Synopses & Reviews
5,000 years in the future, humankind has spread across thousands of worlds, and more than a dozen different governments exist in an uneasy truce. But human beings have found no signs of other life anywhere approaching human intelligence. This changes when scientists discover a sunless planet they name Danann, travelling the void just beyond the edge of the Galaxy at such a high speed that it cannot be natural. Its continents and oceans have been sculpted and shaped, with but a single megaplex upon it--close to perfectly preserved--with tens of thousands of near-identical metallic-silver-blue towers set along curved canals. Yet Danann has been abandoned for so long that even the atmosphere has frozen solid. Within a few years Danann will approach an area of singularities that will make exploration and investigation impossible. Orbital shuttle pilot Jiendra Chang, artist Chendor Barna, and history professor Liam Fitzhugh are recruited by the Comity government and its Deep Space Service, along with scores of other experts as part of an unprecedented and unique expedition to unravel Danann's secrets. And there are forces that will stop at nothing to prevent them, even if it means interstellar war.
Review
Praise for
Flash:
"Modesitt supports his vision with deep political, economic and cultural knowledge and speculation, producing a world that actually makes its own kind of sense. . . . His people are genuine inhabitants of this world, not transplanted 20th-century souls."
--Science Fiction Weekly on Flash
"This novel doesn't fall into the trap of making futuristic Earth denizens less than human or creating complicated technology just for show....Corporate conspiracies, rigged elections and the ubiquity of advertising are just a few of the issues Modesitt takes on, and he deftly handles the complicated plot threads."
--Romantic Times on Flash
"A well conceived, suspenseful thriller which also examines an all too plausible corruption of democracy."
--Chronicle on Flash
"Flash is a classic thriller...Modesitt makes deVrai's daily routines interesting through his meticulous narrative and when deVrai steps out of his routine there is plenty of action."
--The Denver Post
Review
Praise for The Eternity Artifact “A glorious space opera set in a distant future when humans spread to the stars and splintered into a number of subsidiary civilizations. . . .Very enjoyable, lots of sense of wonder, and I even liked the characters.”
--Chronicle
“Captivating far-future tale of life in space, from the author of Flash. . . .Modesitts prose is lively, and theres enough sense of wonder here to satisfy even the most jaded. . . .A must-read for Modesitt fans, as well as those of Jack McDevitt and Arthur C. Clarke.”
-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“An intriguing vehicle for exploring interstellar fundamentalism.”
-Entertainment Weekly
“As usual, Modesitts work shines with engrossing characters, terrific plotting, and realistic world-building. This stand-alone novel addresses relevant political and economic issues within the framework of rip-roaring space adventure, making it a must-read for fans of interstellar fiction.”
-Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Modesitts storytelling and characterization are as good as ever, and his use of four first-person viewpoints is quite effective.”
--Booklist
“Superior science-fiction adventure writing. The plot moves compellingly, the characters are distinct and idenitifiable.”
-Science Fiction Weekly
"This is hard science and really hardball politics described by somebody who knows them from the inside out. A powerful novel on a sweeping, mysterious stage."
--Dave Drake, author of The Way to Glory
"L. E. Modesitt is one of those special authors who brings a great deal to his work: a love of words, an understanding of people and cultures, and an interest in great stories and ideas. It shows in every line of his tale. I read 'The Eternity Artifact' with pleasure, and felt well rewarded even beyond the last page." -David Farland, author of The Wyrmling Horde
“Compelling….Readers who like both hard science and realistic sociology will be rewarded.”
-Publishers Weekly
Review
"A glorious space opera."
Chronicle
Review
"Captivating far-future tale of life in space."
Kirkus
Review
"As usual, Modesitt's work shines with engrossing characters, terrific plotting, and realistic world-building."
Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine
Review
"An intriguing vehicle for exploring interstellar fundamentalism."
Entertainment Weekly
Review
"Superior science-fiction adventure writing. The plot moves compellingly, the characters are distinct and idenitifiable."
Science Fiction Weekly
Review
"A powerful novel on a sweeping, mysterious stage."
David Drake
Review
"I read The Eternity Artifact with pleasure, and felt well rewarded even beyond the last page."
David Farland
Review
"Compelling....Readers who like both hard science and realistic sociology will be rewarded."
Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Moe than 5,000 years in the future, orbital shuttle pilot Jiendra Chang, artist Chendor Barna, and history professor Liam Fitzhugh are recruited to unravel a frozen planet's secrets, but there are forces that will stop at nothing to prevent them, even if it means interstellar war.
Synopsis
5,000 years in the future, humankind has spread across thousands of worlds, and more than a dozen different governments exist in an uneasy truce. But human beings have found no signs of other life anywhere approaching human intelligence. This changes when scientists discover a sunless planet they name Danann, travelling the void just beyond the edge of the Galaxy at such a high speed that it cannot be natural. Its continents and oceans have been sculpted and shaped, with but a single megaplex upon it--close to perfectly preserved--with tens of thousands of near-identical metallic-silver-blue towers set along curved canals. Yet Danann has been abandoned for so long that even the atmosphere has frozen solid. Within a few years Danann will approach an area of singularities that will make exploration and investigation impossible. Orbital shuttle pilot Jiendra Chang, artist Chendor Barna, and history professor Liam Fitzhugh are recruited by the Comity government and its Deep Space Service, along with scores of other experts as part of an unprecedented and unique expedition to unravel Danann's secrets. And there are forces that will stop at nothing to prevent them, even if it means interstellar war.
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.