Islands Out of Time

Something like a distillation, in parable form, of Thompson's long-standing non-fictional musings on mythology, prehistory, and evolution (most recently The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light, 1980). At the close of a solar cycle, the advanced civilization of Atlantis is apparently reaching its peak, as the High Priest sponsors a scheme to lift humanity to the next higher stage of evolution - a scheme carried forth by the devilish Archon (chief scientist), whose experiments involve torturing the "etheric" (astral) bodies of children and pregnant women. The Archon has contacted the etheric Old Ones, puissant creatures he hopes to use in promoting the evolutionary leap - but who are actually psychic parasites. When young genius musician Viracocha learns of all this, he is deeply disturbed; he knows the plan cannot work as the Archon claims. Then he's contacted by some conspirators, led by virgin Abbess Brigita of Eiru, who receive instructions etherically from dead mystic Abatis. Later, imprisoned by the Archon after rejecting the High Priest's blandishments, Viracocha and Brigita achieve an ecstatic etheric union, deriving from this the means to free themselves and the Archon's victims, and escape the fated destruction of Atlantis. Intelligent work, richly and authoritatively set forth, but with characters who are more archetypes than people, a rather mechanical plot, and formidable, psychic convolutions. Hence: only for Thompson aficionados and those heavily involved with matters mystic and etheric. (Kirkus Reviews)