Plague of Angels (Paperback)

by Sheri S. Tepper (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Tepper ( Sideshow ) cleverly adopts elements of both fantasy and science fiction in this portrait of a world on the verge of chaos. Looking to space for a better world, most of Artemesia's inhabitants have deserted their land for the stars, leaving behind crumbling gang-infested cities, fortified suburbs protected by dwindling technology and a half-wild, half-rural land where renascent mythical beasts and fairy tale "archetypes" now live. There Abasio, a farmboy who is being pursued by vengeful gang members, meets Orphan, who is herself being pursued by the minions of Witch. Witch is convinced that in accordance with a delphic prophecy, Orphan can provide the "guidance system" for her space shuttle and thus allow her to settle the moon. Abasio, Orphan and their few allies are called to fulfill their destiny and defend the battered Earth from Witch's mad scheme for world domination. If the fantasy and SF elements don't always merge seamlessly, the setting is well-realized and Witch's psychosis is lurid and frightening. Tepper's prose is colorful and, while occasionally strident, tempered with wry wit and astute observations about human nature.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
YA-A thought-provoking story with lots of action. "Orphan" has a destiny, as does Abasio Cermit. Somehow, these two destinies are intertwined. Abasio leaves his farm for the gang-filled, drug-infested city of a far-off future. Orphan leaves home also. The story of how these two come together to save a crime-ridden, overpopulated, plague-filled world is the basis of Tepper's novel. It is a mixture of myth, science fiction, and apocalyptic prophecy. A Plague of Angels has the same themes as those found in Tepper's previous novels, but it is a little easier to understand. The ending is not very effective (a series of deus ex machinas come in and, with the help of Orphan and Abasio and numerous other human and mythical characters, save humanity from itself), but the story is well worth reading.
Susan McFaden, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 588 pages
• Publisher: Spectra; Reprint edition (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553568736
• ISBN-13: 978-0553568738
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #320,729 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent in the best Tepper tradition., August 27, 2000

By	Arjen (Amsterdam) - See all my reviews

With every Sheri S. Tepper book I read, I wonder "why didn't I read this before?!". Her imagination, skilful writing and her social and environmental engagement in her stories makes you look around in the world we live in and raise an eyebrow... "A plague of Angels" is one more of her page-turners, which made me want to keep reading to understand the meaning of it all. Longing for that last page, where everything would become clear, yet sad when that last page, and thus the book, is finished and the dream ended. I could say that about every book of her I read so far. Besides terrific stories, her stories makes a person THINK. Well, *me* anyway ;-)

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but I've been here before, May 4, 2000

By	Bradford Daniels (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Plague of Angels is definitely a well-written, engaging story. The combination of science fiction and fantasy elements is effectively done, and the characters are entertaining even though rarely fully-developed. The book's weaknesses would have been easily forgivable if the premise had been as new to me as it was to some of the other reviewers, but for me, it was not breaking new ground.

In the early '80s, I read two books by James Kahn, "World Enough and Time", and "Time's Dark Laughter". These works similarly follow a post-technological world moving back into the realm of myth and legend, but do so far more effectively. It is possible that the main difference is that my standards have changed over the last 20 years, but I sincerely believe that those earlier works were far better developed than "A Plague of Angels." If you are familiar with Kahn's work, you may be disappointed by this book, but still, it is an enjoyable read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Streaks of brilliance in a otherwise dull sky, August 17, 2005

By	Brian Whistler (Forestville, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Plague of Angels (A Bantam spectra book) (Hardcover)

This is my first attempt at reading a Tepper novel. It was a tough read in that she seems intent on cramming so many Big Ideas into one book that it becomes overwrought. Overwrought is the operative word here. So many elements from so many genres collide: Fairytale, mythology, sci fi, fantasy all bump up against each other with mixed results. Characters and cultures stand for philosophical positions rather than real people. EX; Atermesia, a sort of american indian culture that preaches respect for the earth and animals etc. A nice idea but everything stands for something and we never care for the characters.

The main problem I had was in the constant shift in world building. Tepper builds an interesting post apocalyptic society and its many factions but then muddies the waters with unexplained fairytale monsters and talking animals. The overall tone of the book inexplicably shifts from time to time, leaving the reader in a sort of limbo and trying to fuse the disparate elements into a single vision. It never really comes together.

Its all well intentioned and at times the language is quite beautiful. But I struggled through it, eventually using the book as a means to fall asleep.