“3001” Self published novel by indy author Ginger Lee, editing by Augustin Kendall. From the start to the finish I found it a real page-turner, coming in at a svelte count of just over 150 pages. It’s a very satisfying, quick read. A perfect companion for a weekend trip to the beach, or perhaps a backyard hammock, if we are all still being locked in our rooms by Mother Nature when you read this. In any event, remember your sunscreen, because you are likely to forget where you are. The book is a large format paperback with clear typography that’s easy on the eyes, and It has a solid binding. Both of which are good, because you’re going to want to read this again. A lot of professional care, and I’m betting no small amount of investment, went into this well crafted publication.
The story at the heart of “3001” is ultimately one about the power of seizing opportunities, and discovering unexpected relationships along the path to places unimagined. A romance story in a science fiction/fantasy setting, it is told with gentle loving care for the characters, and mostly from the unique female perspective of the main protagonist Rory Larken.
At the beginning of the story, we find Rory, burdened by a tragic past, in large part because of her “ability”, a strange power that she doesn’t fully understand, and that she has only recently begun to feel some control over. She has settled in a loose knit, rustic community called Crossroads. Rory takes on the role of innkeeper, and has settled into a mundane existence, albeit one important to her community. She tells herself that she is happy. One night, a man arrives in Crossroads half frozen, barely alive. He is in desperate need of help, and Rory with her unique magical gift is surely the only one that can help the beautiful stranger she comes to know as Jacoby Garrick.
As events unfold, she begins to recognize that Jacoby’s unexpected arrival serves as a lens focusing inner desires she had long hidden from herself. Jacoby encourages her to travel with him, if only for a while to a bit more of the world. In spite of her reservations, and perhaps because of her growing attraction to Jacoby, Rory decides to heed the call to adventure. Rory has no idea what the larger world outside of Crossroads has in store for her, and we share in her amazement as an unexpected road of fate unfolds before her.
I very much would’ve loved more descriptions of the setting, and perhaps some backstory about certain aspects of this world, but I understand choices the author made to set these aside. The fault may be more my own, as I’m greedy that way. I’m sure they were many tough choices to make.
On the journey to Jacoby’s home settlement, another man, Quinn, a long time friend of Jacoby’s enters the story and things begin to get more complicated for the pair. In some ways, Quinn is very much the shadow of Jacoby, and for reasons that I’ll leave for the telling - the story turns to one of how to deal with the struggles that arise from relationships born of complicated circumstances. Rory has an innocence and clarity of spirit that help her navigate this complicated geometry with grace.
As the world begins to settle for our friends, and things are seemingly at their most idyllic, it all suddenly cracks apart. Our heroes are left to pick up the pieces, and to figure out how to find a path forward through events both tumultuous and tragic, increasingly complicating their relationships.
I found character development very satisfying throughout. In places I was struck by the author’s poetic economy of words, which she uses to develop both their insights and emotional inner life. There were also some clever uses of literary devices to expose some challenging bits of backstory and character motivation. I particularly liked the use of a news clipping near the beginning of the story.
The book concludes with a very satisfying ending, where all the remaining pieces seem to fit together nicely. I do see plenty of opportunity for a continuation of the story, maybe even the telling of events that take place well before and leading up to it. I eagerly await for Ginger Lee to expand on the story of this wonderful world she has forged, one we have only just glimpsed.
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Seamless blending of different eras
Loved this story. Felt like it could be medieval, steampunk, or current. And…they all blended seamlessly and never had me wondering if an item belonged. Hoping for a follow-up as there is certainly room for more tales of Dragons and airships
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