Entries Categorized as 'Mysteries'

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Our rating: ****

Harry’s uncle, Professor Von Hardwigg, discovers an ancient parchment, written in runic. On translating the note, they discover that the message from Arne Saknussemm, a famous geologist, says that the earth is hollow and if you descend into Mount Sneffells, an extinct volcano in Iceland, you will be able to travel to the center of the earth! The professor and Harry set off immediately and hire a guide named Hans. The three descend into the crater of Sneffells and into the center of the earth.

Jules Verne wrote a lot of great science fiction novels, and although his scientific facts are a bit off in this one, it is still worth reading. The beginning is a little slow, but once you get past it, there’s plenty of excitement and mystery. All science fiction fans should read Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The Iron Ring

Our rating: ***

Tamar receives a night visit from Jaya, a mighty ruler. Jaya’s only pastime is the gambling game of aksha. So, Tamar plays to please his guest. But Jaya bets his life against Tamar’s and Tamar loses. Charging him to come to his palace in Mahapura, where he will claim his debt, Jaya vanishes. Driven by a sense of dharma, or honor, Tamar seeks Mahapura and finds many strange adventures on the way.

I believe that Lloyd Alexander’s best books are his Chronicles of Prydain, which start with The Book of Three. The Iron Ring was pretty good and contained much of the morals that Alexander’s other books hold. Tamar is from India, so a lot of the mythology is from Indian legend. Animals talk, magic gems abound and things are not always as they seem.

The Mighty Orinoco

Our rating: ****

One of the biggest rivers in the South America: the mighty Orinoco. Or is it? MM. Miguel, Filipe, and Varinas can’t agree. Which river really is the Orinoco? After much debating, they decide the only way to find out is to take a trip and see for themselves. On the way, they meet Sergeant Martial, a retired military man, and his nephew, Jean de Kermor, who is searching for his long-lost father and has reason to believe that he’s somewhere down the Orinoco. Soon, their party is joined by an explorer and a botanist, Jacques Helloch and Germain Paterne, who have been assigned to an expedition of the Orinoco and its surrounding towns. Together they travel, encountering giant herds of turtles, electric eels, and an escaped convict.

When I first saw this book, I didn’t think I’d like it as much as some of Jules Verne’s other books, but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a little slow in the middle, but it picks up again in time for a nice finish. The characters are well developed and the storyline is very interesting.

The Jedera Adventure

Our rating: ***

When Vesper Holly discovers a very old book that her father borrowed from a library in Africa before he died, she determines to return it, dragging Brinnie along with. As usual, they encounter many adventures along the way, including kidnapping, slave traders, and a mysterious blue-skinned man.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as some of Lloyd Alexander’s other books, but it’s definitely worth reading. A very action packed mystery with a great deal of humor.

Mystery of the Roman Ransom

Our rating: *****

The Xanthos School is back with another adventure! The pupils, Julius, Publius, Flavius, Caius, Rufus, Muscius and Antonius give a slave, whose name is Udo, unable to speak or hear, to Xantippus for his “50th birthday.” Xantippus refuses, telling the boys to take the slave back to the slavedealer, Callon. When the boys get to Callon’s cottage, they find that Callon had sold all his slaves, except for one old slave that nobody would take, and fled! The old slave tells them that an ex-gladiator came and wanted Udo. When Callon told him that he didn’t have him anymore, the ex-gladiator said he was coming back the next day, and if Udo wasn’t there, he would kill him and all the slaves! After the boys leave the cottage, the ex-gladiator shows up and tries to take Udo, which the pupils manage to prevent. Then, Udo discloses that he can talk and hear! He is a slave of Pollino, the famous general! What’s going on? Is Udo to be trusted?

The sequel to Detectives in Togas, Mystery of the Roman Ransom is another enjoyable book.