ESCAPE TIME!  with KC Heath

GRAVITY DREAMS
L.E. Modesitt Jr
TOR 1999
Pb 468 pages
ISBN # 0-812-56661-0

 

In Earth's distant future, society is divided.  Dramatically.  The Rykashans, those who foster the advancement and use of nanotechnology, have reached for the stars.  The rest of the world -- "mites," the Rykashans call them, which means termites -- shelter their people from Rykashan "demons" who, history says, bring devastation in their wake.

Tyndel is a teacher of Dzin, a Dorchan philosophy which "restricts the amount of knowledge and change allowed into society."  He believes these rules give life meaning until his peaceful life is ripped from him by an angry truffler who tires of Tyndel's influence on his son.  This truffler shoots Tyndel with an old nanovirus, turning Tyndel into the enemy.  The townsfolk try to kill the "demon," succeeding only in murdering Tyndel's wife.  Using new and unusual strength gained from the nanites, Tyndel sprints for the border.  The Rykashan Authority and the superior abilities of its people overwhelms Tyndel, numbing him for years until he finally adjusts, finding new meaning and purpose to his life.

The Rykashan's have their problems, too.  There's something out there in overspace that's stealing their Needle Ships... something intelligent.  Tyndel has a rare talent the Rykashan's can use, the capability to be a Needle Jockey.  But he is a difficult student, for society and life are very complicated and Dzin master that he is, Tyndel's primary focus is on divining life's meaning.

Gravity Dreams is for the reader who relishes heady discussions on "truth" and how societies should function.  The nanite technology is well rendered and intriguing.  And just what does that title mean?  Ah -- that's a page turner.  Modesitt puts it this way: "For millennia people have been pursuing the dream of conquering gravity."  (Hint: think on that Rykashan problem.)  I enjoyed the book because it remained in one viewpoint, and though I'd never read Modesitt before I think I wouldn't mind tasting one of his books again.