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You Don’t Know What You Have Till it is Lost
Unearthing Worlds follows a colonel and his team struggling to survive after an asteroid collision leaves them stranded in unfamiliar surroundings. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The setup was inspired by my desire to explore the dynamic between the brothers, Allen and Brice, on a deeper level. In order to fully develop their reconciliation, they needed to be separated again. Until something is lost, you often don’t realize what you truly have. In book one, the brothers come back together and start to rebuild their relationship, but their reconciliation isn’t complete. I wanted to put them in situations where each faced their own unique challenges while feeling the absence of the other. This gave me the opportunity to close that part of their character arcs in a meaningful way.
How long did it take you to imagine, draft, and write the world your characters live in?
Many months. As a hard science fiction writer, I put a tremendous amount of thought and research into any world I create. My worlds are all grounded in known science, which makes the process both time-consuming and rewarding.
What was your favorite character to write, and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the character’s essence?
Marcus is my favorite character to write because he’s like an onion—there’s always more to uncover with him. One scene that really captures his essence is the dinner scene with him, Brice, and the others. It’s a moment where his layers show brightly, revealing his complexities in subtle but powerful ways.
Where will the final book in this trilogy take readers?
We’ll be revisiting the Roman Sol Empire. Readers can expect a return to this richly imagined world, along with new challenges and revelations.
Author Links: GoodReads | BlueSky | Website | Book Review
After vanishing during a high-risk mission on an uncharted world, Colonel Brice Messman and his team must find their way back through the keyholes—mysterious portals capable of bridging dimensions. Meanwhile, Dr. Allen Messman relentlessly searches for his brother, knowing that every delay could leave Brice’s team stranded in the unknown forever.
Each keyhole opens to an unpredictable world, where dangers hide in strange landscapes and new threats lie in wait. With allies growing uncertain and time running out, Brice must rely on hard-won instincts and the fragile trust of his crew. Every step forward risks disaster—one wrong move could leave them trapped on the wrong side of reality, with no way back.
Unearthing Worlds- Book Two of the Keyholes Trilogy
Unearthing Worlds, by Tony Travis, takes readers on a gripping journey across dimensions as Brice and his team struggle to survive in a new, unfamiliar world while searching for a way home. The story opens with immediate tension, and a catastrophic asteroid collision leaves the protagonists stranded. Their leadership and resilience shine as they set up a makeshift camp, laying the foundation for their survival in a strange land. This book weaves together themes of survival, leadership, and the complexities of human emotion.
One thing that stood out to me about the writing was its immersive descriptions of survival challenges. For instance, when Brice discusses the consequences of staying on Niflheim with Florence, the rawness of their predicament is palpable. The camaraderie and friction among the team make the story feel real. Florence’s cautious scientific approach is a perfect foil to Brice’s leadership, emphasizing the need for balance between practicality and innovation. Her insistence on testing the honey and local plants before use is a highlight of pragmatic, logical, and much-needed voice of caution.
Another compelling aspect of the book is the emotional undercurrent. Allen’s regret about past choices and his deep-seated concern for his brother Brice are especially touching. These reflective passages add emotional weight, making it clear that the stakes are not just survival but reconnection and redemption. The exploration of sibling bonds against a backdrop of high-stakes science fiction was refreshing. In the end, the book delivers a satisfying mix of action, emotional depth, and speculative science fiction.
Unearthing Worlds, by Tony Travis, is a must-read for fans of survival stories with a psychological twist. If you enjoy meticulous world-building, layered characters, and the tension of being stranded in the unknown, this book is worth your time. While it’s the second in the trilogy, it works well enough as a standalone but truly shines when read in sequence. Recommended for lovers of grounded sci-fi and character-driven stories. Be prepared to crave the sequel by the time you reach the novel’s conclusion.
Pages: 317 | ASIN : B0DPG9476S
LITERARY TITAN 