Description:
Are you wondering how far government control of health care might go in a future society? This novel is science fiction, but it's not just for sci-fi fans....
When burned-out starship captain Jesse Sanders is seized by a dictatorial medical regime and detained on the colony planet Undine, he has no idea that he is about to be plunged into a bewildering new life that will involve ordeals and joys beyond anything he has ever imagined, as well as the love of a woman with powers that seem superhuman. Still less does he suspect that he must soon take responsibility for the lives of people he has come to care about and preservation of their hopes for the future of humankind.
This controversial novel, winner of a bronze medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards, deals with the so-called paranormal powers of the human mind and appeals to a wide range of readers who question the dominant medical philosophy of today's society. Unlike Engdahl's earlier novels, it is not appropriate for Young Adult audiences.
"A suspenseful and thought-provoking novel that seems so plausible that it sends chills up my spine ... truly a masterpiece of parapsychological science fiction." -Robin Witte, Rebecca'sReads.com
"A taut, well-paced science fiction work ... that transcends the genre's traditional subdivisions and leads us into a world as relevant as today but as enthralling as tomorrow." -Paul H. Smith, author of Reading the Enemy' Mind: Inside Star Gate
"Inspires a lot of thought-provoking 'what-if' questions... An excellent novel to read just for pure enjoyment, however, I would highly recommend Stewards of the Flame to bioethics classes. It will certainly lead to some stimulating conversations." -Paige Lovitt, ReaderViews; Midwest Book Review MBR Bookwatch
"Extremely entertaining.... A cautionary tale that Big Brother is coming through the government medical complex." -Harriet Klausner, Alternative Worlds; Midwest Book Review MBR Bookwatch
"The premise sounds grim and depressing but the book is not. The story deserves all of the rave reviews it received." -J.C. JOnes, Mixed Book Bag
"A chilling look at what extreme socialized medicine could become in the hands of a dictatorial medical regime... Stewards of the Flame would make an excellent discussion topic for a book club." -Janie Franz, MyShelf.com
Publisher's opinion:
"The story is compelling, and drew me in from the first few pages.... Stewards of the Flame is a thought-provoking novel that may make you question the authority and direction of modern Western medical practices. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading genre fiction with some substance to it." -Anna Creech, Blogcritics "Grips the attention with the raw immediacy of the problems.... It asks the sort of questions only SF can pose, and paints a vivid picture of where failing to answer those questions might lead.... Stewards is the kind of SF I've been craving!" -Jacqueline Lichtenberg, author of the Sime/Gen series, Monthly Aspectatrian "A brilliant twist on dystopianism.... The book builds just the right amount of tension, and shows the stark reality of benevolent tyranny, one that any so-called democracy could creep towards quite easily." -Anders Monsen, Prometheus "Stewards of the Flame is a brave book, and the numbers of those holding to the sentiments it conveys are growing. While the novel portrays extreme measures taken to prolong life to reductio ad absurdum lengths, it can't be faulted for challenging our comfort zone, when after all, that is one sure measure of worthwhile fiction." -Carlos Aranaga, ScifiDimensions "This is mind-stretching speculative fiction for the thinking person.... The ending of Stewards of the Flame is one of the best endings I've ever come across. It is absolutely right for the book." -Jennifer Mo, Rambles "The end is both exciting and searingly moving. Readers who enjoy the more adult works of Robert A. Heinlein or C. S. Lewis should enjoy this novel.... [It] is eminently readable, indeed hard to put down.... It also has the potential to bring this undervalued author the wide reading public her talent merits." -Nicholas Birns, author of Understanding Anthony Powell
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