Prophets: Apotheosis: Book One [Mass Market Paperback]

S. Andrew Swann (Author)

Book Description

Series: Apotheosis | Publication Date: February 1, 2011

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: DAW; Original edition (February 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756405416
• ISBN-13: 978-0756405410
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #512,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Space Opera Without a Bad Note, November 20, 2009

By 

Randy Stafford (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prophets: Apotheosis: Book One (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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great explosive start to another trilogy in the Moreau Universe, August 24, 2009

By 

Adrian - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Prophets: Apotheosis: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing return to one of sci-fi's coolest universes, April 26, 2009

By 

Cees Jan Mol (Eindhoven, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prophets: Apotheosis: Book One (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!