Hoopla is one of the largest library sites in North America. It has taken a while, but now four out of five of Peter Kazmaier’s books can be downloaded from Hoopla, and it is likely the fifth book, The Battle for Halcyon, will be available soon. Hoopla is a bit different than other library apps such as Overdrive’s Libby. In contrast to Libby where the library has to purchase e-books, before they can be lent, Hoopla makes the whole huge Hoopla library available to the library patron and a library is only charged if the e-book is borrowed.
The universe is infinite, an infinite number of possibilities, times, and dimensions that are coiled together in what we might call reality. But when we are displaced from our own reality and shot into another, how might we react? What might we discover? This is exactly what Peter Kazmaier attempts to answer in The Halcyon Dislocation.
After a mysterious explosion and an experiment gone wrong, the university island of Halcyon is transported to a strange other world. Kazmaier blends a mixture of fast paced action with philosophical and scientific descriptions and discussions as main character David and fellow survivors explore their new surroundings. I’m instantly pleasantly reminded of sci fi classics like Planet of the Apes or Lost in Space. It was fun to see what strange creatures or landscapes the explorers would discover next, all while getting some interesting views on society. I look forward to seeing what new adventures await in the Halcyon series!
I’d definitely recommend this to any fans of Heinlein or Asimov.
Although I prefer holding a real book to reading a book on my smart phone, I have found e-books particularly useful for library borrowing. They allow waiting lists and automatic retrieval (no more pesky library fines).
I am gratified to point out to my friends in Calgary, that THE HALCYON CYCLE books are now available in e-book format at the Calgary Public Library … if you haven’t read, for example, THE DRAGONS OF SHEOL, why not check it out there for free?
Strangely enough, I read the third book before reading this, the second in the series. That was an interesting experience, but not a bad one. Suddenly, all the foreshadowing became references that I had inside knowledge of that the characters didn’t yet. Also, it was quite charming to see a couple that I knew as already married and established in their relationship first meet and fall in love. Theirs was a very interesting dynamic that I wasn’t expecting, knowing their future selves!
My favorite aspect of this particular book was probably that particular romance, because it was so sweet and charming. It reminded me somewhat of Aragon and Arwen from the Lord of the Rings if they met later in life instead of growing up together.
Another aspect of this book that I really like that also reminds me of The Lord of the Rings is the strong bond of friendship between the protagonists. While I haven’t yet read the first book to find out all of the friendship origins, I have seen how they have been tested and held true.
Also, it was great to visit this world (these worlds?) again, because it really is quite unique. There is something about it that combines fantasy, science fiction, and Biblical/apocalyptical [sic] together like the three strands of a braid.
Anyway, for anyone who likes speculative fiction, romances between immortals and mortals, and books in general, this is the series for you.
I received a copy of this book from the author, but was not required to give a favorable review.
The lag to get Peter Kazmaier’s books onto Apple’s iTunes site always seemed unduly long because (according to the distributor) the file requirements for the upload were so stringent.
Thankfully that has been solved and even the most recent book, The Dragons of Sheol is now available on the iTunes site. Why not check it out?
The main difficulty for me with the Halcyon Cycle has been the interval between books! On this occasion, (having previously written to ask when this was coming out) Peter kindly sent me a free review copy, which I found waiting for me on my return from a trip away. I was tired from my travels; so that made a perfect excuse to put my feet up and read – and I devoured over a third of the book in one day! After that, I decided I had better catch up on my other work and rationed myself quite severely. One tip: if, like me, it’s about 2 years since you read the last book I’d recommend re-reading that first. Maybe even re-read both. I found that I had become pretty hazy over some of the details: but I was so intent on following the story that I failed to notice the helpful glossary and maps at the back until I’d almost finished.
The book is very fast-paced, as Al and his friends engage in an increasingly desperate search to trace his wife and adopted son before they are lost forever in the terrifying abyss called Sheol. This leaves them less time for philosophical debate than in previous books. Nevertheless, the philosophical element is still present, covering such issues as the social bankruptcy of [tyranny], duty in the face of despair and whether the goodies are always good or the baddies irredeemably bad.
The book ends on a high note: but this is very evidently the calm before the storm. Key questions remain unanswered; and the eventual outcome is far from certain. Will good ultimately triumph over the evils that may arise from the depths of Sheol, from within the ranks of the Ancient Ones, or from Earth itself? Is there going to be another trilogy? I won’t be satisfied until I see the next series.
Peter Kazmaier’s, The Battle for Halcyon, won the 2016 Word Novel Award: Speculative Fiction category. For Wolfsburg Imprints listings of this book look here.
“Every Writer a Voice” at the Word Awards (Photo by: Stephen Gurie Woo)
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THE BATTLE FOR HALCYON Winner in the Speculative Fiction category (Photo by: Stephen Gurie Woo)
A milestone moment for Peter Kazmaier and Wolfsburg Imprints (Photo by: Stephen Gurie Woo)
The Wolfsburg Imprints book, The Battle for Halcyon, is still in the running for the Speculative Fiction category of the Word Awards. The Award winner will be announced at the Word Award Gala in Toronto on June 24, 2016.
Here is a 100 word excerpt from the book requested for the Gala.
Dave peeked over the rubble heap and saw a large band of Halfmen approaching, carrying torches. Just then an arrow thudded into the first Halfman and the others howled with rage and sprang to the attack. There were so many of them that they flowed through a gap in the broken ruin of the wall like a dark howling tide. Dave had no time to think, but along with his friends was fighting for his life. Three large Lupi bounded on a nearby broken wall. The leader spotted Dave, growled and leapt for him. Dave rammed his shield into its snout and thrust his sword into its chest.
Wolfsburg Imprints 
