A couple weeks ago I was wandering through Costco. I and not usually allowed to be by myself with the debit card. As I was wandering through the books, I came upon a table manned by an author. Since I was alone without a family to embarrass, I took the opportunity to stop and talk. He was eager to talk and I am always interested in talking with people who like to write. I ended up buying his book, of course.
Speed of Light is the first full-length book by Lee Baker. He has written a couple children’s books and screenplays prior. I sat down to start reading Speed of Light on Sunday afternoon. I finished it five hours later. I couldn’t put it down. The concept intrigued me. The plot was tight. The action was well paced. There were surprises and twists that kept the pages turning.
Pierce Black is a test pilot, scheduled to make the first attempt in a craft that travels at the speed of light. Okay, I admit, that part almost lost me right there in Costco. I’ve had too much physics to believe an airplane can travel at the speed of light. But, I decided to suspend my belief for a moment and go with it. Glad I did. Baker doesn’t attempt a complex explanation of how it is possible, but concerns himself with the result. Black survives (barely) only to discover he has an ability to see things in the past, almost like a dream, except that he is able to move around and consciously interact. Interesting side effect.
Problems compound when he discovers more about the death of his wife (killed in a car crash) through this new power. It wasn’t an accident after all, but a targeted hit by the very corporations that employs him. Instantly, he is off on the chase for the truth and to bring justice to her killers. The twists and turns are interesting and logical. And entrancing.
There are a few things Baker will improve on in future books, I’m sure. There are a couple things I had a real hard time swallowing, such as why the company would go ahead with a future test flight after Black’s physical troubles become evident. In fact, why go forward with human flight when the test with a monkey didn’t go so well? What was the burning need for a human pilot at all, when the plane was able to be flown remotely? The benefit of moving cargo at the speed of light alone would be enough for any enterprise. Why risk human tests until after they understood it more? That baffled me.
Baker’s corporation behind the tests didn’t act like a real corporation would and that confused me. Still the drama that unfolded was interesting and engaging. The interaction with his son and sister-in-law was mind twisting and I loved it. I can’t give it away, but this is the part that I enjoyed most of all. Baker leveraged an concept with the mentally handicapped I have often thought of myself. Brilliant. I loved it.
Speed of Light is worth reading. Baker is a good author who knows how to write a page-turner. I look forward to new works from him in the future. I’ll have to hang out at Costco more often.
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