In a distant solar system, an ancient truth has been uncovered--perhaps too late. A band of unlikely heroes must unite two embattled worlds against cosmic destruction.
In Second Coming, as two planets in a distant solar system battle for supremacy, an archaeologist and a small band of scientists, thieves and psychics evade ruthless imperial and religious forces to uncover the suppressed history of their worlds. The team unearths the ultimate truth—that a cosmic event destroyed their original civilizations and caused a long age of darkness. On a perilous quest through buried cities, from the heart of the Empire's stronghold to the Church's secretive lunar monastery, they discover an immense, marauding planet which brings destruction through their system every half million years. These unlikely heroes are soon caught between planetary war and more sinister forces, and must somehow unite both worlds against the returning apocalyptic threat.
Excerpt
The elevator doors opened and Reece fell inside. He tried to scream, but a deafening explosion rocked the cavern and a flume of violent, rippling fire burst from the tunnel. Reece lifted his arms over his head and ducked to the floor as the entire cavern roared with flames and coughed up black, turgid smoke.
The elevator doors slammed shut against the blazing heat and the wave of fire, and immediately the lift soared up into the cool heart of the ground. As he swiftly ascended, Reece choked back a cry—then froze.
He was not alone in the elevator.
The cloaked figure stood beside him, silent, and head down. Just another passenger, going for the ride. A feminine hand emerged from the dark robes—long, talon-like fingers stretching, then bending, all the knuckles cracking by themselves. It reached up and pulled back the cowl...
Professional Reviews
"Two worlds.
Two brothers, an ancient book of prophecies, a mystery-shrouded priesthood, and a time of cosmic reckoning bearing down on an unsuspecting populace. Samuel Dalton takes these ingredients, and uses them to weave a tale so original that I don't know when I've enjoyed one this much."
"BUY THIS BOOK, if you're a hard SF fan who nevertheless demands a character-driven tale. The old masters, writers like Heinlein and Clark and Anderson, never did it better." - Nina M. Osier, eBook Reviews Weekly, author of Mistworld.
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Reviews for "Second Coming"
Reviewed by Mark Morgan
12/16/2002
This book absolutely rocked! Great pacing, very visually evocative language - in the right hands, it would make a great movie. Much better than most Sci/Fi published by the major houses.
MONSTROSITY n. 1. That which deviates greatly from the norm in appearance or structure. 2. The quality or character of being abnormal; hideous; frightful; shocking.
