2012: The War for Souls
Whitley Strieber
Tor Books
Science Fiction/Horror
ISBN: 9780765318961

The ancient Maya, in their primitive yet deceptively remarkable way, have calculated December 21, 2012 to be the day on which our Earth aligns exactly with the center of the galaxy as it does only once every 26,000 years. On this day, the world will come to an end.

In 2012: The War for Souls, author Whitley Strieber shows his vision for the horrors predicted to come. Archaeologist Martin Winters is in the Pyramid of Khufu before the day breaks, seeking answers to a question that could support a theory he holds dear. As he works, the pyramid begins to collapse; when he scrambles his way to safety, all that remains is a sleek, black lens staring up into space.

Eventually, 14 lenses will appear on destroyed ancient sites worldwide. The real problem comes when night falls and invasion begins. Alien forces come from within the discs and begin systematically targeting humans, using an attack that removes the soul but keeps the shell alive for purposes of slavery. Martin loses his family in one such attack, and while military strategists do their best to turn the tide, the effort is futile. Worse yet, an agent of the invading force has already infiltrated the US government, infecting it from within.

Strieber does a phenomenal job in presenting this invasion and ensuing chaos. The story rockets forward, dragging you deeper with page-turning ferocity. As exhilarating and nerve-wracking as it is, you are sent for a complete spin when you meet husband, father and author Wiley Dale. Wiley awakens from a trance while sitting at his computer and finds on his system the horrifying story of an archaeologist named Martin Winters and his struggle against an alien invasion force.

Something is so strikingly real about the story, which makes Wiley afraid. Of course, his wife believes he's nuts, and he begins to drift back into a paranoia about the time when he claims to have been abducted. Someone is trying to tell him something. As more of the story begins to unfold and he becomes more embroiled on a personal level, Wiley comes to understand that there are multiple Earths existing at the same time. He becomes convinced that Martin is in the next ripple over and that a loss in their world will have drastic consequences for his own.

And then he discovers the portal.

Strieber has crafted an intense book, one that flies by with startling and vivid imagery. What could have been a standard alien invasion story is kicked to a higher level with the implementation of the multiple-Earth theory. Conversely, what could have collapsed under the weight of its effort is pulled off successfully with tremendous flair.

    --- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard

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