Product Description

As Tractrix opens, aerospace engineer and recent widower Frank Morton is collecting an $86 million lottery jackpot. Coincidently, an old Viet Nam buddy shows up with a mysterious black sphere inscribed with what appear to be Maya hieroglyphics. Intrigued, Frank convinces his buddy and two other friends, an anthropologist and a newspaper researcher, to help him investigate the origin and purpose of the sphere. The search leads Frank and friends on a journey from Seattle to the secret military installations of Nevada and on to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Along the way, they attract the unwanted attention of government agents, Mexican Federales and an ancient Maya priest. They also stumble across a three thousand year old secret that suggests a possible link between the shamans of Mesoamerica and a race of alien explorers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1326202 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 332 pages

Review
RJ Archer... is one of the authors to watch... I eagerly await the further exploits of the NWIDI adventurers. -- Gareth Wilson, Falcata Times, Aug. 16, 2005

Tractrix is a fast-paced yarn, based on intriguing historical perspective, and it's sure to keep you guessing... -- Alan Lohner, author: (Fear Not), Jul, 2004

you will certainly love RJ Archer's mesh of historical facts... with theories and speculations that have intrigued man for... decades. -- Steven Macon, Yellow30 Sci-Fi, Feb 22, 2005

From the Publisher
In the SciFi adventure series dubbed "Seeds Of Civilization," a Seattle aerospace engineer and his team investigate several of archeology’s real unsolved mysteries and get closer to the truth—one that is truly "out of this world!" In this first novel of the series, author R.J. Archer investigates the origins of the Maya’s advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics.

From the Author
Did alien visitors influence Earth's ancient civilizations? A Seattle aerospace engineer and his team investigate several of archeology’s unsolved mysteries in a search for answers about the age and origin of the Earth’s earliest civilizations. With each novel, they get closer to the truth—one that is truly "out of this world!"

Customer Reviews

This is a no-put-downer
When I picked up this book, I thought the story line sounded interesting. I never dreamed I'd be glued to the book until I finished it. The mystery drove me through page after page as I tried to figure it all out. The action... the angst... the ending! All I can say is, "Where's the sequel, Mr. Archer?"

Tractrix a great read
Tractrix sends readers on an engaging joyride through a labyrinth of riddles involving the ancient Maya, a secret U.S. military installation in the Nevada desert, and space aliens from centuries past. When Frank Morton hits an $86-million Powerball jackpot, he sets out to solve some of the world's most
perplexing mysteries and soon finds himself confronted with far more questions than answers. What is the origin--and purpose--of 20 baffling black spheres inscribed with glyphs? Can the U.S. government agents be trusted? Is there a connection between the human race and entities from another space and time? Tractrix
is a fast-paced yarn, based on intriguing historical perspective, and it's sure to keep you guessing and wondering right up until its surprising conclusion.

Mysteries of the Universe
Aerospace engineer Frank Morton's world is on a collision course with the universe and little does he know what turn of events are going to shape the rest of his life. A recent widower, Frank unexpectedly wins an 86 million dollar lottery jackpot. Almost simultaneously an old Viet Nam buddy shows up with a mysterious black sphere inscribed with hieroglyphics that seem very Mayan in origin. More than intrigued, Frank convinces his buddy and two other friends, an anthropologist and a newspaper researcher, to help him investigate this mysterious Mayan sphere. Purpose and exact origin are the two things Frank wants to pinpoint, because once the sphere comes into his possession his world is suddenly turned upside down and inside out.

Frank and his friends' investigation takes them on a journey from Seattle to a secret military installation in Nevada with the trail leading to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. But their travels are not as secretive as they hope; government agents are watching and waiting. They also draw the attention of Mexican Federales and an ancient Maya priest. Black spheres and dead bodies start popping up. Frank and his team have stumbled across a three thousand year old secret that suggests links between shamans of Mesoamerica and a race of alien explorers.

R. J. Archer has crafted a fine first novel with Tractrix. If you like Clive Cussler's writing you will certainly love R. J. Archer's mesh of historical facts and culture with theories and speculations that have intrigued man for several decades. This is only the first book in the installment to THE SEEDS OF CIVILIZATION series. This is a great first effort. Keep watch for the next book, it's sure to be a page turner as well.