Marseguro, a water world
far distant from Earth, is home to a small colony of unmodified
humans known as landlings and to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race
created by geneticist Victor Hansen from modified human DNA. For
seventy years the Selkies and the unmodified landlings have dwelled
together in peace, safe from pursuit by the current theocratic
rulers of Earth--a group intent on maintaining human genetic and
religious purity.
Then landling Chris Keating, a misfit on any world, seeks personal
revenge on Emily Wood and her fellow Selkies by activating a
distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship.
When the Earth forces capture the signal and pinpoint its origin, a
strikeforce, with Victor Hansen's own grandson Richard aboard, is
sent to eradicate this abomination.
Yet Marseguro will not
prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates. And what
Richard Hansen discovers here may alter not only his own destiny but
that of Marseguro and Earth as well...
Reviews
"The settings are well drawn and creative...The
characters possess substance, emotions and realistic motivations...Most important, the action and surprises keep
coming...with nonstop action and plot development...the flaws are
minor, and this book is almost impossible to put down.
"Even people who are afraid of the water will
love this book. Highly recommended." - Lois
H. Gresh, SCI
FI Weekly
"...memorable characters, great
world-building and interesting science...Willett has crafted a grand
science fiction story that manages to pay tribute both to the galaxy
spanning empires of Space Opera, and the examination of technologies
just out of our current grasp...Marseguro
is well worth the read." - Chadwick
Ginther,
McNally-Robinson Booksellers
"Portraying people at their worst and their
best, this book challenges readers to revisit their first
impressions...Characters face issues of nature vs. nurture, the
effects of bullying and the deep seated threads of prejudice...
"I liked this book more than I thought I would when I first
picked it up. The author was constantly surprising me, which doesn’t
happen often, twisting the usual sci-fi conventions into more than
just a shoot ‘em up space opera. Edward Willett has created people,
personalities with belief systems and misguided judgments who make
mistakes in trying to do what they believe is right...I look forward
to the release of the sequel to Marseguro, Terra
Insegura, later on next year." -
Fantasybookspot
"The title of Edward Willett's
new novel, Marseguro, refers to a water
world far distant from Earth in space, but scant weeks away in
travel time. Willett has assumed several technological advances in
order for this novel to work: genesculpting, cloning,
faster-than-light travel via brane space, and a Heinleinian "If this
Goes On" of a religious dictatorship in the United States. But the
pieces all come together nicely to tell a good story of the man who
created a new race of amphibious humans, and the results of his
efforts to protect them from the growing threat of religious
zealots.
"The book gets off to a slow start, but it picks up speed, and
eventually finds itself steamrolling to an inevitable, but
satisfying and enjoyable conclusion." -
Ian Randal Strock,
SF
Scope
"Never content with
simplistic depictions of good guys verses bad, Willett examines the
ethical dilemmas inherent in total war from the viewpoint of four
different characters, two of whom are forced to reevaluate their
initial assumptions about who is the real enemy...
"As the stakes continually rise, the
protagonists have to constantly up their game to overcome yet greater
obstacles and confront yet more profound ethical issues...As in Lost
in Translation the characters have to confront their prejudices,
overcome their justifiable hatreds, examine their loyalties and --
even more clearly in this book – Willett seems to suggest that triumph
ultimately belongs to the characters who able to experience the most
growth. The winners are those who are able to place others over self,
whereas the losers are undone by their core selfishness. In Willett's
universe, karma counts...
"In the end, Willett delivers the
edge-of-your-seat, action-packed adventure novel I had been
anticipating. - Dr. Robert Runte, Neo-Opsis
"...a creative tale...Mr. Willett
blends science fiction with heavy religious beliefs into a
well-written storyline that’s filled with dramatic scenery and
character detail. Sci-fi and fantasy fans should find this story
full and entertaining."
-
"The book is well-plotted, the action and reveals flow nicely
along, keeping the reader interested...The ethical dilemmas
presented echo those of Lost In
Translation - racism, prejudice, tolerance, violence as a
means to an end, fanaticism - but are put in play in such a way that
the reader feels it necessary to wrestle with the issues alongside
the character. If the reader comes to a different conclusion than
the protagonist in some of the situations, it is not because Willett
has written his characters into a corner from which there is only
one way out, rather it is the availability of choices which makes
the ones the protagonists follow ultimately so meaningful.
"Well worth the read, I highly recommend Marseguro and am anticipating the
sequelTerra Insegura (meaning
unsafe land?) due out next year." - Marturia.net
"Excellent world-building and well
developed characters. Very enjoyable. If you are interested in the
religious implications of genetic manipulation, the political
problems with a theocracy, or the question of what you would do when
faced with extinction, read this book." -
William Howe
"...good characters and an interesting story that looks at very
difficult issues that are important to the world we live in
today..." - Eclectic Writer
"Well developed characters with clear motives prevailed in the
story and once the plot got going, it rolled right along at a nice
clip right to the end." - Ken McConnell
"It's an action-packed ride filled with creepy creatures with
gills. How can you go wrong with that, right?...You'll find this
book also grapples with some serious issues (particularly the issue
of organized religion and what happens if it gets too much power),
but does have a little bit of a light-hearted side...Definitely a
good book." - Fantasy & Sci-fi Lovin' Book Reviews
"Taut well-visualized action sequences abound and the main story
is drawn to a satisfying conclusion but leaves the door open for
next years’ sequelTerra Insegura.
Readers of series such as Julie Czerneda’s Species Imperative should enjoy this
intelligent SF adventure." -
Doug Knipe, SciFiGuy.ca
"Great
Book, Well Written, Well Worth Buying...The
plot is logical and flows well, the author is descriptive but not
too descriptive, and the story seems to take on a life of its own.
There are some predictable moments, but overall this book is worth
the purchase. It is one of the better books I have read in a while
and you won't be disappointed." - A Science Fiction Book Club member
"Good read, strong character...I enjoyed
this book all in one evening. It was too good to put down. Strong
female character and good evolution of all the central characters."
- A Science Fiction Book Club member
"I picked this up because I adored
Willett's last book, Lost in Translation...and
this one certainly didn't disappoint...An interwoven story of
changing lives, alliances, and beliefs--this one will make you
think. - queenlyzard,
LiveJournal
"...(a)
thrilling tale with multiple povs and intriguing characters...things
really get interesting but never sentimental--atypical for novels
that have as one of their themes "what it means to be human."...The
principal characters...are complicated enough to seem real, and
you'll probably believe in them. The supporting cast are well done,
too. And the action sequences--especially a chase across the water
with a killer robot in pursuit...should thrill you." - Amazon
reviewer lb136
Watch for the sequel, Terra
Insegura, in May 2009--with cover art
by Hugo Award winner Stephan
Martiniere
Newest
Adult Book:
Historic
Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Newest
Children's Book:
Janis Joplin: Take
Another Little Piece of My Heart
"Edward Willett has cobbled together a walking guide that
will appeal to history buffs and those with a keen appreciation for
architecture. While Regina and Moose Jaw are relatively young cities in
terms of their history compared with Old Montreal or Quebec City,
Willett has been able to pull together 10 walks that gives both
residents and tourists alike a flavour of our past, with tidbits about
prominent founding families...
"Kudos to Willett who recognized
those of us living in a concrete jungle appreciate the craftsmanship of
the stone masons and bricklayers who left a lasting legacy." - Anne
Kyle,
Regina LeaderPost.
A children's biography of rock legend Janis Joplin, part of Enslow Publishers' "American Rebels" series.
About me
Welcome to Edward Willett's
Intergalactic Library. I'm your host and librarian, Edward Willett. I hope
you enjoy browsing through the fiction, non-fiction, photos and links I've
assembled for your viewing pleasure. If you are sentient, I'm pleased to
have you as my guest, no matter how many legs you have, what you like to
eat, drink or breathe, or however distant the corner of the universe you
call home.
And who, you may ask, is Edward
Willett?
I'm a freelance writer and
performer in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Earth. I'm the author of six science fiction and fantasy novels. My first four books were young
adult titles; my most recent are the adult science fiction novels Lost in Translationand the just-published
Marseguro, both from
DAW Books. May, 2009, will see the
release of Terra Insegura, the sequel to Marseguro.
In the works: children's
biographies of Johnny Cash and Andy Warhol for Enslow, plus a
book on disease detectives, one on the mutiny on the Bounty,
and a history of land surveyors in Saskatchewan.
"When it comes to science
writing, Edward Willett is the
Isaac Asimov of the new millennium. He explains complex
concepts clearly, so that anyone can understand them,
and he makes science into an engaging human story."
--
Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author
For about a decade I hosted Net.talk, an
Access Communications television program about computers and the Internet.
For a couple of years, I wrote a
column on the arts for InRegina.com;
I also hosted an arts program for a time on Regina's community radio station,
CJTR. I've written everything from TV scripts
and one-act plays to magazine articles, advertising copy and
short stories. I maintain a blog,
Hassenpfeffer.
Besides being a writer, I'm
a professional
actor and singer who has
performed in dozens of plays, musicals and operas in and around Saskatchewan.
I'm married to Margaret Anne Hodges, a
telecommunications engineer. We have one daughter, Alice.
Kathryn
was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when, as a very
young child, she'd watched helplessly as the alien S'sinn slaughtered her
parents before her very eyes. Only the Translators, an elite guild of
empaths, had been able to free her from the trauma and give her a new
life.
Jarrikk was a young S'sinn, an unproven warrior
who'd seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who'd sought to
colonize his world. Crippled so that he could never fly again, he would
have chosen death, but he wasn't allowed the choice. Instead he, too, was
trained to be a Translator. And as humans and S'sinn found themselves
poised on the brink of a war that could not only destroy their own species
but could disrupt the delicate balance of the multiracial Commonwealth,
these two Translators--who had every reason to hate one another--had to
work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether
their Translators' oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued
against them was very much in doubt...
Praise
fromRobert J. Sawyer,
Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author...
"This book has it all: great aliens,
brilliant world-building, a breakneck plot, and a message that resonates with
our times. Edward Willett has arrived, and SF is the richer for it."
"In Ed Willett’s universe, greed and intrigue
aren’t unique to humankind, and humans and S’sinn aliens are the stuff of each
others’ nightmares. One human and one S’sinn, called to translate a treaty that
no one seems to want, are compelled to try and find a way out of the rapidly
closing trap of treachery and hatred. Lost in Translation is a believable,
absorbing, thought-provoking and highly enjoyable read."
...from
Dave Duncan,
author of the
Seventh Sword
series, the
King's Blades
series and more...
"To call a Science Fiction
tale 'Old Fashioned' is neither an insult nor an oxymoron. Willett has
created an interstellar adventure story worthy of Golden Age masters
like Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein. The pace is fast, the
invention rich, and the plot twirls and twists like an Aldebaranian
Woggle Dancer. Willett even pulls off that trickiest of SF finesses, the
alien species that does not think like humankind and yet makes enough
sense to capture our interest and sympathy. If you hanker after a
journey to distant worlds and a visit to the Galactic Commonwealth, then
reach for Lost in Translation."
"...for most readers (Edward
Willett) will appear as a new author. And a very fine discovery he
is!...Willett surprised me by writing a ‘first novel’ that was able to
both tap into my nostalgia for the hard SF of my youth, and to provide a
completely contemporary adult novel. The fast paced action kept me
turning pages long after I should have been abed, and the anti-racist,
anti-war message seemed particularly timely for the Bush
administration’s War on Terror...Willett has long deserved the mass
market distribution he is finally receiving, and Lost in Translation is
far better space opera than the right-wing militaristic offerings of
established writers like David Weber and Steve White. Suddenly, it's
worth looking in the ‘W’s again!"
"Few SF
authors are able to design convincing aliens that act in an alien fashion.
Regina author Edward Willett makes full use of his considerable science
knowledge to create aliens that seem natural...Strong characters and well
designed aliens serve to make his first adult novel a success. The S'sinn
of Lost in Translation are believable and comprehensible, while providing
a welcome change from humans in monster suits. The characters are focussed
and believable, the setting is colourful and the action is interesting."
"Science Fiction, with telepaths, cool looking cat
creatures and the brink of war. How cool is that?...
"This one snuck up on me. I grabbed it because it looked like a fairly
straight forward space yarn. The surprise came with a skillful
observation of the possible effects of telepathy. If you can read a mind
and that mind can read yours, you know everything they know. Everything
they have done and why they did it. With no secrets to hide what’s left?
Hatred or love. This story reveals that in the two telepaths from
different planets fight to save their own planets from interstellar war.
The book ended all too quickly for me. By the time I reached the end I
wanted more."
"LOST IN
TRANSLATION by Edward Willett is definitely a book science fiction purists
will savor. Intrigue, the threat of interstellar war, and action all combine
to make this tale a suspenseful and pleasant experience to those who enjoy
intelligent writing and crafty storytelling...Each character in LOST IN
TRANSLATION has his own ulterior motives, and it's hard to keep track of
who's good and who's bad, which adds to the intrigue. Having never read this
author before, I look forward to reading a few of Edward Willett's previous
titles, hoping that they will be of the same caliber as LOST IN
TRANSLATION." -- Courtney Michelle
"Much more
pleasing is Edward Willett's Lost in Translation, not to be confused with
the film of the same name starring Bill Murray. In this book humans and a
race of gorgeous little flying creatures called S'sinn despise each other
with a passion equal to the heat of a thousand suns. A misunderstanding
escalated into a war, then into a Hatfields-McCoys mindset that clouds
both species minds with hatred and prevents any kind of reconciliation.
The governing council, seeing that this state of affairs will never do,
decides to intervene and get to the bottom of the grudge match once and
for all, and for that, they need translators: the two who are chosen must
work against their own prejudices to come up with a solution for the
future of both species, but it's not going to be easy, as their back
stories indicate. There are shades of Bradbury here in the style, which I
personally find pleasing, and I'm also keen on the S'sinn because it's
hard to create an alien race that isn't 'been there done that.'
Recommended for adult summer reading, as this is the kind of book you want
to take out to the hammock and savor, while the sun still shines."
"The plot twists and
turns through personal intrigues, political intrigues, spatiopolitical
intrigues...All in all, a good entertaining read with substance to
it....You've really got to hand it to an author who can make you rather
like a creature with tentacles around his beaked face who engages in
Realpolitik."
"It's a
well-written book that surprised me in a number of ways. Willett does a
wonderful job of bringing his characters alive for the reader, getting you
interested in them, and having them do amazing things for all the right
reasons.
"When I first bought the book, I did it for the cover. I was a little
worried by it's seemingly small size (compared to most books on the
shelves these days) and that I would not get good value for my money. Boy
was I wrong. It felt just the right size. I rather strongly recommend it."
Amarynth is a spirit
singer, gifted--or cursed, as she sometimes thinks--with the ability
to lead the spirits of the dead from the Lower World through the
Between World to the Gate of the Upper World and the Light that lies
beyond it.
While she is still an
apprentice her grandfather and tutor dies, slain by a mysterious
creature in the Between World that is blocking access to the Upper
World's Gate. Without a spirit singer her village cannot survive, so
Amarynth embarks on a hazardous quest to find out what the creature
is, how it can be defeated, and how she can become a full-fledged
spirit singer -- a quest that takes her not only from her tiny
seacoast home to the soaring mountains of the south, but across the
even more rugged terrain of her own soul.
"...deserved the Saskatchewan Book Award it won. Aimed for the early to
mid-teen group, Spirit Singer is a strong, well-written book with great
adventure and sympathetic characters. Willett's book has fast-paced adventure,
sword-play, ghostly help, kidnappings, automatons who serve pure evil, royalty
and brave commoners...Spirit Singer holds more than just solid characters
and an exciting plot. It is about deception, both external and internal, in the
eternal search for love and acceptance. It is about the need to accept oneself
to be able to move forward and achieve great things and the need to be wise and
discerning about others." -
Lynn (J.R.) Wytenbroek
"This is a fast-paced, spiritual quest book, full of narrow escapes,
evil masquerading as good, good appearing in nasty people (just like in
real life!), adventure, dreams and bits of wisdom. The writing is spare
and the words well-chosen, so that complex characters and interesting
places emerge full-blown in the reader's mind, and the plot moves apace. I
felt always in the story, and not a mere spectator/reader. Written for
teenagers, but this 50-something guy had a great time." - David
Waltner-Toews
"Clearly defined characters, setting & plot carry a reader eagerly
from page to page through adventure-filled chapters that deftly conclude
with cliff-hangers...The plot is fast-paced and clever, the writing never
disappoints and the author clearly keeps his target audience in mind. A
great read from start to finish." -
Shirlee Matheson
"...a fun novel with engaging characters and having all the basic
elements of a good fantasy...young readers would likely get much more out
of this book in terms of good succinct plotting and writing than they'd
ever be likely to from the droves of role-playing game tie-ins and fat
fantasy trilogies." - Georges T. Dodds
"This book takes the reader on a magical journey to a mystical land, and
all within a hundred pages...It is a quick, but very satisfying read; I spent
any free time I had reading over the two days it took me to read the story. I
recommend this book for anyone that is in the mood for an adventure...Spirit
Singer definitely does not disappoint." - Amy Mehta
"Spirit Singer is a magical, mystical journey...very
satisfying. The talented Mr. Willett has given us a well-written fantasy that
you won’t want to put down. I highly recommend Spirit Singer to young and old
alike." - Carol Durfee, Senior Editor
"...a story that the teen-agers certainly will like. But not only them.
The tale possess a rich symbology that doesn't slows down the pace, but instead
add greater depth to it and will enthrall the more mature readers...In short, a
story enjoyable by readers from 13 to 100 years...It will resonate with deep
impact in your soul." -- Gianfranco Cazzaro
After a
lifetime of sleeping in alleys and flop houses, Kit's musical talent is
discovered, and he is remade into Andy Nebula.
Well-fed, content with a warm bed
and contract, Andy begins to wonder why every previous "Sensation
Single" star was a flash-in-the-pan. Little does he know that the
answer lies with the off-world Hydras and their taste for music and
flash, a drug forbidden to humans. And that he is their next fix.
Cover art by
Mico
Praise
from Quill & Quire...
"The
action in Andy Nebula moves
along at a cracking pace and the characters are well-drawn...Andy Nebula
is fast and furious enough to keep even reluctant readers turning the pages, and
young teen fans of fantasy and science fiction will not be disappointed." -
John Wilson, Quill & Quire, July, 1999, p. 49
...SF
Site...
"...
gritty and clever...Willett tells a fast-moving tale that has plenty of colour.
He wastes few words and presents some good characterizations...All in all, a
worthy addition to a young reader's shelf of SF books." -
A. L. Sirois, SF Site, April, 2000. Read
the complete review.
...NCF
Guide to Canadian Science Fiction and Fandom...
"It's the combination
of the familiar with the speculative that lifts Andy Nebula above the
crowd...From page one we know we are in another time and place thanks to
Willett's deft and never-faltering use of a convincing invented slang....
There's a whole lot of story packed into the 166 pages of this trade
paperback...Get one copy for yourself, and another for a young person." - Donna
Farley, NCF Guide to Canadian
Science Fiction and Fandom, June, 2000.
Read
the complete review.
...the
Regina Sun...
"Willett
writes in a humourous and flamboyant style not unlike an old-style detective
novel...The novel is fast and exciting with lots of action. It also
involves broader themes like differentiating between the authentic and the
contrived, values and measuring success, drug addiction and tolerance between
species...The writing is trim and humourous but far from vacuous. This
book is fun to read. Kids will like it, too." - Jocolyn
Caton, The Regina Sun, November 21, 1999, p. 15
...Jelena,
a young reader in Manitoba...
"Andy Nebula:
Interstellar Rock Star is a very good science fiction book."
...and
Jonathan, another young Manitoba reader!
"The book is like Star
Wars plus drug dealers plus rock stars all joined into one book. If
you like to read about that stuff then you will love this book...This is
a cool book so check it out!"
Young
Nels left his fishing village for a life of adventure as a musician,
travelling with a theatrical troupe across the fabled Heartland. But
life on the road isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Nels gets more
adventure than he bargained for when he becomes the unwilling posessor
of the Dark Unicorn, a tiny black carving. Unbeknownst to Nels, the Dark
Unicorn holds immense power. It is key to the survival of the Heartland,
threatened by the deterioration of the great Wall of magic that shields
it from the Blood Empire. With the Unicorn in his posession, Nels
becomes the the focus for terrifying, bewildering events. On the run
from agents of both the Heartland and its enemies, he falls in with
streetwise Dart, the only person he feels he can trust. Together they
must decide what to do with the Unicorn. The fate of their world rests
in their hands.
Praise
from the 1999 Saskatchewan Book Award judges...
"...captivates
the interest of the reader from the beginning...the action moves quickly,
holding your interest until the end...A good addition to this genre for the
intermediate reader."
For years she
has waited in vain for her powers to manifest themselves. Now a
twist of fate has cast her into a doomed parallel world: Earth.
It's up to her to save humankind from an ancient evil perfectly suited
to aid humans in their self-destruction. Will she find her talents
in time to defeat the Soulworm?
Praise
from the 1997 Saskatchewan Book Award judges...
"A wonderfully
entertaining, imaginative, and well-crafted book for young adults...This
book is well-paced and controlled and never becomes moralistic... A
great read!... Highly recommended."
...the Regina Sun...
"This is a complicated bit of
writing. The characters are involved in a variety of strong
relationships which help create the drama...in
this story, Weyburn is not a quiet, little city. The writing
is fast-paced and readers will be amazed at just how wild Weyburn gets."- Jocolyn
Caton, The Regina Sun, March 8, 1998. Read
the complete review
