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Tempus and Niko reunite the members of the Sacred Band for a perilous mission into the desert world of Sandia, but their quest is threatened by dark echoes from the past
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First published October 1, 1990
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About the author
Janet E. Morris
108 books384 followersJanet Ellen Morris (born May 25, 1946) is a United States author. She began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 20 novels, many co-authored with David Drake or her husband Chris Morris. She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell. Most of her work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written several works of non-fiction.
Morris was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences in 1980.
In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris founded M2 Tech. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on non-lethal weapon systems and software.
Morris was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences in 1980.
In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris founded M2 Tech. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on non-lethal weapon systems and software.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 24, 2017
What do you think might happen when a precocious immortal child who has never felt a father’s love throws a tantrum?
Or when an obsessed witch who has sold her soul to profanity fixates on the object of her desires, setting out to possess him at any cost?
What about the daughter who has fought long and hard to be accepted as an equal in a man’s world?
Or the lover, desperate to be taken seriously as a soulmate and partner?
In Storm Seed, you find the answers to all these questions – and more – as the avatar of the storm god Enlil gathers his scattered forces from the length and breadth of the universe to do battle on faraway Sandia.
But things are not as they seem and events both desperate and foul conspire against the Sacred Band in an effort to weaken their resolve. They contend with foes lurking within the heart, enemies that are just as deadly as those waiting for them in the darkest recesses of the alien stronghold; face tests of loyalty, to themselves, to each other and the very tenets by which they live; endure hardships severe enough to crush the spirit.
And then there’s the legend himself. It would seem even Tempus isn’t immune to the consequences his choices bring.
“Storm Seed” a superb example of how to write an action adventure that bridges the divide between science fiction and fantasy, and a classic that will endure the test of time. I loved the pace and intensity of this storyline. It keeps you riveted from the moment you start and doesn’t let go until the last page.
Or when an obsessed witch who has sold her soul to profanity fixates on the object of her desires, setting out to possess him at any cost?
What about the daughter who has fought long and hard to be accepted as an equal in a man’s world?
Or the lover, desperate to be taken seriously as a soulmate and partner?
In Storm Seed, you find the answers to all these questions – and more – as the avatar of the storm god Enlil gathers his scattered forces from the length and breadth of the universe to do battle on faraway Sandia.
But things are not as they seem and events both desperate and foul conspire against the Sacred Band in an effort to weaken their resolve. They contend with foes lurking within the heart, enemies that are just as deadly as those waiting for them in the darkest recesses of the alien stronghold; face tests of loyalty, to themselves, to each other and the very tenets by which they live; endure hardships severe enough to crush the spirit.
And then there’s the legend himself. It would seem even Tempus isn’t immune to the consequences his choices bring.
“Storm Seed” a superb example of how to write an action adventure that bridges the divide between science fiction and fantasy, and a classic that will endure the test of time. I loved the pace and intensity of this storyline. It keeps you riveted from the moment you start and doesn’t let go until the last page.
December 5, 2017
Review to follow
November 9, 2017
Storm Seed is part of the Sacred Band Series by author Janet Morris. It is light years ahead of other SciFi novels. Tempus the immortal comes to life in this story along with other futuristic hybrid characters that are unforgettable. Travel to Lemuria and get ready for a full-ride futuristic fantasy!
October 12, 2017
Back to mystical Lemuria - if only! The "Sacred Band" Author's Cut is a wonderful addition to the fans of this series. I read it in nearly one sitting, unable to put it down, delighted to get re-acquitted with beloved characters, both those who I rooted for or hated, or pitied, or prayed for. Neither Tempus nor his follows disappoint, ever!
February 24, 2018
It seems like a reunion as so many characters from previous novels return to share the stage. Tempus the Black and Niko, his right-side companion, are here. Also present and accounted for: the goddess Jihan, the powerful Froth Daughter; Randal the allergy-prone wizard; Roxane the witch you really don’t want to get involved with; Cime the wizard slayer who is a real force to be reckoned with; Kama, Tempus’ daughter and warrior. The Sacred Banders Strat, Crit, and Gayle are also here, as well as Enlil the Storm God, Abarsis the Slaughter Priest, and even Strat’s Ghost Horse. Tempus is reunited with Faun, too — the Shepherd of Sandia, a realm “a thousand years from Lemuria.” He first encountered her in Tempus Unbound, when she traveled to Lemuria seeking help in saving her dying land.
As the story begins, Tempus and Cime now rule in Lemuria, and have settled into Pinnacle House, which contains portals to other times and places. One of these portals leads to Sandia.
The overriding theme of Storm Seed is “searching.” Jihan searches for her son, Cyrus, who has run off to look for Tempus, his father. Roxane has escaped her prison in hell to find her beloved Niko; she kidnaps his son Nino in order to draw Niko away from Princess Tabet and the City at the Edge of Time, so she can have him all to herself. Kama seeks a purpose in life, to earn her rightful place among the Sacred Band. Randal searches for Niko and the other members of the Sacred Band. As for Tempus . . . he is still the avatar of Enlil the Storm God, who dwells inside him. Now Tempus seeks to reunite the Sacred Band for another mission, this time to the future world of Sandia, to help Faun and her people, while, Cime is left behind to rule and protect Lemuria.
So, while Cyrus (son of Jihan and Tempus) searches for his father, he uses his shape-shifting talents during his travels among mortal men and women, and those don’t always turn out for the best. Roxane the witch has her own agenda, and plans to enslave Niko and use him to strike at Enlil, the Storm God, and Tempus, his avatar . . . and destroy them both. When Cyrus first encounters Roxane, who has turned herself into a black dragon, he becomes enamored with her, and takes the shape of a white dragon. But they don’t hit it off right away, and their battle is truly epic: they attack Lemuria and break through to the realm of Sandia, where they finally join forces and return to human form. In doing so, they destroy the portal leading to Sandia, thus leaving Cime trapped and alone in Lemuria. Cime must now race against time to repair the broken portal to Sandia so she can go warn and help Tempus. As for Cyrus, he must choose between his parents and his infatuation with Roxane.
Once the Sacred Band has reunited and sets out on their quest in Sandia, the story takes another interesting turn. When Tempus first met Faun, he and the Storm God Enlil “took her” one night. She should be with child, but she’s not. Tempus discovers that his seed and her eggs had been harvested and placed in perfect wombs, where Sandian doctors can control gestation, and nurture to life more than one child born of the “storm seed” of Enlil and Tempus. Sandia, as I’ve already mentioned, is a future world, the farthest into the future that Tempus has ever gone, and the Sandians want to populate their dying world with children “fathered” by the deathless Tempus, whose seed will carry something of Enlil, the Storm God. Elements of science fiction and science fact now enter into Storm Seed: breeding programs, sperm banks, in vitro fertilization, closed ecologies . . . as well as a mystery to be solved.
As always, there is a depth of grace and dignity in Team Morris’ characters, even the villains. Compassion, drama, confrontation, and sadness can also be found in these characters and their interactions with each other, and in an emotional, climactic scene, there’s a poignancy that adds to their depth and realism. There’s also a statement being made in Storm Seed, a message which Team Morris has worked into the story, not by beating us over the head with it, but through the subtlety and elegance of their prose.
As the story begins, Tempus and Cime now rule in Lemuria, and have settled into Pinnacle House, which contains portals to other times and places. One of these portals leads to Sandia.
The overriding theme of Storm Seed is “searching.” Jihan searches for her son, Cyrus, who has run off to look for Tempus, his father. Roxane has escaped her prison in hell to find her beloved Niko; she kidnaps his son Nino in order to draw Niko away from Princess Tabet and the City at the Edge of Time, so she can have him all to herself. Kama seeks a purpose in life, to earn her rightful place among the Sacred Band. Randal searches for Niko and the other members of the Sacred Band. As for Tempus . . . he is still the avatar of Enlil the Storm God, who dwells inside him. Now Tempus seeks to reunite the Sacred Band for another mission, this time to the future world of Sandia, to help Faun and her people, while, Cime is left behind to rule and protect Lemuria.
So, while Cyrus (son of Jihan and Tempus) searches for his father, he uses his shape-shifting talents during his travels among mortal men and women, and those don’t always turn out for the best. Roxane the witch has her own agenda, and plans to enslave Niko and use him to strike at Enlil, the Storm God, and Tempus, his avatar . . . and destroy them both. When Cyrus first encounters Roxane, who has turned herself into a black dragon, he becomes enamored with her, and takes the shape of a white dragon. But they don’t hit it off right away, and their battle is truly epic: they attack Lemuria and break through to the realm of Sandia, where they finally join forces and return to human form. In doing so, they destroy the portal leading to Sandia, thus leaving Cime trapped and alone in Lemuria. Cime must now race against time to repair the broken portal to Sandia so she can go warn and help Tempus. As for Cyrus, he must choose between his parents and his infatuation with Roxane.
Once the Sacred Band has reunited and sets out on their quest in Sandia, the story takes another interesting turn. When Tempus first met Faun, he and the Storm God Enlil “took her” one night. She should be with child, but she’s not. Tempus discovers that his seed and her eggs had been harvested and placed in perfect wombs, where Sandian doctors can control gestation, and nurture to life more than one child born of the “storm seed” of Enlil and Tempus. Sandia, as I’ve already mentioned, is a future world, the farthest into the future that Tempus has ever gone, and the Sandians want to populate their dying world with children “fathered” by the deathless Tempus, whose seed will carry something of Enlil, the Storm God. Elements of science fiction and science fact now enter into Storm Seed: breeding programs, sperm banks, in vitro fertilization, closed ecologies . . . as well as a mystery to be solved.
As always, there is a depth of grace and dignity in Team Morris’ characters, even the villains. Compassion, drama, confrontation, and sadness can also be found in these characters and their interactions with each other, and in an emotional, climactic scene, there’s a poignancy that adds to their depth and realism. There’s also a statement being made in Storm Seed, a message which Team Morris has worked into the story, not by beating us over the head with it, but through the subtlety and elegance of their prose.
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April 14, 2008Fantasy
December 10, 2023
The sequel to Tempus Unbound with his adventures in and from Lemuria, this book reunites the Sacred Band of Stepsons including Nikodemos, Critias, Straton and Randal. Jihan, one of Tempus’s lovers, and Kama, Tempus’s daughter, also join the Band.
And they are to battle with the witch Roxane, who has managed to survive from her earlier defeat, and who now seeks Niko.
Oh, and we also now have a new character, Cyrus, the son of Tempus and Jihan, who’s not happy, as he has been imprisoned for his whole life.
This is apparently the seventh Sacred Band book, and if the above makes no sense and you haven’t read earlier books, then don’t try starting here. But if you want still more of Tempus (who has long departed his origins in the Thieves' World anthologies), this is an excellent addition to the series.
And they are to battle with the witch Roxane, who has managed to survive from her earlier defeat, and who now seeks Niko.
Oh, and we also now have a new character, Cyrus, the son of Tempus and Jihan, who’s not happy, as he has been imprisoned for his whole life.
This is apparently the seventh Sacred Band book, and if the above makes no sense and you haven’t read earlier books, then don’t try starting here. But if you want still more of Tempus (who has long departed his origins in the Thieves' World anthologies), this is an excellent addition to the series.
April 7, 2022
The conclusion of the Tempus spin off trilogy was by far the best book of the 3. The first was ok, second was disappointing but Storm Seed was back to the pace and quality we saw in the Beyond Wizardwall set and of course the Thieves' World novels. I would recommend to anyone who likes the Sword and Sorcery genre.
December 22, 2017
Mystical and brilliant. Another winner from Janet E. Morris. Five Stars!
September 20, 2020
Excited to see Tempus reunite the Stepsons and take them to a future (alternate?) Earth(?). This was great fun to read, full of surprises and twists. On to the next one, The Sacred Band!
December 28, 2024
another great book
Perhaps not the best book in the Sacred Band series, but enjoyable nontheless. I recommend it to all and sundry.
Perhaps not the best book in the Sacred Band series, but enjoyable nontheless. I recommend it to all and sundry.
June 9, 2009
I really loved the characters of Tempus and Niko and Crit, but this one really did not end well to me. The victory was far too easy and I felt very disappointed. By far my least favorite book among the many I've read from Janet Morris. Normally I simply adore her writing.
September 26, 2016
Storm Seed
Janet Morris
The brilliant character Tempus the immortal is crafted superbly in this adventure.
For fans of the tales it is one not to miss.
Exceptional work.
Janet Morris
The brilliant character Tempus the immortal is crafted superbly in this adventure.
For fans of the tales it is one not to miss.
Exceptional work.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews