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Norman Westhoff is a retired physician. The Erebus Tales trilogy (Stone Fever, The Color of Greed, and Gifts of a Dark God) mark his first published fiction, and sprang from a lifetime of travel and immersion in many different cultures, on six continents. He earned a Public Health degree, and used it to help improve medical care in Dmitrov, Russia. He plays concertina and accordion at traditional music sessions. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and trekked to Everest base camp and the Camino de Santiago. He and his wife have been active in their co-housing community in Lawrence KS. They have three children and five grandchildren, all avid readers.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Stone Fever is a work of fiction in the science fiction, action, and adventure sub-genres, and was penned by author Norman Westhoff. Written as the first book of the Erebus Tales, we meet the young savant geologist Keltyn SparrowHawk during a futuristic mission to Antarctica. But when the plane crash-lands, Keltyn discovers she’s not the only one seeking out the elusive metal that her crew needs. A local tribe holds the answer, but there are plenty of blasts from the past waiting to scupper her plans too. So begins a rip-roaring adventure tale which can be enjoyed by young adult and adult reading audiences alike.
One of the things which I particularly enjoyed about this novel was how direct the narrative was, making it so easy to fall into the story. With Keltyn you feel as though the story is being told to you by an old friend, and young adult audiences will be sure to respond to the immediacy of being immersed in these excellent settings. Author Norman Westhoff takes a lot of popular and familiar science fiction concepts into the work but intermingles them with more old-fashioned ideas like tribal living and departmental conspiracy, which gives the story deep roots in realism and therefore makes the reader more emotionally invested in the tale. I also felt that the dialogue was always snappy and to the point, delivering both character flavor and exposition without the need for excess prose. Overall, Stone Fever is a high quality read for YA and adult science fiction fans everywhere.
