An Abyss of Light (Powers of Light) [Paperback]

Kathleen M. O'Neal (Author), Kathleen O'Neal Gear (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: DAW (May 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886774187
• ISBN-13: 978-0886774189
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #643,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Strong Beginning - that kept me throughout the book, February 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Abyss of Light (Powers of Light) (Paperback)

I liked the way you started. It kept my eyes focused on the book. I was in such a rush to get to part 2. I was happily amazed at the concepts you put in your work. I loved the whole Trilogy. I couldn't put it down! Thanks for some great insight to new thinking.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mix of Science fiction and religion, February 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Abyss of Light (Powers of Light) (Paperback)

An abyss of light is very good book. Any Science Fiction reader with an interest in Religous philosphies should read this book. A Great opposition between God(Epgael) and The Mashiah(Milcom). Rachel and her people must decide who is real while Jerimiel is trying to save Gament Civilization from a horrible Extiction. Very well written. I didn't get bored for a moment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Save your time, October 14, 2006

By 

FractalFeline "The Eccentric" (Texas, either Waco or Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Abyss of Light (Powers of Light) (Paperback)

I read the whole trilogy, mostly so I could see where the author was taking it...

This book was ok. It had some compelling characters and some worthwhile themes. However, I think my major problem was thin plotline. The events just kinda happened sometimes. Kathleen O'Neal introduced themes but never developed it through action. The events seemed isolated and thrown in for shock value. As well, as much as she raised issues, such as the role of religion in politics and culture, the nature of God and Satan, religion as a tool for power, etc., she never really developed them too well. Perhaps I think she basically didn't think them through, she just wanted to throw out something shocking as cheap entertainment. Why not exploit anti-religious sentiment in Western society? I'm not against questioning religion (I loved series such as His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman, Hyperion by Dan Simmons and Dune by Frank Herbert) but do it well if you do it at all!

If you read it, read it with the idea that it's simplified, and focuses more on toying with the ideas rather than really discussing them in depth. Let's just say I kept trying to figure out what her personal stance on her themes were, and got to the end of the third book and felt like burning it because it was too simple. I need to remember to read Paradise Lost, because I can expect skill from Milton in this subject. But she accomplishes making it an entertaining read. I suggest watching TV instead.