Empire of Bones

ISBN: 0-553-58377-8 Order from: Amazon.com

An exciting novel of science fiction and politics, this novel features a captivating heroine, but somewhat less well defined adversaries and aliens.

Reviewed by David on August 10, 2003

Genre: Science Fiction (Biology, Aliens, Epidemic, Politics)

Synopsis: Jaya Nihalani is one of the untouchables, a low-caste young woman in India where poverty and epidemics reinvigorated the caste system. Pushed by tragic circumstances of poverty and oppression into a conflict with the authorities, Jaya becomes an unwilling hero of the resistance, leading a rag-tag band of fugitives and rebels.

After her band is almost entirely destroyed, and Jaya herself is incapacitated with a chronic illness, the dying woman finds a new reason to live when her delerious dreams hint of the very real visit by advanced aliens.

From a deadly political struggle in India, to a puzzling and portentious information from the aliens, Jaya and her friends struggle to comprehend and survive the changes in their environment.

Full Review: Liz Williams seem to become more assured and deft with every new book. This one is a pleasure to read, largely because of the fascinating heroine, Jaya: a flawed but capable woman, assailed both by doubts and a driving sense of justice. The rest of the plot is entertaining, but pales in comparison to Jaya's viewpoint. The frequent switches to the aliens seem pale in comparison. In particular, while interesting, the alien culture seems strangely limited: while enormously advanced, the members (boths good guys and bad ones) are fooled by simple ruses.

In all, despite weaknesses in science, this is an entertaining, suspensful novel, with colorful characters and an excellent heroine.

Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 5; Originality: 6;

ISBN: 0-553-58377-8 Order from: Amazon.com