Hope's War (Tom Doherty Associates Books) [Hardcover]

Stephen Chambers (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tom Doherty Associates Books | Publication Date: August 17, 2002

For the city of Hope, stability is a memory. Counseled by Lord Denon, the leader of the Church, Vel, the new and very reluctant young king, has unintentionally prompted a bloody civil war. Pounded by an unrelenting winter and faced with diminishing food supplies, the city of Hope is carved into a battleground.

In the midst of shifting alliances, Vel relies on Lord Denon and General Wunic-his military adviser-to help him end the conflict. But the situation deteriorates. The only hope is a cache of food reportedly stockpiled by the mysterious Frill in the abandoned ruins south of the city.

Against the backdrop of social and political anarchy and widespread starvation, Vel must make the dangerous journey to the ruins and make contact-and come to terms with-the Frill.

What Vel finds instead is a powerful kind of computer-based portal into the future. A late-twenty-first-century future controlled by a brilliant but ruthless terrorist known only as Blakes. But what is the link between Blakes-a cold-blooded mass murderer from the future-and the conflict devastating Hope?

Vel must find the answer. And fast. Time is running out. For Hope. And for Vel. Harsh snowdrifts bury the dead, loyalties have become strained. Vel must face the horror not only of Hope's past, but of its future.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this solid sequel to Hopes End (2001), 16-year-old Vel's ambitious adviser and lord of the Church, Denon, manipulates him into taking the throne of the city-state of Hope. Vel assumes the king's crown after killing Justice Hillor, leader of the Council, at Denon's order. Meanwhile, loyal General Wunic strives with less and less luck to quell the growing rebellion that sweeps through Hope as food supplies dwindle and the Pox continues to ravage the populace. Fortunately, even as Denon's plot to rule through the boy approaches fruition, Vel can turn for guidance to his genetic predecessor, Blakes (cloned from the DNA of English poet William Blake during the biotech revolution of the early 21st century and stored as an AI inside an ancient computer from Hopes earliest days). Once the leader of an anti-tech movement that resurrected the powers and methods of Hitler, Blakes and his closest followers were exiled from Earth and sent to a distant planet where they settled Hope and sought to assimilate the indigenous Frill population. Despite Blakes's evil past, he's the only one Vel can trust as he tries to make sense of his own life and stand against Denon's plots. The story maintains a fantasy-like feel even after revealing Blakes's past. Although Chamber's fails to develop any but the four main characters beyond two dimensions, and the novel leaves any real plot resolution to the next book in the series, the author's compelling dissection of good and evil will keep thoughtful readers involved.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Civil war, starvation, and disease threaten the human colony on the planet Hera. As Vel, the boy-turned-king, attempts to fulfill his duties and bring peace and prosperity to his people, he must contend with generals he does not trust. Only a computer that Vel can access gives him a vital link to the colony's past and to the life of its mysterious and sinister founder. Continuing the story begun in Hope's End, Chambers offers a tantalizing look at a grim future history of Earth as he reveals more of Hera's cultural roots. Vel's passage from boyhood to maturity and his introduction to love and power make this sf adventure suitable for large collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (August 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312873506
• ISBN-13: 978-0312873509
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,707,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Chambers is the author of Jane and the Raven King. While still in high school, he sold two novels, Hope's End and Hope's War and has recently collaborated with bestselling author Adam Blade on The Chronicles of Avantia and Beastquest series. Stephen is currently a doctoral candidate in the history department at Brown University.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining speculative fiction, August 17, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Hope's War (Tom Doherty Associates Books) (Hardcover)

Still a teenager, Vel hesitantly accepts the crown that makes him king of Hope. Unused to this role in any sense though being a former con man helps, Vel turns to the Lord of the Church Denon for advice. However, the monarchy leads Vel to new problems as a rebellion is multiplied by a nasty winter depleting food supplies.

Vel journeys to the Frill, alien enemies with an alleged food supply, to make peace and trade. Instead, Vel meets Blakes, a clone of the English poet William Blake living inside a computer. Blakes once used Hitler methods to try to conquer Earth and subsequently was exiled to this planet. Still, he is Vel's only hope to provide sound advice without his unseemly ambition strong enough to take the throne away from the lad.

Though clearly a middle book plot (nothing of significance is resolved), HOPE'S WAR is an entertaining speculative fiction tale that examines the relativity of good and evil. The key characters (Vel, Blakes, and Denon) are multidimensional and the latter two retain qualities from the first novel (see HOPE'S END). Though the support cast contains no meaningful depth, fans will delight in Stephen Chamber's latest novel and hope the next book comes out rather soon.

Harriet Klausner