December 21, 2012 is approaching and the fate of the entire world is at stake….

Archaeologist Martin Winters is thrilled with the chance to use a new method to date the age of the Pyramid of Khufu. But things go awry as the pyramid collapses and large objects, shaped like lenses, begin appearing all over the world.  The aliens are coming….

Meanwhile, in an alternate world, Wylie (or Wiley, as it is spelled both ways throughout the book) Dale is working on his next book.  But is it fictional or a history of another world, closely connected to his own?  And what will happen when these two worlds collide as the December 12, 2012 date nears?

2012: THE WAR FOR SOULS is almost like two books in one.  The first half of the story is a fast paced thriller in which the reader can’t stop turning the pages.  The plot switches between Wylie and Martin’s two worlds as the tension builds.  The character development is superb as it’s hard not to get drawn into the storyline. The world is skidding out of control and Martin and Wylie are struggling to cope in their rapidly changing worlds.  I would suspect Whitley Strieber drew upon some of his personal experiences in creating these two characters as the emotional content is quite high.

However, the second half of the book takes a turn for the bizarre.  Metaphysical thoughts and ideology overtake the thriller and the storyline gets a bit confusing.  The underlying meaning of the second half is a thought provoking one but it strikes a discordant note in the context of the earlier part of the book.  Perhaps a little more explanation on the various worlds and characters would have helped make the story flow more smoothly.  As it is, a strong start ends with a weak and perplexing conclusion.

Publisher: Tor First Mass Market Paperback (July 2008)