I really enjoyed this book -- but then, I've really enjoyed all the books by Gary Paulsen that I've read, be it as a kid/teenager or adult. It was quick and easy, but interesting and not completely predictable. I do agree with some of the other reviewers that it can be a bit contrived at times -- but another way of looking at it is that Mark just had an insane amount of good luck over all (kind of like Brian in Hatchet, when you think about it, actually). Even when Mark got hurt, luck was still in his favor (his avid reading of hiking and survival books certainly helped him survive when he first arrived though!). It is an excellent addition to the sci-fi/futuristic/post-apocalyptic genre, and I would highly recommend it to young readers. I think the ones that will get the most out of it would be 5th graders, or right around there.**Spoiler Alert below**I'm really intrigued about the Tsook language, and I wonder if Mark wrote it down or anything when he went back. I would hope he did, and that he remembered the language even though there was no one else to speak it with. It was something that had become a necessity for him to know, living with the Tsook, and it could also be his "connection" with Megaan, even though he will most likely never see her again. (I have a feeling he never gets/will never get married. I wonder what happened to Megaan and Barow after Mark never comes back?) Plus, after having spent a good 2 years immersed in communicating in nothing but Tsook, it must have been really jarring for him to suddenly hear English. I wonder how he re-adapted to our/his time. We know he did well for himself, but how did he catch up? He essentially missed the high school years, and he had adapted to a completely different way of life during those crucial years. It must have been a culture shock of some sort, even if it was a return to what he grew up with before. But still -- at least his coworkers realize that there's "something about him" that is different :)
The story begins with Mark Harrison, a 13-year old survival enthusiast, hiking through the mountainous Magruder Missile Range when he is struck by a mysterious blue beam of light. He wakes up in a strange world that he believes is an alien world with many similarities to earth. He uses his survival skills to live off the land and, while exploring the forest, he discovers a camp of some short human like creatures with webbed feet and dark, olive-colored skin, though he finds them too weird to interact with. He also hears a creature called the howling thing. Soon after, he has to work for the Tsook, a metal-weapon wielding race. Over the next three months, he learns their language and develops feelings for Megan, the chief's daughter. When, after escaping, he returns to warn the tribe about an impending attack, he is granted freedom and official entry into their tribe.Mark then discovers that, despite his misconceptions earlier, this world is actually just Earth in the future. Megan's brother gives Mark a shard of a Coca-Cola can and the leader of the Tsook shows the events between Mark's time and this future, also revealing that he too was sent there by the beam of light. Apparently, a strange highly contagious form of the Ebola virus killed most of the human race. Those remaining used nuclear weapons on each other, making the civilization to start over. After severely wounding the leader of the Tsook in a swordfight, Mark asks Megan to marry him. However, the Merkon's son has sworn revenge and Mark flees the village to protect them. He leads the Merkon's army to the jungle, away from his new home. Once in the jungle, Mark starts to kill the army but forgets about a scouting party that attacks him. Mark hides behind a boulder for protection and suddenly the boulder is struck by lightning and sends off a charge which brings Mark into his normal time. Twenty years later, Mark has become a scientist working hard to find a cure for the Ebola virus.
What do You think about The Transall Saga (1999)?
I really didn't think I was going to like this book but I was outrageously surprised. The ending to this story was so beautiful. In the hope the end gives, it's also quite sad. I don't want to give anything away, but if you even remotely like science fiction you should read it. The sci-fi aspect is very watered down. It's more of a survival story with a dash of science fiction and a small portion of romance. The more I reflect on it, the more I just loved this story. Despite having read it 10+ years ago, it's still stuck with me. One of the best books I've ever read. It really is such a beautiful story of life and love and all the aspects of a good adventure story. Its tragic and bittersweet and deserves to be read again and again.
—Ashlynn
This book was incredible. The story was new and original. It reached into all different genres of books. It isn't only a survival book, but also a drama, adventure, sci-fi. Each genre it was awesome in. It also makes you think about the future of Earth. What will become of it after the human race's mark. I kind of wonder why everything was a shade of red. I wonder why Paulsen didn't add some other old 'relics' because a lot of good things he could have put in to enrich the story even more.
—Andrew
This was one of the best books that I have ever read. I really liked how Gary Pausen displayed the Millennial array of earth on future years or as the story calls it "Transall". I also liked how in the end once he got back it made it so that he was a doctor trying to find a cure. This was a great story that I would recommend to anyone. Beautifully written.
—Trent Zirker
