Soldier of Light [Hardcover]

John de Lancie (Author), Tom Cool (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

The apocalypse has come -- and from the ashes of what little civilization remains, a messenger has arisen. A figure of uncommon charisma and purpose -- and diabolical intention.

As Owen Keegan, his wife Kate, and their autistic daughter set out on a journey east across America, searching for a place of safety, they come in conflict with the savage, unthinking hordes roused by this messenger's teachings -- and unwittingly come across the truth behind civilization's collapse. Now Owen and Kate must confront the alien presence at the heart of this threat -- or Earth itself will suffer the ultimate catastrophe.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In I, Q (Forecasts, Sept. 20), de Lancie, writing with Peter David, delivered an SF novel dealing with the charismatic Q, whom de Lancie played on the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Here, he leaves the Star Trek universe behind for a hodgepodge of SF tropes and apocryphal goo. The One is an ancient, all-powerful evil that lives deep within the earth. The rising of this half-mad and narcissistic being is causing humanity to go insane, which suits the One just fine, as it plans to wipe out mankind, just as it once destroyed the dinosaurs. Two brothers, Owen and Harley Keegan, are among the few humans gifted with special psychic powers that enable them to fight the One and its human thralls. Owen, along with his wife, Kate, and their autistic daughter, Constance, first flee the breakdown of civilization and onset of madness by sailing away on their boat, Nepenthe. But Kate and Constance (weak vessels that they are) prove susceptible to the blandishments of evil and Owen must follow his women into dark netherworlds and fight for their lives. Harley, who is propelled into using his own powers for good only after he saves several young women from "rapist brutes," also joins in the final battle for humanity's continued survival. Even with some bang-up action scenes, this novel never rises above its stilted writing or condescending attitude toward women. Author tour. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Transcendental SF from actor De Lancie (Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation, etc.) and ex-Navy Panama resident Cool (Secret Realms, 1998). As some people experience transcendental visions, and others succumb to a seductive, deathly sleep, the world is changing. Why? Well, the Oneone of many alien speciesmoves between spheres of being; after a million-year slumber inside the Earth, it's finally emerging. Problem: the One is ancient, utterly mad, and determined to wipe humanity out. San Francisco sculptor Owen Keegan, his wife Kate, and their autistic daughter Constance head south in a boat, while Owen's big brother Harley opts to remain. With Kate susceptible to the sleep-death, Owen must keep injecting her with stimulants. Meanwhile, Owen finds he's developing strange mental abilities. Harley also develops mental powers, and meets fearful but talented orphan Axel. When Owen's boat makes landfall, Constance is drawn inland by a powerful seductive mind. Owen and Kate follow. They're saved from a lynch mob by the eerily powerful Erik Van Meersa tool of the Onewho grabs Constance. But Kate sinks into terminal sleep, and weary Owen decides to join her. The Hiyul, an enemy of the One, brings them back to life. Soon Harley and Axel show up, too: Owen will need all the help he can get in the forthcoming showdown. Astonishingly inventive, brimming with dazzling conceptsbut, sadly, without plot and propellant. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Atria (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671035959
• ISBN-13: 978-0671035952
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,146,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soldier of Light, will the Keegan's survive, could you?, November 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Soldier of Light (Hardcover)

Soldier of Light Review

Interesting dark and dismal concept of what our future might be like, John de Lancie, actor and now writer of "Star Trek I, Q" and better known for his portray of the mischievous "Q" on Star Trek Next Generation teams with Tom Cool, Sci-fi author of "SECRET REALMS" and of "INFECTRESS" do an excellent job in keeping you riveted to the book. The book follows the exploits of the Keegan brothers Harley and particularly Owen who has to try to rescue his family from the all powerful and lord of evil, the One. Can the Keegan's survive and can they defeat the One. Will good trimputh over evil or will the One obliterate mankind?

If you like spine-tingling adventure in our futuristic society, if you want to see a family stretched to it limits and beyond. If you like to see heroes risking all to defeat the evil One and if you like a love story that transcends most romance novels. You need to read "Soldier of Light".

The evil One is out to destroy human kind, as we know it. It will take beings of equal power to beat the One before mankind becomes as extinct as the dinosaurs that the One destroyed.

The book is based a lot on John personal beliefs and his philosophy. You can see a lot of him and his own personal family in the characters of this book. Tom Cool brings a lot of interesting geographical terrains and highly descriptive scenes to the book. If you want to see mind minulapation at it worst being used on the innocent. You need to buy a copy of "Soldier of Light".

I hope they will do an audio book on "Soldier of Light" with John de Lancie as narrator. It would be terrific! Get your copy today, as "Soldier of Light" is an excellent read.

Mary Jensen [e-mail]

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting entertainment, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Soldier of Light (Hardcover)

The world is no longer the same. However, when the change came it was not nuclear, chemical, or biological. Instead the change was psychic. Most of humanity simply went insane, turning into cesspools of angry rioters. A few became adepts with extra sensory powers to fight to stay human. However, the One plans to destroy all earthlings as it once ended the reign of the dinosaurs for the recently awakened One relishes destruction on a global scale.

Two Bay area siblings Owen and Harley Keegan attain powers to combat the One. As civilization collapses, Harley becomes a knight in shining armor rescuing helpless females from insidious thugs. Owen, accompanied by his wife Kate and their daughter Constance, flee Oakland looking for sanctuary. However, the One begins to entice the two females into the world of evil. Owen knows his fight with the One has turned personal as he will brave hell for his heavenly cause.

SOLDIER OF LIGHT is a strange, action-packed apocalyptic tale that will please die hard fans of the sub-genre. The story line vividly describes a post-apocalyptic world and the action never slows down for a nanosecond. However, the characters never seem genuine nor attain reader empathy (especially the pathetic women) and the One appears more like an under-nourished Galactus. John De Lancie & Tom Cool know how to pack the action, but some readers will remain cool towards this tale.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, March 29, 2001

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Soldier of Light (Hardcover)

As their world seems to be unraveling around them, the brothers Owen and Harley Keegan take action. Owen takes his wife and autistic daughter, and flees to the safety of a boat on the ocean. Harley, ever the fighter, decides stay and build a home in this new world. However, neither understands how truly new the world now is. The Earth has moved into a sphere of being, the place where true intelligence exists, and the human mind is coming to grips (or not) with the new reality. Some people gain new powers, but many die. It is a war of all against all...but it's even worse then that, for at the core of the world exists the One. For many cycles, the Earth has belonged to the One, and it has no desire to share it with the upstart newcomers - man.

I must admit to some trepidation when I picked this book up. I read I. Q., also cowritten by John De Lancie, and did not enjoy it. However, what that book tried to be, this book is. Even as the world unravels, the story stays strong and clear. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat, and up all night! I highly recommend this book.