Ghost of the White Nights (Ghost Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ghost Trilogy | Publication Date: October 13, 2002

Set in a fascinating alternative world in which ghosts are real, the United States never came into existence and Russia is still ruled by the Romanovs, this sequel to Of Tangible Ghosts and The Ghost of the Revelator continues the adventures of semi-retired spy Dr. Johan Eschbach.

His lovely wife Llysette du Boise, a refugee from the burning remains of France and a world-famous novelist, has been invited to provide a command performance for the Russian Imperial household. Johan accompanies her, allowing him to work on the oil concession in Russian Alaska that Columbia so desperately needs and do some spying on the side. Johan's espionage is carried out against the backdrop of the famous white nights of St. Petersburg, the nearly Arctic midsummer when the sun barely dips below the horizon and the sky seems to dissolve in ivory light. But even the oil shortage will fade to insignificance when Johan discovers what new weapons technology the Russians are developing, a threat even more fearsome than the atomic bombs of Austro-Hungary.

Working in the tradition of Gordon R. Dickson and Poul Anderson for hard-edged adventure with sophisticated social and political dimensions, Modesitt provides a unique blend of speculation and intrigue that brings the trilogy to a rousing end.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This not-especially-thrilling thriller completes the trilogy that began with Of Tangible Ghosts and The Ghost of the Revelator. The most striking feature of Modesitt's alternative Earth is that scientists have discovered that the human soul is tangible and subject to mechanical manipulation. It can remain behind as a ghost when someone dies in anguish, and it can be removed to create an obedient zombie slave. In an effort to resist the Austrian Empire's schemes of world domination, the leaders of Columbia (one of the countries that share the North American continent) send Doktor Johan Eshbach (college teacher of environmental science, former secret agent and gifted amateur in ghost research) and his diva wife, Llysette, to negotiate a petroleum contract with a Russia still ruled by the Romanovs. Needless to say, Eshbach discovers that powerful forces are arrayed against him, and he's faced with untangling a confusing situation. The whole business seems rather perfunctory. Even when Eshbach is supposedly in danger, the author's prose trudges stolidly along. The idea of ghost technology is intriguing, but seems unimportant until the end. The characters appear most concerned about surviving faculty politics, picking concert selections and finding a good restaurant. While this may be true to life, it's not terribly compelling. Perhaps readers of the first two books will care enough about the characters to worry about whether the hero will outwit his opponents while his wife advances her singing career by performing before the czar. But probably not. (Oct. 25)two reprints, Empire & Ecolitan (Forecasts, June 25), and two other novels, The Shadow Sorceress (Forecasts, May 28) and The Octagonal Raven (Forecasts, Feb. 5).

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Environmental scientist Dr. Johan Eschbach and his wife, the world-famous diva Llysette, travel to Romanov-ruled Russia for a cultural exchange and to investigate rumors of a deadly new technology controlled by the Russians. Modesitt's latest addition to the "Ghost" series (Of Tangible Ghosts, The Ghost of the Revelator) exhibits the author's graceful storytelling and unique vision. Fans of alternate history should enjoy this tale of deception and intrigue. A fitting addition for most sf collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction (October 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765340321
• ISBN-13: 978-0765340320
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After spending years writing poetry, political speeches and analyses, as well as economic and technical reports on extraordinarily detailed and often boring subjects, I finally got around to writing my first short story, which was published in 1973. I kept submitting and occasionally having published stories until an editor indicated he'd refuse to buy any more until I wrote a novel. So I did, and it was published in 1982, and I've been writing novels -- along with a few short stories -- ever since.

If you want to know more, you can visit my website at www.lemodesittjr.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good read, November 24, 2001

By 

Robert W. Dorr (Wilton, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost of the White Nights (Hardcover)

This book was described by Publishers weekly as:"This not-especially-thrilling thriller..." This is an awful way to begin the review of this slower, more thoughtfully paced book. The writing is good, the characters are compelling as always and the descriptions of the landscape and the surrounding situations are a pleasure to read. This book is a nice escape into a more civilized and slower paced universe than the one we inhabit.
There is not a lot of action, there is some and it is satisfying, but there is not a need for it. There is little moralizing or preaching. There is a constant theme of "protect the environment." But this isn't a bad thing and it is done pragmatically, not at all shrill.
It seems most reviewers focus on the idea of the tangible ghosts. That is not the important part of the book. What is important is the idea of family, and love.
I found this book to be very satisfying and finished it in 2 days.
If you enjoyed the first two books you will enjoy this one

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who cares about the soup? The book's not bad at all., October 10, 2005

By 

P. M Simon "El Simon Asombroso" (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghost of the White Nights (Ghost Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you start by reading the Publisher's Weekly review, you might prefer a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to reading Ghost of the White Nights, and that would be a mistake!

The concluding volume of the Columbia-Ghost trilogy is Modesitt's best volume in the series. It is well-paced, start to finish, it has some interesting plot twists, and the hero, Johan Eschbach, is at his finest.

Fans of the series will already understand the basic premise. Columbia, an alternate-world semi-USA faces the twin threats of chronic oil shortages and Austrian Emperor Ferdinand's plots to dominate the world. Eschbach, spy, professor, war hero, and good guy who wipes the dishes and makes a fair salad, must handle both issues.

This time, Eschbach must broker a deal with a creaky Romanov regime, trading technology for oil. There is plenty of intrigue, and Modesitt really has the Russian character-- proud, paranoid, but ultimately somehow likeable--down pat.

It is a shame that Eschbach's ahem--itchy-ahem French wife is still along for the ride, fussing about every bowl of soup, but if you can get past that, White Nights isn't bad at all. Some odd plot twists like having Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel appear in the alternate universe as an insidiously smarmy US Ambassador to Russia, are a lot of fun, too.

White Nights is a significant uptick on the previous volume, Ghost of the Revelator, which had almost nothing in it but the French wife crabbing about the chow!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent alternate history, October 14, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghost of the White Nights (Hardcover)

This earth is a lot different than that which contains science fiction readers of popular novels written by authors like L.E. Modesitt, Jr. Here Columbia is one of several nations that have carved out a segment of the North American continent. Columbia is actually what fans of Mr. Modesitt, Jr. would recognize as the eastern United States. In this alternate plane, scientists know how to remove the soul from the living host to create a zombie and that if the soul lingers after the individual dies in distress, a ghost exists.

Columbia desperately needs oil and feel Romanov's Russian Alaska is the solution. As part of a cultural exchange with Russia, Columbia sends critically acclaimed singer Llysette to Russia to perform for the Czar. Llysette's spouse Doktor Johan Eschbach, a professor of Environmental Science, accompanies her ostensibly to provide his beloved wife support, but actually to see what he can do to expedite an oil agreement. A former secret agent, Johan soon finds himself embroiled in stopping a dangerous plot for world domination from happening, one that will use new and very dangerous weapons.

The final novel in the "Ghost" trilogy, GHOST OF THE WHITE NIGHTS, is an engaging entry that focuses on an alternate world. The book wraps up the series nicely though fans will want more novels. The story line is at its best when delving into "modern" weapons systems and ghosts in the machine technology. However, long sidebars on Llysette's tour turn readers into ghostly zombies. Still the audience will enjoy the final tale as L.E. Modesitt, Jr. paints a realm that feels real from a historical and scientific basis.

Harriet Klausner