The Traveler, by John Twelve Hawks

The reality of this book is a bit scary. It explores the Big Brother theory quite deeply and in a 21st century way.
Maya is a Harlequin, who are raised with one purpose in life: to defend Travelers, who are unique people who have the ability to travel to other realms and they are the people who through time have been able to help bring about changes in humanity. The Tabula are sworn to kill all Travelers and Harlequins in order to control the world.
The book is a literary treasure filled with religious and literary reference from around the world and across traditions. It is a book for book lovers who will be intrigued by finding all the reference, yet the story is strong enough to capture the imagination of even the most casual of readers.
The main premise is that there is a war going on in this world, but it is a war that most are unaware of. Like all wars there are two sides, The Harlequin's and the Tabula or as they prefer to be called `The Brethren'. The Harlequin's are warriors committed to protecting the Travelers; Travelers are people who have the ability to send their life energy from their body and travel to other realms. They are lonely isolated people who live to serve. The travelers often become gurus or healers or prophets. The traveler's after returning from a different plane of existence return changed and their views of life challenge other people to look at their own lives and to seek something more. The Tabula on the other hand want to control the world. They want to have control over every person's life.
I had a very dificult time while I was away from this book because I was always thinking about it and when I could get back to it. I am very much looking froward to the next 2 in the trilogy.