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 Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt
Voyager Paperback, UKŁ5.99, 338pp
reviewed by Underview
Original appearance: Albedo one issue 16, Spring 1998
Another road in another landscape dominated by memories of ancient technology, with a mystery at its end. Eternity Road is set on Earth in the far future after civilisation has been destroyed by a major catastrophe. The major reminder of the past glories of man is the road systems which still loom in their immensity over the settlements of the technologically challenged survivors - they call their unknown ancestors the Roadmakers. Little else from the past has survived. As the cover says, our future is their ancient history.
But of course there is always the legend. Isn't there always. In this case it is of a place called Haven where huge amounts of Roadmaker technology and knowledge was collected for posterity shortly after the breakdown. The problem is that no-one knowns where Haven is and most are convinced it is merely a fairy tale.
Then a copy of Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee turns up. Where did it come from? It was left to our heroine, Chaka in the will of the leader of the last expedition to Haven; it was unsuccessful and every member died except the leader who died in disgrace many years later. Chaka's brother was on the expedition and she is convinced that they found Haven, else where did the book come from? A new expedition would find her brother's grave, the answer to the mystery of the last expedition and of course Haven itself.
Jack McDevitt has created a believable post-holocaust society and leads us through its outskirts with a sure hand and an entertaining voice. There are so many reasons to read this book and absolutely none to avoid it, as far as I can see. Thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable, it may not change your life but it will keep you engrossed.
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