Book Review: The Road to Shamballah

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Road to Shamballah     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Steven Graham Charles
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction
Dancing Ground Press, Feb 2002, $15.00, 148 pp.

He was a wild Highland boy living with his grandparents since his mother died in a plague and his father was lost in space. The unit governing body wants to send the boy Willie McTavish on a mission and he is not given the choice of refusal especially when his grandparents insist upon his going. He is driven to the shuttle and than flies to the space station.

He boards the Fourth Ray and begins a mission that is not yet revealed to him. While in transit, they are ordered to pickup the Hyggelig Ambassador who will complete the mission with them. Willie learns how man developed the hyperdrive and defeated the evil aliens who wanted to have the human race for lunch.

THE ROAD TO SHAMBALLAH is reminiscent of some of the young adult works of Andre Norton. Steven Graham Charles has written a charming coming of age tale that showcases a protagonist who learns wisdom on a journey that he never wanted to take. Although this is partially a character study, the plot line contains plenty of action, making for a complete package.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner