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Heirs to the Throne #1
Howl of the Wolf
Drako is a planet on the fringe of civilized space. It proves suitable for colonization, but a society of telepathic wolves already occupies the world. When a colony ship lands on Drako, the wolves try to communicate but find no intelligent creatures to speak with them. The wolves watch as colonists develop Drako into a recreation planet for wealthy tourists. Settlers became feudal lords, desert sheiks, oriental samurai, and ordinary peasants depending on their level of investment. After several generations the monarchy revolted against technology and closed Drako to offworld visitors. Distaste for technology mutated into superstitious hatred. Anyone caught with spacer tools or weapons could be executed.
In civilized space scientists invented Transfer, a means to insure immortality by moving a human mind into a clone—free of hereditary defects. Every fifty years (a span) an individual qualified for Transfer but the tradeoff was large debt to the Institute. Governments toppled and war left the Institute in total control. Individuals were virtual slaves to Institute rules, but the inventors of Transfer became a threat.
When the medical spaceship Zebulon flees from an Institute death sentence, they don’t know an assassin infiltrated the crew. They picked the remote planet of Drako for their exile. They encounter a dying king and hereditary lords who hate spacers. When the king proclaims the Zebulon’s captain his heir, Donovan must compete for the crown to protect his crew. Faced with superstitions, hatred, and eminent danger, the crew must adapt to a feudal society without using modern tools or weapons. Fortunately the Transfer process enhanced the natural talents of each person and might give them an advantage. The wolves make telepathic contact and decide to protect Donovan’s pack from the assassin who is determined to kill their doctor and captain.
In civilized space scientists invented Transfer, a means to insure immortality by moving a human mind into a clone—free of hereditary defects. Every fifty years (a span) an individual qualified for Transfer but the tradeoff was large debt to the Institute. Governments toppled and war left the Institute in total control. Individuals were virtual slaves to Institute rules, but the inventors of Transfer became a threat.
When the medical spaceship Zebulon flees from an Institute death sentence, they don’t know an assassin infiltrated the crew. They picked the remote planet of Drako for their exile. They encounter a dying king and hereditary lords who hate spacers. When the king proclaims the Zebulon’s captain his heir, Donovan must compete for the crown to protect his crew. Faced with superstitions, hatred, and eminent danger, the crew must adapt to a feudal society without using modern tools or weapons. Fortunately the Transfer process enhanced the natural talents of each person and might give them an advantage. The wolves make telepathic contact and decide to protect Donovan’s pack from the assassin who is determined to kill their doctor and captain.
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First published September 23, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 2, 2012
I was a bit dubious as I began reading Howl of the Wolf. I don't read a lot of recent science fiction or fantasy, and I was having trouble seeing the 25th century world through the eyes of a sentient wolf-like creature living in a different solar system. I was completely hooked by the time I read the second paragraph, and I didn't even bat an eye when I found myself another thousand years farther into the future. Immersed in the story, I forgot all about the unreality of its situation.
Diane Rapp spins a good tale with a fascinating cast of well-developed characters. Her use of the wolf pack as an external vantage point was clever, as was the occasional intervention of the wolves in the timeless struggle between the protagonist and the antagonist.
The conflicts that arise when a small group of technologically advanced people are integrated into a much larger, well-established feudal society provides an interesting stage upon which to play out the conflicts between good and evil. Skillfully interweaving the sentient wolves in a role supporting the triumph of right adds spice to an already tangy story.
The differences in the way the wolves and the humans passed on their cultural heritage to succeeding generations was engaging, as well. Seeing two radically different but apparently successful approaches to accruing and dispersing lessons learned from the past made the interactions between the wolves and the humans over a thousand years or so (and, for that matter, between the humans and the humans) all the more interesting.
The pacing of the story is excellent; I read it straight through without wanting to stop, and was disappointed when I came to the end. Fortunately for me, the story resumes in The Havenshire Resistance. I'm ready to read it, but first, I wanted to say, "Nice work, Ms. Rapp."
Diane Rapp spins a good tale with a fascinating cast of well-developed characters. Her use of the wolf pack as an external vantage point was clever, as was the occasional intervention of the wolves in the timeless struggle between the protagonist and the antagonist.
The conflicts that arise when a small group of technologically advanced people are integrated into a much larger, well-established feudal society provides an interesting stage upon which to play out the conflicts between good and evil. Skillfully interweaving the sentient wolves in a role supporting the triumph of right adds spice to an already tangy story.
The differences in the way the wolves and the humans passed on their cultural heritage to succeeding generations was engaging, as well. Seeing two radically different but apparently successful approaches to accruing and dispersing lessons learned from the past made the interactions between the wolves and the humans over a thousand years or so (and, for that matter, between the humans and the humans) all the more interesting.
The pacing of the story is excellent; I read it straight through without wanting to stop, and was disappointed when I came to the end. Fortunately for me, the story resumes in The Havenshire Resistance. I'm ready to read it, but first, I wanted to say, "Nice work, Ms. Rapp."
January 24, 2014
Strangely, I'd read book 2 before this one, but that didn't spoil the pleasure. This introduction to the series was very well written and filled with imaginative concepts and richly developed characters.
Although science fiction it felt real, the writing bringing alive both the 'world' and the characters, so that the plot was easily accepted.
I don't give spoilers but found it intriguing and well worth reading.
Although science fiction it felt real, the writing bringing alive both the 'world' and the characters, so that the plot was easily accepted.
I don't give spoilers but found it intriguing and well worth reading.
June 25, 2012
A Howling Good Story
The concept behind ‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is absolutely fascinating. Telepathic wolves have been the dominant sentient life-form on the distant plant of Drako for untold years, and each member of the pack carries within them the voices of their ancestors; many lifetimes of soul and memory on which they may draw. One day, a colonization initiative from Earth brings a strange new creature to the peaceful world — humans. They walk on just two legs and their minds are oddly silent, leading the lupines to conclude that these new arrivals are unintelligent.
Hundreds of years pass, during which time the human society on Drako descends into feudalism with a hierarchical class system and a deep-seated hatred of technology. The wolves observe, maintaining their distance, until after decades of isolation another space vessel unexpectedly makes planetfall. The crew of the medical ship Zebulon, on the run from the Machiavellian Institute, have been augmented by many spans of transferring their consciousness into new clone bodies, and each of them now possesses superhuman abilities. Will they make telepathic first contact with the wolves? And what of the menacing Institute agent that has secreted himself aboard the Zebulon and means to destroy its crew? The plot thickens deliciously as the aging King Halder, consumed by anger over the murder of his family, surprises everyone by naming Donovan, captain of the Zebulon, as his successor.
‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is a richly imagined story which leads the reader on a journey through space and time, revealing a wonderful world that Diane lays out for us to play in. Characterization is clear-cut and highly communicative. The flow of the narrative is excellent, although I felt that a pivotally-significant moment in Chapter 10 could have been infused with much more gravity. This being said, it was by no means a problem. I was delighted at the diverse weave of the narrative, providing a pleasant surprise again and again as I was proven wrong by the direction in which Diane led the story.
In particular I was impressed by the nobility with which the sentient wolves behave. It lends both their characters and species a certain dignity which is very appealing. It also fits superbly well alongside a human society that has reverted to a medieval culture and I suspect that this reciprocity is no accident. Diane’s grasp of the canine and the equine is both comprehensive and detailed, clearly conveying her affection for these animals as she confidently expresses their characteristics.
Whilst the narrative is highly dialogue-driven, the descriptive moments are helpful. There is an argument, of course, for both approaches. Does one leave the reader to construct their own mental scenery or should they be spoon fed a detailed map of the world into which we invite them? This is a very hard balance to strike, even in the work of experienced and popular authors whose editors’ names are replete with educational suffixes. However, the wonder and uniqueness of the novel’s concept imbue the reader with a curious inquisitiveness that somewhat redresses the imbalance.
One of the most excellent achievements of ‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is that Diane has crafted a genuinely creepy bad guy in Jarrack, the Institute agent. Jarrack is not just bad though; he’s manipulative, perverse and hateful, saturated with Stygian darkness from the depths of which redemption seems unimaginable. Would it be possible to conceive an arch-villain whose reprehensible character is more diametrically-opposed to the high moral standards of the spacefarers? Hardly. Diane has been careful to provide Jarrack with the worst of human traits yet allows him to remain cunning and somewhat intelligent. This counterpoint provides a textual tension which makes Jarrack an enticing villain despite his moral barrenness. He is a deeply-damaged human being, which tragic affliction doubtless equips him to exude evil as indeed he does with almost every mention, using his own enhanced abilities to satiate foul lusts and further his depraved ends. To dare venture sympathy for one so cruel and bestial would be to cross an unpleasant line, but he is nonetheless highly readable.
‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is clearly written not as a standalone story but as the first part in a series, to the rest of which I now look forward with eager anticipation, and my final thought is this: I may know nothing about film-making, but if I were a Spielberg, Jackson or Cameron I would love to turn this novel into a movie. Highly recommended! ****
The concept behind ‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is absolutely fascinating. Telepathic wolves have been the dominant sentient life-form on the distant plant of Drako for untold years, and each member of the pack carries within them the voices of their ancestors; many lifetimes of soul and memory on which they may draw. One day, a colonization initiative from Earth brings a strange new creature to the peaceful world — humans. They walk on just two legs and their minds are oddly silent, leading the lupines to conclude that these new arrivals are unintelligent.
Hundreds of years pass, during which time the human society on Drako descends into feudalism with a hierarchical class system and a deep-seated hatred of technology. The wolves observe, maintaining their distance, until after decades of isolation another space vessel unexpectedly makes planetfall. The crew of the medical ship Zebulon, on the run from the Machiavellian Institute, have been augmented by many spans of transferring their consciousness into new clone bodies, and each of them now possesses superhuman abilities. Will they make telepathic first contact with the wolves? And what of the menacing Institute agent that has secreted himself aboard the Zebulon and means to destroy its crew? The plot thickens deliciously as the aging King Halder, consumed by anger over the murder of his family, surprises everyone by naming Donovan, captain of the Zebulon, as his successor.
‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is a richly imagined story which leads the reader on a journey through space and time, revealing a wonderful world that Diane lays out for us to play in. Characterization is clear-cut and highly communicative. The flow of the narrative is excellent, although I felt that a pivotally-significant moment in Chapter 10 could have been infused with much more gravity. This being said, it was by no means a problem. I was delighted at the diverse weave of the narrative, providing a pleasant surprise again and again as I was proven wrong by the direction in which Diane led the story.
In particular I was impressed by the nobility with which the sentient wolves behave. It lends both their characters and species a certain dignity which is very appealing. It also fits superbly well alongside a human society that has reverted to a medieval culture and I suspect that this reciprocity is no accident. Diane’s grasp of the canine and the equine is both comprehensive and detailed, clearly conveying her affection for these animals as she confidently expresses their characteristics.
Whilst the narrative is highly dialogue-driven, the descriptive moments are helpful. There is an argument, of course, for both approaches. Does one leave the reader to construct their own mental scenery or should they be spoon fed a detailed map of the world into which we invite them? This is a very hard balance to strike, even in the work of experienced and popular authors whose editors’ names are replete with educational suffixes. However, the wonder and uniqueness of the novel’s concept imbue the reader with a curious inquisitiveness that somewhat redresses the imbalance.
One of the most excellent achievements of ‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is that Diane has crafted a genuinely creepy bad guy in Jarrack, the Institute agent. Jarrack is not just bad though; he’s manipulative, perverse and hateful, saturated with Stygian darkness from the depths of which redemption seems unimaginable. Would it be possible to conceive an arch-villain whose reprehensible character is more diametrically-opposed to the high moral standards of the spacefarers? Hardly. Diane has been careful to provide Jarrack with the worst of human traits yet allows him to remain cunning and somewhat intelligent. This counterpoint provides a textual tension which makes Jarrack an enticing villain despite his moral barrenness. He is a deeply-damaged human being, which tragic affliction doubtless equips him to exude evil as indeed he does with almost every mention, using his own enhanced abilities to satiate foul lusts and further his depraved ends. To dare venture sympathy for one so cruel and bestial would be to cross an unpleasant line, but he is nonetheless highly readable.
‘Howl Of The Wolf’ is clearly written not as a standalone story but as the first part in a series, to the rest of which I now look forward with eager anticipation, and my final thought is this: I may know nothing about film-making, but if I were a Spielberg, Jackson or Cameron I would love to turn this novel into a movie. Highly recommended! ****
April 29, 2012
We start on the planet Draco, inhabited by sentient wolves with their own history and culture who watch some humans arrive in a spaceship. Flip forward into a science fiction whodunnit type of scenario, very smartly done and very intriguing with cleverly imagined scientific development and medical procedure, wrapped up in a space opera. I found this part of the book very exciting and well written and I was eager for more.
Eventually our heroes arrive on Draco, where they are compelled to settle, despite having unwittingly carried their arch-enemy to the planet with them. Draco's inhabitants have evolved a feudal system of castles and knights, and the old king is dying... The story weaves an intriguing tale of good guys from different cultures, and bad guys in one culture... with the wolves playing their part in the development of the saga. I found this part a little flowery at times, and the action part a little less exciting, and having succeeded in the first part of the quest there are three further years of development of their lives on Draco which are probably necessary for the series but a little tame for the ending of this particular book. But it is a well told tale and offers promise for the future books in the series.
This is the first in a Science fiction series which is leaning towards a fantasy adventure. Suitable for YA and upwards, and probably Middle-Graders as well, as the sex scenes are suggestive but short enough for those who might not yet be interested in them!
I hope the second in the series lives up to the promise of the first.
Eventually our heroes arrive on Draco, where they are compelled to settle, despite having unwittingly carried their arch-enemy to the planet with them. Draco's inhabitants have evolved a feudal system of castles and knights, and the old king is dying... The story weaves an intriguing tale of good guys from different cultures, and bad guys in one culture... with the wolves playing their part in the development of the saga. I found this part a little flowery at times, and the action part a little less exciting, and having succeeded in the first part of the quest there are three further years of development of their lives on Draco which are probably necessary for the series but a little tame for the ending of this particular book. But it is a well told tale and offers promise for the future books in the series.
This is the first in a Science fiction series which is leaning towards a fantasy adventure. Suitable for YA and upwards, and probably Middle-Graders as well, as the sex scenes are suggestive but short enough for those who might not yet be interested in them!
I hope the second in the series lives up to the promise of the first.
May 16, 2012
I’m not usually a fan of science fiction, but when Diane Rapp starting writing in this genre, I had to try it. Diane Rapp has a magical style of writing that immerses the reader deeply into the story.
This tale takes place in the twenty fifth century on the planet Drako. It’s a picturesque planet two moons, a bright and a dark, the latter providing night blooming flowers that perfume the air.
A society of telepathic wolves occupied the planet long before the humans arrived. They pass down wisdom from generation to generation. The peaceful integration lasted for lifetimes, with the highly intelligent wolves quietly observing the unique society. The primitive society is made up of colorful groups that include a royal kingdom, peasants and desert dwellers, to name a few. It’s an outer space version of the wild west.
Things could change with the arrival of a handful of strangers. They gave up immortality. Will they regret that decision? The strangers represent all that the existing society hates.
Will they find allies in the wolves?
Can anyone stop the evil that is so powerful it can control minds & kill at will?
This tale takes place in the twenty fifth century on the planet Drako. It’s a picturesque planet two moons, a bright and a dark, the latter providing night blooming flowers that perfume the air.
A society of telepathic wolves occupied the planet long before the humans arrived. They pass down wisdom from generation to generation. The peaceful integration lasted for lifetimes, with the highly intelligent wolves quietly observing the unique society. The primitive society is made up of colorful groups that include a royal kingdom, peasants and desert dwellers, to name a few. It’s an outer space version of the wild west.
Things could change with the arrival of a handful of strangers. They gave up immortality. Will they regret that decision? The strangers represent all that the existing society hates.
Will they find allies in the wolves?
Can anyone stop the evil that is so powerful it can control minds & kill at will?
May 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this story. It's the first book in a trilogy.
Futuristic Sci-Fi Fantasy.
It's a little choppy at first, adjusting to the author's writing style, and the e-reader format is a bit odd. But once the story gets going, it doesn't stop. I am loving the characters. Trenton is my favorite so far.
A group of people, who are actually clones with their mind transferred into their own clones many times over to have a long, healthy life, escape from an corrupt government to a distant planet. Drako, a planet where advanced technology is shunned, the group must adapt to their new environment. They have to integrate into the culture. Making friends, and making enemies. And one evil enemy assassin, followed them to the planet.
A side story, A pack of wolf like animals, with mind speech and great intelligence, befriend the newcomers. They wolves, who share their mind with past ancestors have been tasked help the newcomers from the evil man who followed them.
Futuristic Sci-Fi Fantasy.
It's a little choppy at first, adjusting to the author's writing style, and the e-reader format is a bit odd. But once the story gets going, it doesn't stop. I am loving the characters. Trenton is my favorite so far.
A group of people, who are actually clones with their mind transferred into their own clones many times over to have a long, healthy life, escape from an corrupt government to a distant planet. Drako, a planet where advanced technology is shunned, the group must adapt to their new environment. They have to integrate into the culture. Making friends, and making enemies. And one evil enemy assassin, followed them to the planet.
A side story, A pack of wolf like animals, with mind speech and great intelligence, befriend the newcomers. They wolves, who share their mind with past ancestors have been tasked help the newcomers from the evil man who followed them.
January 30, 2018
Humans arrive on the planet Drako with the intention of creating a holiday destination for wealthy tourists. The colony ship hopes to establish a sort of theme-park world/retreat where visitors can enjoy a world full of fortresses and castles and experience a historical way of life free from advanced technology.
However, the world is already inhabited by sentient telepathic wolves, and when the wolves attempt to make contact the human's aggressive reaction scares them away. Instead the wolves choose to watch from the shadows as their world is transformed.
Years later, a medical ship called the Zebulon is fleeing from a death sentence, and an assassin has infiltrated her crew. They land on Drako to discover it has become a technophobic world similar to the middle-ages. They need to abandon their own technology and learn to adapt if they are to survive.
With the arrival of these new humans, the physic wolves choose to make finally contact.
There's a lot going on is this book, and the story moves along at a swift pace. I really I enjoyed the prose and there was also some touching scenes, for example - the wolves are immortal in a way, and when one of the wolves is killed early on by the first human settlers, its ancestor line is ended. However, a newborn cub takes over, and the pack shares memories of that wolf's ancestors with the cub to keep the ancestor line alive. I really liked that, and the wolves for that matter. Overall, an exciting read!
However, the world is already inhabited by sentient telepathic wolves, and when the wolves attempt to make contact the human's aggressive reaction scares them away. Instead the wolves choose to watch from the shadows as their world is transformed.
Years later, a medical ship called the Zebulon is fleeing from a death sentence, and an assassin has infiltrated her crew. They land on Drako to discover it has become a technophobic world similar to the middle-ages. They need to abandon their own technology and learn to adapt if they are to survive.
With the arrival of these new humans, the physic wolves choose to make finally contact.
There's a lot going on is this book, and the story moves along at a swift pace. I really I enjoyed the prose and there was also some touching scenes, for example - the wolves are immortal in a way, and when one of the wolves is killed early on by the first human settlers, its ancestor line is ended. However, a newborn cub takes over, and the pack shares memories of that wolf's ancestors with the cub to keep the ancestor line alive. I really liked that, and the wolves for that matter. Overall, an exciting read!
June 19, 2014
I felt like this book had too much going on. It was a huge mash-up of sci-fi/fantasy tropes. First you have telepathic wolves, well and good. Then there is sci-fi medicine, never having to die through Transfer and the government using this medical advance as a way to create indentured servants of their citizens. And I was really interested in how that was going to play out with Donovan's crew deciding to make a break for it and Dr. Alexander sabotaging his own work. Then they get to Drako, a planet where technology is forbidden. And you have this tournament for the throne and a murder plot, and then we're back to science with in vitro fertilization and clones, and then in the later books in the series there will be dragons!
Honestly once I found out about the dragons I was done. Don't get me wrong, I love dragons, but I just wish the author would have found one thing and stuck with it. It would have been a more compelling read had she stuck with the science fiction route with the dangers of new technology and the role of government or the whole fight for the throne (could have kept the telepathy in either).
The whole thing just came off as disjointed and unbelievable. (Sci-fi and fantasy is unbelievable, but the trick is to get it to seem believable.)
I don't have any plans to finish reading this series. Maybe if I read everything else in the world first.
Honestly once I found out about the dragons I was done. Don't get me wrong, I love dragons, but I just wish the author would have found one thing and stuck with it. It would have been a more compelling read had she stuck with the science fiction route with the dangers of new technology and the role of government or the whole fight for the throne (could have kept the telepathy in either).
The whole thing just came off as disjointed and unbelievable. (Sci-fi and fantasy is unbelievable, but the trick is to get it to seem believable.)
I don't have any plans to finish reading this series. Maybe if I read everything else in the world first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2012
Welcome to Drako, a planet inhabited by telepathic wolves. When mankind discovers this lush planet they proceed to turn it into a tourist destination for the affluent. After many years the wolves have had enough.
This book has plots within plots that flow smoothly, along with well developed characters and engaging dialogue
The story will pull you in with the first page and has the bonus of a dynamite ending, which allows for the series.
I gave it 5 stars because I am still talking about it.
This book has plots within plots that flow smoothly, along with well developed characters and engaging dialogue
The story will pull you in with the first page and has the bonus of a dynamite ending, which allows for the series.
I gave it 5 stars because I am still talking about it.
January 10, 2013
Science has discovered a process that guarantees immortality, but there is a heavy price. A group of renegades decide to escape to a remote planet where people live as they once did in the Medieval Ages of Earth. But all is not as it seems, and the humans aren’t the only sentient species on the planet.
This was a decent read, with enough twists, turns and odd characters to keep it moving. I liked the psychic wolf pack, and the book finished with a few mysteries left to resolve in the next installment.
This was a decent read, with enough twists, turns and odd characters to keep it moving. I liked the psychic wolf pack, and the book finished with a few mysteries left to resolve in the next installment.
November 15, 2013
I realize this is the first of a series, but I had a lot of questions, which I'm sure will be answered in future books. It seemed like there were a lot of things that were not explained.I liked it, but didn't absolutely love it. I may read the others, but didn't feel compelled to do it tomorrow (as I did, for example, in Breeana Putroff's series).
May 16, 2016
Despite the potential of an exciting fantasy adventure plot, this was greatly disappointing due to the poor characterisation, (especially of female characters, as in the future I would hope that women, and men, have moved beyond gender stereotypes) - made worse by shallow dialogue. But.. the younger kids might like it, but I wouldnt let my daughter read it.
March 11, 2016
Loved this book. Engaging characters. Entertaining plot with a mix of sci-fi, paranormal and suspense. I'm glad there's a sequel because I can't wait to learn how it will all work out in the end. If you want to get away from the world for a weekend, Howl of the Wolf is your ticket.
Read
June 8, 2017I tried, I really did. Managed to force myself up to about 20% until I just couldn't take the writing anymore. The blurb sounded interesting and the overall plot appealed to me otherwise I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did...
Want to read
February 16, 2012Free on Kindle today 2/15/12 Might be worth a try.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews