The Eye of Ra #3: People of the Sun by Ben Gartner

Sarah and I have just met ourselves from the future, and now we must travel back to the time when Cortes massacred the Aztecs. We must make sure it still happens! A woman who doesn't belong has appeared there and has a real chance of changing history. Sarah agrees with some of the woman's ideas, but I understand the importance of saving the storyline in history. I don't feel good about allowing thousands of Aztecs die, but what other choice do we have?

What worked:

The story deals with time travel, and these kinds of books usually tip-toe around the paradoxes created. Should a person change the past if they have the opportunity? What happens if you go back in time and accidentally kill your parent? You never would have been born, so how could you go back in time to cause the accident? This book deals with the paradoxes head-on, as the characters form a philosophy about changing the past. Some changes are inconsequential and don’t affect history in the long run, but other changes may be needed to correct the overall storyline.

A large issue is a question of what is right when it comes to changing events. Should we stop an invading ruler from murdering thousands of people in a country? Should we prevent the atomic bomb from being dropped on Hiroshima? What if saving thousands of lives would lead to the slaughter of millions of more people? What if stopping a destructive invention would lead to a worse one being created later? Or eliminating one discovery could prevent more useful ideas from ever being realized? Just because the kids can change events in history, should they?

The plot is told from Paul and Sarah’s alternating points of view, and they each present unique perspectives to the book. John tends to think things through before making decisions, and he’s dedicated to maintaining the existing timeline. Sarah is more impulsive, and she’s open to changing historical events to save lives. Who’s to say a better future might result, but then again, that brings up the question of what is better? This contrast between characters adds unpredictability to the story. Add that to the uncertainty from interacting with characters from the past, and the result is an exciting adventure through time.

What didn’t work as well:

Reading the previous books isn’t essential, but it definitely helps. I hadn’t read them, so references made to prior books and events left me wondering. This book is still able to stand alone, as it introduces some series-changing information about what’s been going on. The problem of missing out on past events can easily be solved by reading the first two books!

The Final Verdict:

A ripple in time can be devastating. Cortes massacres an entire population out of existence, but Paul and Sarah must allow it to happen. The book is recommended for lovers of time travel and history, as it addresses a critical moment in Mexico’s history. The previous two books should be read first to understand the full situation, but this book can still be enjoyed on its own.