Taken Liberty [Paperback]

Steven H Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2006

AER'LA ONLY WANTED TO BE FREE The Confederated Worlds are unparalleled as a society of free people, yet, somehow, slavery still manages to exist. Aer'La, a non-human, was bred to serve as a pleasure slave. Years ago, she escaped her masters and masqueraded as a human, joining the Confederate Navy, where she worked her way up to ship's Bos'n under the heroic Captain Jan Atal. Now, Aer'La's secret has been discovered by Atal's superiors, the media, and the world at large. Branded a sociopath, she learns that even a free society isn't willing to grant freedom - or justice - to all.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Firebringer Press (February 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977385108
• ISBN-13: 978-0977385102
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,884,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven H. Wilson has interviewed Jonathan Frakes for Starlog magazine, written for DC Comics Star Trek classic and Warlord series, and, most recently, served as principal writer and director for Prometheus Radio Theatre and publisher of Firebringer Press. His original science fiction series, The Arbiter Chronicles, currently boasting sixteen full-cast audio dramas and the novel Taken Liberty, has won the Mark Time Silver Award and the Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama (long form). Active in science fiction fandom since 1984, he has written, drawn, edited and published fanzines, acted and directed with a comedy troupe, and served as a gopher, a con chair or a guest at roughly a hundred conventions. Wilson, who serves as IT manager for Howard County (Maryland) Fire & Rescue, holds degrees from the University of Maryland College of Journalism and the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering. Peace Lord of the Red Planet is his second novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Rate Science Fiction, March 13, 2006

By 

LYG (Baltimore/Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taken Liberty (Paperback)

"Taken Liberty" is the impressive and thoroughly enjoyable first novel by author Steve Wilson. In a style reminiscent of early Heinlein, it blends technology and characterization in a fascinating story that tackles such diverse themes as sexuality, spirituality, genetic manipulation, slavery and bigotry in a novel with characters it's a pleasure to get to know.

The central protagonist, a girl barely out of her teens, was raised as a sexual predator and pleasure slave on a planet where such practices are allowed and which are overlooked by the more enlightened races in the galaxy. She managed to escape, joined the intergalactic navy, and has risen to a position of authority on the fleet's flagship, Titan. When her past is uncovered, she and her friends and the ship's captain must prevent her from being returned to her homeworld and captivity. The characters are richly drawn and finely developed and include a not-so-androgynous telepath, a much-maligned Terran, and a Wiccan doctor who heals the soul as well as the body.

While this is a first novel, the author is no "stranger in a strange land." He is the latest product from that great training school of fan fiction, and he has also written about 13 radio plays which feature the same set of characters put forth in this novel. Some of the plays have been recorded on CD (available from the author) or performed as podcasts or at conventions as productions of Prometheus Radio Theatre. Familiarity with the earlier works is not essential, however, to enoying this novel.

While many of the characters are young, this is definitely not a book for children. The writing is sexually explicit and the themes are mature and profound. It's an admixture of social commentary, philosphy, and technology, which is what all good science fiction should be.

I look forward to more from this author, and predict that he has a bright future

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping read...., February 23, 2006

By 

Serenity Nova (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taken Liberty (Paperback)

The first novel in what I hope will be an ongoing series, Steve Wilson has taken the characters from his successful audio theatre series "The Arbiter Chronicles" and given us some of
the background story we've craved. You will not be able to
put the book down - especially during Aer'la backstory.
I highly recommend "Taken Liberty..." and want more!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable!, July 13, 2006

By 

R. M. Anson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Taken Liberty (Paperback)

I actually stumbled across a sample chapter from this book on the author's web page while I was searching the web for something else entirely. I glanced at it, started to read it, finished the chapter, and found I was hooked. I had to buy the book. I wasn't disappointed. Money well spent! I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.