Review of 'Travels in Elysium'

[Dee Owen]

 'Travels in Elysium' a journey into ancient and mystical times.  Intriguing and imaginative.    A read that will elicit all the senses. The story begins with Nicholas Pedrosa applying for a job on an archaeological dig on the Greek island of Santorini.  Nicholas has just finished college and is stuck in a real estate job in England that is going nowhere. The dig is headed by the legendary archaeologist Marcus James Huxley.  Pedrosa does not believe he has been hired for the position even when he receives the boat tickets and travel details in the mail. Only when he begins his travels to Greece, is he convinced he is now to be the apprentice to Huxley.  Nicholas (Nico) arrives at Santorini only to find Huxley and his associates attending a funeral of Huxley’s previous young assistant. Questions arise, what really happened to his predecessor?  What happened on the site of Huxley’s dig thousands of years ago?  Where are the ancient inhabitants of the city buried in a volcanic eruption all those years ago.  Everything is perfectly preserved yet there is no evidence of people or animals.  Nico is intrigued to learn along the way that Huxley’s expedition has uncovered mysterious 5,000-year-old hieroglyphics at the site.  Is this Plato's mythical Atlantis?

Be prepared to sit down and be transported on to an island and into a world of people, images, feelings, and thoughts that are almost beyond words.  But author William Azuski does not fail in words. Azuski's ability to use vocabulary that evokes the most subtle meanings and senses is surpassed.  I freely admit, on occasions, I referred to my dictionary to reference new words. Although not entirely necessary to understand Azuski's content or meaning but for my own benefit.  Archaeology is a subject I am not familiar with or archaeological digs.  Having travelled to several of the Greek islands, the novel had a personal interest for me as did the Atlantis Myth.  According to William Azuski, Plato presented Atlantis as the myth of an incredible civilization and land that mysteriously sank into the sea.  The author has cleverly used the myth or mystery gain the attention of readers with inquiring minds.  Some may find the story rather long and involved if they are looking for a quick, entertaining read. 

Instead the reader is taken on a journey that is thought provoking on the personal and global level.  The plot and characters are complex yet one soon becomes drawn into the world of Nicolas, Huxley and their associates.  You may start to question what is the true nature of reality and the human condition.