The Cold Road

Cold, as defined by the Oxford American dictionary, is a lack of heat or an item that is faint because it is no longer fresh. Melissa O'Malley experiences an undeniable internal chill throughout "The Cold Road" by Dr. Rick Wilber. Participating in Dr. Wilber's class and journeying along "The Cold Road" proved to be an exciting excursion. This is a powerful novel. Supreme contrast of hot and cold is evident. Dr. Wilber's ability to capture a teenager's inner personality transcends his knowledge of his audience. Wilber commissions individuals to search for the truth. Melissa O'Malley searches for her own personal truth by seeking her authentic reality. In "The Cold Road" Melchoir O'Malley, brought supposedly warm gifts to his daughter Melissa in the wintry north. On the other hand, Dr. Rick Wilber brings zealous gifts of education and awareness to his readers in the cold world in which we live. Patrick J. Burley

I'm delighted to see that virtually all reviews for COLD ROAD lavish Rick Wilber's novel with five stars out of five; if there was a sixth star reserved for inventive fiction fusions, COLD ROAD certainly deserves it. As a writer myself, I have to admit that these days only a true storyteller can grab me with his opening paragraphs and keep me bound to the journey through to final page; my house is filled with partially-read novels I gave up on because they lacked the sort of curious scenes, fascinating characters, breathtaking prose and originality of storyline that I now require to justify time away from my own writing. Rick Wilber's masterful COLD ROAD has scenes and passages that had me up on my feet, pacing my writing room in admiration. The book is a powerfully wrought fusion novel that reminded me of Tim Power's DECLARE in its subtle blend of fantasy-horror and gritty realworld setting, and of Peter Straub's THE THROAT in its unforgettable characterizations. Melissa O'Malley is one of the most complex and convincingly realized female characters I've encountered on the page ... the settings in Minnesota and St. Kitts are so richly visualized that Wilber's descriptions left me yearning to visit (St. Kitts) or to avoid (Minnesota in winter) ... the sustained eeriness of Melissa's obeah powers---and the way they play out in the novel's climax---are impressive indeed. Don't want to spoil the book for you, so I'll just have to cuss: Damn, this man can write! Seems to me the best writers on the planet are all doing fusion novels. Writers like Neal Stephenson, Neal Gaimon, Tim Powers, Charles de Lint, and China Mieville, who are striking off in new directions with visionary recombinations of genres, expanding the possibilities of popular fiction. Rick Wilber joins their ranks with COLD ROAD, and my advice is to run, don't walk, to your nearest bookseller to get a hold of this marvelous read.

Wilber's novel is chock full of unanswered questions, just the way I like 'em. The juxtaposition of hot and cold in the book adds to the conflict. The characters are believable and the ending is a shocker. I couldn't put this one down.

I can see why the critics have liked The Cold Road, since it's packed with excitement and kept me turning the pages from start to finish. The contrast between things hot and cold, from the characters and the setting throughout the novel to the emotional impact, really worked for me. It's a great read.Can't wait for the next one from Wilber...

The Cold Road is a cohesively constructed psychological vestry that gives the reader a room with a clear view of blurred facts and fiction for today's social horrors. From Holding companies to a Father's greatest Fear, DOc's Perseverance and dilligent attention to details, with regards to the construct, portrays an unfamiliar persistance (given the rush of Coffee Shop Evolutions) which illuminates the reader by the last page...with revelations.