The Players
by
Joseph Fullam

Sevenlong X Press, January 1999, 160 pp.
ISBN: 0-9672287-0-0

Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewed: 12/8/2000

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Read an Excerpt

"This wasn't supposed to happen so soon."

Jessaso added softly, "A massive shift in thought, in their way of life has occurred. Why the sudden change?" Jassaso paused. "Did the Earthlings tap into some unfamiliar power? Many are in agreement that there is a great force behind the change. But we don't know what it could be."

The professor assumed Jessaso's careful tone. "We don't know what it could be. We might never know, unless--unless, someone goes there and finds out. You want to send someone? Nonsense," the professor said breaking into nervous laughter. He began to laugh harder when Jessaso's face remained very serious. "Have you lost your mind? Don't even think I'd consider it."

"We need someone to go to Earth. It's our only change to find out what happened. You studied Earth history for many years. You are familiar with its customs and many of its languages. It is a mission that will demand much strength of mind and body, and you are strong, both emotionally and physically."

"Of course, the mission is unauthorized by Quadra," the professor said caustically.

Jessaso gave a slight nod.

"There is no coming back?"

"I won't give you false hope."

Review

The professor is teaching at a school where the students pay him little heed and often take the class discussions of in inconsequential direction. The professor is frustrated with his lack of power and would like for things to change. He is fascinated with Earth and has studied it from afar. Hi wife died 12 years ago, and he has since lived a solitary and unfulfilling life. So when Jessaso and a colleague approach the professor about joining Quadra, a select few group that get to travel the stars in their five ships. For years he had tried to get in, but all of his efforts had appeared fruitless. He jumped at the chance and left that night. While on the Lightstar, he begins his training. It seems that the training involves teaching a person to leave their body and to be able to travel like a ghost. He soon is given a job of going down to Earth in the year 2024 to find the reason for the Earthlings radical change in thinking. Homelessness has been eradicated, and conflicts no longer seem to plague them. What could have caused such a quick turnaround? It is up to the professor to find out.

This is Joseph Fullam's first published novel. This is a science fiction story that takes place mostly in another part of the galaxy. The last part of the story takes place in the near future on Earth, but it is a drastically different future then one that we would expect to have. The professor is a strange person to nail down. With no physical description, or name given (until the end of the story), it is hard for the user to get a feeling about who he is. This makes it hard for the user to create any kind of bond with the main character. And then when the professor starts terrorizing human when he first arrives, and then end up killing an elderly woman for no apparent reason, it makes it difficult to understand who he is or why he does the things he does.

I have read a couple of first novels, and this one started off well. I kind of liked the professor and felt his anguish over loosing his wife. I was excited for him as he started his journey into the unknown. But when he learned to travel outside his body, he acted like a little kid traveling all over the ship not listening to his superiors. This whole thing confused me very much. But that passed that the professor finally made it to Earth. Then he kills a lady for no reason. At this point, I lost most of my respect for the professor. And the ending of the story seemed rather convoluted. But I did enjoy most of the story; it was just these few things that really hurt the story, in my opinion. But others may enjoy this story more than I did. Only you can tell by reading it.

I rated this book a 5 out of 10.