Fresh out of high school in 1950s Arizona, Ralph begins work for a man who introduces him to cryopreservation, the concept of freezing deceased people until technology is advanced enough to revive them. As he progresses in his career as a car salesman, he meets the love of his life, who he plans to marry. However, his bride-to-be is killed, leaving him with one option if he wants to save their love: to freeze her for a hundred years or more and arrange to be frozen when he dies in hopes of being revived together in the future. Will technology meet Ralph's lofty expectations? David Pizer's An Awesome Journey centers on Ralph's journey through his career in business, the discovery of a possible way to preserve life, finding love, and his search for the answer to one major question: "Why are we here?"

An Awesome Journey examines the many mysteries that have plagued humanity for thousands of years. The main protagonist constantly doubts his belief in God while searching for answers from different Christian denominations and people's opinions. The book's universal themes of love, friendship, religion, and business are intertwined within an interesting and elaborate plot with amazingly realistic and loveable characters. David Pizer reveals different developments and facts that cover technology (especially cars), medicine, and pop culture of the 1950s to the 1970s. A lot of things impressed me in the book, especially the many imagined advances in technology. It would appeal to readers who wish to explore the concept of living forever on earth and in the afterlife.

An Awesome Journey by David Pizer is a science fiction romance novel about eternal love. The novel opens in the1950s in Phoenix, Arizona, where the main character Ralph is a girl-watching teenager. We get an introduction to Honest John and the business of car dealerships, and Ralph witnesses an incident that changes his way of thinking forever. He learns about cryonics (along with the reader), then meets the young woman of his dreams--high-spirited Becky--and this is where the heart of the story begins. In spite of a rocky introduction, they fall in love and plan to marry, but fate intervenes and she's taken away from him forever. Or has she?

The combination of cryonics and romance is an irresistible premise. And although you have a hint of what could take place in the future, the journey Pizer takes you on is compelling, romantic, philosophical, religious, and thought-provoking. There is also a dash of humor, which makes for some entertaining reading. Pizer's plot and pacing are balanced, the dialogue and explanations of cryonics are stimulating, and the characters believable. As you read and the story unfolds, you will be touched by the simplicity of everyday events, and by the complexity of life's big questions and concerns. If you had the chance to live again, be with the love of your life again, would you take it? Some science fiction novels end in a negative way or have a negative outlook, but this author makes even death sound hopeful in the future world. If you like a dose of romance in your science fiction, you can't go wrong with An Awesome Journey by David Pizer.

David Pizer is in love with life and makes every moment count. In his novel, An Awesome Journey, he gives a touching and romantic story of how it feels to live beyond the standard human life span. Ralph Dombrowski always wanted to amount to something. He is not perfect, but he is bright and ambitious. He is in love with Becky, a high school senior he intends to marry after their graduation. But as fate would have it, Becky dies in a car accident shortly before the wedding day, which also happens to be Becky’s birthday. Ralph’s life continues and he has done well for himself. Years after his death, he and Becky get a second chance at life through the wonders of cryonics, a technology of storing human bodies at low temperatures for the purpose of reviving them in the future.

Pizer’s narrative is well-balanced as far as plot and character development are concerned. You will find it reasonable why Ralph has invested years in taking care of Becky’s preservation, as you see the depth of their relationship from the start of the novel. We hold our breaths as the snoopy Ballantyne tries to expose the truth behind the cryopreservation project. Pizer is meticulous in providing scientific explanations on the process of cryopreservation so that you will not doubt its feasibility. An Awesome Journey points out the pain of profound loss and the greater things we will undertake for the sake of love. This novel is a meditation on existence, that life can be short or long, depending on how we live it. This is a highly recommended read that goes beyond giving you a feel-good experience.

An Awesome Journey by David Pizer is a captivating novel that is part romance and part science fiction. Set in Phoenix, Arizona, the novel follows the story of a hardworking and successful car salesman who later gains an interest in cryopreservation. In an unexpected and life-changing encounter in 1955, Ralph Dombrowski meets Honest John, who becomes a mentor to the young Ralph. With the guidance of Honest John, Ralph becomes a skillful car salesman. Through his boss’s influence, Ralph becomes fascinated with cryopreservation and, over time, becomes part of a discreet group of people associated with the futuristic concept of preserving human beings in the hope of later revival, when humans develop the right technology. At the height of his career, Ralph meets Becky and their genuine relationship begins soon after.

An Awesome Journey creates an imaginative picture of a technologically advanced world. I loved that the novel raises important questions about the ethics of cryopreservation and assesses the reasons why the people involved would choose it. The novel explores religious opinions about the process and ponders other related questions about religion through the eyes of its thoughtful main character, Ralph. Becky and Ralph’s relationship adds a moving sub-plot to the novel that relates to the main concept of cryopreservation. Supporting characters play essential parts in the story. As one of the supporting characters, Honest John is inspiring. His warm and authentic nature inspires Ralph and his support is instrumental to Ralph’s later success. Other supporting characters that Ralph encounters in his workplace provide him with community and friendship. An Awesome Journey by David Pizer is a creative novel that debates important themes and contains fascinating scenes.