Synopses & Reviews
L. E. Modesitt has gained a legion of devoted fans for his science fiction as well as for his epic fantasy novels, and
Ghost of the White Nights is one of the best displays yet of his ability to blend dramatic, imaginative stories with rigorous social and scientific extrapolation. This is the concluding novel of the alternate-history adventure trilogy that Modesitt began with Of
Tangible Ghosts and
The Ghost of the Revelator.
Doktor Johan Eschbach, Professor of Environmental Science and semi-retired secret agent, and his lovely wife the world-renowned singer Llysette, return for another adventure, this time in Russia. Their world is an intriguing alternate present in which many things are changed. What we know as the eastern United States is the nation of Columbia, and Russia is still ruled by the Romanovs.
Johan had hoped for a quiet life of teaching. Llysette, a refugee from the burning remains of France, has put her time in the prison camps of the Hapsburg Empire behind her and successfully resumed her singing career. But the Columbian government cannot afford to waste their particular talents and calls upon them again.
Llysette is being sent on a cultural exchange mission to St. Petersburg, where she will sing for the Tsar. Johan will, of course, accompany her, allowing him to work behind the scenes on the oil concession in Russian Alaska that Columbia so desperately needs. But even the oil shortage will fade to insignificance when Johan discovers what new weapons technology the Russians are developing, a threat even more fearsome than the atomic bombs of Austro-Hungary.
Review
Of Tangible Ghosts: "A neat premise...Modesitt makes this alternate history of a Dutch-dominated Northeast and a pseudo-Nazi Austro-Hungarian Empire believable."--Starlog
"A challenging mystery, a scientific puzzler and a technothriller rolled into a splendidly unique whole, this dandy delight deserves a reserved spot on your bookshelf."--Romantic Times
Ghost of the Revelator:
"A most originally conceived and intelligently executed melding of history and fantasy. Fans of its predecessor will devour it, as will some others, especially on account of its enchanting heroine."-Booklist
"A startling view of what the world might be like if we really had ghosts. A compelling tale of alternate world intrigue."-Jack McDevitt
Synopsis
Set in a fascinating alternative world in which ghosts are real, the United States never came into existence, and Russia is still ruled by the Romanovs, this sequel to
Of Tangible Ghosts and
The Ghost of the Revelator continues the adventures of semi-retired spy Dr. Johan Eschbach.
His lovely wife Llysette du Boise, a refugee from the burning remains of France and a world-famous vocalist, has been invited to provide a command performance for the Russian Imperial household. Johan accompanies her, allowing him to work on the oil concession in Russian Alaska that Columbia so desperately needs and do some spying on the side. Johans espionage is carried out against the backdrop of the famous white nights of St. Petersburg, the nearly Arctic midsummer when the sun barely dips below the horizon and the sky seems to dissolve in ivory light. But even the oil shortage will fade to insignificance when Johan discovers what new weapons technology the Russians are developing, a threat even more fearsome than the atomic bombs of Austro-Hungary.
Working in the tradition of Gordon R. Dickson and Poul Anderson for hard-edged adventure with sophisticated social and political dimensions, Modesitt provides a unique blend of speculation and intrigue that brings the trilogy to a rousing end.
About the Author
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is the bestselling author of the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce, Corean Chronicles, and the Imager Portfolio. His science fiction includes Adiamante, the Ecolitan novels, the Forever Hero Trilogy, and Archform: Beauty. Besides a writer, Modesitt has been a U.S. Navy pilot, a director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant and staff director for a U.S. Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer. He lives in Cedar City, Utah.