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Wilding by C.S. Friedman check out website: www.dawbooks.com
Although the Azeans came some two hundred years before, within
sight of victory the psychics had proved a fearsome double-edged sword and are
now hunted by both powers who fear them and wish to eradicate them. The half-fabled
psychics though have proved difficult to locate and raid human space for supplies
and people. One of the story's protagonists, Zara, from the Azean Empire had her twin sister mysteriously stolen soon after they were born. The other protagonist, Tathas, is a warrior chieftain from a clan subordinated to the Braxana tribe who rule the planet of Braxi and its territories. He is dissatisfied with their rule and plots insurrection but is caught and convicted of treason.
He
is, however, granted an alternative to death which is exile which will be terminated
if he returns with one of the psychic's for breeding purposes. This forced quest
is know as Wilding, hence the title. Zara also leaves her homeworld in search
of her long missing sister, whom she suspects was kidnapped by the psychics. Gradually,
their paths coincide as they set out to locate the psychics' world. Through
their journeys, we see other aspects of the vast canvas C.S. Friedman has created
- his world where the action takes place. Other forces attempt to manipulate the
pair for their own ends and there are various false leads and strange events until
finally all is revealed. This was an enjoyable read. It is part mystery
and part adventure story. The author skilfully crafts very different and mutually
hostile societies. The Azean Empire is rather like a modern fascist state whereas
Braxi is a renaissance one with swaggering nobles competing with each other and
trying to gain influence with their ruler, who is young and only the third of
a new dynasty that rules the Braxi dominions. There are also the more anarchic
groupings that operate in the no-mans-land between the competing super-powers
as well as the psychics themselves. It is a rich backdrop to the story. I
think if you like large scale space opera you will enjoy this book. As well as
there being plenty of action and personal combat rather than space ship to space
ship, it does have a definite story with plenty of interesting byways the author
will no doubt further explore in follow up books. Paul Hanley
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OTHER REVIEWS - August 2004
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This is a story set against the background of a universe-wide
war between the Azean Empire and Braxi. The two sides have fought for centuries
and appear so evenly balanced it seems the war will go on forever. The Braxi have
created a ruthless warrior race whilst the Azeans had relied on perfecting the
human genome and unleashing the psychic potential of the human mind against their
enemies. 
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