New & Current Releases
Archives: A-Z By Title
Archives: A-Z By Author
Advanced Search

All-Time High Scores
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Best Of 2004
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Books In Our Forums

The Traveler
A Novel
by John Twelve Hawks

8.0 based on 8 reviews read critic reviews how did we calculate this? based on 15 votes read user comments rate this book

Compare prices at pricegrabber.com

Buy it at powells.com

Buy it at amazon.com

Buy it at amazon.co.uk

• Official Book Site
• Official Publisher Site

The true identity of the author is a closely-guarded secret, as is only befitting for a semi-sci-fi thriller (one of many in recent years billed as the next "The Da Vinci Code") about a mysterious quasi-mystical sect known as Travelers. (And you thought they only sold insurance.)

Doubleday, 464 pages
06/28/2005
$24.95

ISBN: 038551428X

Fiction
General Literature & Fiction
Science Fiction & Fantasy

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

Publishers Weekly

Twelve Hawks's much anticipated novel is powerful, mainstream fiction built on a foundation of cutting-edge technology laced with fantasy and the chilling specter of an all-too-possible social and political reality.

San Francisco Chronicle David Lazarus

A high-octane thriller that delivers the goods.

The New York Times Janet Maslin

"The Traveler" is written with unlikely buoyancy. The ponderousness that afflicts so many big visionary books does not take hold here.

The New York Times Book Review Gerald Jonas

Twelve Hawks knows how to hide the holes in a fast-moving narrative by piling up believable details about everything from Japanese sword making to the latest eavesdropping technology.

Washington Post Patrick Anderson

[Twelve Hawks's] prose is smooth, his characters are believable and his pace never slackens.

The Globe And Mail [Toronto] John Burns

Ingenious, intelligent and restless. [30 July, 2005]

Kirkus Reviews

Saddled with a half-baked antiestablishment mysticism that draws a layer of gauze across all the proceedings.

Entertainment Weekly Gregory Kirschling

[Twelve Hawks's] leaden, repetitive ridiculousness soon becomes irksome.

The average user rating for this book is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

happy harry gave it a9:
Truth is stranger than fiction you can always better yourself No matter what dimension you are stuck in.

Tyler gave it an8:
Great read. Reminds me of a mix between the Kill Bill and the Matrix movies. However, I am disappointed I found it before any of the sequels were written. Anticipating the next one....

John S gave it a9:
An excellent book, highly recommended. I am glad I ignored the raft of criticism levelled at the book and author for 'copying' elements of Highlander/The Matrix/Dan Brown books. I feel that the book skillfully builds tension, blending science and technology with strange religions to describe a mysterious and violent underworld of competing organisations, far removed from the ordinary lives of the average 'citizen' living 'on the grid'. I found the Orwellian ideas quite thought-provoking, especially about the sheer power technology can now give to those able to utilise it, legally or otherwise. Picture a global organisation that is above the law, which can effortlessly exploit cameras, databases, genetics and criminals for its own sinister means, with control and contacts at the highest levels of governments. This is book one of a planned trilogy, and I am thoroughly looking forwards to the next installment. It has the potential to be a great film - my worry being that the mysterious 'other realms' could turn out to be as much of a disappointment as the follow-ups to The Matrix...

Alexa gave it an8:
When I have free time I don't want to study or analyze. A fast, entertaining read with a little "magic". Too bad I found "The Traveller" before the sequels are written - an irritating wait.

Doug gave it an8:
Fast paced, complex, well devloped characters - liked it! Just hope the next 2 in the trilogy are as good - hard to believe.

Ryan T gave it a7:
good book. can really see it as a good movie

Fred gave it an8:
This book is an enjoyable page-turner. Like Kill Bill in a book.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this book in our forums