Lantern Road

by John T. Cullen

John T. Cullen has created a richly-realized far-future world in which strange wonders are revealed as considerable suspense builds. The characters are interesting, and the plot moves well, but the real star here is the universe in which the events take place, especially the inhabited moon, Shur, with its complex starfaring alien culture, reminiscent of Imperial Japan, but with strange complications--including multi-use fungi gardens and a third gender. Cullen's handling of detail is remarkable...a world that fans of sprawling, far-future SF will enjoy immersing themselves in, reminiscent as it is of Dune and some of Gene Wolfe's work.--Tim Pratt, Locus Online From the start it took me through its twists and turns in a manner I never expected, but which fit perfectly. John Cullen delivers a fascinating tale of tragic alien love, star travel, and an amazing gift from one love to another...--Joe Murphy, author Lantern Road is remarkable...Cullen captures the richness and complexities of an alien world, focusing on details and texture so you actually feel you're there. He portrays three or four different species and make them come alive, particularly the trisexual Shurians and the poignant, bittersweet love story of Ramy, a Shurian, and Jory, a human. Indeed, the Shurians belong in the high creative company of Octavia E. Butler's Xenogenesis trilogy, in which humans and aliens mix their genes and get it on through the ooloi, a neuter third sex. Alien sex is seldom this good. Lantern Road is ...gripping...has high adventure, imminent danger, a likeable hero [and] leads to a surprising, fully satisfying ending that I guarantee you will never see coming.--John Rosenman, author I wasfloored by many of the descriptive passages and conceits. Lantern Road is a sensuous and elaborate glimpse into a distant future--evoked, interestingly, by way of our storied past...but accessible and immediate because the writer, in lyrical, descriptive passages, has forged a civilization that evokes memories of the Ancient Orient, with all of its imperial plotting and conspiring in tact....not unlike accompanying Marco Polo on his discovery of the East. Jory escapes onto a dangerous stretch of highway (think the Appian Way...) after a secret love affair is discovered. The author has given sufficient (and inventive) thought to alien politics, economy, history, and even courtly romance. Filled with descriptive passages and characters ...that evoke Akira Kurosawa films by way of Muraski Shikibu's Genji, this is a texture-filled epic about man's legacy--and future...a lyrical, touching read, especially in the highly-charged, and sensual passages involving Jory and his star-crossed (literally...) lover, Lady Ramy...the confidently written and very absorbing Lantern Road takes a different and welcome approach, letting us revel in sumptuous, compelling descriptions and details of an alien society, and man's place in it.--John K. Muir, author/media critic (SciFi Channel, Cinescape)

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000