It’s been nearly 200 years since the collapse of the Confederacy, the last government to claim humanity’s colonies. So when signals come in revealing lost human colonies that could shift the power balance, the race is on between the Caliphate ships and a small team of scientists and mercenarys. But what awaits them all is a threat far beyond the scope of any human government.
Prophets: Apotheosis: Book One
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More About the Author
S. A. Swann is the pen name of Steven Swiniarski. He's married and lives in the Greater Cleveland area where he has lived all of his adult life. He has a background in mechanical engineering and --besides writing-- works as a Database Manager for one of the largest private child services agencies in the Cleveland area. He has published 18 novels over the past 15 years, which include science fiction, fantasy, and horror. See the author's website for more information: www.sandrewswann.com and also www.wolfbreednovels.com
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This novel has just about everything I want in a space opera: lost colonies, political intrigues (here the Caliphate and Roman Catholic Church vying for control and influence in the worlds of human space - a space that includes the human/animal chimeras called moreaus), vividly described violence, forbidden technologies (genetic engineering of humans, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence), espionage, and subversion.
Swann's style strikes just the right balance with his physical descriptions - cinematic but not too long to slow the plot down. And I liked every chapter having an epigraph from sources historical and fictitious. This is a continuation of Swann's work in his moreau/Confederation universe and is chronologically the latest story but don't worry. Swann provides enough background explication so that, if you've never read the Moreau Omnibus (Daw Book Collectors) or the Hostile takeover Trilogy - or, like me, it's just been a long time since you read them, you won't be lost.
Actually this novel reminded me a lot of a stripped down version of Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga: a human political order with its internecine squabbles is threatened by an invading force willing to do anything to alter that order. However, Swann's universe is never as utopian as Hamilton's world.
Swann's style strikes just the right balance with his physical descriptions - cinematic but not too long to slow the plot down. And I liked every chapter having an epigraph from sources historical and fictitious. This is a continuation of Swann's work in his moreau/Confederation universe and is chronologically the latest story but don't worry. Swann provides enough background explication so that, if you've never read the Moreau Omnibus (Daw Book Collectors) or the Hostile takeover Trilogy - or, like me, it's just been a long time since you read them, you won't be lost.
Actually this novel reminded me a lot of a stripped down version of Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga: a human political order with its internecine squabbles is threatened by an invading force willing to do anything to alter that order. However, Swann's universe is never as utopian as Hamilton's world.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Adrian
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you havent read the Moreau and Hostile Takeover trilogies, I'd recommend you do so before picking up this book. You'll still be able to get into the book, but it helps gel everything together if you read them first.
S Andrew Swann continues his sci fi novels with this book, the latest in his Moreau universe. This time, it is set in the year 2525 and begins with two competing religious groups vying for influence and control of some previously unknown human colonies beyond known space, and a Race AI called Mosasa, who has detected anomalous signals from that region of space and decides to investigate as well.
I always enjoy books which have ties to characters in previous books. Prophets brings back Mosasa, Tetsani, an offspring of Rajastan, and an egg. Those who have read his previous books will understand what I mean by the egg.
Explaining more may give away the story but suffice it to say- it's another good book from Swann.
The one thing I am wary of however is the revelation of the enemy towards the end. I fear it may be too technologically advanced for the humans and have some doubt over how the enemy was able to create it in the first place. Swann may have backed himself into a corner and there may be a finale which is unrealistic (unrealistic for this book's premises I mean)
If you made it this far, thank you for reading.
S Andrew Swann continues his sci fi novels with this book, the latest in his Moreau universe. This time, it is set in the year 2525 and begins with two competing religious groups vying for influence and control of some previously unknown human colonies beyond known space, and a Race AI called Mosasa, who has detected anomalous signals from that region of space and decides to investigate as well.
I always enjoy books which have ties to characters in previous books. Prophets brings back Mosasa, Tetsani, an offspring of Rajastan, and an egg. Those who have read his previous books will understand what I mean by the egg.
Explaining more may give away the story but suffice it to say- it's another good book from Swann.
The one thing I am wary of however is the revelation of the enemy towards the end. I fear it may be too technologically advanced for the humans and have some doubt over how the enemy was able to create it in the first place. Swann may have backed himself into a corner and there may be a finale which is unrealistic (unrealistic for this book's premises I mean)
If you made it this far, thank you for reading.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Cees Jan Mol
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In a universe of many religions, one of the oldest remaining AI gets up and goes on expedition. Beyond man's known boundaries, to explore what is there and what is upsetting the patterns he sees. The departure of his expedition leaves the universe in turmoil. And when they arrive, the surprise waiting for them is not a pleasant one.
It's clear that Andrew prepared well for our return to Bakunin, the planet of systemic anarchism. He places his characters well, with quite a few dramatic tensions between them.
The universe he created in his Moreau books, as well as in the Hostile Turnover, is great to return to. It was brilliant, in either one of these series. Hopefully this exciting return will turn into a wonderful series too.
It's a bit of a slow starter, this book. Putting the characters in play reads pleasantly, yet the story actually only really starts at the very end. Andrew throws in yet another stimulating variation (as in his previous books). I'm definitely looking forward to #2 in this series!
It's clear that Andrew prepared well for our return to Bakunin, the planet of systemic anarchism. He places his characters well, with quite a few dramatic tensions between them.
The universe he created in his Moreau books, as well as in the Hostile Turnover, is great to return to. It was brilliant, in either one of these series. Hopefully this exciting return will turn into a wonderful series too.
It's a bit of a slow starter, this book. Putting the characters in play reads pleasantly, yet the story actually only really starts at the very end. Andrew throws in yet another stimulating variation (as in his previous books). I'm definitely looking forward to #2 in this series!
By Facie
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I don't usually take the time to review books, but I truly enjoyed this read. So much so that I purchased the next two books immediately. It's a deeply interesting, well paced book. The characters are well developed (don't believe the review that said they were not).
Buy it. You'll enjoy it.
Buy it. You'll enjoy it.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Wormwholes, FTL drives and communication, intelligent nanotechnology, genetic engineering, AIs, alien superpowers, ancient galactic civilizations - all these atandard elements are in this trilogy. Swann does a good job of using all these standard components in a generally well plotted and competently written set of books. By the standards of the space opera genre, this is definitely above average though nothing particularly novel. Defects include excessive length, this could easily have been a 2 book series, and a somewhat pat, religiously oriented ending.
By Mike
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The beginning of this book demands some attention from the reader if they haven't read any of Swann's previous work, namely the Hostile Takeover Trilogy but it really isn't necessary because the author does a pretty good job with back story. The beauty of this book is the straightforward writing style in which the story is told. There is a rather large cast of characters that are introduced and each one has somewhat of an interesting history associated with them. The plot is well conceived and the story moves at a rapid pace due to the large amount of action and plot twists involved. The world building is great and the universe that Swann has created is loaded with detail. The book is not too long (under 500 pages), however the series is basically one long book chopped into three parts so they each end with cliffhangers. The only issue with this book is maybe some of the highly technical descriptions of spacecraft and drive technology as well as weaponry and overall technology in general may be a little much for first time sci-fi readers, but if you're a science fiction veteran (like myself), you should be used to it. Some may complain that the characters are a little under-developed but it IS a series so stick with it and they will certainly grow on you. Overall this is one of the better science fiction books I've read in a while and definitely deserves a shot, so check it out.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cinematic, exciting, and well planned start to the trilogy
S. Andrew Swann had me hooked before the last page of the prologue to Prophets. Mallory is a priest and former marine living a quiet life teaching at a university. Read more
Published on March 30, 2011 by PubliusDB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wheels-within-wheels
S. Andrew Swann's Prophets (book one of his Apotheosis series) provides a heady mix of intrigue, plots within plots, creative world-building, and explosive action. Read more
Published on March 16, 2011 by H. Grove
4.0 out of 5 stars
action-packed futuristic science fiction
By 2525, two centuries have past since the collapse of the Confederacy civilization. From those ruins two major rivals form: The Roman Catholic Church and the Eridani Caliphate... Read more
Published on March 8, 2009 by Harriet Klausner
