When the post-human Next suddenly re-appear in a solar system that banished them, humans are threatened. Their reactions vary from disgust and anger to yearning to live forever like the powerful Next, who are casually building a new city out of starships in the heart of the re-wilded planet Lym. The first families of Lym must deal with being invaded while they grapple with their own inner fears. Ranger Charlie Windar is desperate to save his beloved planet. The Next are building strange cities he never imagined, and other humans who want to destroy the Next are his worst enemies.a Ambassador Nona Hall strives to forge links between the powerful station she's from, The Diamond Deep, and the people of Lym. The formidable merchant Gunnar Ellensson appears to be up to no good, and as usual his motivations are suspect. Why is he sending ships to Lym, and what does he intend to do with them when he arrives? The Shining Revolution threatens to undo everything by attacking the Next on Lym, and their desire to eradicate the post-humans is greater than their desire to save humanity's home. It is entirely possible that they will draw the wrath of the Next onto all of humanity. In the meantime, the Next's motives remain inscrutable. Why are they here at all? What do they want? Why are they interested in the ancient past of a planet that has been ravaged and rebuilt at least once? aa
About the Author :
Brenda Cooper is the author of The Edge of Dark, Book One of The Glittering Edge series; The Creative Fire and The Diamond Deep, Books One and Two of Ruby's Song; and the The Silver Ship series. Though not intended as a Young Adult novel, book 1, The Silver Ship and the Sea, was selected by Library Journal as one of the year's 100 Best Books for YA and by Booklist as one of the top ten 2007 adult books for youth to read. The other books in the series are Reading the Wind and Wings of Creation. She is the author of Mayan December and has collaborated with Larry Niven (Building Harlequin's Moon).a Brenda is a working futurist and a technology professional with a passionate interest in the environment.
Review :
"Spear of Light exceeds my already high expectations for a Brenda Cooper novel. The exploration of what makes us human shines through this entertaining read." --J. A. Pitts, author of Black Blade Blues
"I loved Brenda Cooper's Philip K. Dick Award-nominated novel Edge of Dark, but the follow-up, Spear of Light, is even better. Cooper pits human against post-human and brilliantly reveals the best and worst of her characters. This is a fascinating, well-realized world."
--Patrick Swenson, author of The Ultra Thin Man
"Spear of Light wraps a gripping thriller around a cosmic mystery and makes you care deeply about the characters caught up in it all."
--James L. Cambias, author of Corsair and A Darkling Sea
PRAISE FOR EDGE OF DARK
"Fascinating.... Edge of Dark is worth reading for a unique vision of artificial intelligences...and Cooper gives you a lot to think about."
―io9
"Incisive, challenging, and brilliant... it's a story that explores the "what ifs" in beautiful, dazzling fashion."
―Kirkus Reviews
"The characters...are sharply drawn, and the plot is full of action and deep insight into the future of human society as it takes to the stars. An entertaining, thoughtful novel."
―Shelf Awareness
"Just terrific... Full of profound questions about what it means to be human, a confidence that technological development will continue even as humans themselves long for more nature... thrilling." ―Futurist.com
