Jack The Bodiless (Galactic Milieu Trilogy, Vol 1)

From Publishers Weekly May's newest series, following from her two Intervention titles, begins by combining galactic-scale intrigue with the smaller but no less turbulent affairs of the powerful Remillard family. In the mid-21st century, earth's humanity, led by the mentally gifted Remillards, is awaiting acceptance into the vast Galactic Milieu, a political and telepathic alliance of alien races. But some beings on earth, even some among the Remillard clan, are wary of the aliens. At this delicate juncture, Teresa, wife of clan leader Paul Remillard, conceives a child who promises to be the most powerful mental talent ever, but whose genetic defects condemn him to death under Milieu law. Meanwhile, a demonic force calling itself Fury has begun to kill off Remillards and others with "metapsychic" powers, creating a chaos that threatens to delay humanity's admission to the Milieu. The plot is engaging and May's prose adequate to it, but the story is marred by its unbroken focus on elites, with no attention paid to ordinary people, and by its aliens, who seem too much like humans. Literary Guild's Science Fiction Book Club selection. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal As a consortium of five alien races stands ready to accept Earth as a full partner in the Galactic Milieu, the birth of a very special child heralds a new stage in human evolution. As in Intervention and "The Saga of Pliocene Exile" series, May combines a compelling vision of humanity's future with the drama and political intrigue surrounding the Remillard family, whose metapsychic powers and personal ambitions shape the destiny of the world. Familiarity with the earlier books is helpful in unraveling the complex relationships in this ambitious trilogy opener; nevertheless, the author's imagination and careful choreography make this title a necessary purchase for most sf collections. Highly recommended. Science Fiction Book Club main selection.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews First of a new trilogy, from the author of the four-part Saga of Pliocene Exile and the Intervention sequels, featuring the Galactic Milieu, an association of psychically gifted (``operant'') races with which humanity is rapidly being merged. The Remillard family saga continues, as the death of the evil Vic somehow generates two evil successors--the mysterious Fury and the five-part Hydra; Fury is intent on destroying humanity's strengthening links with the Milieu, while the psycho-vampire Hydra, controlled by Fury, goes round draining its victims of life- force. Meanwhile, in defiance of Milieu-imposed eugenics laws, Teresa decides to bear another child; she's helped by her son, young super-operant Marc, and old uncle Rogi (he's instructed and aided by a super-powerful disembodied alien Lylmik). The baby, Jack, turns out to be a super-duper operant but a genetic wreck, and must psychically save himself from death by cancer; Marc is tempted by Fury's megalomaniac notions; Hydra (five Remillard youngsters) is unmasked but escapes; we never find out who Fury is. Okay for series fans, with well-handled operant ideas and an abundance of Remillards; but overlong, patchy, and frustratingly inconclusive for everyone else. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Read more