Gates of Avalon
Karl Krueger
Sci-fi/fantasy, time travel
Kindle $7.99
Also available in hardcover
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About the Book
It had been more than a thousand centuries since the Old Ones disappeared. Who they were and where they went was a matter of heated debate amongst the scholars of Avalon. The old ones had left behind five great artifacts. Gates that opened pathways to the many worlds spread across all the plains of existence.
For many centuries the ageless gates stood as monuments to the Old Ones. No one guessed or understood the danger until it was to late. The mighty warriors of Asgaard fell in a single night of blood and flames, Shangri La only lasted an hour. Even the Empire of the Four Realms could not stand against this new enemy.
Now the darkness that enveloped Avalon was coming here and it was up to Theodore Schmidt, an old man, crippled and weary to stop it. This is the chronicle of that struggle.
My review:
Krueger’s fantastical novel, Gates of Avalon, is a sort of campfire-ghost-story, cowboys and Indians-v.-aliens type of story for the “mature” set.
The stories of Teddy Schmidt’s boy scout days, told by his father, really do come true some fifty years later when Wyoming is attacked by unearthly aliens. A legacy left by Ted and his brother Michael’s father in the form of a special book and dairies hold the clue to the horrifying events unfolding on planet Earth. The race is on for Teddy, Michael, and the specialists from the University of Wyoming to decipher the novel and reach out to the mysterious friend Buck, the mysterious ageless man the Schmidt boys’ father knew way back when. When they learn the plan has been in the works for millennia, and the world of the Kron is in danger, they decide whether or not to travel to the hidden realm Avalon to resume their father’s mission.
Self-published by the author through Palmetto Publishing
Group, 2018/2020. Reviewed for Strategic Vision Group. Minor grammatical errors
in the narrative, lengthy past and present-day scenes of war and the 1860s
western US. Graphic language, but not continual. Told from alternating
viewpoints; the “I” character of Teddy. and omniscient voice narrative in other
parts of the story Part time travel, part current events, including some pretty
graphic violence, the Gates of Avalon is an intriguing adventure for those who
love historical ghost stories, cowboys and Indians, and aliens come to life.
Beautifully designed and illustrated.
About the Author
Karl L. Kruger grew up on a farm in Wisconsin. Graduating
from the University of Wisconsin, he worked in Agri-Business and eventually
became a Deputy Sheriff. His long career in law enforcement included training
in accident reconstruction and a lengthy stint in TRT-EOD (Tactical Response
Team - Explosive Ordinance Disposal). After retiring from police work, Karl
began to manufacture historical gaming figures (toys). He has also written rule
sets for historical gaming. The author still lives in rural Wisconsin, with his
wife, a grandson and a few dozen chickens.
