Molt Brother [Paperback]

Jacqueline Lichtenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 18, 2003

College students, human and nonhuman, raised together on the same planet, search for the origins of civilization in the Galaxy and find old magic and a vast, implacable conspiracy. Can they forge bonds of friendship and understanding among themselves strong enough to stand against greed, lust for power, and absolute domination of a hundred planets? If not, then why does the enemy fear them?

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . can be savored as suspenseful adventure, with intensely developed and involved characters and a complex galactic milieu." -- Fantasy Review

". . .shows us a whole new approach, fresh and genuinely emotional, to interaction between human and alien." -- Marion Zimmer Bradley

". . .suspenseful plot and intense characters make this a first-rate adventure. Recommended." -- Library Journal

"Imaginative and outstanding. It captures the reader and won’t let go." -- Andre Norton

"Lichtenberg has taken a new . . . interesting direction with this book, partly technological, partly alien cultures, in a very intriguing interrelation." -- C. J. Cherryh

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Wildside Press (July 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592241263
• ISBN-13: 978-1592241262
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,899,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a professional sf/f writer, and a Life Member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (sfwa.org) I'm also a member of EPIC, The Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition, and Backlist eBooks, a group of widely published writers presenting their own previously published work in eBook format.

My first novel, House of Zeor, first of the Sime~Gen novels, was published in hc in 1974 and remained continually in print for 20 years.

Today the series has been picked up by Wildside Press, Borgo imprint, re-issued as both e-book in a wide variety of formats including Kindle, and as Print on Demand. In addition brand new, never before published novels are included, and all are presented numbered in publication order.

Like Star Trek fandom, Sime~Gen fandom has produced more fanfiction than ever was professionally published -- and RPG's and LARPS and board games, and hand-crafts, and art, and poetry - and even a professionally written and recorded song.

My works in other universes are likewise coming in new formats, and brand new novels will be added through Wildside Press.

Watch for audiobook versions via audible.com which will appear here on Amazon. The first of my novels to be recorded as an audiobook is Molt Brother, which has a direct sequel City of a Million Legends. Both those are newly available as e-books on Kindle and other formats, as well as in paper.

A vampire-romance, Those of My Blood and its sequel Dreamspy are available in paper again, at regular not collector's prices, right here on Amazon.

After selling several Sime~Gen novels to hardcover, I was joined by Jean Lorrah (author of many Trek novels, as well as her own series of fantasy novels, Savage Empire). Jean's first novel was our Sime~Gen collaboration titled First Channel. We are now co-owners of Sime~Gen Inc. which owns simegen.com

I'm the originator of the term Intimate Adventure, quoted in Publisher's Weekly. All my novels belong to the Intimate Adventure genre, as do those of Jean Lorrah.

I am the sf/f book reviewer for The Monthly Aspectarian and my column is archived on simegen.com/reviews/. There you'll find a link to an article showing the Star Trek Connection behind everything to do with Sime~Gen and simegen.com.

The first two columns have an in-depth definition of Intimate Adventure with examples by many authors across many fields. Intimate Adventure is the Hidden Genre -- everyone loves it, nobody (especially publishers) knows it exists.

You'll find links to all my online projects on my personal page, simegen.com/jl/ or select information about currently available novels on jacquelinelichtenberg.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Truly alien aliens, November 12, 2002

By 

Bruce Gray "gurpsgm" (Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molt Brother (Paperback)

This book, the first of a promised "Lifewave" series (the second book, "City of a Million Legends", is also sadly out-of-print) gives us some aliens that are truly alien.

Starting with the postulation that an alien race could have evolved from a snake-like species, Molt Brother goes further. It gives ideas on what might happen on a world that has humans and Kren living together. The Kren are the snake-like humanoids, and they have a fascinating physiology that comes into play in several areas of this book.

Kren can raise venom - they are poisonous, and can bite and kill humans if necessary. Kren lay eggs. Kren shed skin - a process that makes them unusually vulnerable during the time that their new skin is curing.

It is the story of how the humans and Kren interact that make this story a wonderful read. Humans are visitors to the Kren's world, and it is unheard of that a Kren should choose a human to be a "molt brother" - that is, a person who would be trusted to watch over a Kren during the shedding of old skin and the curing of new skin. This look at an alien civilization from the alien point of view is very refreshing.

The only thing that kept me from giving this book a perfect five stars is Lichtenberg's use of reincarnation. Although it =is= necessary for the story, I have never been a believer in reincarnation, and it detracted slightly from my enjoyment of an otherwise fine read.

I'd still recommend this book to SF fans for it's portrayal of a truly alien race from the alien's point of view. It's unfortunately out-of-print, but can be found in used bookstores inexpensively. The sequel, "City of a Million Legends" is also out-of-print, and it's sad that no other books were ever written about this unusual alien race and culture.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story about aliens, relationships and archeology, March 17, 2006

By 

Linda L. Robinett "Sieglinde" (Ridgecrest, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Molt Brother (Paperback)

Jacqueline Lichtenberg is known for her "intimate" SF and this is a fine example of it. Rather than depending on technology, or action and adventure, she tells the story through relationships. Those who like technology or action and adventure will not be disappointed, there is plenty of that.

The universe is well fleshed out with the aliens and humans being living characters rather than sterotypes. The Kren are a race of snake-like humanoids who are capable of having a non-sexual intimate partnership with members of their own species and with humans. The main characters are human and Kren's in this special partnership which is as close or closer than the relationship between married couples.

One reveiwer mentioned reincarnation. This is a critical part of the story, so if you don't believe in reincarnation or karma, just suspend belief. For those that do, the story seems to match what little I know about past lives and how one discovers their past lives.

One thing you may find interesting, is that Jacqueline Lichtenberg invented the Internet!!! Think of the "Interface" characters as being a human (or alien) Search Engine.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I hate snakes, but...., June 2, 2011

By 

Carol A. Buchanan (Montana, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molt Brother (Paperback)

I don't read science fiction. Or fantasy. And I hate snakes. I don't believe in reincarnation, or karma. Yet I think _Molt Brother_ is a work of high imaginative quality. Translation: It's a great read.

As all the other reviews have pointed out, the story centers around a Kren (snake-like humanoid) and a human who have a close relationship, so close that the female Kren chooses the human to be her "Molt Brother," someone to watch over her while she sheds her skin and the new skin hardens.

Ms. Lichtenberg and I met on Twitter, and finding that I didn't read sci/fi or fantasy, she offered to send me a copy to educate me about that genre. When I received it, I began with considerable trepidation to read it. I couldn't stop.

She makes the relationship between reptile and human totally believable, and a creature with fangs completely sympathetic. I lost my sense of disbelief in sympathy with the Kren. I mean, how embarrassing is it to have your fangs drop because of a passing tremor of fear or irritation? You see what I'm saying? I live where it can be wise to carry a rattlesnake venom antidote, but for petesake I liked the Kren.

While wholeheartedly recommending _Molt Brother_ to anyone who reads English, and I'll be happy to read anything else by Ms. Lichtenberg, I have to admit I still hate snakes.