They can use energy spells, travel across time and space, and have been frequent visitors to and residents of Earth throughout the ages. Orion is descended from two part-Taloshians, but lacks their powers, and his Non-Taloshian status has irked him for years. But when his parents are kidnapped by evil Emperor Daaggerd in exchange for the Exploricus and the Ancient Book of Spells that his family has protected for generations, he finds that only he is capable of seeking out the seven keys needed to open the book.
With the help of the ship’s officers and friends from a wide range of Earth cultures and times (including a sentient emperor penguin), Orion embarks on a quest to defeat Emperor Daaggerd and save his parents. But what secrets is his family hiding? And how can Orion, to all appearances a normal Earth boy, defeat a powerful magician?
The book’s premise is cheerfully creative, with new surprises on every page that will keep the young reader interested. Orion is charmingly plucky, making the most of his strengths with only the occasional sigh over the powers he lacks. The ship’s crew is eccentric, delightfully so, and Sir K. is a believable mentor for Orion, warm and fatherly without being over-indulgent.
The Pataloshian world is richly imagined and three-dimensional, with cultural mores and traditions of its own. (Some of these are highly entertaining, especially seen through the eyes of children experiencing them for the first time.) The story’s ending demonstrates Orion’s courage and daring, and leaves the reader anticipating a sequel, so we can find out what happens next.
At times, the book reads more like a basic anthropology text for kids then an adventure story, with every day a new culture (and a new cuisine) to study (albeit somewhat superficially). There is the occasional anachronism (are the Taloshians responsible for the pre-Columbian Inca having cheddar cheese and broccoli, for example?), parents seem far too cheerfully ready to hand over their teenage or preteen kids to semi-strangers from a wildly different world, and all the kids seem to get along a bit too easily, despite differences in culture and custom and the fact that many of them have good reason to be suspicious of strangers.
These issues are, however, reasonably forgivable in a kids’ book, if a bit troublesome to nitpicky adults. Also, the trials to get the keys are a bit too easy – the book might be improved if there were fewer but more suspenseful and difficult tasks for Orion to fulfill.
This is a lively and playful beginning to what promises to be an imaginative and adventurous science fiction series for children. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Reviewed by Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader