Metaplanetary: A Novel of Interplanetary Civil War (Hardcover)

Tony's novel begins "in the broken heart of a poet and the contemplation of a priest." As this book is the beginning of a new series, where it ends, won't be know until the cycle is completed, and I assume within the next few years, when his other books are released. However, this being the first novel in an upcoming series, does take on the theme made popular in the golden age of science fiction: artificial intelligence, conflict and politics.

Tony gives the subject a really great feel, his intermingling repression and enslavement of humanity's progeny. He doesn't make the mistake of trying to make the yearn for humanity. But it is a compassionate intelligence experiencing intense relationships with humans, which still contains action, artificial intelligences, heroism, nanotechnological, poetry, and villains, there's something there to satisfy even the most demanding reader.

The human race has extended itself into the far reaches of our solar system -- and, in doing so, has developed into something remarkable and diverse and perhaps transcendent. The inner system of the Met -- with its worlds connected by a vast living network of cables -- is supported by the repression and enslavement of humanity's progeny, nanotechnological artificial intelligence's -- beings whom the tyrant Amés has declared non-human. There is tolerance and sanctuary in the outer system beyond the Jovian frontier. Yet few of the oppressed ever make it past the dictator's well-patrolled boundaries. But the longing for freedom cannot be denied, whatever the risk.

A priest of the mystical religion called the Greentree Way senses catastrophe approaching. A vision foretells that the future of our bitterly divided solar system rests in the hands of a mysterious man of destiny and doom who has vanished into the backwater of the Met in search of his lost love. But the priest is not the only one who grasps this man's importance. The despot Amés is after the some quarry -- and until now there has been no power in the inner solar system willing to oppose Amés and his fearsome minions.

But now a line has been drawn of Neptune's moon Triton. Roger Sherman, a retired military commander from Earth's West Point and a Greentree ally, will not let Amés prevail. Though dwarfed by the strength and wealth of the Met, the cosmos under Sherman's jurisdiction will remain free at all cost -- though defiance will ensure the unspeakable onslaught of the dictator Amés's wrath -- a rage that will soon ravage the solar system. A rage that will plunge all of humankind into the fury of total war.

This was an enjoyable book. It provided an escape from the normal stresses of life. What more can one ask? Enjoy it!

At first, I was disappointed. The story was difficult to follow, concepts were fanciful, and I felt that it lacked focus. Luckily, I had no other books with me, so I kept at it, as I have done with many other titles, their names blurring in my memory.

I am overjoyed that I kept at it.

The 'problem' with this book, is also it's strength. It is so different to every other sci-fi book out there, that it takes about 150 pages before you manage to compartmentalize and pin down the various threads running through the book. With every page, the author's vision of the future becomes more coherent and believable. Ideas which seemed improbable in the beginning, suddenly appear to be remarkably plausible.

This genuinely is a book that will leave your head spinning with new ideas, and perhaps, a visionary glimpse of the future.