Far Arena: Part Five of the Okal Rel Saga [Paperback]

Lynda Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2009 | Series: The Okal Rel Saga (Book 5)

A sophisticated society run by incorruptible AIs is prepared to do anything for their own survival....

With Amel's life hanging in the balance, Rire and Sevildom square off over their political differences.

Sevolites have finally acknowledged the vulnerable but civilized people of the Reetion Confederacy as independent commoners. But the supposedly enlightened Reetions prove far from being the harmless pacifists they claim to be - the overt concern about Amel's mental health masks a deep fear for the security of their incorruptible AIs which are key for their survival.

The Reetions want the answers Amel has locked deep inside his memory, and some of them want to change his personality medically.

As the rising social hysteria sets the stage for diplomacy between the Reetions and Sevildom, Amel's Reetion-raised brother, Erien, is forced into realization that even a civilization based on total transparency can be twisted in its motives for pursuing the truth...prepared to stop at nothing to gain it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lynda Williams works in e-learning at the University of Northern B.C. where she taught and developed computer science courses and administered grants. She has three awards for innovations in social uses of the internet, holds two masters degrees in applied computing fields and is a founder of the UNBC Press. Lynda has taught in three post-secondary institutions and worked as a journalist and crisis counselor. She lives in Prince George, BC, Canada with her husband and their daughters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing; 1 edition (May 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1894063457
• ISBN-13: 978-1894063456
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,530,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynda Williams has been creating the Okal Rel Universe through three degrees and at least as many careers. Now the books of the ten novel saga are rolling out from Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy one a year (Part 7: Healer's Sword forthcoming in Nov 2011). Works by both Lynda and other writers captivated by the story-potential of the ORU, are published by Edge's sister-press called Absolute X-Press. Lynda taught and worked in educational innovation at the University of Northern B.C. for fifteen years, and now works as Learning Management System Analyst for SFU. She holds two masters degrees (M.L.S. and M.Sc. Computation) and a B.A. in Liberal Studies with emphasis in Chemistry and Creative Writing. "All my life," Lynda explains her eclectic education and life experience, "I had questions that no single discipline could answer without help from others."

Fully-realized characters living the drama and humor of culture clash surrounding power, sexual mores and social values are the hallmark of the Okal Rel experience: dramatizing questions about what it means to be human. Enthusiastic readers range from precocious pre-teens to senior citizens, and include thinking people from PhDs to high school dropouts. The gentle, beautiful, vanilla-scented Amel Dem'Vrel, title character of Part 1: The Courtesan Prince, provides a focus for the series as his life plays out the age-old story of the prince raised as a pauper combined with the notion of the prostitute with a heart of gold, despite being male. But Amel's slow recovery from a traumatic youth and rise to power as his people's leader is only the backdrop for the lives and passions of a cast of characters who seize the stage for as long as a book (e.g. Horth Nersal in Part 2: Righteous Anger) or weave their own bright threads through the ten-novel saga (e.g. reluctant rebel Perry D'Aur, the intense and brooding Di Mon, or trickster, warrior, poet Eler Nersal).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Culmination of Building ORU Forces, November 26, 2011

By 

Hal J. Friesen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Far Arena: Part Five of the Okal Rel Saga (Paperback)

This book is a fantastic culmination of some of the building forces in the Okal Rel Universe. It was gripping and fascinating throughout, exploring some very relevant issues about information, privacy, honour and government in one fell swoop. If you've read other ORU books you will love the interplay between the characters. Lynda Williams is comfortable in her universe and is making great use of the series' capacity for investigation of core moral and ethical issues.

5.0 out of 5 stars Far Arena a guaranteed good read!, July 10, 2009

By 

Mark Shegelski "MRAS" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Far Arena: Part Five of the Okal Rel Saga (Paperback)

"Far Arena" is my first read in the Okal Rel Saga, the fifth book by Lynda Williams in her series. My decision: I want to start the series and read all the books! Although new to Okal Rel, it was easy for me to see why the books are so popular and highly praised. Williams has the rare ability to develop her characters, show us the story, maintain tension, and do all three at the same time. The characters are deep and intricate. The story moves quickly; the pages keep turning. The universe is unique and developed in impressive detail. I found the conclusion of the book to be very satisfying, leaving me wanting to read the previous books. The final chapter of the book is compelling. It told me more about the intriguing character Di Mon, and I could not help wondering how things all began. If you've read one or more of the previous books in this series, you'll love "Far Arena." And if, like me, this is your first dip in, you've got five guaranteed good reads waiting for you. You can't go wrong with "Far Arena."