Sterkarm Handshake

This is a time travel/sci-fi/historical fiction/romance, which also places it beyond the genres I normally read. That's a good thing! The reviews of this book here on LT and also on Amazon range from the effusive to the tepid to the scornful, and I understand all of those reactions. This book has a

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lot going for it. FUP, a British 21st century corporation, has developed "The Tube," a device that allows time travel. The tube is set up to transport employees to the 16th century borderland of England and Scotland, where they plan to exploit the land's abundant natural resources, and eventually open the area for authentic time-travel tourism (but first something needs to be done about the authentic smells, mud, cramped towers, food, and pillaging natives). The company has established agreements with and purchased land from local governments on both sides, but also must deal with the Sterkarms, a fierce, lawless group that inhabits this border, and looks out for itself. Andrea, a 21st-century anthropologist 'embedded' with the Sterkarms, is studying them, feeding the FUP information, but has also been embraced by them, and falls in love with Per, the leader's son. Thus, Andrea is caught between the two worlds, and her loyalties torn between the Sterkarms, who think the "Elves" only wish to trade, and her employer, who wishes to exploit and subdue. These worlds collide disastrously when Per is critically wounded, and Andrea convinces Windsor, her boss, to bring him to the 21st side to receive life-saving treatment. Windsor sees an opportunity to hold Per hostage and thereby control the Sterkarms, and Per sees an elf trap from which he must escape at all cost, and worse: a clear picture of FUP's ruthless goals. Susan Price does a fine job presenting Andrea's moral dilemma -- neither side is perfect. The Sterkarms are vicious and violent, but also loving and loyal. The 21st century workers are exploitative and arrogant, but also people with families just doing their jobs. Unfortunately, all Andrea does with her moral and cultural dilemma is dither.

What rings true: the historical aspects of the story, and the Sterkarms. Windsor and FUP deride them as childish and barbarian, and they certainly act that way. They make agreements, but then cheerfully ignore them. But, as with dispossessed people anywhere and anytime, why shouldn't they look out for themselves? Also ringing true: the corporate greed of FUP. The 16th century is just there, ripe for the taking, and plans are underway to exploit the natural resources for unimaginable profit. Mentioned in passing: a similar operation underway in South America, where the company is now importing rare wood and other natural wonders. What rings false is the extreme caricature of the evil 21st century CEO. I could almost hear the melodramatic boos and forewarning piano music. Also ringing false was the romance between Andrea and Per. There wasn't much there except the author's word that they were in love, and much of their dialog was awkward and contrived.

I have trouble starring and rating books. I usually award either 5-stars, for those truly wonderful, best-of-the-year books, or 2-stars, for disappointing books. This book has enough good and not-so-good to be a solid 3-star read.

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