The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt, Heather Hobson, PublishAmerica, 2000
For the past couple of hundred planetary cycles, a group of humans living on the planet Aleron have been building a peaceful, thriving society. But the elders have been hiding a big secret. They were exiled from the planet Karna, their actual home, for using their Conrad (telepathy and telekinesis) abilities.
Xavier, a hothead who wants to be the next Conrad leader, convinces a group of young people to join him on a mission to Karna, to ask for permission to return, and if that doesn't work, to exact some retribution.
Xavier rules by fear and intimidation. The basic rules are: do what Xavier says, or die. The people of Karna live in isolated clans, so killing them is easy. Meantime, back on Aleron, a group of older Conrads, followers of the Light, decide to go after Xavier's group, to bring them back home. They help rebuild the villages of Karna that were destroyed. Along the way, after the first attack, Xavier's group stops on another planet to build more ships. Xavier finds a race of small, red, scaly animals on the planet. Through genetic manipulation and more mental powers, they are changed into a race of large, red, scaly warriors whose only purpose is to follow Xavier. He sends a plague back to Aleron, unknowingly carried by Thera, his soul mate, that kills all the other Conrads, except Bruner, the leader. Those who are trying to stop Xavier see his "handiwork," up close and personal, and are devastated. Killing another being, especially hundreds of the small, red creatures is totally against Conrad teaching.
This book belongs in that large gray area of Pretty Good or Worth Reading. It is an interesting story, perhaps a little on the "quiet" side and with room for a sequel. Overall, the reader will not be disappointed.
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