The Prodigal Sun (Evergence, Book One) [Paperback]

Sean Williams (Author), Shane Dix (Author)

Book Description

Series: Evergence | Publication Date: November 1, 1999

In the first novel in a new series, Commander Morgan Roche of the Commonwealth of Empires is charged with escorting an artificial intelligence unit to her superiors, with the aid of a genetically engineered warrior who suffers from amnesia. Original.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ace; Evergence. edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441006728
• ISBN-13: 978-0441006724
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

South Australian author and occasional DJ Sean Williams started writing in 1990 and has since published over sixty short stories across the speculative fiction genre and been reprinted in numerous Year's Best anthologies.

His novels have been compared to Peter Carey, Ursula LeGuin, Robert Silverberg, and the "Three Gregs" (Bear, Benford, and Egan). As well as fiction, he has written reviews, music (for which he won a Young Composer's Award in 1984), a stage play, and the odd haiku.

With Shane Dix he has co-authored the Evergence, Orphans and Geodesica series, and the New York Times-bestselling Star Wars: New Jedi Order: Force Heretic trilogy. Together, they have been described as the "Niven and Pournelle for the 21st Century".

A strong believer in giving back to the community, he has been a Chair of Australia's oldest Writers' Centre, a tutor for Clarion South, and is a judge for the Writers of the Future contest. He was recently awarded an MA in creative writing by his hometown university in Adelaide, South Australia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evergence I The Prodigal Sun: A review, December 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Prodigal Sun (Evergence, Book One) (Paperback)

"Evergence" is a book which can appeal to a lot of sci fi fans who like futuristic space & planetary adventure novels. The story is set in the distant future when human beings have evolved into different species with different talents - some of which are rather surprising. There is fair amount of technology with an imaginative twist to it. But you never feel like you are reading a dull science journal. The characters are non traditional quasi heroes. You don't quite know who the good guys really are as the story unfolds. The suspense and mystery never lets up. There are lots of unexpected twists and turns in the plot with one fight and escape scene after another much like you find in Star Wars. But "Evergence" is definitely not kid stuff. You have to pay attention when you read this book or you will miss a piece of the puzzle, but the authors lucid writing style makes the story pretty easy to follow. There were a few too many kick and punch scenes for my taste, but outside of that, this book has never bored me. With only fifty pages to go in this first of the "Evergence" trilogy series, I am looking to buy parts II and III.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An imaginative Action/Adventure, December 13, 1999

By 

Michael Huston (Summerville, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Prodigal Sun (Evergence, Book One) (Paperback)

Set in the far future when humanity has fragmented into innumerable different species who fill the galaxy. This novel has the imagination and complexity of, "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge, with the action of a David Drake novel. This is the first in a series I'm really looking forward to reading. This is good Science Fiction.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prodigal Sun -- The Start Of A Awesome Space Opera, April 11, 2000

By 

Mistrmind "mistrmind" (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prodigal Sun (Evergence, Book One) (Paperback)

After reading this book, my first thought was, "When is the next book coming out?" Prodigal Sun is a unique space opera, with many charactes, a complex society, and a universe where you don't know who is on your side, or who to trust. Your friend may be you enemy, and your enemy just may turn out to be your friend. The story exemplifies the addage, "Politics makes strange bedfellows." I found the character of Morgan Roche to be as engaging at Ellen Ripley character from Alien. A strong enduring woman, who is an unwitting pawn in a grand scheme where the reader is unsure as to who is pulling the strings. The culture is portrayed in a richtapestry, where humanity exist in genetically modified caste system. I recommed this book for anyone looking to get involved in a space opera of a grand scale. Only downfall is that once you finish Emgerence, you're going to have to wait for the next book in the series to come out.