Helpful Score: 1
This hybrid science fiction and fantasy tale paints a world in chaos. Witch chases Obasio who is claimed by a Delphic Oracle's prophecy to be able to find a "guidance system" that can take them to the moon, away from the gang-infested cities and burbs. This half-wild, half-rural land is inhabited by mythical beasts. A fully realized world with interesting observations about human nature.
Familiar themes of alien entities that come to save the Earth, a mix of fantasy, post-apocalypse, and SF elements nicely woven together. Abasio and Olly are the tragic lovers. I liked how Tepper cut away from Olly's POV at the end, only to bring it back for Abasio. I'm still not sure what the Guardian Angel was, or how it came to be - it seemed to me that Seoca's plan had to incorporate a lot of details that could have gone wrong. But an interesting story and more familiar imagery than in earlier Tepper works.
