Meanwhile in western Africa, Tim Redmond awakes from a troubled sleep. He tries to recall what was happening in his nightmare without success. Tim is happy trying to make a normal life for underprivileged children using sports as therapy. Though Tim is brilliant he has no desire to save the world by solving complex scientific problems and simultaneously being treated as a freak because of his brilliance.

Unexpectedly Tim is essentially kidnapped by persons unknown to him and transported to New York where he is installed as a member of a “Think Tank” assembled to deal with a problem. Scientists on Mars have discovered the remnants of a Martian city that appears to belong to a civilization that lived 300 million years ago. What is most remarkable about this find is that all of the inhabitants seem to have been wiped out in a single day. The purpose of the task force is to determine what caused the cataclysmic event to occur, and who the inhabitants of this city were.

As Tim begins to examine the data already collected about the civilization he notices certain inconsistencies. It appears that the data has been altered. Because only the members of the task force team have had access to the data, Tim believes that someone within his small group has an agenda different that the ordained purpose of the team. Finding the original data will prove to be a challenge because Tim is not sure who, if anyone, on the team he can trust and relying on the wrong person could be fatal.

Revelations is much more of a science fiction novel than a mystery story. While there are mysterious elements, the major premise of the plot places this work firmly in the realm of science fiction. Tim is a character of extraordinary abilities, the extent of which is revealed as the story progresses. These abilities are way beyond the capabilities of any human presently walking on Earth. As a result, the reader is asked to make ample use of his willing suspension of disbelief in order to make any sense of the plot.

Mr. Byrnes has chosen to use several different methods to present his story. The major portion of the novel is told in the third person with the focus on Tim’s actions and thoughts. However, periodically, there are instant messaging conversations between Tim and someone unknown to Tim who calls himself Peter. Peter makes many suggestions to Tim requiring him to do extraordinary things with his mind, and often directing him to do things he would rather not do. These conversations lead the story into bizarre directions not unlike the Pong electronic game of old.

The novel also has situations that place it very close to fantasy. On an excursion in the Middle East Tim encounters a being that is definitely not human. He really only gets a brief look at this creature, describing him as a tall black figure, of which no particular feature could be discerned. Not to long afterward he finds himself in a cave, crawling over a pile of rubble. He uncovers a skeleton of a being which he is certain belongs to “the same race as the creature.” How can he be so certain of this fact when he only caught a distant glimpse of the creature in the dark? If Tim is human, I don’t think he’d be able to do this.

The author, however, gets very high marks for originality. I don’t read much science fiction or fantasy, but I believe that this plot is unlike anything else I’ve ever heard. It is refreshing to read something completely different, not a variation on an idea that has been used many times before. Among the science fiction crowd, this book may prove to be a winner.

--Andy Plonka