With her highly acclaimed first novel, Speaking Dreams, Severna Park has emerged as a powerful new voice in thought-provoking science fiction. In Hand of Prophecy, she once again launches readers into a spellbinding universe of brutality, betrayal, triumph, and love. A galaxy whirls in conflicts as tyrant slavers prepare to roar back and realm the frontier planets wrested from them generations ago. Living on one of the forfeited worlds they covet most in Frenna, bred for bondage and given a virus that guarantees tow decades of youth for servitude, followed by an agonizing death. But then she learns an amazing secret: the end is not inevitable. It seems impossible, but there is an escape. An antidote. A cure. Yet Frenna's escape is into an exotic, bloodswept world, a fierce arena where muscled slaves wage brutal battle for their masters' amusement. Frenna has become a medic: her job is to administer a mercifully quick end to the mortally wounded. Nut she still carries the secret of unfathomable freedom. And as warships arrive in conquest, this last hope must endure in a murderous domain of monstrous holograms and irresistible deadly potions. In the final frenzy, sisters and lovers, killers and saviors, all will be swept together in a maelstrom of annihilation, survival--and redemption. With her highly acclaimed first novel, Speaking Dreams, Severna Park has emerged as a powerful new voice in thought-provoking science fiction. In Hand of Prophecy, she once again launches readers into a spellbinding universe of brutality, betrayal, triumph, and love. A galaxy whirls in conflicts as tyrant slavers prepare to roar back and realm the frontier planets wrested from them generations ago. Living on one of the forfeited worlds they covet most in Frenna, bred for bondage and given a virus that guarantees tow decades of youth for servitude, followed by an agonizing death. But then she learns an amazing secret: the end is not inevitable. It seems impossible, but there is an escape. An antidote. A cure. Yet Frennas escape is into an exotic, bloodswept world, a fierce arena where muscled slaves wage brutal battle for their masters amusement. Frenna has become a medic: her job is to administer a mercifully quick end to the mortally wounded. Nut she still carries the secret of unfathomable freedom. And as warships arrive in conquest, this last hope must endure in a murderous domain of monstrous holograms and irresistible deadly potions. In the final frenzy, sisters and lovers, killers and saviors, all will be swept together in a maelstrom of annihilation, survival--and redemption.
Severna Park is a beautiful writer. Sci Fi enthusiastics can read Hand of Prophecy as a rambunctious and fast-paced action tale, but I preferred to read it on the level I believe she meant it to be read - a social critique. She's a passionate and brilliant writer.
Page-turning science fiction
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Frenna is one of those characters that seize the reader immediately and drag him or her into the story. Superb world-building, terrific plot, intense action--this is one terrific novel.
Are there anymore books by Saverna Park?
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I have both books, was entranced by both,have recommended them to many friends. Are there anymore?
An outstanding transplanetary read!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
Wow! Space travel, fight-to-the-death slaves, viral servitude, high tech in a third-world-like atmosphere, and incredibly strong characters make this book an outstanding read. The back of the book claims the author is like Samuel R. Delaney and Ursula Le Guin and while the notions of gender and love are similar, Ms. Park is a much, much better writer. The book speeds to conclusion so that I neglected reading several of my students' theses to get to the end! I am going to read more by this wonderful author!
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