Victor Thorn's new novel, Return to Eternity, introduces an entirely new style of writing — one that combines computer technology with storytelling resulting in what is perhaps the first 3D book ever.

Return to Eternity takes an average story line and simultaneously combines it with CD-ROM technology to present the reader with Thorn's three dimensions of reality; the mental, physical and spiritual.

"I have realized for years that a single dimensional page can't capture everything . . . I vowed to come up with a new writing style," Thorn said. His new technique is one that overcomes the printed word's inability to explain the many intricacies of human interaction.

Thorn's invention arose from a frustration with today's writing formula of a conflict, suspense, climax and resolution. He wanted a way to convey his character's unspoken stream of complex thoughts, so he invented a new writing technique. Thorn's technique takes a cliché midnight rendezvous and, with the click of a mouse, the reader can peer in at the characters innermost emotions to understand the many other forces at work.

Sound confusing? It is at first. The idea is to read the story once through without following any of the links.

The midnight sexual fling between a married Laura and her former neighbor Otto was dull and conventional.

Then I read the story again clicking on the highlighted words. What happened next is what makes this story truly unique. The highlighted words are links to reading what else is influencing the character's actions. Thorn laments that as readers we never are really given all the information to understand the character. What past influences may be affecting how the character acts now? What religious forces could be at work? Are we reincarnated beings predisposed to perform certain ways? How is the unconscious mind at work in our actions? Thorn addresses all of these potential influences the second time you read Return to Eternity.

It is now revealed that the impetus in Laura and Otto's affair was a bet Satan made with God saying that Otto would succumb to the temptation that Laura offered him. As the short story progresses we read the mental dialogues Laura and Otto are having with themselves. While God and Satan are not active participants, they give advice to Laura and Otto throughout the story. My favorite part is the exploration of how Laura's past relationships with her parents have affected her actions in the present. We read an interesting dialogue between Laura and her father, which is Thorn's obvious explanation for the way she acts now. The stories' ending is a surprisingly philosophical conversation between Satan and God, offering Thorn's explanations as possible answers for a few eternal questions.

"The whole book leads to that conversation (between Satan and God) — that is the truth for me," Thorn said.

While the last conversation between Satan and God is thought provoking, the story itself remained a disappointment. As much as I enjoyed clicking on the links, I was confused by the constant change of dimensions. There is an accompanying music (such as Gregorian chants during God's dialogue), which I ended up muting to give both my roommate and myself some peace. The background graphics were interesting at first, but distracting from the story line. There is a lot of room for improvement. The beauty of this novel is not what it writes about but the possibilities it introduces for future authors tempted to try this new writing style.

As Thorn says, "The story idea is secondary to the philosophy." It is interesting to imagine possibilities of a better story combined with Thorn's philosophy.