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Lear's Daughters

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A group of Terran scientists plus a mining expert representing the funding behind the expedition land on a planet with a seemingly primitive population and bizarre weather. Freak storms strand the Terrans for far longer than planned, and as tensions rise among them and some build close ties with the locals, they begin to discover that there is far more to the "simple natives" and the weather than they could have ever imagined. A nice, fat book for those who like rich characterization, believable relationships, and plenty of descriptive detail. Kellogg deftly weaves all the seemingly disparate threads into a satisfying ending. There's a nice sprinkling of hard science, but not enough to be daunting.

In the latter part of the twenty-first century, the ecosystems on Earth are dying and the climate is running amuck. Flora, fauna and oil are gone and humanity is using coal which adds to the heavy pollution. People live in mega cities that are overcrowded and medical help is very expensive when it is available. The search is on for planets that are rich in lithium, an element needed to produce clean energy. The Corporation ConPlex is funding an expedition to Fiix in the Byrnham Cluster, which seems to be rich in lithium.

There is a primitive civilization on the planet which has natives that have our Dna. A periodic table of elements with elements not found in the human one is discovered and there is a complex system that brings energy safely for heating and cooling and for a variation of other reasons. The Sawl's myths say the weather is so poor and dangerous because the twin Sister-goddesses are at war. Stavros Ibia the ship's linguist immerses himself in the Sawl culture and believes the Sister-goddesses are not myths, but are real be they machines , people, or A.I.'s playing games with the weather and causing hostilities and devastation with heat and rain. ConPlex's representative Dr. Emil Clausen finds lithium in abundance and cares nothing about what the Sister-Goddesses really are if anything. He searches for ore mine and leads an expedition that is split in two with one side seeking ore for the earth and the other looking for a loophole the Sawl's world to continue to continue without interference. His endeavor leads to violence.

LEAR'S DAUGHTERS is a reworking of two books published in the 1980s (THE WAVE AND THE FLAME and REIGN OF FIRE). The new saga updates the science with new information on climate and weather on the planet. The story line is a cautionary science fiction thriller that indirectly paints a dark view of a future earth six decades from now through the conversations between cast members. Readers are immersed in the Sawl culture and want to know more about the Sister-goddesses: whether they are myths or if real whether they are sane as earthlings define the term. This is an intriguing massive tome that will fascinate readers as the future looks bleak in the Kellogg realm.

Harriet Klausner

This is the 2009 update to two books Marjorie B. Kellogg wrote in 1986. Those books,The Wave and the Flame and Reign of Fire, are now combined into a 739 page thriller that includes the latest theories on climate change and pollution.

The year is 2073. Oil supplies are depleted, food is scarce, coal pollutes the air, and big cities house Earth's remaining, dwindling population.Food and energy are imported from colony worlds, raped by Earth's exploitation. The search is on for a new clean energy source called Lithium, and the huge energy company ConPlex finds evidence of Lithium on planet Fiix.

Commander Weng Tsi Hue lands a ConPlex exploratory ship on Fiix with Dr. Taylor Danforth and his science team, and Dr. Emil Clausen, ConPlex's lead prospector. The planet is inhabited by beings with our DNA called the Sawls. They live in caves on high cliffs to shield themselves from the capricious weather conditions. The Terrans had expected to find desert conditions, but instead find ice and snow. Soon thereafter, a thaw causes a massive deluge. During the flood, Drs. Danforth and Clausen are lost flying a Sled plane while searching for Lithium.

Meanwhile, we find that the Sawls believe that the weather conditions are caused by an ongoing war between the Goddess sisters, one controlling heat and fire and the other controlling moisture and water. This theory is enforced by the Priest Guild, led by the arcane Lore Master, Kav Daven. The Terran ship's Linguistics officer, Stavros Ibia, not only agrees with the Sawls, but becomes privy to their many secrets. Stavros does everything possible to stop the mission and save the Sawls from being evicted from their planet.

The lost Sled team of Drs. Danforth and Clausen suddenly reappear. Danforth is badly hurt and Clausen claims to have found a major vein of Lithium. An argument ensues between Clausen and Stavros. Stavos wants the mission canceled. Clausen wounds Stavros, who escapes to the protection of the caves. The weather worsens; the Sawls decide to trek to their other cave development in Ogo Dul; Clausen hunts for Stavros; and, the Terran science team searches for the Goddess sisters. Then, the weather worsens again. Can the Goddesses be found and stopped? Can Clausen be stopped from ravaging the planet and evicting the Sawls? What secrets do the Sawls hold from the Terrans? What becomes of Stavros?

The science in this novel is very believable and well defined. For those concerned about our environment, this is a must read.The characterizations are top drawer. I don't know what changed between the versions as I didn't read the original two novels. This is a first-rate thriller from the first to the last page, the climax was amazing and unpredictable. My recommendation is simple - read it!