This is another book
in the excellent Safehold series. Safehold
is a planet intentionally hidden at a
low tech level from an alien intelligence that has wiped out mankind except for
Safehold. Safehold’s founders founded a new religion to
deter industrialization in hopes of not attracting the attention of mankind’s
nemesis. Much of the review here is the
same for the whole series.
The aforementioned theocracy has become dominated by the
gang of four. The gang of four, are
four corrupt churchmen who will do anything, no matter how despicable, to
remain in power. Mass murder,
terrorism, torture and even instigating civil war and denying all progress, it
still manages to trumpet it’s godliness.
As all of Weber’s works he has deplorable villains and
laudable heroes. Weber works many of
current society’s ills into his work.
Fanaticism, jihad, corruption, facile politicians, evil empires; he
manages to include or refer to through proxy.
There is an afterword of 101 pages listing characters who
have populated the series and a glossary of definitions of terms. If that doesn't convince you that Weber is
detail oriented, I don't know what will.
Weber is one of those rare authors who can infiltrate your emotions with
his characters and feel you full of empathy for their actions. This book shows the Charisian Empire again
but focuses more on a next generation of characters. Merlin and Nimue plus their many alter egos
play a large part in the action in this volume. Their need for blood shed causes them
emotional angst. Religious warfare is shown in it's brutal
reality. Something that has sadly been
illustrated by current events and being propagated by questionable Presidential
candidates.
I did have to agree with some reviews that complain that
Weber is wordy but each brush stroke can increase the depth and beauty of a
work although in this book and the last (Like a Mighty Army) I did feel he got
a bit effusive.
I recommend the book.
Web Site: http://www.davidweber.net/
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.
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