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 Entertaining and Eye-Opening! Jul 06, 2010
By Ellen C. Maze
"author of Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider"
In a story that begins in the 18th Century and ends up in 2080, THE SAFETY FACTOR has it all.
Abused by her drunkard father, young Maria stows away on a cargo ship headed anywhere but there. Hiding below decks, she considers her actions and the life she left behind; hoping she never gets sent back. Lady Farrell and her handmaiden Ellen board just before the ship leaves. Lady Farrell is traveling to Venice to marry and along the way, her handmaiden and her long-time friend, the ship's captain fall in love and plan to marry.
Then everything goes sour.
Pirates! Like the hero that he is, the Captain lowers the two women and the girl over the far side in a long boat so they may escape while he and his men battle the pirates. The women float out to sea for 6 weeks until they are picked up by a strange-looking mirage that couldn't possibly be real. Here is where your science-fiction tale really begins!
Jerry Travis and Josephine Mayes have given us tender characters with depth and amazing intelligence that the reader will root for throughout. This book touches human topics such as sexual abuse, social class structure and the existence of God, as well as eye-opening scientific revelations regarding the theories of past philosophers and the possibility of Time Travel. THE SAFETY FACTOR is truly an epic science fiction adventure that offers the most original theories of Time Travel ever seen in print. Read it and see for yourself.
Recommended. 5-Stars.
Ellen C Maze
Author
 Fact-Filled and Fast-Paced Jan 02, 2010
By J. Knox
"JK"
Disclaimer: I dislike 5 star reviews because I've been in school for too long and 4 out of 5 still translates as a B in my mind. This book is not B work. It's A-, a 4.45, but there is no 4.45 category, so I went with 4, but please be advised that The Safety Factor deserves better than a mere 4. Here's why:
This is a quick-moving, action-packed journey story that explores many universal themes: the search for one's role in society and the world, the quest for personal fulfillment, and even the longing for genuine romance. And although the book incorporates a rather complex look into what it means to be human, while spanning time and space in a way only a delicate balance of science and imagination can, The Safety Factor will keep any reader engaged and aware throughout.
Jerry Travis and Josephine Mayes incorporate numerous thought-provoking facts about Astronavigation, Mathematics and Philosophy that the reader can take away--an important and difficult feat for such a dynamic, plot-driven book. I genuinely love this, the idea that I can leave a book feeling a little more knowledgeable about something [exp: I am now able to explain Zeno's Paradox and just go ahead and ask me what a Babbage Engine is; really, go ahead...] and yet after completing this book, I also felt as though I read a solid story, and I cared about what happened.
Character-wise, I felt the book could be tightened a little--the dialogue could be pared down and the internal shifts often didn't need explained. Some of the smaller details could have been illustrated, rather than stated. But these gripes are small when contrasted to the tremendous feat of incorporating such a complex plot with such powerful ideas.
I recommend this book to just about anyone who wants to read a fast-moving tale that causes the reader to pause every few pages. And, if you're like me, causes the reader to jot notes every now and then so that she can further educate herself on certain theories that pique her interest. The Safety Factor offers complex thoughts and raises intelligent questions about the human condition in many respects, and it challenged me to stretch the left side of my brain (without making it hurt).
Something Different Apr 26, 2009
By Maria Savva
Maria, a young girl, runs away from home to escape the abuse she has suffered at the hands of her father. She decides to stow away on a ship. She has no idea where the ship is going, but doesn't care; anywhere would be better than her present life.
On the ship, Maria meets two women who become her friends. One of the women, Lady Farrell (an aristocratic woman, as her title suggests) is on her way to marry a Count in Italy. The other woman is Ellen, The lady's long-time companion. Both women are highly educated and Maria learns a great deal from them along the way.
When pirates attack the ship, the women manage to escape together, on a long-boat. They are left to battle for survival against all odds. The women are eventually rescued but their rescuers appear to be from a different world. What will become of them? You will have to read the book to find out!
This is a fantasy adventure set way back in the 16th/17th Century and then also sometime in the future. There is a great deal of scientific, astronomical and mathematical theory contained in the book which will appeal to anyone with an interest in such matters. I found that most of the technical content was well-written and fitted in with the story and I was able to follow it even though I have limited knowledge in these areas and, therefore, cannot comment on the accuracy of the information in the book. The author did a good job of explaining what The Safety Factor (the book's title) actually means.
The author has a talent for drawing the reader into the story and for neatly progressing the action. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read with many exciting twists and turns.
I did have a couple of problems with the story, however. Sometimes I found that the author (who is obviously very knowledgeable about mathematics, astronomy and science) tended to labour the points when the characters were having discussions about technical matters. I often felt that the characters were lecturing on certain subjects and this was distracting. Some of the information was necessary for the progression of the story, but I felt that some of it could have been condensed.
The book deals with many fundamental questions about the Universe and our existence and will definitely make you think more about why we are here and what we are here for.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
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