Legacy - The Library of the Uncommons

Paperback, 1 pages

Published June 20, 1996 by Orbit.

ISBN:: 978-1-85723-886-0

(1 review)

In this sequel to EON, Greg Bear continues to explore the possibilities presented by the asteroid Thistledown, a remnant of a lost human civilization. The Way is a tunnel through space and time that leads to other worlds, some more like planet Earth than Earth itself. It is perhaps the most formidable discovery in Thistledown and with such an important discovery comes dispute as to the nature of the Way and how it should be used. The Way can only be reached through Axis City, the only space station of Thistledown. The ruling body of Axis City, the Hexamon, has decreed that other worlds reached by The Way must be left untouched as an insurance against future needs of the human race. But then the Hexamon hear of a group of clandestine colonists who have settled in one of the new worlds. Olmy Ap Sennon is an eager young career …

In this sequel to EON, Greg Bear continues to explore the possibilities presented by the asteroid Thistledown, a remnant of a lost human civilization. The Way is a tunnel through space and time that leads to other worlds, some more like planet Earth than Earth itself. It is perhaps the most formidable discovery in Thistledown and with such an important discovery comes dispute as to the nature of the Way and how it should be used. The Way can only be reached through Axis City, the only space station of Thistledown. The ruling body of Axis City, the Hexamon, has decreed that other worlds reached by The Way must be left untouched as an insurance against future needs of the human race. But then the Hexamon hear of a group of clandestine colonists who have settled in one of the new worlds. Olmy Ap Sennon is an eager young career soldier who must go and investigate this illegal colony, and at the same time confront his own humanity. As he witnesses the hardship and beauty of the outlaw human colony, he learns what it means to struggle with war, ecological disasters, love, and death.

16 editions

Conbini reviewed Legacy by Greg Bear

Review of 'Legacy' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

getting to know Ser Olmy better...

short plot description: a young Olmy takes a (possible one-way) mission to the planet Lamarckia which has been settled by a group of defectors opening a gateway in the Way. The original plan called for Olmy to observe and then report back but soon he finds it harder and harder not to get involved...

my thoughts: first this is only a prequel in the sense that the novel uses Thistledown, the Way, the gateways to other worlds and Ser Olmy who plays a major role in the first two books as a starting point. The novel could easily have done without this premise. Besides that, quite a good book, good worldbuilding, interesting, not to cliched characters, plot not really highly original (how to humans behave when under pressure) but it keeps the reader engaged.

Subjects

Science Fiction