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Home > Reality > Comments And Reviews Comments And Reviews
John Hunter has no recollection of his parents or family. His memories are of the small orphanage in Waterston where he lived until he was nine, and of a long parade of foster homes after that. Now an adult, John spends his days working on the cutting edge of modern technology and his nights dreaming about mysterious wild creatures that fill him with a desperate sense of longing. Reluctantly reunited with his family, John soon finds himself forced to admit that the simplicity of their lives is soothing. He even meets a young woman who says she is his soul mate. But can John throw away everything he has worked for - everything that has been important to him in the past - to build a life with people he scarcely knows? Reality Check by Ron Tarrant is a fast-paced fantasy novel which takes the reader deep into the mind of a young man struggling to choose between two worlds. John is a compelling protagonist, sometimes wrong, but never passive in his search for his true destiny. The supporting characters are also sympathetic and well-developed. This type of plot could very easily become sappy, but Tarrant employs a pleasing dry wit, and manages to steer clear of sentimentality. Whether you're a confirmed technology junkie or a nature lover wanting to get away from it all, Reality Check is a fun, thought-provoking read. Debra Stang, Reviewer
Review by S. Joan Popek Tarrant has created a world that I believe could be. I'm not sure if this book is science fiction, fantasy, adventure or all three, but whichever it is, it rocks! I was hooked with the first sentence and didn't put the book down until I turned the last page. This is a poignant story of a present day society, high-tech man finding his roots and his future in a most surprising place and time. The author's fast paced style, yet down-to-earth language, leaves no room for slacking. You rush from one page to the next breathlessly to see what happens next. Tarrant writes "to" you, not "at" you. I was impressed with the underlying message of how our society treats those "different" from the norm without preaching or pontificating. He leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and a real desire to be more accepting of our fellow human beings, no matter what their heritage or appearance might be. This adventure hits you in the gut and then twists your heart as you follow young John Hunter through his very believable and often difficult path from his high-tech existence and values to the most primitive world he could imagine with a whole new set of ideals. He is forced to take a real "Reality Check" on his entire life. I highly recommend this book to lovers of adventure, lovers of science fiction and lovers of just plain good writing. Buy this book. You won't be sorry. S. Joan Popek
Reality Check is the author's second novel. Like the first, Hiding from Eddie, it takes you on a action-packed journey that's thought-provoking and heartrending. In this newest novel, John Hunter seems to have his life together. He's a successful software engineer in an upscale company. But hidden underneath the wrappings is a sense of emptiness. An orphan, he longs to know his background. And general feelings of inadequacy due to his short stature compound this restlessness. Things change rapidly for John when he's assigned to a job in remote Waterston, B. C., his hometown. Upon meeting Father Troy, who ran the orphanage when he was a boy, he's overcome with emotion. When the old priest takes him to meet someone in St. Anne's old church, his life as he's known it is forever altered. Appalled by what he discovers, he is filled with rage and repulsion. He runs refusing to accept the truth. Eventually John must make a gut-wrenching choice. Go back to his life as he knew it or accept the life which calls him back as one of their own. Reality Check is definitely a "thumbs up!" ActionTales.com
"John discovers his roots are not only far from high technology, but also as far from civilization as possible!" --- ActionTales.com
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