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The Secret World Chronicle #4
World Divided
The stories of the metahuman struggle against the Thulian menace continue in the fourth installment of The Secret World Chronicle, World Divided. Echo and CCCP face the reality that is Blacksnake as lines are drawn and sides are chosen. Some heroes fall while others emerge from the ashes, and an opportunist arrives to take advantage of grief and mayhem in the wake of a devastating loss. Famed fantasy and sci-fi author Mercedes Lackey and returning authors Dennis Lee and Cody Martin are joined by artist and fantasy author Larry Dixon and voice talent/author Veronica Giguere as they continue this podcast in the braided novel tradition. Cover art done by Adam Mancilla.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives 3.0 United States License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives 3.0 United States License.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,537 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 23, 2019
Very nice superhero prose story. Interesting plot that has some nice twists and turns. Very recommended
March 20, 2016
In her own way, Seraphym shows a future to one person to shift the future of others. Seraphym has put Verdegre into action. Verdegre knows he's on the Tholian's list and what they will do to him. He now works to purchase Black Snake to get ECHO, as they are the only ones that can stop the Tholian's. John Murdock is sent to bring back electric parts, and he finds the Thulian's, Nazi's, are attacking and showing up in many places.
ECHO is really not doing well. It feels like it's falling apart. Meta's are not surviving well. A CEO was thrown in charge with what's happened to the world, which is why Tesla isn't acting like the general who should be in the chair. Then there's the Ide's of March... The prophesies. It's what has Tesla shacking in his chair behind his big desk. It's like a suicide note for ECHO.
I love the early episode, the one with Romona and Bella. This takes things in a different direction, really pulls things together and how people are working with what they know, preparing. And sharing those important tidbits with others. Things then start to turn with what we see and learn with Bella and Vicky.
Vicky...she's different, and has become one of my favorite charaters for it. Her magic is so neat to see. We even learn a bit of her history too. Oh do we learn about her with the help of Red Genie. And in the same token, we learn a bit about Red Genie too. This is where he starts to become more for me and the potential he has to help others. Bella is stepping up to a position that she never thought she'd do, but Bella is crafty enough to do it. I still enjoy John Murdock and the mystery surrounding him. I'm looking forward to what he has to bring to the events. And the Seraphym. Oh the Seraphym. She has a way to send people on a path without telling to act that way. She's not to interfer but she does give supportive talk when someone she needs to follow what they are thinking of doing, that it's the right thing to help.
Each Meta makes a bang of an entrance at the beginning. The world feels as it's trying to pull back together, but the Nazi's are not done with attacking and as our Meta's return to the pages, they all enter with individual flare.
The different Meta organizations, CCCP, Blacksnake, and ECHO, might be coming together to help fight against one common foe, whether they want to or not. But there are those that have their own agendas in mind as well.
The building to the climax is crafted in a way for us to get to know the characters more personally, and make us anticipate the moment it all explodes, or implodes. However the ending didn't feel as huge as I had thought it would. But, we've got a lot to deal with at ECHO in the next podcasted book. I'm diving into the next story as I want to know what comes to pass with ECHO and Verdegris.
We get to see the Thulians up close, face to face. Neat to see them without all there armor.
As for listening to this story. I can't be more amazed with Veronica's vocal accomplishments. There are so many different characters and voices that she does having all distinctly different. The characters have different accents, tones, speaking patterns, and so much more. Veronica does all this. I've even forgotten she's the only voice here with the magnitude of her voice command. Each character is distinct and easy to differentiate. Veronica is a woman of many voices.
ECHO is really not doing well. It feels like it's falling apart. Meta's are not surviving well. A CEO was thrown in charge with what's happened to the world, which is why Tesla isn't acting like the general who should be in the chair. Then there's the Ide's of March... The prophesies. It's what has Tesla shacking in his chair behind his big desk. It's like a suicide note for ECHO.
I love the early episode, the one with Romona and Bella. This takes things in a different direction, really pulls things together and how people are working with what they know, preparing. And sharing those important tidbits with others. Things then start to turn with what we see and learn with Bella and Vicky.
Vicky...she's different, and has become one of my favorite charaters for it. Her magic is so neat to see. We even learn a bit of her history too. Oh do we learn about her with the help of Red Genie. And in the same token, we learn a bit about Red Genie too. This is where he starts to become more for me and the potential he has to help others. Bella is stepping up to a position that she never thought she'd do, but Bella is crafty enough to do it. I still enjoy John Murdock and the mystery surrounding him. I'm looking forward to what he has to bring to the events. And the Seraphym. Oh the Seraphym. She has a way to send people on a path without telling to act that way. She's not to interfer but she does give supportive talk when someone she needs to follow what they are thinking of doing, that it's the right thing to help.
Each Meta makes a bang of an entrance at the beginning. The world feels as it's trying to pull back together, but the Nazi's are not done with attacking and as our Meta's return to the pages, they all enter with individual flare.
The different Meta organizations, CCCP, Blacksnake, and ECHO, might be coming together to help fight against one common foe, whether they want to or not. But there are those that have their own agendas in mind as well.
The building to the climax is crafted in a way for us to get to know the characters more personally, and make us anticipate the moment it all explodes, or implodes. However the ending didn't feel as huge as I had thought it would. But, we've got a lot to deal with at ECHO in the next podcasted book. I'm diving into the next story as I want to know what comes to pass with ECHO and Verdegris.
We get to see the Thulians up close, face to face. Neat to see them without all there armor.
As for listening to this story. I can't be more amazed with Veronica's vocal accomplishments. There are so many different characters and voices that she does having all distinctly different. The characters have different accents, tones, speaking patterns, and so much more. Veronica does all this. I've even forgotten she's the only voice here with the magnitude of her voice command. Each character is distinct and easy to differentiate. Veronica is a woman of many voices.
November 30, 2011
The most recent of the books in this series, this novel outlines the gradual resolution of key ingredients still unknown through the earlier books. None of these revelations comes easy, sacrificing good characters to both deceit and death. Even when promises of answers seem at the immediate beckon, the story line shifts and the readers is left with unresolved tension and a desire for more. Like its predecessors, this book leaves the reader wanting more and anticipating an as of yet unfinished next story.
Merged review:
The fourth installment in this very solid science fiction series. New characters are further and farther between in this newer book, although they remain fascinating to encounter as Lackey invents new possible traits that make them heroes. The book follows the growing divides between the many factions that exist at this point in the story, although hinting at those where resolution is inevitable and making clear that some will likely never be acheived. Key characters continue to die in acts of sacrifice, narrowing the cast of key characters to a handful of figures.
Merged review:
The fourth installment in this very solid science fiction series. New characters are further and farther between in this newer book, although they remain fascinating to encounter as Lackey invents new possible traits that make them heroes. The book follows the growing divides between the many factions that exist at this point in the story, although hinting at those where resolution is inevitable and making clear that some will likely never be acheived. Key characters continue to die in acts of sacrifice, narrowing the cast of key characters to a handful of figures.
February 21, 2012
Nice continuation of the first, but at the same time, threads seem left dangling and totally unresolved. After a brief appearance, one character, prominent in the first, is never heard from again, for instance. Others were similarly dropped entirely. Still, a good story, and I look forward to the next.
August 17, 2012
I loved this book! The series is getting super cluttered with characters at this point (in my opinion), and stuff doesn't happen fast enough but damn, these books are fun. I'm excited to read more when they come out and see how John Murdock, The Seraphym, Red Djinni and all the other characters deal with the Space Nazis.
Yes, I just said Space Nazis.
Yes, I just said Space Nazis.
July 5, 2011
Argh! I can't wait for the next book in this series!
January 3, 2013
if you love mercedes, read this.,
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews