Exodus

The story begins with the preface, though, this particular preface is actually quite important in my opinion. It is entitled simply Switzerland and it lays out the relationship between the two main antagonists in the novel. This preface is basically giving you more information than you can understand. It is telling you what you will find out half way through the book, but because you don't understand what these facts mean, you forget them until later.

Chapter 1 then begins with Thomas Hunter, I like the way that Dekker starts off the trilogy with action. Immediately upon entering this plot-line you find Thomas wrapped up in an intense fight which he did not expect. Walking down a dark alleyway of all places he is shot at, and throughout the course of this chase and after a hand-to-hand combat scene, you learn of Thomas' new "ability". To me, this ability is the strangest part and most unique part of this book because it hasn't been done, or at least not done well before. He lives now in two alternate realities, and must presume both are as real as the other. When I read how Thomas finds himself in a densely wooded forest of black trees with a man named Bill, I make a mental note that the fact that bill drank out of this water which Thomas decided was not good to drink out of, and the fact that he just went bolting in to the woods, meant that I would, or rather Thomas would, encounter him later on during the story.

It's all these tie-ins that make you feel good about remembering all the intricate details he lays out for you, you don't necessarily need to remember them to enjoy the book, but if you really pay attention it is more rewarding.

So far, I'm enjoying this book very much. I was told not to simply give a synopsis of the contents of each chapter for every post I make so I'll just be giving you scattered details which hopefully won't entirely ruin your experience when you read this book, but will enrich your thoughts about it after you do.

- Alex