Children of the Rainbow

G. Nigel Leith is a computer engineer and freelance writer in Sudbury.

Children of the Rainbow is a glorious mix of time, space, and
philosophies—a science fantasy that covers an ambitious range of
topics and environments, and does so with great craftsmanship.

The premise is this: an ancient Inca culture that has been dormant (to
mainstream society) for centuries possesses the ability to pass backward
and forward in time. The mechanism for the premise is plausible and
richly descriptive. Green has obviously done his homework in researching
the relevant cultures for the novel. He has also managed to bring single
threads of postulation together and weave them into a subtle statement
on humankind. All actions and individuals in the separate time periods
are interrelated through supposedly unrelated events.

The characters in the novel are rich and unique. As the reader is
jolted between time periods, the feel and flow of the writing varies as
greatly as does the era. Perhaps the main character is most indicative
of this phenomenon: Fletcher Christian IV, a modern (2072) man who has
been unfortunately transported to the wrong time and place—Norfolk
Island, 1835—is a prisoner in the notorious penal colony. Green’s
research, once again, comes to the fore as he conveys the penal
existence through the sights, smells, and human values of the period.

Instances of confusion and wonderment—delightful ones—abound.
Imagine a 19th-century man being transported to the 1970s and attempting
to comprehend radio, canned food, condoms, and morals. Green never
allows the reader to question the validity of his premises—they simply
work. His novel is a thoroughly enjoyable read, crafted skilfully with a
well-honed sense of purpose.