Book Review: Arcadia's Children 3

Arcadia’s Children 3: Pushley’s Escape

By Andrew R. Williams

    This is a sci-fi mystery thriller that is a sequel to Arcadia’s Children 2: The Fyfield Plantation. The story is as complex but even more jaw dropping than the first two books in the series. It is a story that will make you pause everything until you find out how it is going to end. It’s another story that has breath and depth.

    Ed Pushley is an archaeologist. But he isn’t just any ordinary archaeologist. His mind has been taken over by a ghost named Irrelevant. His nickname is quite a metaphor for the kind of existence the author wants to create for Pushley. As a philosopher, it certainly opened a lot of avenues of reflection for me. It gave Pushley a depth and a fascination for me like no other Williams has created so far in his trilogy.

    Irrelevant and Pushley are one and the same mind. The sci-fi background to this premise gives it an added layer of fascination. When Irrelevant dies, Pushley becomes a captive. He tries to escape, yet it isn’t easy to do. I mean, how do you escape something that becomes so much a part of you?

    However, Pushley doesn’t give up. He keeps trying to escape without ceasing. He discovers that through perseverance he can remove his isolation helmet and even use it to his advantage so that he could finally escape. Then he uses Irrelevant’s psychic powers to finally regain his freedom.

    Once Pushley finally escapes from his captivity, he has a choice. Does he retaliate and seek revenge or just leave things be?

    This is another well-paced story. The plot is intriguing, and complex. The scenes are poignant and well-illustrated. It is a story that will linger with you for a long time. I can’t wait to read Williams’ next book.

Irene S. Roth