Pros
- A bit more interesting with two Ryans unleashed in the universe
- An interesting new threat regarding the Whales
Cons
- The alternate John Ryan doesn’t feel as unique as the original, and the focus on the alternate one makes the character less unique
- Threat to the universe or galaxy doesn’t feel as grave as previous threats
Ryan in UnWonderland Review
Ryan in UnWonderland is Craig Robertson’s first book in the latest series in the Ryanverse universe titled The Whales of Time.
There’s a lot of unresolved problems carried from the previous series which ended a bit abruptly with problems that seem almost unrelated to the fragmentation of time. First and foremost is the issue of the fragmented time. While the major threat of the solar-system consuming building was resolved as a result of a disgruntled worker beam, the other threat of a timeline changed remained almost ignored.
One consequence of Ryan’s attempt to return to the original timeline is the birth of a new John Ryan whose life follows a parallel universe where he managed to save the love of his life, marry, avoid his current ex-wife Gloria, have children, and abandon it all in order to upload his consciousness into another android body. In short, it’s a condensed alternate version of the original series where a new Ryan is created to save the human race (or galaxy).
Much like having two Ryans may be a bit strange for the Ryans, it’s also a bit confusing for readers. It’s difficult to know who to cheer on when both are the same. One might be tempted to support the original Ryan, or Ryan Prime, but he seems more of a supporting character in the story than the alternate Ryan.
Regardless of the slight confusion, the story is still fun, and the Ryans resolve one issue only to encounter another, more threatening danger involving some space whales who are being attacked and are calling for help.
What glimpses readers get into the minds of the whale or whales reveal a fairly simple, yet intriguing creature, especially with regards to its size and possible niche in the universe. Still, whatever threatens these expansive creatures and what dangers the extinction of these whales pose are a mystery.
Both Ryans continue to face challenges, only now there are two of them to solve the problem. The addition of a new partner for the alternate Ryan, as well as a biological Sapale, make for some interesting story choices in later stories.
Ryan in UnWonderland by Craig Robertson is another fun adventure in the Ryanverse that sees not one, but two seemingly immortal Ryans unleashed into the universe. Like Ryan’s previous adventures, this one is filled with suspense, drama, and action that is sure to entertain fans.
Read reviews of other fun adventure science fiction stories below.
