Steven Burgauer

Petrol Petronas is a World War I fighter pilot who finds himself behind enemy lines when his Sopwith Camel is shot down in Belgium near the end of the war. His subsequent adventures are to have a significant impact on shorting the conflict if he can only get himself and vital papers back to Blighty.

This is a subtle blend of fictional characters with true events and people from the Great War that serves to entertain and inform in equal measure.

The characters are well drawn and the plot is believable and fast moving. The author tells multiple stories that seem disconnected but all eventually come together in a cracking finale.

The level of research that has gone into the historical details is immense and I found that I was always learning something interesting as the story unfolded. The details on the real people that Petrol comes into contact with, however fleetingly, are fascinating and the added information on places and background make this a highly entertaining read.

The Historical Notes at the end of the book seek to add a further dimension that once again tells some of the untold stories of the war.

An excellent read and well worth 5 stars… (meer)

Petrol Petronas is a World War I fighter pilot who finds himself behind enemy lines when his Sopwith Camel is shot down in Belgium near the end of the war. His subsequent adventures are to have a significant impact on shorting the conflict if he can only get himself and vital papers back to Blighty.

This is a subtle blend of fictional characters with true events and people from the Great War that serves to entertain and inform in equal measure.

The characters are well drawn and the plot is believable and fast moving. The author tells multiple stories that seem disconnected but all eventually come together in a cracking finale.

The level of research that has gone into the historical details is immense and I found that I was always learning something interesting as the story unfolded. The details on the real people that Petrol comes into contact with, however fleetingly, are fascinating and the added information on places and background make this a highly entertaining read.

The Historical Notes at the end of the book seek to add a further dimension that once again tells some of the untold stories of the war.

An excellent read and well worth 5 stars… (meer)

Steven Burgauer seamlessly takes the reader from searching for alien life in 2433 to finding an American ancestor in 1860. His main character is an Afghan engineer named Andu Nehrengel who develops a faster than light drive. Hearing of an opportunity to follow an undecipherable radio signal emanating from out of the solar system, he volunteers to lead the search.
Andu ultimately finds the planet he’s looking for and falls in love with a cloned earth woman living there. The couple then travel through time to earth to find one of Andu’s ancestors; a man who may hold the genetic key to curing a family illness that leads to early death among individuals in the Rengel family line.
Confusing as this very short summary sounds, Burgauer brilliantly brings it together in the logical and scientifically supported manner that characterizes his writing style. This is the second Burgauer book I’ve read. His attention to detail slows his stories down but feels right afterward. When you put his books down, you realize the necessity of the science; as it makes the story plausible.
The Grandfather Paradox is a book that keeps you reading. While the story reaches a natural end, there are enough unresolved actions to foster a sequel.… (meer)