The Transall Saga
Encyclopedia
The Transall Saga is a 1998 novel by Gary Paulsen
. It is a survival story like most of his other books, but also involves the science fiction genre with its post-apocalyptic setting.
. He uses his survival skills to live off the land and, while exploring the forest, he discovers a camp of some short human
-like creatures with webbed feet and dark, olive-colored skin, though he finds them too warlike to interact with. Soon after, he is enslaved
by the Tsook, a metal-weapon wielding race. Over the next three months, he learns their language and develops feelings for Megaan, the chief's daughter. When, after escaping, he returns to warn the tribe about an impending attack, he is granted freedom and official entry into their tribe.
Mark then discovers that, despite his misconceptions earlier, this world is actually a post-apocalyptic Earth. Megaan's brother gives Mark a shard of a Coca-Cola
bottle and the Merkon (the leader of the Transall) reveals the events between Mark's time and this future. Apparently, a strange highly contagious form of the Ebola virus
wiped out most of the human race. Those remaining used nuclear weapons on each other, forcing civilization to start over. After severely wounding the Merkon in a swordfight, Mark asks Megaan to marry him. However, the Merkon's son has sworn revenge and Mark flees the village to protect them. He leads the Merkon's army to the jungle, away from his new home. Once in the jungle, Mark systematically kills the army but forgets about a scouting party that attacks him. Mark hides behind a boulder for protection and suddenly the boulder is struck by lightning and sends off a charge which brings Mark into his normal time.
Twenty years later, Mark has become a scientist working tirelessly to find a cure for the Ebola virus.
Gary Paulsen
Gary James Paulsen is an American writer who writes many young adult coming of age stories about the wilderness. He is the author of more than 200 books , 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for young adults and teens.-Biography:Gary Paulsen was born in...
. It is a survival story like most of his other books, but also involves the science fiction genre with its post-apocalyptic setting.
Plot
The story begins with Mark Harrison, a 13-year old survival enthusiast, hiking through the mountainous Magruder Missile Range when he is struck by a mysterious blue beam of light. He wakes up in a strange world that he believes is an alien world with many similarities to EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. He uses his survival skills to live off the land and, while exploring the forest, he discovers a camp of some short human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
-like creatures with webbed feet and dark, olive-colored skin, though he finds them too warlike to interact with. Soon after, he is enslaved
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
by the Tsook, a metal-weapon wielding race. Over the next three months, he learns their language and develops feelings for Megaan, the chief's daughter. When, after escaping, he returns to warn the tribe about an impending attack, he is granted freedom and official entry into their tribe.
Mark then discovers that, despite his misconceptions earlier, this world is actually a post-apocalyptic Earth. Megaan's brother gives Mark a shard of a Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
bottle and the Merkon (the leader of the Transall) reveals the events between Mark's time and this future. Apparently, a strange highly contagious form of the Ebola virus
Ebola virus
Ebola virus causes severe disease in humans and in nonhuman primates in the form of viral hemorrhagic fever. EBOV is a Select Agent, World Health Organization Risk Group 4 Pathogen , National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Category A Priority Pathogen,...
wiped out most of the human race. Those remaining used nuclear weapons on each other, forcing civilization to start over. After severely wounding the Merkon in a swordfight, Mark asks Megaan to marry him. However, the Merkon's son has sworn revenge and Mark flees the village to protect them. He leads the Merkon's army to the jungle, away from his new home. Once in the jungle, Mark systematically kills the army but forgets about a scouting party that attacks him. Mark hides behind a boulder for protection and suddenly the boulder is struck by lightning and sends off a charge which brings Mark into his normal time.
Twenty years later, Mark has become a scientist working tirelessly to find a cure for the Ebola virus.