Lyft Faetels: Inner Peace

What is it that makes Lyft Faetels so remarkable? Is it his capacity for mental telepathy? His fluency in several languages? His longevity, at one thousand years of age and counting? Perhaps it's his ability to make himself invisible, to fly at the speed of sound, or to alter his size as the situation may warrant. I, for one, admire his ability to consume 10,000 calorie meals just to maintain his current weight.In fact, what makes Lyft, and the rest of his subterranean species, so remarkable is their altruistic communal spirit. If we humans acquired the attributes Lyft possesses, we'd surely set ourselves on a path to ruin. The Klinques, of whom Lyft will one day be King, lack the cupidity and egotism that forces us to be so materialistic and self-centered. In Inner Peace, the second of a trilogy on the travels of this diminutive owl-like hero, we see this dichotomy at work. While Lyft struggles to save humanity from itself, he encounters a cast of human foes determined to undermine his efforts; an avaricious military general, a power-drunken terrorist leader, and several mercenary seamen are just some of the antagonists hell-bent on interfering with Lyft's noble pursuits.Fortunately, Lyft and his fellow Klinques are not alone in their endeavors. Author Jeffrey Wood inserts several benevolent human characters, including Wood himself, who appears as Lyft's best friend and the narrator of the story. The ongoing dialogue between Jeff and Lyft is one of the novel's highlights. Whether they are discussing world politics, geothermal science, or the relative merits of certain alcoholic beverages, Jeff and Lyft trade barbs and witticisms just like any two old buddies.Meticulously researched, the story of Inner Peace accurately describes in vivid detail all of the real world settings in which the action takes place, from New York, to Moscow, to the Wakhan Corridor in Central Asia, to an island of the coast of Chile and another off the coast of Sumatra, and countless others. Wood leaves no stone unturned and no detail to spare in his authentic accounts of the various places Lyft and his associates conduct their business.Though Inner Peace is the middle part of a trilogy, it is perfectly viable as a stand-alone book outside of the context of the larger Lyft Faetels story. It is a timely and relevant novel, dealing with important modern topics such as climate change and terrorism without taking any preachy political stances. The example that the Klinques demonstrate for us - that by working as one we can achieve the seemingly unachievable - is especially pertinent in today's world, and Inner Peace translates this message quite effectively.

This is a really good story that I will re-read often. It appeals to me on several levels and I know that when I read it again I will pick up on things that escaped me the first time through. It has the wonderful attribute of entertaining while it educates, and will appeal to the entire spectrum of ages. I can hardly wait for the next book to come out.