In the 1980s, many countries in Latin America were struggling to break free from decades of dictatorial rule by despots propped up by the U.S. government. In the Land of the Feathered Serpent is the story of a bright but naïve young marine biologist, with an outsized libido and a hypersensitive nose, who finds himself on a Homeric journey of discovery in Central America and Mexico during this period. As with Odysseus, Odel Bernini’s journey takes place both in the physical terrain and in the landscape of his mind as he travels through the lowland jungles of the Petén rainforest and the 10,000-foot high sierras of Guatemala’s Maya realm. Odel gets caught up with dirty politics and the CIA, is seduced by a dark siren, is nearly killed by a Cyclops, and is swept into the world of Maya mysticism. In the end, Odel finds himself transformed in unexpected ways. An adventure story and mystery, Odel’s journey explores themes of truth and deception, trust and love, the dark heart and bright hope of humankind, and personal growth. The facts, places, and most characters in the story are real. Odel Bernini and his close friends are, however, purely fictional. See the Feathered Serpent website for further details www.featheredserpent.online The setting for this novel is fertile and fruitful. Brusca provides a sobering history of Central American countries, an informed explanation of the archeology of the area, and appreciative rich descriptions of the cities and lush countryside. Odel Bernini's time there becomes a journey of self-discovery. Arizona Daily Star This story, like the feathered serpent itself, moves through time and space to an era remembered by many Americans as one in which the U.S. government worked to destabilize Central American regimes that were at odds with its politics. Prodded by his wife, the daughter of an American cultural attaché, Odel Bernini approaches the CIA to ask if they could fund his continued research in the region in exchange for "some silly things" he might do for them. Those "silly things" lead to funding from a private foundation to cover his travel—but with strings attached. Having sold his soul, he gradually undertakes more dangerous tasks on the CIA's behalf. Author Brusca delivers modern man's Odyssey, both in scale and complexity. We are riveted to Odel Bernini's journey of self-discovery as he navigates the siren calls of the CIA and a smart beautiful woman from his dreams, while his academic world slowly disintegrates. Brusca has an effortless style that quickly absorbs the reader, and he delivers a mega-novel that will resonate with readers drawn to sensually charged, clandestine storylines that run through dangerous political landscapes and treacherous jungle settings. Chanticleer Book Reviews Odel Bernini believed he had it all . . . But on a trip to Central America, everything changed. He will make hard choices, confront his demons and his virtues, and stumble toward a greater understanding of himself and the world around him . . . if he survives. In the Land of the Feathered Serpent is author and scientist Rick Brusca's ambitious reimagining of The Odyssey for modern times. An epic tale of personal growth where Odel's romanticism is at once embraced and stripped away from him, and he begins to see those around him as true, flawed people, not just the archetypes he'd painted them as. The reader takes this journey alongside Odel, often a step or two ahead of him, but always rooting for him. Odel is an Everyman worth cheering on . . .The book is incredibly engrossing. Experiencing Central America as a place, a complicated mélange of politics, choices, beauty, chaos, and potential, strips away the reader's false images just as Odel's illusions are similarly confronted, and those moments are powerful. Odel's struggles, the labyrinthine threads of his life that tangle and knot in peculiar ways, and the path he takes to the other side is an intriguing one, rich in color and character, vibrantly realized. Feathered Serpent is quite unlike anything I've ever read. This is a multicourse meal to be savored, not devoured in one sitting. San Francisco (CA) and Manhattan (NY) Book Reviews A tale of one man's journey of discovery and self-realization, this book pays homage to Homer's Odyssey and James Joyce's Ulysses . University of Arizona Alumni Magazine