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Roads of Heaven #1-3
The Roads of Heaven Trilogy
Five-Twelfths of Heaven - Book I of The Roads of Heaven
In a space-faring civilization where a single woman is increasingly disenfranchised, the star pilot Silence Leigh is defrauded from her inheritance by a greedy competitor. Forced to ally with two men, Silence is dragged into a deadly political struggle, and is tantalized by the hints of the legendary Earth, as well as the dread and the glory of Magi's power. Her dreams of having her own ship and of escape from the Hegemony's oppressions take on new direction and focus when she joins the crew of "The Sun-Treader."
Silence in Solitude - Book II of The Roads of Heaven
In Five-Twelfths of Heaven, Silence Leigh discovered that she was not only unusual, as a female pilot, but that impossible thing, a female magus. Her unique abilities make her the only person capable of reaching Earth, humanity's original home, now sealed behind a mysterious barrier — but first she must learn to use her new-found talents. As the Hegemon's men close in on her and her husbands and teacher, she must make a dangerous bargain: undertake an impossible rescue mission in exchange for a vital map. If she succeeds, she may be able to save Earth. If she fails…
The Empress of Earth - Book III of The Roads of Heaven
Following "Five-Twelfths of Heaven" and "Silence in Solitude", this is the third and concluding novel in the Silence Leigh series. Silence Leigh now faces the ultimate test of her skills as a pilot and of her powers as a sage.
Silence has finally wangled a deal with the Hegemony to use their gear to help them find the lost star roads to Earth. This comes at a price, though, as the credit for this will go to the leader of the Hegemony's family, so that one of his relatives can inherit his position, given that he has no children.
The roads are not lost by accident, there is an active group of planets trying to block access to Earth, setting up a final conflict.
In a space-faring civilization where a single woman is increasingly disenfranchised, the star pilot Silence Leigh is defrauded from her inheritance by a greedy competitor. Forced to ally with two men, Silence is dragged into a deadly political struggle, and is tantalized by the hints of the legendary Earth, as well as the dread and the glory of Magi's power. Her dreams of having her own ship and of escape from the Hegemony's oppressions take on new direction and focus when she joins the crew of "The Sun-Treader."
Silence in Solitude - Book II of The Roads of Heaven
In Five-Twelfths of Heaven, Silence Leigh discovered that she was not only unusual, as a female pilot, but that impossible thing, a female magus. Her unique abilities make her the only person capable of reaching Earth, humanity's original home, now sealed behind a mysterious barrier — but first she must learn to use her new-found talents. As the Hegemon's men close in on her and her husbands and teacher, she must make a dangerous bargain: undertake an impossible rescue mission in exchange for a vital map. If she succeeds, she may be able to save Earth. If she fails…
The Empress of Earth - Book III of The Roads of Heaven
Following "Five-Twelfths of Heaven" and "Silence in Solitude", this is the third and concluding novel in the Silence Leigh series. Silence Leigh now faces the ultimate test of her skills as a pilot and of her powers as a sage.
Silence has finally wangled a deal with the Hegemony to use their gear to help them find the lost star roads to Earth. This comes at a price, though, as the credit for this will go to the leader of the Hegemony's family, so that one of his relatives can inherit his position, given that he has no children.
The roads are not lost by accident, there is an active group of planets trying to block access to Earth, setting up a final conflict.
826 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1987
23 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Scott
100 books449 followersScott studied history at Harvard College and Brandeis University, and earned her PhD. in comparative history. She published her first novel in 1984, and has since written some two dozen science fiction and fantasy works, including three co-authored with her partner, Lisa A. Barnett.
Scott's work is known for the elaborate and well-constructed settings. While many of her protagonists are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, this is perfectly integrated into the rest of the story and is rarely a major focus of the story. Shadow Man, alone among Scott's works, focuses explicitly on issues of sexuality and gender.
She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1986, and has won several Lambda Literary Awards.
In addition to writing, Scott also teaches writing, offering classes via her website and publishing a writing guide.
Scott lived with her partner, author Lisa A. Barnett, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for 27 years, until the latter's death of breast cancer on May 2, 2006.
Scott's work is known for the elaborate and well-constructed settings. While many of her protagonists are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, this is perfectly integrated into the rest of the story and is rarely a major focus of the story. Shadow Man, alone among Scott's works, focuses explicitly on issues of sexuality and gender.
She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1986, and has won several Lambda Literary Awards.
In addition to writing, Scott also teaches writing, offering classes via her website and publishing a writing guide.
Scott lived with her partner, author Lisa A. Barnett, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for 27 years, until the latter's death of breast cancer on May 2, 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 3, 2008
an amazing example of social commentary without any trace of bitter pill to swallow. Silence (we learn this is an old-fashioned “virtue name”) introduced my tender little teenage brain to the idea of feminist sci-fi. we meet the main character just as her grandfather has died, and her uncle has stolen her inheritance to pay his gambling debts. having no other recourse, she throws her lot in with a pair of seemingly honest but disreputable space-farers. our heroine is dismissed by the system and by her own family, considered either property or a convenient solution by the men in her life, and is an all-around second-class citizen. this isn’t the tale of a shrinking-violet martyr, though: she finds ways to buck the system from within, and carve out a satisfying life on her own terms.
none of which would be worth the hill of proverbial beans if it wasn’t a good story. no trouble there, either, since ‘the roads of heaven’ is easily one of the best rollicking space-opera adventure tales i’ve ever read. we’re tearing through the life story of a tough-as-nails space pilot (take that han solo!), hurtling between worlds with her two husbands (!), who goes on to become an amazingly powerful alchemist magician, and discovers the lost road to old earth.
i re-read this trilogy every few years, and it's actually gotten better with time/age. if you can find a copy, highly recommended.
none of which would be worth the hill of proverbial beans if it wasn’t a good story. no trouble there, either, since ‘the roads of heaven’ is easily one of the best rollicking space-opera adventure tales i’ve ever read. we’re tearing through the life story of a tough-as-nails space pilot (take that han solo!), hurtling between worlds with her two husbands (!), who goes on to become an amazingly powerful alchemist magician, and discovers the lost road to old earth.
i re-read this trilogy every few years, and it's actually gotten better with time/age. if you can find a copy, highly recommended.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
December 14, 2020Yet again a book that frustrates me. Why has not equality between the sexes been established in future and alternate worlds? I am getting so sick of the trope of women being lesser than, having to have a male escort speak for them, having no rights against abuse. Do the authors truly believe that women are so weak that we won't rise up with our sisters, and that men are so evil? Or are the authors merely exploitive of a handy dramatic gimmick?
However, I am intrigued by this, and I see other reviewers advising that we give it to young girls as an example of feminist sf, and the first few pages are cleanly & engagingly written... but dang, I sure hope we meet a lot of *people* soon and leave the Men & w'men behind.
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dnf p. 116.
Not meeting people, as it's mostly politics and war, very slow going. I can see it being ok for the right audience, but I'm not feeling it.
However, I am intrigued by this, and I see other reviewers advising that we give it to young girls as an example of feminist sf, and the first few pages are cleanly & engagingly written... but dang, I sure hope we meet a lot of *people* soon and leave the Men & w'men behind.
---
dnf p. 116.
Not meeting people, as it's mostly politics and war, very slow going. I can see it being ok for the right audience, but I'm not feeling it.
May 23, 2021
The elaborate system of magic that makes it possible to travel between stars ist definitely the strong point of this trilogy. Without it, I would not have been able to finish all three books. The plots are rather simple and predictable and emotions are almost non-existant. Silence's marriage to two men, which changes from a marriage of convenience to to a true emotional bond might have provided the true backbone of the novels, but instead it is hardly a topic at all. The trilogy ends more or less as you would have expected it to from the very beginning of the first book and all that remains in my memory are some very vivid descriptions of magical journeys between stars.
December 12, 2023
This is an entertaining mix of space travel and magic.
September 13, 2016
Wow. I really enjoyed this trilogy. The first two books are creative, evocative, and engrossing. I do think I would have enjoyed these books even more if I were a bit younger. I'd certainly recommend them to a teenager who is interested in Fantasy genre novels. Particularly a girl. However, even in my currently advanced years, they were a good read. The third book gets a bit bogged down and has some trouble deciding where it is going. It's not awful; but it is a bit disappointing.
June 11, 2016
Fantastic, sci-fi fantasy trilogy with romance (clean, no sex)
I highly recommend this trilogy. One of my all time favorites. Definitely one of the most interesting sci-fi romance stories I've read (and re-read, multiple times). Interesting method of star travel and also delves into the barriers we as women face in our lives. I have the hardcover version of this and I'm eager to get the kindle version so I always have this in my favorites collection on my reader.
I highly recommend this trilogy. One of my all time favorites. Definitely one of the most interesting sci-fi romance stories I've read (and re-read, multiple times). Interesting method of star travel and also delves into the barriers we as women face in our lives. I have the hardcover version of this and I'm eager to get the kindle version so I always have this in my favorites collection on my reader.
March 19, 2025
Not as good as the original version.
In the original version of "Silence in Solito" was where Silence first used a Janus gate. It made better sense to use it to excape than to use it to facilitate an arrival. While the fight over Man's Iland was exciting it was not as effective as building the orrery in the middle of nowhere.
In the original version of "Silence in Solito" was where Silence first used a Janus gate. It made better sense to use it to excape than to use it to facilitate an arrival. While the fight over Man's Iland was exciting it was not as effective as building the orrery in the middle of nowhere.
September 3, 2014
Definitely an epic journey through an interesting universe. The motive force for travel is a huge part of the fascination in this trilogy, an art filled with complex harmonies. The social situations are fascinating as well. I would definitely recommend it.
August 12, 2007
This book describes what is probably the most unique mechanism for interstellar flight that I have ever read.
December 11, 2012
This is an amazing story. It is well written, an easy read and very interesting theories. Musicians should read this, if anything to gain a new perspective on the "Magic of Music".
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March 23, 2014Read it so long ago I barely remember it. I'd like to reread it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews