Hope of Earth (Geodyssey) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Five million years ago, in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley in Africa, the chimp that walked like a man was perfecting his..." (more)
Key Phrases: triple ploy, band siblings, string skirt, Captain Ittai, White Horde, Golden Horde (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As a stand-alone novel following Isle of Woman, LJ 9/15/93) and Shame of Man (LJ 9/15/94), this latest in Anthony's geodyssey series explores what makes humans human via several characters living in various places and times throughout the world's history. Based on meticulous historical research, the book paints a vivid portrait of humanity and its hell-bent rush to destruction from disease. Highly recommended for sf collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The third of Anthony's Geodyssey books continues to use the same crafty device: the same few characters recur in similar relationships in different time periods--in this installment, 20. This volume's protagonists are quirkier than their saga forebears. Jes is a strong woman who yearns for a man's love but will not give up her athletic, almost masculine approach to life. Sam feels cursed to marry an ugly woman, and brilliant Ned is led astray by beautiful ones. The permutations Anthony runs on the trio's traits and fates can turn odd, especially, it seems, when one of the characters achieves some measure of satisfaction; for example, in ancient Athens, Jes takes to sea disguised as a man and then, after several "lifetimes" of frustration, finds love in the arms of her own ship's captain. As he did in its predecessors, Anthony concludes Hope of Earth with a call to ecological responsibility. Patricia Monaghan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy (March 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812571118
• ISBN-13: 978-0812571110
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #271,571 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #77 in

  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( A ) > Anthony, Piers

• This is item 3 in The Geodyssey Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A roller-coaster ride through history, April 19, 2001

By	Arinwalt - See all my reviews

The third of Piers Anthony's roller-coaster rides through the history of humankind, 'Hope of Earth' showcases a half-dozen characters as they experience a lifetime of five million years. Why should you care about these characters? Because they are archetypes, each of their conversations and actions illustrating humanity's strengths and weaknesses. Why else? The supporting cast features the Ice Man, Boudica, Perikles, Herod, Samo, Toqtamish, and Louis XIV. Imagine meeting even one of these; Anthony's six meet them all.Conflict is important to fictional characters, and here each has a major problem to deal with: for example, one of the characters has a six-fingered hand, the natural successor to the left-handedness in the prior volume. As we have come to expect in the Geodyssey, the score of settings has lush variety. Central to the novel, and a quarter of its length, is the exploration of the war between Athens and Sparta beginning in 431 BC; other interesting locations include the Maginot Line, the supposed Great Wall of China, and the Great Rift Valley.Once molded by evolution to conquer the world, mankind proceeded to do so along Anthony's lines. His message, however, is that the world-conquering gifts our species retains may be our downfall as conquest turns to destruction. The hope of Earth is for us to learn from history and mend our ways. This splendid effort to wake us up to that task is not only inspirational but also enjoyable, and readers can ask for no better combination than that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Enjoyable!!, October 25, 2001

By	Tyler J. Ruby (Evanston, WY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hope of Earth (Anthony, Piers. Geodyssey, V. 3.) (Hardcover)

This is one of my favorite series by Piers Anthony. I would have to say this is my favorite book this series. I like this one because of the ancient greek references. These are wonderful books with a great story and the marvelous job Piers does weaving the characters into each of these novels, yet keep them apart as their own. These books are well worth the time and money to read and buy them. Highly Recommended reading. If you like historial-fantasy this is a series for you.

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of the series--so far, February 25, 2006

By	Sandra Saidak (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I finally read "Isle of Women" a few months ago, I was sorry I waited so long. I loved it, and promptly bought the next three books. "Shame of Man" was a disappointment, but Anthony got it back with "Hope of Earth". Probably the best feature in this book is his use of a family--consisting of 6 really interesting siblings--that ages and grows as both the story, and the human race, progress.

I'll be starting "Muse of Art" soon.