Product Description
As the Keruh fight a bloody rearguard action in an attempt to delay the advancing Androktones, Didi, Gusta, Kiki and the other Edenite survivors in Jutlam City at last come under the protection of the Ambassador. But the Ambassador’s representative is large, silver, with a mouth-full of teeth. The drone, El-Quan, is as confused by her charges as they are scared of her, but there are worse dangers ahead. Yan-Jai is the largest drone on Eden and she no longer cares who she kills, friend or foe. In space, Aeolus tries to control the Klysanthian captains now in his “flock.” And the most stubborn of these is Pantariste, Captain of the Queen of Angels. When Lysippe is sent aboard the Prometheus as liaison, Pele… More >>
The Friendly Ambassador: A Gathering of Angels
“The Friendly Ambassador: The Beginning of the End,” and “The Friendly Ambassador: A Gathering of Angels,” are the first two parts of an ongoing four part science fiction epic in which female characters feature very prominently, many of them in strong and attractive leading roles. The reason for this is that I like writing about women. It gives my stories a female bias, but I think they are better for it. In “The Friendly Ambassador” women dominate the scene and are often thrust into situations that put them at terrible risk, sometimes with harsh results, and even in lighter moments some form of threat is never too far away. If there is death and violence, then it is graphic and brutal. Chick Lit this is not. In some ways the strength, sexuality and appeal of the women featured in these stories are similar to those of the Buffy/Xena/Alias genre. These are women who are up for the fight and give it their all. And as in that genre, the examination of unusual relationships is also explored in the story. You will find many romantic and love interests in “The Friendly Ambassador,” these can be normal heterosexual relationships, lesbian, and even between different races.
In “The Friendly Ambassador: The Beginning of the End,” the Edenite Breda forms a strong and close relationship with the Klysanthian Clyemne who is involved in her rescue, and fears her potential loss at the hands of the pursuing Keruh. And in the second book “The Friendly Ambassador: A Gathering of Angels,” Peleus forms a powerful relationship with Lysippe, while two other Klysanthians, Scyleia and Heli begin the steps that will form full and loving relationships with the Androktones Tai-Gil and Ann-Ra. Both want to save the unsaveable. The Androktone characters have great appeal in this respect. They are strong, fearless and viciously brutal. But they are not evil, they do what they do because they have to: they have no choice. And underneath they are as vulnerable as children. The Klysanthians have a similar appeal. They may not be as strong as the Androktones, but they are equally fearless and equally at risk, and they are also genuine and kind.
“The Friendly Ambassador” stories blend Greek Myth with traditional science-fiction, taking a different approach to the legend of Atlantis, the origination of the Amazons, and the true nature of mythical creatures such as the Cyclops and Centaurs as aliens from other worlds. The story is set on Atlantian Earth, on board various ships in space, and on the far off world of Eden. It is full of rich characters, monsters and hardware, but it is packaged in a totally different way to anything that’s been done before.
Although there are many visual centrepieces, it is the relationships between the principal characters and their understanding of each other that is the main focus of the story. At first opposing one another, many of the characters are forced together and learn that they are very much the same despite their very different natures and origins. All the aliens have different viewpoints and agendas; there are no blind killers, and the borders between the good guys and the bad guys are deliberately blurred. The idea is to break through the barriers of both race and creed and to show that all are the same underneath.
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Rating: 3 / 5