nyGEuL This can be so wonderfully open-handed of you supplying quickly precisely what a volume

I came to this story having read others by Hypatia. Since this tale, Hypatia has written nothing that I can find, which is a shame.  Her skill at putting together such an involved, complicated strory are very very good indeed.  Yes there are niggles that plague all but the very best such as punctuation and such, but the quality of such a work as this makes those niggles fade into a hazy background as one reads the life story of such a heroic group of characters.  I have no idea if Hypatia is still around, but if she is, she should be very proud of what she put together in this great tale.

I thank her for this and her other very good tales and I hope, if Hyaptia IS still checking her emails and comments, she will contact me so I can express my admiration and thanks to her personally  

xzFLrL Major thankies for the article.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.

23oM1I Really appreciate you sharing this post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.

eduFcR I really liked your article.Really looking forward to read more.

very sad at the end. AT TIMES THOUGHT STORY TOO LONG, BUT TOWARDS THE END DID NOT WANT IT TO END. I REALLY FELT SADNESS FOR KATHY AT THE END. ACTUALLY HAD TEARS IN MY EYES. THANKS.

The only thing that is really keeping this story from really being professional grade is that the author seems to be under the impression that punctuation is optional.  It's not, BTW.  The lack of consistent punctuation and the poor dialogue formatting really made the story difficult to read.

Having said that, the style, plot, and characterization were all outstanding.  If the author learns some basic grammar mechanics or gets a good editor to sort things out before posting, it'd be perfect.

Thanks for sharing.

Reread this story for probably the 3rd time recently and still enjoyed it. I love a long involved tale with plenty of plot. This one has it all.

... and that last bit with the history teacher, What an ending and so appropriate. We always have to wonder just where the history writers and teachers have it wrong and where the information came from.

I wonder. Is Hypatia still writing somewhere?

What can I say.

Such a great story well done and I enjoyed reading it all.

Thank you for such a truly great story.

Susan Barker

I really liked this story

Just finished this morning. What a great story. I cried, cheered and read with a vengences. Keep writting you have a great talent.
Kena

This was a great series. Well thought out and written. Non-stop action and a nicely done TG characters. My only criticism is that itran a little too long. Somewhere in part 5 I noticed a certain amount of repetition and, talking about how wonderful and heroic everyone is and what an incredible girl the Oracle is ad nauseum. After she had unified Britain, it seemed to me like a good stopping point. Regardless, the first 4 1/2 sections of the series were absolutely tremendous. What a great read. The first poster was right; it does read a little like Heinlein.  

"The Oracle of New Delphi"
  I was in chat with a few friends taking about the great stories we had read and they told me about this one I had missed.  I had never read any of Hypatia's works before so I brought up this story thinking boy does this look long.  Today I finished it and learned how very short it was because it flowed so well and kept the reader so entertained.  Whether you are angry at the villians, happy whith the hero's or wanting to raise your fist to the heavans because the fates don't work the way we want the story neverlets you go.  I just have one question ..... when does the movie get to be made?

This stories was one of a few that could made me in tears.
With the gallantry, heroic, and caring, the stories unfold.
I like it. thanks.

I must enthusiastically agree with what's been said before!!!
This is a ecceptionally well done story!!!and I was VERY impressed with how you connected it all together {you had me in tears some times...very intense!!!}
Please keep it up you are a VERY good writer!!! :)
:) Aine :)

OUTSTANDING!!  
I just finished the first section, I was a skeptic when I first started, now I am hooked.
I like the storyline, I am reading it for enjoyment,  the heck with grammar and proper spelling.
Thanks, Hypatia.

Found the first half on FictionMania, and read from 11pm to 4am. I was actually moved to tears. I didn't rest until I found the whole story here on Crystal's site (first time here). Excellent, wonderful, beautiful. I'm a long-time hard-core sci-fi freak, and this ranks right up there with some of the best. The punctuation and spelling irregularities must be due to a Word Processor's built-in checking, because everything else is too well done, and frankly, it's too good a story to let that be a drawback. I am ecstatic to find two more stories from Hypatia to enjoy, and hope that more is on the way.

Thank you, Hypatia,
- Nomad

I finally completed this tale and was completely blown away. What we have here friends, is an instant classic, a true work of art. With a cast of thousands, a massive timeline, and a larger than life hero, this story has all the ingredients for excellence. Hypatia is a true talent, and one that I definitely hope to see more of. Thanks for the story.

One of the best stories I have read! Thank you It was great!

An AMAZING tale that will keep you riveted from the first page to the last. You will find your emotions torn between joy and despair. If you do not read this you may regret having missed it.

Beverly's Balcony (http://www.bevsbalcony.com)

Hi, I´m from germany and my english writing skills are down to nothing, but my english reading skills are good so I want to say what I have to say in german (I hope you can forgive me. I can´t describe my feelings in english so....)

Ich liebe diese Geschichte, sie ist grossartig ! Wenn die Scene mit dem Pferd kam, wollte ich erst nicht weiterlesen aber Gott sei Dank habe ich weitergelesen und damit eine der besten Sci-Fi Geschichten gelesen. Reichlich Taschentücher mussten dran glauben und am Ende des letzten Teils reichten selbst die Taschentücher nicht mehr. Ich weine bei vielen Geschichten, vor Freude, vor Trauer, vor Verzweiflung weil man nicht eingreifen kann usw. Deine Geschichte am Ende drückte so viele Gefühle aus, das ich geheuelt habe und einen Augenblick pausieren musste. Ich liebe diese Geschichte und sie wird einen Ehrenplatz in meinem Herzen bekommen.

So, the next part in english:

hugs from germany and keep writing its great :-)

Leoni

Hell, 8.5, I give your story a 20. If you aren't writing professionally, you should be! I have been reading science fiction
for the last 40 years and you are up there with the best of what I have read. Please don't quit!!

I'm really enjoying this story. if fact i've stopped writing my own till i finish this. i nearly stopped reading wheni got to the horse bit, but then decided to read on.(not into people into animal stories) then it suddenly blossomed. i am impressed by the way you grab your reader. i 'm still reading part 4 but i've already wept heaps. there are a few typos but nothing a proofer couldn't handle for you. i found they didnt detract from the story as i was too engrossed.the ups and downs of the story interpersed with the humour make it a great story out of 10 i give it 20 lol
i've been telling my friends to read it as well, hope you have more in the works after this is finished. huggles from a fellow writer and welcome to crystals. huggles from prue

*sob* please write more.  Another story for sure but please write very much more.

hugs,
 Dayna.

I just wanted to thank you for an excellent story.

Done with five, need to think about a comment. A fitting end though.

The Other

Wow,  We have another great writer to watch for. This tale is very well written, great plot, strong characters. I will be eagerly looking for the next sections. and letting other know of this great tale. This is setting the standards bar higher for internet stories.

Blessed Be
K_Tash Foxtaur

Four down. Can't wait for the next. I figure this has already been writen, and is either done, or close to. If not, then this author must not be getting sleep.... lmao. : ) Look at the size of these... wow, a nice long read. And it only gets better....

The Other

Get back from a few days holiday (not a million miles from Swaledale etc as it happens!)) and find this mammoth work on the site.  I've only managed to finish part 1 so far,  but it's looking very, very good.  It's great to read a story where the geography, at least, is familiar to me.

I noticed one comment about similarity with Heinlen (violence etc, I suppose) and I think that may be right.  It's a pity the readership numbers seem so low - the quick read brigade don't know what they're missing.

This just in the way of encouragement,  I'll comment in more detail once I've finished the whole thing.

thanks a lot for your efforts

Geoff

I've lost a lot of sleep and been work 2 days in a row trying to finish each part before work or bed.  

What a bloody amazing work of fiction.  I encourage you... if you write more you should get paid for it.  

One thing though... get a word processor with a built in spell checker. Your talents may go unnoticed but for a few typos and misspellings.

Again, thanks for writing a story instead of a fantasy.  I so enjoy it when the story sits above all else.  Your characters are rich and well rounded, your story well thought out and the plot just rolls along.  You must have been a great author in a previous life or you have a natural talent.  I hope you get many years of joy and fulfilment (sp?) from it and are richly rewarded by it too.

hugs,
 Dayna.

ps.  don't get me wrong.  I enjoy a quick fantasy too!

Just got done with the third. Tell me, must we increase the scale from ten to fifteen? Keep up like this, and the bar will be raised. Damned good shit.

The Other

Great story. Like the other readers who commented, I enjoyed this story very much. It was well written, the details were great, and I found no faults in it except for some minor grammatical errors. Keep up the great work. Thanks for writing.

Has anyone ever heard of this author before this story? Just got done reading part 2. Very emotional. I won't ruin it for anyone yet... but I will miss him.  Fuck the 8.5, I raise it to an easy 10 so far. The first story from this author that I know of, but god damn. If the trend continues, we have another top author in our midst.

The Other

Excellent story. The plot and characters are well drawn. The only suggestion I would make is a matter of form, not content. I suggest you learn more about the use of punctuation. Some sentences are difficult to follow because there are no commas where there should be, and others should be divided into two or more sentences.

a very good story i read a lot of sifi and action stories and i like that you have used both in the story hooked me. lol keep up the good work just dont take to long in writing the next part. i am dying to know what happens next. take care and i hope life brings you all the things you need and none of the things you dont.  

Very very good, well written and creative.I usualy hate Sci-Fi stories with a passion most often reserved for puppy kickers, But this is different, This is artfully done fiction that happens to have a TG sub-theme.BRAVO..Much Respect & Awe , Mina

good work keep it up.  Has some attributes that remind me of Heinlein.

Damned good. A couple gramatical errors, but a pretty easy read. On a scale of 1 - 10, I give it a 8.5. A good read.

The Other