The Astral Prophet
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
"Schindewolf's debut novel is an entertaining whirlwind of sci-fi action and mystery."
"Delivers smart tech, thoughtful world-building, and relatable religious questions, all tied together with a likable cast and a twisty plot."
"Pairs old-world spiritual questions with futuristic wonders. For readers looking for a thought-provoking adventure...with page-turning action, this is a journey worth taking."
"Fans of the Culture series, Dune, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Dan Simmons, and Alastair Reynolds will feel right at home here."
- Goodreads reviewers
Kairos Catadyn was a rising priest in the New Revelationist Church—until he took a missionary post on the planet Pantoll, a storm-ridden wasteland where he lost his faith after unintentionally committing an unspeakable act. Now Kairos wastes his days avoiding his guilt and ignoring reports that the Osetra—a race not seen since humanity's exodus from Old Earth centuries prior—have returned to human space, this time to conquer.
But when Kairos unexpectedly acquires a strange Osetran artifact, he's suddenly hunted by powerful interests—governing corporations, cults, and crime lords. Unable to ignore a sense of the divine hand at play and a chance for redemption, Kairos goes on the run across worlds to uncover the artifact's coveted secrets.
Truth, however, comes with a cost. Kairos learns that an existential threat from an unexpected source lies at the center of the Osetran artifact's mystery—one that links the fates of both races and could fundamentally alter the universe. But to stop it, Kairos will have to face his spiritual scars and risk his life on a faithful gamble.
Print length: 370 pages
Customer Reviews
Poignant & Punchy Science Fiction
I received an advanced copy of The Astral Prophet and just finished it a couple days ago.
I’m an avid sci-fi reader and I’d like to thing I’m pretty discerning. For about 60% of the book, I was pretty sure I knew where things were headed and that was on a fairly mundane (if still enjoyable - Evan is an excellent writer) journey. As things reached a climax though, Evan’s carefully constructed series of dominos began to fall into place, setting up a wild ride in the last 20% of the book.
Two things stand out to me about this work. Its pacing is excellent and it never wastes time, something that has unfortunately become quite rare in science fiction. Evan could have easily stretched The Astral Prophet out into two or even three books, and lesser author might have done so. But by keeping things tight, it’s able to rise above the sea of drivel pumped out by mediocre writers in this space. It’s short, and that’s its strength.
Secondly, TAP is an excellent character study in the tradition of great works of literature everywhere. The action and plot are meaningful and important, but they are a backdrop to the multidimensional lives and perspectives of the characters, especially Kairos, the protagonist.
I could go on, but like excellent science fiction, useful reviews end when they should.
Read it. You’ve got time. And it’ll be worth that time.