COALESCENT is the first of a trilogy of novels that does nothing less than tell the story of mankind's possible evolutions and our role in the Universe.
Coalescent charts a radical divergence in our evolution; the development of a human hive entity. It is a divergence that has its roots in the dying days of the Roman Empire. The story is told through twin narratives; one takes us through the falling apart of the Roman control of Britain as seen by one girl, the other covers a man's search for a lost sister. A sister who may be living as part of an ancient and secretive order in Rome.
Through these diverse personal stories Stephen Baxter charts a story that has terrifying consequences for what we thought was our place in the world, our perceived natural ascendency in the order of things.
Things are going to be very different now . . .
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
In modern England, George Poole learns in mid-life that he once had a twin sister, given as an infant to The Puissant Order of Holy Mary Queen of Virgins. The what? Poole tracks down what seems a perfectly respectable Rome-based organisation, not all that religious but with hints of underlying strangeness. Yet apparently they're not strangers. "They're family."
Sixteen centuries before, the Roman-British girl Regina lives through the final, painful passing of Roman law and order in a Britain increasingly ravaged by Saxon invasion. It's a grimly moving historical story, which even links to the legend of Arthur.
Hardened by much brutal experience, Regina is determined to protect her bloodline and her household gods through the Dark Ages, until this temporary disturbance is over. By luck, cunning and sheer ruthlessness she reaches sanctuary in Rome, where she founds an enclave that will survive into the modern era and beyond. Instinctively, Regina lays down rules that will fundamentally change "human nature" as the centuries slip by:
Ignorance is strength. Listen to your sisters. Sisters matter more than laughters.
A third narrative strand follows Lucia, a girl of the modern-day Order who sees these slogans on every wall, lives underground in the artificial light of the "Crypt" and is always surrounded by many sisters. No room is ever empty. When Lucia finds herself physically changing and becoming different from her workmates, the resulting upheaval has ripples that affect Poole, his own rediscovered sister and the world.
The lifestyle of the Order is a new quirk in mankind's evolution, alternately seductive and shocking. Baxter switches effectively between harrowing historical narrative and the slow revelation of a threat whose understated chill is reminiscent of John Wyndham's quieter menaces. Coalescent is a strong, standalone novel that opens a new SF sequence titled "Destiny's Children". --David Langford
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Same day/next day dispatch (Monday-Friday). Seller Inventory # mar0000020682
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. First edition first printing ex-lib hardback book, with typical lean, binding firm. Boards bumped at corners but clean, title gilt perfect. Text block clean, with expected toning and marking to edges. Feels read. Bump to head and foot of spine. Tape pulls to pastedowns, usual stamps and pen notation to FEP, and V cut barcode to top edge. Library stamp and small stock plate on copyright page. Jacket some very minor creasing, . For grading accuracy books are photographed without a protective book cover. This book is fitted with a non adhesive archival quality book protector to make a quality addition to your collection. Note we do not use stock images, the book pictured is the book described. A solid ex library reader copy of this title. Seller Inventory # 002807
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. Signed by the author (no inscription) on the title page. First edition. First volume of the "Destiny's Children" trilogy. No remainder mark, not price-clipped, not bumped. Like many British editions, the pages are a bit toned, otherwise a fine copy. Comes in a Brodart protective cover. All books are bubble-wrapped and placed in a sturdy shipping box when mailed. Tracking number supplied on domestic orders. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 001746
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Signed by Stephen Baxter on title page - signature only. British Edition First Edition, First Printing. Light toning to pages Book is in Fine condition. Boards are clean, not bumped. Not remaindered. Dust Jacket is in Fine condition. Not chipped or crinkled. Not price clipped. Book is covered by Mylar Brodart. All-ways well boxed, All-ways fast service. Thanks. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 045101
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First printing of the first British edition. Signed by Stephen Baxter directly on title page. Light toning to page margins, else book and dust jacket in fine condition. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 021334
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Coalescent by Stephen Baxter (First Edition) Signed Sharp bright tight copy. Sharp, bright jacket. Not price-clipped. First edition. Destiny's Children Book One. Signed by the Author on the title page. BOOK. Seller Inventory # HCX20603-1
Book Description Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 1.85. Seller Inventory # 057507423X-2-3