A new elite, the Angel Guards of the Provider thrive on the fury of the elements and prey on the Externals, renegade warriors who have come to the Provider's world.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic sword and sorcery fantasy with a dash of sci-fi.,
By Christopher (Malaysia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blood Red Angel (Paperback)
Found this one in a 2ndhand bookstore and kept it in my bookshelf for a few years to ferment like fine wine...dusted it off recently...and, I must say, vintage sword, sorcery and sci-fi...al the ingredients for a good read for any fan of sci-fi/fantasy.To begin with: this book is a one-off by Adrian Cole (seems he's writtem several other fairly popular sci-fi/fantasy series but which I have not come across). Actually, I would find it hard to classify this one. Its not really sci-fi, not really sword and sorcery. Put in a spot, I'd say that this would make a great script for a graphic novel; and I won't be surprised if it has been made into one - I note that it was first published in 1993; plenty of time for someone to have discovered its potential as a graphic novel...or..dare I say it...a movie? In a nutshell the story goes like this: Conan-the-Barbarian type berserker (from the Magmannon clan) in a Scotland-like place gets captured along with two other brothers-in-arms by strange men who are obviously more civilised - since they have gun-like weapons and breathing apparatus - and sent through a warp/rift in the fabric of space/time called The Overlap into a hellish world. How hellish you might ask: well, this world is covered by perpetual dark storm clouds called Skydown; there's a dusk but that's as bright as it gets. Almost the entire surface of this world is covered by a tall reeds and swamp. There is a very long, very wide elevated road going in a straight line thru' the reeds and swamp. It takes the traveller to what can only be described as the only city in this world; called "Thousandreach" a labrynthine city of immense proportions and towers that rise above Skydown, There are also giant trees that the city seems to have merged into and which also rise above Skydown and these trees are held as sacred. Interestingly there is no flora (besides the reeds) and some very strange fauna - which we later are given hints that these creatures are genetically-modified humans...which brings us to the really hellish part: see if there are no plants and animals what do the inhabitants in this world eat? We are told fairly early on that they eat "Fodda" (a shortened way of saying "fodder", I guess) and Fodda is human!!! See in this world there's a serious pecking order...right at the bottom of the food-chain literally, we have Fodda who are human-cattle (and we are given hints that being eaten is not all the Fodda have to put up with). Then above them there are various ranks (e.g Drones, Overseers, Tormentors, etc). Near the top of the food-chain we have the Providors who each serve to one of the many Elevates who, in turn serve, the Lightbenders - the head honchos of this world. The Lightbenders (it is unquestionably believed) serve Absolute Light, which I interpreted to be the collective of gods of this world - and there are glimpses of these gods near the end of the story. The Providors, Elevates and Lightbenders all have their respective private armies - some I can only comprising mechanical robot-like or genetically-altered soldiers. All of them (the Providers, Elevates and Lightbenders) are constantly locked in intrigues and politics and would give much to see their fellow Provider, Elevates or Lightbender turned into Fodda. But being a bit too comfortable in their respective silos/ivory towers, they don't involve themselves much with the general populace and have the Angel Guard to quash any dissent and/or for the odd assasination. The Angel Guards themselves comprise three orders, and are held in awe by almost all the inhabitants of this world as the ultimate killing machine - they would give aliens a good run for their money. They regards themselves as free agents cum policemen and have to be commissioned by a Provider (for Elevate) to take on any specific assignment - with payment terms agreed to upfront. For completeness, I should also mention the Skryers - the intellectual/mystical elite, who like the Angel Guard regard themselves as essentially free agents but are in reality aligned to one or other of the Elevates. Against this backdrop we have the story: An Angel Guard is sent to track down three Externals (those who come into the world - willingly or otherwise, but from what we have been told, who would want to come in willingly) who managed to escape into the reeds. The Angel Guard is struck by some mysterious force (and what force could be physically stronger than an Angel Guard?) and made permanently blind. Meanwhile two of the bonnie lads have joined the ranks of Fodda (there are ways to preserve meat without a fridge) with one becoming that way courtesy of the blind angel. The third meets up with a comely External (don't they always) and together with a demoted Providor, and with the support of an rebel Elevate this motley crew go on a quest to liberate the peoples under Skydown. Okay so I am trivializing the story. But I think it was a great story...maybe not so good a story if one read it as a fantasy novel but rather as a parody of the corporate world! If the gods are shareholders then we have the Board of Directors as the Lightbenders, and the President, CEO, CFO, COO and such senior management as the Elevates and their respective lackeys (Vice Presidents?) as the Providers. Inasmuch as the Lightbenders regard everyone below their level as Fodda, so to do senior management often regard everyone else as expandible - especially if it would get them more stock options. Conclusion: damned good story...but, for me at least, better as a study of the corporate world.
3.0 out of 5 stars
An okay fantasy novel,
By
This review is from: Blood Red Angel (Paperback)
This was a very basic fantasy but was not a bad one. The environment was unique and the characters were adequately described. It is a rated PG-13 novel of Adrian Cole`s. A Place Among the Fallen was a much better piece of his though.
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