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Title details for Relic by Alan Dean Foster - Available

Relic

by Alan Dean Foster
ebook
1 of 2 copies available
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1 of 2 copies available
The last known human searches the galaxy for companionship in a brilliant standalone novel from the legendary author of the Pip & Flinx series.
“A provocative read.”—The Washington Post
Once Homo sapiens reigned supreme, spreading from star system to star system in an empire that encountered no alien life and thus knew no enemy . . . save itself. As had happened many times before, the basest, most primal human instincts rose up, only this time armed with the advanced scientific knowledge to create a genetically engineered smart virus that quickly wiped out humanity to the last man.
That man is Ruslan, the sole known surviving human being in the universe. Rescued from the charnel house of his home planet by the Myssari—an intelligent alien race—Ruslan spends his days as something of a cross between a research subject and a zoo attraction. Though the Myssari are determined to resurrect the human race, using Ruslan’s genetic material, all he wants for himself and his species is oblivion. But then the Myssari make Ruslan an extraordinary offer: In exchange for his cooperation, they will do everything in their considerable power to find the lost home world of his species—an all-but-mythical place called Earth—and, perhaps, another living human.
Thus begins an epic journey of adventure, danger, heartbreak, and hope, as Ruslan sets out in search of a place that may no longer exist—drawn by the slimmest yet most enduring hope.
Praise for Relic
“Relic is a thrilling and thoughtful epic. With Alan Dean Foster’s trademark invention in both the psychology and physiology of his aliens, he also enriches the narrative with their complex cultures. The plot spans galaxies!”—Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Greg Bear
“The stunning plot of Foster’s stand-alone novel will intrigue readers for not only the ‘last man in the universe’ trope but also the well-developed alien species. A true first contact novel on many different levels.”—Library Journal
“Foster’s sympathetic novel successfully surveys human frailty, the tendency not to learn from history, and an enduring capacity for adaptation and emotional attachment.”—Publishers Weekly
“Foster’s high-concept novel is a gripping tale of serenity amid sorrow.”—World Magazine 

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 14, 2018

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781101967645

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781101967645
      • File size: 1271 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 16, 2018
      Foster (Strange Music) tenderly explores humans’ need for companionship, home, and control of their own destinies in this gentle evaluation of people at their best and worst. Over 10,000 years, humans colonized their remote corner of the galaxy. Then hubris and foolishness lead to the species’ near extermination by a biological weapon. Immune, elderly survivor Ruslan was rescued from planet Seraboth by the three-legged Myssari, who are thrilled to study the last known human specimen. Although the Myssari are compassionate, lonely Ruslan yearns for others of his kind, but he also puts off consenting to his hosts’ cloning program, which could revive the species. To encourage Ruslan’s compliance, the Myssari search for more humans and the location of the ancient human home world called Earth. When two human children are discovered on a planet now claimed by the more aggressive, multijointed Vrizans, bargains and threats ensue. Despite a few missed opportunities for heightened drama, Foster’s sympathetic novel successfully surveys human frailty, the tendency not to learn from history, and an enduring capacity for adaptation and emotional attachment. Agent: Vaughne Lee Hansen, Virginia Kidd Agency.

    • Library Journal

      July 1, 2018

      What happens when you are the last of your species? For Ruslan, the last human being, it means that nothing matters except the end. A virulent, man-made plague wiped out the rest of humanity, and while Ruslan was saved by the alien Myssari, his existence as a novelty wears thin. The Myssari are determined to restart the human race using Ruslan's own genetic material, and they also promise a special gift: if Ruslan agrees to cooperate with them, they will use all of their intelligence and skill to find his world of origin, the planet Earth. If that planet still exists, there may still be another living human. In a race against time and disbelief, Ruslan takes a journey unlike any he has ever faced, testing his courage and the strength of that small glimmer of hope. VERDICT The stunning plot of Foster's (Strange Music) stand-alone novel will intrigue readers for not only the "last man in the universe" trope but also the well-developed alien species. A true first contact novel on many different levels.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

      Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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