The Twelfth Age, Lily G. Stephen, Blooming Rose Press, 2008
This is the third in a trilogy about two parallel planets, Earth and Zamora.
In this volume, set mostly on Zamora, Shami is a young woman of Asian origin. While she was a small child, her parents were diplomats in a neighboring country. They were killed during a major student uprising, and Shami "fell through the cracks," ending up in a monastery, from where she was adopted by a Western couple.
In school, Shami has been doing research on ancient writings and prophecies, especially those by a person named Stair. Thousands of years ago, he prophesied that most of the country of Dwarnstile was going to sink into the ocean, except for one rocky part, which became known as Sharu. It happened, and one day, Stair disappeared into a semi-mythical tunnel from the Queen's Chamber, never to be seen again. For reasons she can't quite fathom, Shami is compelled to go to Sharu and look for Stair.
A seemingly disparate group of people also go to Sharu. They go partly for their own reasons, and partly
because they are drawn by Shami's energy, her internal glow, call it whatever you want. Among them is Miranda (subject of Part 2), and Leroy, her husband. Residents of Earth, she was given a piece of ancient wisdom by an ethereal race called the Els. The two felt compelled to travel to Zamora, to be with Shami, and to pass this ancient wisdom to the others in the group at this particular time. The Els also make another appearance.
Familiarity with new age concepts like alternate dimensions, and the passing of ancient wisdom will certainly
help when reading this book, but it isn't required. This is a really good book (and trilogy) that's just weird
enough, without being too weird.
Showing posts with label stephen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stephen. Show all posts
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
The Eleventh Hour
The El-eventh Hour, Lily G. Stephen, Blooming Rose Press, 2004
This story, part 2 of a trilogy, is about Miranda, a young woman whose interest in physics leads to more theoretical subjects like hyperspace and alternate universes. A friend of her mother, Willa Carson, agrees to take Miranda on a trip to Peru to visit sites like Macchu Picchu. Her parents aren't exactly thrilled at the idea, but they agree. On the way to Peru, the plans change. The two women join an expedition led by a woman named Margot, looking for a city called Tanum. It's inside an Andean mountain and is the home of an ancient civilization called the Ugha Mongulala. On the plane to Peru, Miranda has a dream. Her friend, Opal Courtright, now part of a higher consciousness being called Sappho (read part 1), tells Miranda that they will meet in Tanum.
After several days travel through impenetrable Andean jungle, the entrance to Tanum is found. While exploring subterranean tunnels, an earthquake strikes and Miranda is badly injured. The people of Ugha Mongulala come to the rescue, bring the three women to Tanum, and nurse Miranda back to health. There is enough light and fresh air in this underground city to support 2,000 people; they have been on Earth for thousands of years, and went underground to escape "white barbarians." Meantime, the earthquake that injured Miranda wasn't just an earthquake. It was part of a worldwide catastrophe that included, among other things, Earth's rotation stopping for three full days.
Miranda attracts the attention of an ethereal, androgynous, even more ancient, race called the Els, who take Miranda into another realm for a visit. She is given all sorts of ancient knowledge and wisdom, which she, in turn, is to preach to the people of Earth. When the three women are returned to "reality," Miranda is compelled to go into the jungle alone, following her own path.
Those who are interested in New Age concepts, like higher states of consciousness and ancient civilizations, will love this book. For everyone else, it's grounded enough in reality, and weird enough, to be very much recommended.
This story, part 2 of a trilogy, is about Miranda, a young woman whose interest in physics leads to more theoretical subjects like hyperspace and alternate universes. A friend of her mother, Willa Carson, agrees to take Miranda on a trip to Peru to visit sites like Macchu Picchu. Her parents aren't exactly thrilled at the idea, but they agree. On the way to Peru, the plans change. The two women join an expedition led by a woman named Margot, looking for a city called Tanum. It's inside an Andean mountain and is the home of an ancient civilization called the Ugha Mongulala. On the plane to Peru, Miranda has a dream. Her friend, Opal Courtright, now part of a higher consciousness being called Sappho (read part 1), tells Miranda that they will meet in Tanum.
After several days travel through impenetrable Andean jungle, the entrance to Tanum is found. While exploring subterranean tunnels, an earthquake strikes and Miranda is badly injured. The people of Ugha Mongulala come to the rescue, bring the three women to Tanum, and nurse Miranda back to health. There is enough light and fresh air in this underground city to support 2,000 people; they have been on Earth for thousands of years, and went underground to escape "white barbarians." Meantime, the earthquake that injured Miranda wasn't just an earthquake. It was part of a worldwide catastrophe that included, among other things, Earth's rotation stopping for three full days.
Miranda attracts the attention of an ethereal, androgynous, even more ancient, race called the Els, who take Miranda into another realm for a visit. She is given all sorts of ancient knowledge and wisdom, which she, in turn, is to preach to the people of Earth. When the three women are returned to "reality," Miranda is compelled to go into the jungle alone, following her own path.
Those who are interested in New Age concepts, like higher states of consciousness and ancient civilizations, will love this book. For everyone else, it's grounded enough in reality, and weird enough, to be very much recommended.
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Tenth Muse
The Tenth Muse, Lily G. Stephen, Blooming Rose Press, 2001
This is the story of two young girls on the brink of maturity. Opal Courtright is a citizen of present-day Earth, and Sapphire Deland is a citizen of Planet Zamora, a place which is, and isn't, a lot like Earth.
Unaware of each other's existence, the connection between them grows stronger. Sapphire does some rock climbing, and Opal has a dream about rock climbing, something she has never done before. Both girls are very much into art, the sort of art that is far beyond the abilities of the average teenager. Sapphire takes private lessons from Mr. Sukosi, who recently lost his only child, Sandra (also Sapphire's bext friend), in a bus accident. Both girls have their paintings shown in local art galleries. They deal with the usual growing-up issues, like friends, parents and school. Opal is being stalked by a couple of older people (rumors of a satanic cult), and Sapphire has attracted the attention of Ben, a young man of dubious reputation. Both girls go to the same place (on their respective worlds), a set of cliffs high above the ocean, for some seashore painting. Unfortunate things happen, and Opal and Sapphire both fall off the cliffs, but they don't die. While still in the air, and in front of witnesses, both girls disintegrate into nothingness.
Their souls (essences?) are taken to a higher state of consciousness on a planet called Lamartine. They are combined into one being, along with a famous figure from Greek history called Sappho. Another being from Lamartine, a former human called Branicor, is sent to Earth and Zamora to reassure both sets of loved ones that their daughters aren't exactly gone, but that their terrestrial existence is over.
An openness to New Age thinking, like crystals and Eastern philosophy, is a requirement when reading this book. For those people, this is a special story and a must read. Part one of a trilogy, it is a very heartwarming piece of writing.
This is the story of two young girls on the brink of maturity. Opal Courtright is a citizen of present-day Earth, and Sapphire Deland is a citizen of Planet Zamora, a place which is, and isn't, a lot like Earth.
Unaware of each other's existence, the connection between them grows stronger. Sapphire does some rock climbing, and Opal has a dream about rock climbing, something she has never done before. Both girls are very much into art, the sort of art that is far beyond the abilities of the average teenager. Sapphire takes private lessons from Mr. Sukosi, who recently lost his only child, Sandra (also Sapphire's bext friend), in a bus accident. Both girls have their paintings shown in local art galleries. They deal with the usual growing-up issues, like friends, parents and school. Opal is being stalked by a couple of older people (rumors of a satanic cult), and Sapphire has attracted the attention of Ben, a young man of dubious reputation. Both girls go to the same place (on their respective worlds), a set of cliffs high above the ocean, for some seashore painting. Unfortunate things happen, and Opal and Sapphire both fall off the cliffs, but they don't die. While still in the air, and in front of witnesses, both girls disintegrate into nothingness.
Their souls (essences?) are taken to a higher state of consciousness on a planet called Lamartine. They are combined into one being, along with a famous figure from Greek history called Sappho. Another being from Lamartine, a former human called Branicor, is sent to Earth and Zamora to reassure both sets of loved ones that their daughters aren't exactly gone, but that their terrestrial existence is over.
An openness to New Age thinking, like crystals and Eastern philosophy, is a requirement when reading this book. For those people, this is a special story and a must read. Part one of a trilogy, it is a very heartwarming piece of writing.
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