The Traveller: A modern sci-fi thriller reminiscent of 1984
The key to stopping a global state of public surveillance is… spiritual enlightenment from a visionary? “The Traveller” is a 2005 Sci-Fi thriller novel written by John Twelve Hawks and the first book in the Fourth Realm Trilogy. The story focuses on global monitoring and control in the modern world - a prevalent theme that is gradually becoming a haunting reality in the 21st century. Here is my book review of the novel that had groundbreaking themes and concepts at the time it was published.
[Disclaimer: This review mentions some spoilers, but I try to keep them as general and vague as possible.]
The Traveller, by John Twelve Hawks
Brief Summary
A secret organisation known as the Brethren (or the “Tabula”) is monitoring civilian lives through a surveillance network grid known as the “Vast Machine”. The data footprint and digital profiles of every individual in the system are closely monitored through a multitude of methods: databases, cameras, radio frequency ID chips (RFID-tags), to shadow programs and recognition software. In this world, the Brethren know the behavioural patterns and digital information on every civilian and can take swift measures to prevent anything they don’t want to happen - therefore those within the Vast Machine act as if they are always being observed and monitored, making them completely controllable by this organisation.
The only thing that destabilizes their goal of a “virtual panopticon” system of control is the Travellers - individuals who can channel their neural energy, detaching their souls and hence leave their bodies to enter other dimensional realms. These Travellers are a threat as they can live outside of the Brethren’s system, bringing enlightenment and awareness of the true reality outside of the Vast Machine to the rest of society. Consequently, these visionaries can thwart the organisation’s evil scheme and shift the current underlying forces at play.
While it is believed that all Travellers have been killed and wiped out, a pair of brothers believed to be potential travellers re-emerge after living off the grid for some time. A Harlequin (think “ancient order of warrior protectors” of the Travellers) named Maya relinquishes her former civilian life and realigns with the cause for her own reasons, sets out to find the brothers before the Brethren do.
Important Aspects
Themes:
So, this book tackles some large themes that paint an unsettling picture of the current times we live in. For instance, prevalent themes of technology coupled with increasing public surveillance and intel gathering represent a haunting commentary on the issues of data privacy and protection in the 21st century. There are disturbing details of devices and programs that the author describes in the story, which is, in fact, a reflection of the tools used to monitor our daily lives today. In his postscript, John Twelve Hawks has an illuminating short essay entitled How We Live Now. In it he discusses the development of surveillance systems in Western countries, referring to things such as data mining and GPS among other things. This was a book written in 2005. Yet, it highlights with incredible precision, the current issues with digital technology we still face in 2020. Whether it is governments or corporations who are harvesting these data profiles on us, there is a pressing need to establish data protection and privacy laws that can continuously evolve and keep up with the rapid pace of technology.
Surprisingly, later on, the book also tackles themes of spirituality through the cosmology of Tibetan Buddhism. At first, I only understood it as a way to depict the other realms in the book: these dimensions are described with a sort of hierarchy linked to different human shortcomings/sins. In hindsight, I realise now it was commenting on how society can break through a culture of fear perpetuated by increasing surveillance. Through free will, we have the ability to protect our privacy and personal freedom. We’re entitled to fundamental rights and we should not allow “sophisticated electronic monitoring” to collect data so easily from us.
The novel presents these themes in a powerful manner, with illuminating social commentary. I think for this alone, it is at least worth dipping into the world of this story.
Characters:
While I love the themes this book explores, here’s where the problems [for me] begin. Let’s start off with the main characters:
Maya, the Harlequin
Maya is the main protagonist and throughout the story, we are given insights into her troubled past: from her childhood training as a Harlequin to her deep-seated father issues. She comes across as the brooding, blunt “don’t-fuck-with-me” badass woman protector archetype… something which feels stale and falls flat at times. The author tries to develop this closed-off character by - you guessed it - throwing in a romantic love interest with one of the Corrigan brothers *gasp*. In the hopes of showing her inability to express emotions and the frustration it causes as a Harlequin to be denied a hopeful future of a normal life - it just felt completely unnecessary for her character to experience this through a ridiculously stilted romantic entanglement. Instead, I thought it would be more illuminating to focus on her past more and reveal her nature through that - although I cannot comment on whether the author explores this in the rest of the trilogy. I felt myself wanting to root for her (as well as the Corrigan brothers) throughout the story, but could not in the end.
Gabriel Corrigan & Michael Corrigan
What can I say about the Corrigan brothers? Sure, they differ in terms of personality at a superficial level: Michael is the protective, ambitious older brother who thinks rationally and logically, while Gabriel is depicted as the reckless, carefree - albeit the sensitive - type of guy. They had a messed up childhood living off the grid, unbeknownst to them that their father was a Traveller who was trying to conceal his identity and protect his family. In truth, I felt that there wasn’t much development other than the base level personality between them. They’ve always looked out for each other throughout their past and every other chapter regarding them often references their desire to reunite and face the threat together. But, at later parts, it all becomes rather clichéd especially when they’re later stuck on opposing forces of “good vs. evil” and the reader can predictably sense how their relationship will develop by the end of the novel.
General Nash
The supposed leader of the Brethren/Tabula and one of the main antagonists, Nash is portrayed simply as a wise, charismatic director of the Evergreen Foundation facility, with a rich palate for prejudice and power. He is goal-oriented and focused on accomplishing his unorthodox mission of establishing the virtual panopticon through the help of another advanced civilisation in a different realm. Not much can be said about him, other than he is the typical “main villain” and represents the face of the evil organisation (at least in the first book anyway).
Nathan Boone
To put it bluntly, this antagonist is essentially the henchman who does all of the grunt work. The mercenary works for the Brethren and carries out field operations. Every now and then he intimidates/tortures people for the sake of the cause. Nothing is really revealed about him, apart from the obvious fact that he is a loyal footsoldier and a trusted associate of the executive board of the Brethren. There is no backstory, there is nothing complex about either of these two antagonists… which irks me as any character, no matter what role they serve, should at least be portrayed as authentic and human on some level [more on that later].
Secondary Characters
To me, a lot of the secondary characters serve as plot devices - nothing more. Take Lawrence Takawa for example: his father was a famous Japanese Harlequin, and he currently serves the Brethren. Yet, throughout the story, we know he has ulterior motives to recover his father’s lost sword… He spends a lot of his time locating the whereabouts of the artefact… only for it to later end up being used solely by another character in the final act. His entire subplot felt embarrassingly useless and it seemed like he existed to become a means to an end - to get the sword “talisman” in someone else’s hands.
Then there are those characters who appear out of necessity: like a capoeira teacher turned Harlequin companion, a girl who’s a member of a religious sect dedicated to the travellers, research scientists, Brethren members and other minor individuals who lack any real depth. Aside from being used as worldbuilding exposition, they simply serve as additional companions to save the main characters' asses or they are put in place to progress the story forward. While I understand that this is common practise when writing creative fiction, I desperately wished that they were at least made relatable in some way so the reader can connect with any of them on a personal level.
Overall, with the characters, I found myself at times not caring when any of these characters were in grave danger or struggling in some way. Perhaps it is because I didn’t empathise with any of them and each one seemed superficial and stereotypical in some regard - they never felt like a “real” person at all. Rather, it kinda felt like watching a cliché Hollywood action movie as you see these characters awkwardly interact with clunky and embarrassing dialogue.
Plot:
Contrary to how I feel about the characters themselves, I personally felt that the first act was done incredibly well: we get introduced to the main characters in a fast-paced writing style that keeps the momentum of the story without digressing too much. Additionally, elements of worldbuilding are tightly weaved into this believable narrative of a future world where discreet surveillance and control are integrated into modern society and day-to-day life.
Throughout the novel, there is this whole cat-and-mouse chase style narrative where the Corrigan brothers are being hunted by both forces. The writing style is simple and concise, with no intention of using poetic language. Although this suffers from heaps of dry prose, where the descriptions are not interesting at times and feel mechanical. While it is clearly not the type of novel which will leave you in a reflective outlook on life for days afterwards with its prose, the story does keep you gripped and hooked with each passing chapter, as the inevitable curiosity of ‘what happens next?’ gets the better of you. This Hollywood-esque approach of storytelling with fast-paced action and commercial use of hooks does just enough to keep the reader invested.
Unfortunately, things begin to stagnate by the second act.
One major issue is the pointless “fillers” and sub-plots after the first act. There are unnecessary chapters dedicated to several secondary (uninteresting) characters to bridge the gap, as the main characters are off travelling to certain destinations. They don’t really give extra information and honestly feel redundant to me as a reader. On top of this, there are scenes which come across as cringe-worthy, as some characters feel forced into their actions and dialogue to pursue an agenda (i.e. romantic interests or preaching some philosophical message).
The plot points are another issue. While the reader is aware early on about the villain’s goal to achieve a “virtual panopticon” system of control in society, the method they use later in the novel to get there does seem nonsensical. Truthfully, it also doesn’t fit into the persona and motives of the villains. Why are they so trustworthy of outside help from another dimension? Additionally, there is another character who switches sides and becomes a bad guy from what seems like an attitude of “just-cause-they-are-the-winning-side” sort of attitude. Don’t even get me started on the no-questions-asked mercenary Nathan Boone who does as he is told like a lapdog… I personally didn’t find these reasons compelling enough to justify their actions.
Although the momentum picks up again as we’re introduced to interesting ideas of scientific phenomena and elements of mysticism when the Travellers attempt to cross over to the realms, it still failed to keep me fully invested in the story. Predictably, events unfold to a final confrontation at the Brethren’s research facility. However, by the time I had reached this point in the final act, I found the stale prose, over-explaining and incessant Hollywood-esque action scenes irritating and frankly, boring. While the first book ends on a classic cliffhanger and there are two others in the trilogy, I don’t think I’d be coming back to the story for more.
World-Building/Setting:
Here is where the novel arguably shines the most.
At first, the novel outlines a map of fascinating concepts relating to digital technology and covert surveillance networks on a global scale of control: the author scatters details of various tools and methods that the enemy uses in the monitoring system that is the Vast Machine within different locations. I felt that these tremendous details were well-done as one can do with exposition: it can be incredibly difficult to weave in elements of worldbuilding without bogging the reader down with too much information.
Sure, there is sometimes half a page or so dedicated to explaining a particular type of tool that the bad guys use to monitor activity, but it is captivating that the author has thought this all out well. Things like splicers (genetically modified, hybrid animals), skimmers (machines that read the information on RFID chips in passports), facial scanning programs, and protective link devices (tracks transactions and GPS location) are fascinating, impressive details that actually inspire me in my own writing.
Notably, John Twelve Hawks captures the essence of certain cities such as London, Paris, Prague and parts of the United States of America so eloquently. By only scattering a handful of tiny details like street names, transport systems, and buildings they really immerse the reader into the setting like Neil Gaiman did in American Gods, and we are able to imagine a first-hand account of the events as they unfold before our eyes. It is an incredible feat for him to then weave in details about surveillance systems and devices in such locations, making it a believable, yet haunting reality of a big brother state of control.
There are also fascinating nuggets of exposition about the long history of the Tabula/Brethren, the Harlequins and Travellers scattered throughout the novel. The author cleverly weaves the narrative in-between notable points in history such as the decimation of the Templar order, arrival of prophets and other time periods. For me, I found these extra details enriching, making the story and this ancient feud between the two orders believable and enthralling.
However, that being said… there were many times later in the book that the author needlessly goes back, again and again, to reaffirm concepts in the reader's head. Said phrases such as the “Vast Machine”, “Tabula” etc. or even simply repeating brief explanations of concepts and ideas between characters in later chapters - all felt a tad unnecessary in my opinion. By that point, being more than halfway through the novel, the reader is already fully aware of the major concepts and themes highlighted in the story. Do we really need to be reminded again and again? Even if it is for the sake that all characters are up to date with the facts? After a while, it got to a point where the unnecessary repetition of worldbuilding elements frustrated me and the novelty soon wore off. This along with the one-dimensional characters and tedious subplots, I began to find myself drudging through the rest of a novel with a chronic case of disinterest.
Although that disinterest faded when fresh elements were introduced. We learn about the other realms, getting a glimpse into a town like Hell, the “city full of hungry ghosts” and others - all of which are inspired by the seven sins in some form. The vivid descriptions paint a rich picture as we see the Travellers interact and pass through these other dimensions. Ultimately, I think that the author did an impressive job with the worldbuilding and settings, although they could have scaled back on some unnecessary exposition and details in later parts of the novel.
Conclusion
Overall, The Traveller felt like one of those books which have a great idea… but is not executed well enough through the fundamental level of storytelling. The novel relies too much on hooks, action scenes and detail-oriented, savvy elements of worldbuilding. While the latter succeeds in captivating the reader throughout the story, it gets tarnished by the lacklustre characters, filler chapters and even sometimes by redundant exposition. The plot is straightforward without being too wishy-washy at times with supernatural elements; however, it haphazardly navigates to the end with absurd sub-plot detours and questionable character motives, making it just about conceivable as a story. Although, the large themes and social commentary on technology in the 21st century make it entertaining and insightful to keep the reader engaged. Whether you choose to stay on the ride to the end, is completely up to you.
My Rating:
2/5 Bookmarks