Sparks in the Ether - by Valarie J Anderson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In the 1920s and 30s, a handful of men spread across the globe connecting communities to the worldwide wireless telegraphy network. They worked from ships, fog-shrouded islands, and remote huts on mountaintops. Some faced more danger than others.

Navigate the rough seas of the 20^th century with pioneer radioman George Street as he encounters the Lindberghs and FDR, witnesses an assassination attempt on the Emperor of Japan, "scoops" the Manchurian Incident, and becomes ravaged by polio while in Japan. Faced with financial ruin, foreign doctors, and immobility, he marries his Russian mistress, who becomes his care provider. Then, his family betrays him.

Sparks in the Ether is the prequel to the award-winning book Pearl Harbor's Final Warning: A Man, A Message, and Paradise Lost.

Review Quotes

Magicwand: "The detail the author gives in minute detail helps one to see the intricacies of the Radio men and their lives. Every page is another lesson in the humanity of the men and women of a long past history. Honor and romance are at the forefront. Such a good read."

USS MORGAN: 'I met Valarie in Redmond, OR at a ham radio flea market. Did a quick read of this book and liked the way she wrote. So, I have bought the Kindle edition and really enjoyed it. Written in 1st person, which is my favorite medium. She has a way of getting the reader involved in the story. Highly recommend! Yes, I'm a ham radio operator: KF7REA'

Bill O. "Un-put-downable epic. Drama! Haughtiness! Romance. Survival. Pivotal prequel to WWII events.

In comparison to Anderson's style of sweeping the reader into a wonderful adventure, I just finished a different non-fiction, also set in the same era... but this other author missed the wow factor I've come to appreciate in Anderson's work. In her latest "Sparks in the Ether", Anderson takes us on an un-put-down able story, that dives deeply into the characters, and then wraps them into a spell-binding and well-researched epic of history across the Pacific. (The other author told history, but not the human story). Anderson does both and then adds the drama (of the family's secrets), the haughtiness (of Kay's flirting), the maritime adventure (of George's tattooed arm), the romance (of new loves), the searing pain (of George's polio)... all intertwined with FDR, Hawaii and pre-WWII events. Having traveled and lived in many of the places in Anderson's book, I was absolutely enthralled and delighted. Every page is alive and captivating. "Sparks" fits perfectly as a prequel to Anderson's Pearl Harbor's Final Warning. Are they part of a trilogy? What's the next epic? Who will step up to make the movie? Yes, it's that's good."

Linda L: "This book kept my interest right to the end! It was so interesting reading how the main character, George Street, got to Hawaii, having read Valerie's first book on Pearl Harbor's Final Warning. Recommend it to everyone!"

C. Snyder: "I like this book because I was immediately hooked on the character. An interesting story that just doesn't quit. I've also read Money Eater by the same author and enjoyed her down-to-earth style in that book as well."

B. Douglass: "Loved how it humanized that era around the early 20th century that I would never had known. I also enjoyed the history of early wireless telegraphing leading the way to the technology of today, which, at 85, I mostly don't understand.

It is truly good read!"

N. Glaspie: "I have read Val's book twice because there is enough amazing detail to warrant a reread. I come from a family whose ancestors did not save papers, so I'm in awe at the mountain of documentation she had to build on. Read it. Enjoy peeping into a slice of history you may not have known existed."