaped the Protectors when he was a kid, and hopes that he can help them all escape. Meanwhile, Commander Z and his robotic Protectors are trying desperately to find Matt. But Protector 21 has his own ideas how things should be handled and is planning a revolt of his own with Matt caught in the middle.

Keeper of the Kingdom is a young adult book set in the year 2540 and focuses on a boy named Matt who is from the year 2010. The story revolves his attempt to finish the game he started before he was sucked into the game. The only problem is that he now has to finish as a real character from inside the game. This is the first published novel by H. J. Ralles.

This is a fast-paced story that shows the struggle of an oppressed people, humans in this case, trying to break free from the control of the computers. Ms. Ralles has created and interesting and brutal world where humans are killed for breaking the rules and live their lives as slaves to the super computer. The characters she has brought to life are quite believable and are very interesting to read about.

Keeper of the Kingdom is the first book in a five-book science fiction young adult Keeper series by H.J. Ralles. This book is intended for young readers in 4th through 6th grade, but can easily be enjoyed in even higher grades, or even adults. This is H.J. Ralles' first published novel.

Review

Like any book published by a first-time author, I am always a little skeptical. But I was pleasantly surprised by the way the story rolled along and with the character development. The characters were easy to read about, as they were quite likable, and the situations they are placed in are quite exciting.

The print is lager than normal, making it easier reading for the younger reader. I did like that Ms. Ralles teaches the reader a little about computers by giving some steps on how to open programs. I felt that it would have been nice if there was a little more of this. One thing that I had a little problem swallowing was the killing of the humans. Not a lot are killed, and the Protectors turn them into a pile of ash when they shoot them, but still...it is killing. Since this is a book for young adults, I thought it would have been better not to have that type of violence.

Other than that one little problem, Keeper of the Kingdom is an excellent story and I was very pleased with the storytelling. I would recommend this book to young adults who are not only into computers and computer games, but are also into science fiction. I wonder what will happen next on Level 2 in Keeper of the Realm?

I rated this book a 7½ out of 10.