Divine Intervention (World Realities Series) (Paperback)

by Ken Wharton (Author) "There must be some fundamental psychological difference between a spaceship and a submarine..." (more)
Key Phrases: frozen settlers, meteor shield, artificial consciousness, Prime Minister, King Wally, Walt Disney (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"One of the best books of the year." -- Speculon.com, January 2002

...a darned fun read set firmly in the action-adventure camp. -- StrangeHorizons.com, December 10, 2001

Product Description
"Wonderful...a page-turning adventure story." (Allen Steele)

The residents of an extra-solar Earth colony are preparing for the arrival of a new group of colonists-but someone has vowed to do whatever it takes to keep them away.



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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ace (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441008860
• ISBN-13: 978-0441008865
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,659,336 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This sf novel is very cleverly designed, November 27, 2001

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The mission of the Walt Disney Spaceship is to find a habitable planet and colonize it, reporting back to Earth periodically on their failures and their final success. They land on the planet they name Mandala in galaxy light years from Earth and in the one hundred and fifty years they have lived on it; they have put their mark on the planet. Even their religion is based on the writings of the captain of the spaceship, a combination of science and theology.

Earth has been notified of the colonizing of Mandala and with the new technology that has been developed 33,000 colonists who have been cryogenically sleeping are about to orbit the planet. The Prime Minister of Mandala fears that the colonists will be a threat to his regime. He goes to the spaceship with a few of his allies and kills off all but one of the crew. He plans to murder all the new colonists with only nine year old deaf mute Drew Randall, who has a direct pipeline to someone or something calling himself God, in his way.

Fans of space opera, political intrigue and precocious little heroes will thoroughly enjoy reading DIVINE INTERVENTION. It's fascinating to read about a group of people who colonized a world according to their own collective needs and beliefs. Readers will believe that author Ken Wharton actually visited his planet and has written about events he witnessed.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, May 7, 2004

By	Irma Rae "Irma Rae" (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews

This is, at heart, a story of the difference between religion and science, which I find intriguing. It does not say either is more or less valuable to the human condition - instead it warns against trying to blend them.

Engaging characters, page-turning plot, and (as all sci-fi authors must create), a believable fantastic setting. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, entertaining and mind expanding hard SF, February 3, 2002

By	Edward Alexander Gerster "miamibooks" (South Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Divine Intervention" is one of the most fascinating novels I have read in the past few months. It successfully takes a hard science fiction story and incorporates unique ideas on physics, interstellar colinization, religion and politics into an entertaining blend. The tension between the "Burnout Kingdoms" and the mainstream society of Mandala really makes the story work well. And the twist of Drew Randall, a young deaf-mute, communicating with "God" is quite intriguing.

Very original and highly recommended.