Status
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Description
Author of The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, one of the most acclaimed fantasy series of all time, master storyteller Stephen R. Donaldson retums with the second book in his long-awaited new science fiction series--a story about dark passions, perilous alliances, and dubious heroism set in a stunningly imagined future. Beautiful, brilliant, and dangerous, Morn Hyland is an ex-police officer for the United Mining Companies--and the target of two ruthless, powerful men. One is the charismatic ore-pirate Nick Succorso, who sees Morn as booty wrested from his vicious rival, Angus Thermopyle. thermopyle once made the mistake of underestimating Morn and now he's about to pay the ultimate price. Both men think they can possess her, but Morn is no one's trophy--and no one's pawn. Meanwhile, withing the borders of Forbidden Space, wait the Amnioin, an alien race capable of horrific atrocities. The Amnion want something unspeakable from humanity--and they will go to unthinkable lengths to get it. In Forbidden Knowledge, Stephen R. Donaldson spins a galaxy-wide web of intrigue, deception, and betrayal that tightens with inexorable strength around characters and readers alike.… (more)
User reviews
I do think the book lost a bit in writing style. Despite its lack of action, The Real Story was well written. Donaldson set up the premise of "what the world knows vs. what really happened" and then proceeded to peel back the layers, letting you in on the real story. In this volume, he switches more to straight space opera...stuff happens, he tells you about it. He's fine at this, but there's a little less anticipation for the reader.
If you're the kind of reader that wants heroes, then this may not be the series for you. Certainly we haven't met a male, yet, whom we can admire. We went from the first volume, where Morn was in the power of a man who delighted in raping and beating the stuffing out of her, to this volume where she's in the power of a different man who delights in raping her, beating the stuffing out of her and inflicting substantial psychological horror upon her. With one minor bit player exception, the male portion of the supporting cast are all traitors, murderers, rapists or men willing to get her back on her feet for the express purpose of allowing the captain to beat on her some more.
The women aren't much better. Morn, herself, may end up a hero, but we haven't gotten there, yet. She was the victim through the entire first book and through much of this second volume. Toward the end, having bottomed out to abuse and addiction, she starts to build enough of a shell around herself to start taking control of situations. We'll see in the later volumes.
Several of my friends consider the Gap books Donaldson's best work. At this point, I think the Mordant books are still his best, but I'm willing to keep reading these to see how they fare over the entire series.
Strangely dated a bit in technology, with the entire contents of a spaceship's data folder coming ot about 1Tb - smaller than the average PC harddrive these days. Written in 1993 or so, it was an unimaginable volume. Likewise the genetics have been
I like the idea of a book that follows the inner thoughts of abusers engaging in abuse. It fits well with the goal of sci/fi being pushing at our
As space opera, this book is very successful, it creates some excellent melodrama in a fully fleshed out universe that is consistent in all meaningful ways. If you like space ships and laser guns and can stomach seven or eight graphic rapes, go for it! Otherwise, stick to the Buck Rogers.