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Hermetech
The science of orgasmic energy potential, esp. within fixed unit of or relating to properties of orgasmic energy of Hermes traditionally inventor of magic seal. Tech-Green, an environmental movement with quasi-political powers, is doing its best to repair the damaged circuitry of the global village. The earth is dying and there is little that anyone can do to stop it - some sections of Tech-Green assert that Gaiah would be best left to repair herself without the interference of humanity, that man should move off-world to Sky City At Taler's Bump, a small Naturotech religious site, Ari Famber communes with Isis, a satellite acolyte of the goddess Astrada. But there is little Isis can do about Ari s problems. The daughter of one time Tech-Green wunderkind, Ewan Famber, Ari is the product of a ground-breaking experiment that has left her genetically and sexually confused. Ewan has no answers; he is dead. But in Arcady Tkmmuz Malamute lives on - with memories of creations he d rather forget.
Seven years ago, Leila Saatchi, leader of Star Eye, promised Ewan
that she would find his daughter when the time was right; protect Ari from those who might misunderstand and misuse her. But the natro group are about to take on something neither they nor the Tech-Greens would have ever imagined possible.
HERMETECH is a stunning vision of Earth s near-future, a dramatic prediction of the mingling of science and mysticism, from the creator of the Wraeththu.
Storm Constantine is the author of more than twenty novels. The Shades of Time and Memory is the fifth of her Wraeththu series. Recent books include The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure, the Magravandias Chronicles trilogy, Silverheart (co-written with Michael Moorcock), the The Oracle Lips short story anthology, and The Thorn Boy and Other Tales of Dark Desire. Storm is also the author of three non-fiction books, is a practicing Reiki master, and operates her own publishing company in the U.K. She lives in Stafford, England, with her husband Jim Hibbert and eight cats, who think they own the house.
Seven years ago, Leila Saatchi, leader of Star Eye, promised Ewan
that she would find his daughter when the time was right; protect Ari from those who might misunderstand and misuse her. But the natro group are about to take on something neither they nor the Tech-Greens would have ever imagined possible.
HERMETECH is a stunning vision of Earth s near-future, a dramatic prediction of the mingling of science and mysticism, from the creator of the Wraeththu.
Storm Constantine is the author of more than twenty novels. The Shades of Time and Memory is the fifth of her Wraeththu series. Recent books include The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure, the Magravandias Chronicles trilogy, Silverheart (co-written with Michael Moorcock), the The Oracle Lips short story anthology, and The Thorn Boy and Other Tales of Dark Desire. Storm is also the author of three non-fiction books, is a practicing Reiki master, and operates her own publishing company in the U.K. She lives in Stafford, England, with her husband Jim Hibbert and eight cats, who think they own the house.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
2 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Storm Constantine
144 books503 followersStorm Constantine was a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 5, 2012
I picked this up remembering that Cheryl Morgan had recommended it some time back and wasn't disappointed. Going solely from reading this book I can see that China Meiville didn't just arise from nowhere, because this book reminded me a lot of some of the better aspects of Meiville's earlier novels (the only ones I've read so far). There is a lot of sex power - magic - goddess talk in the book, but it isn't as airy fairy 90s grrl power blather as that might sounds to the more cynical of you (or of me).
I really enjoyed how I came to love, and well love, the trans character Zambia Crevecoeur. At first the descriptions of the character were on the side of horrifying, but this has to do with the inner state of the character at that point in the novel. Constantine was amazing at taking me into a character who was falling in love with hir. (Yes the novel uses hir and SHe, and while I have ZERO knowledge of the use, context or history of those pronouns, they seemed to work quite elegantly and naturally in the context of this novel.)
It does get quite - let's say - metaphorical towards the end, but I liked that and felt that the novel earned it. There are some novels that get all wild and abstract towards the end and it seems like the novelist is simply waving their hands in the air chanting - "you know! you know!", but you don't know. This novel feels like it achieves it climax in a way that brings the reader along. Will be reading more of Constantine.
I really enjoyed how I came to love, and well love, the trans character Zambia Crevecoeur. At first the descriptions of the character were on the side of horrifying, but this has to do with the inner state of the character at that point in the novel. Constantine was amazing at taking me into a character who was falling in love with hir. (Yes the novel uses hir and SHe, and while I have ZERO knowledge of the use, context or history of those pronouns, they seemed to work quite elegantly and naturally in the context of this novel.)
It does get quite - let's say - metaphorical towards the end, but I liked that and felt that the novel earned it. There are some novels that get all wild and abstract towards the end and it seems like the novelist is simply waving their hands in the air chanting - "you know! you know!", but you don't know. This novel feels like it achieves it climax in a way that brings the reader along. Will be reading more of Constantine.
October 16, 2020
On a world whose enviroment has been nearly destroyed, a goddess is discovering herself. Only she’s just a girl, a girl named Ari, who has no idea why she’s different or reacts to other people the way he she does. Leila Saatchi, former colleague and lover of Ari’s father, now leading a nomadic existence as the motivator of a group of wanderers has some idea of what Ari is and could become. Ari finds herself joining Leila and her companions, some of whom have dark pasts returning to haunt them to go on a journey which profoundly changes them and the world around them.
To the harsh, unfriendly roads of this world to the various decadent or deceptively safe outposts of civilization, all of these locations come to life through the characters inhabiting them with a crunchy richness. While this particular book doesn’t have quite the poetic prose of Storm Constantine’s later work, it’s still dense with detailed characters flaring into intense interaction with each other, punctuated by bursts of drily humorous summarization. The story may start out dark, depressing, and mocking its own downward spiral, but the journey the characters take give it a hearty kick of hope. The plot explodes out of the the pages with an uplifting twist, taking the characters with them, raising the setting out of its decay and shaking it up. Overall, this was a richly satisfying read.
To the harsh, unfriendly roads of this world to the various decadent or deceptively safe outposts of civilization, all of these locations come to life through the characters inhabiting them with a crunchy richness. While this particular book doesn’t have quite the poetic prose of Storm Constantine’s later work, it’s still dense with detailed characters flaring into intense interaction with each other, punctuated by bursts of drily humorous summarization. The story may start out dark, depressing, and mocking its own downward spiral, but the journey the characters take give it a hearty kick of hope. The plot explodes out of the the pages with an uplifting twist, taking the characters with them, raising the setting out of its decay and shaking it up. Overall, this was a richly satisfying read.
November 19, 2008
I read this book years ago and am reading it a second time now. I love the way that Storm Constantine sucks me into her imagination- which is oh so vast- and takes me to a totally differnt world that I wish exsisted! She is a truly great fantasy writer. Her use of words is very colourful and once I start reading any of her works I don't want to stop reading till I have finished the book yet at the same time I dread that time coming too!! If you are very straight laced or narrow minded though I wouldn't bother even picking it up as you will no doubt object in some way to hear story line of a future that is no doubt possible if we don't stop damaging the earth.There are a lot of pagan reafernces too which would not appeal to any one from the bible belt!!
November 4, 2012
I love Storm Constantine. I really get into her ability to create atmosphere. She can make a scene sensual, make a fantasy world come alive, and make magic seem real. Even the grotesque takes on a kind of beauty.
Hermetech doesn't work, not because the story is bad--it's not--or because the characters are dull--they're not--but because this atmosphere is missing. As a novel about the merging of science and magic, it features exotic ideas like goddesses talking to genetic clones, which should be fascinating but isn't because Storm goes on for pages with dull information dumps ("Man A founded a religion. Man A built temples. Religion B didn't like the temples, but then they did.") Unfortunately, much of the mistake-riddled dialouge has the same dry consistency.
I am giving this three stars because, as usual, Storm's awesome imagination shines through, and in the better passages I could see the author she would become--has, in fact, become. If you're a huge Storm Constantine fan already, check out this book and see if it's for you. if you aren't, don't let this be your first Storm. The Sea Dragon's Heir and Wraeththu are much better representations of her talent.
-Elizabeth Reuter
The Demon of Renaissance Drive
Hermetech doesn't work, not because the story is bad--it's not--or because the characters are dull--they're not--but because this atmosphere is missing. As a novel about the merging of science and magic, it features exotic ideas like goddesses talking to genetic clones, which should be fascinating but isn't because Storm goes on for pages with dull information dumps ("Man A founded a religion. Man A built temples. Religion B didn't like the temples, but then they did.") Unfortunately, much of the mistake-riddled dialouge has the same dry consistency.
I am giving this three stars because, as usual, Storm's awesome imagination shines through, and in the better passages I could see the author she would become--has, in fact, become. If you're a huge Storm Constantine fan already, check out this book and see if it's for you. if you aren't, don't let this be your first Storm. The Sea Dragon's Heir and Wraeththu are much better representations of her talent.
-Elizabeth Reuter
The Demon of Renaissance Drive
November 5, 2010
Storm Constantine tends to be hit and miss with me. I wasn't particularly impressed by her Wraeththu books, but I really enjoyed her Grigori trilogy, and liked her Magravandias chronicles well enough. Hermetech is her first novel, and it was out of print until her own Immanion Press reprinted it a number of years back.
Hermetech suffers from a great deal of first book issues: I'm not sure if any copy editor has ever seen it, it's filled with typos, the wrong words (sometimes very unfortunate) and weird punctuation. The writing is occasionally clunky and the ending is rather rushed. For all that it was an interesting read. It was first published in 1991, quite awhile earlier than most current environmental dystopias, and it certainly contains themes Constantine has been exploring ever since: Sex, magic and the mutation of genders and gender roles.
If you have issues with magic(k), sex and/or a mix thereof, or cannot handle androgyny and/or intersexuality, this probably isn't for you, but if you're a fan of Constantine this really shouldn't be missed.
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars if I could, but I'll err on the generous side since I can't.
Hermetech suffers from a great deal of first book issues: I'm not sure if any copy editor has ever seen it, it's filled with typos, the wrong words (sometimes very unfortunate) and weird punctuation. The writing is occasionally clunky and the ending is rather rushed. For all that it was an interesting read. It was first published in 1991, quite awhile earlier than most current environmental dystopias, and it certainly contains themes Constantine has been exploring ever since: Sex, magic and the mutation of genders and gender roles.
If you have issues with magic(k), sex and/or a mix thereof, or cannot handle androgyny and/or intersexuality, this probably isn't for you, but if you're a fan of Constantine this really shouldn't be missed.
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars if I could, but I'll err on the generous side since I can't.
August 10, 2012
Now , I am a big Storm Constantine fan , & love her Wraethru stories....so it's sad to report that this was a disappointment for me.
The story was very difficult to fathom I found , & I have to say I couldn't really indentify with any of the characters , or really get their motivations. It's also very dry , & came across more like a textbook than a novel in places.
Think I'll stick to her Wraethru material in future - but it was right to step out of my comfort zone with Storm.
The story was very difficult to fathom I found , & I have to say I couldn't really indentify with any of the characters , or really get their motivations. It's also very dry , & came across more like a textbook than a novel in places.
Think I'll stick to her Wraethru material in future - but it was right to step out of my comfort zone with Storm.
March 27, 2022
Well, I enjoyed this one more than I did the Wrarththu books, but “Hermetech” was still bizarre and rather goofy. I really liked the vibe and atmosphere of this—somewhere between Repo! The Genetic Opera, Blade Runner, and a Siouxsie and The Banshees music video—as well as the occultism woven in. However, the point of the book, as well as the character’s motivations for all that transpired, felt hidden and unexplored. I wanted to know more about the main character, Ari, but oftentimes secondary and tertiary characters took over and I found myself speeding through their sections. Lelah was sort of interesting. Malamute I wished never existed. Zambia was tiresome and I didn’t see the point of that character’s story in the slightest. Perhaps I am not “progressive” enough to get why Zambia was important, but I don’t really care; Zambia was simply an overrated character whose entire existence was to use some specialized language in the main character’s climax (both literally and literaturely hahaha).
There were some splendidly trippy scenes and I loved those…but they were few and far between and I felt Constantine just didn’t go anywhere satisfying with them. I did also like the theme of the main character’s story arc and I did feel rather empowered by her own self discovery and her coming (heh) into being. But so little was actually done with her.
I felt so much was said about things that were not really relevant to the main story and that too little was written on the actual story—there was a lot of interpersonal exposition, which can be fine, but much of the important in-action story was just pretty much summarized. And the world building details I did want more of were simply left to the imagination, which was too bad because the neuro-tech was the most fascinating thing and it was so utterly unexplored.
And the ending! Gosh, I know that good endings should have a sense of the characters living on in the world, but the ending was a setup for a whole new adventure that left a lot of unanswered questions and no real tie-up to the story just told.
The whole book read like a psychedelic trip, so I’m going to give this a very generous 3 stars as it was an interesting trip that I did manage to pull something useful from…but as a novel it was just weird and lacking something to bring all the pieces home.
There were some splendidly trippy scenes and I loved those…but they were few and far between and I felt Constantine just didn’t go anywhere satisfying with them. I did also like the theme of the main character’s story arc and I did feel rather empowered by her own self discovery and her coming (heh) into being. But so little was actually done with her.
I felt so much was said about things that were not really relevant to the main story and that too little was written on the actual story—there was a lot of interpersonal exposition, which can be fine, but much of the important in-action story was just pretty much summarized. And the world building details I did want more of were simply left to the imagination, which was too bad because the neuro-tech was the most fascinating thing and it was so utterly unexplored.
And the ending! Gosh, I know that good endings should have a sense of the characters living on in the world, but the ending was a setup for a whole new adventure that left a lot of unanswered questions and no real tie-up to the story just told.
The whole book read like a psychedelic trip, so I’m going to give this a very generous 3 stars as it was an interesting trip that I did manage to pull something useful from…but as a novel it was just weird and lacking something to bring all the pieces home.
July 23, 2011
c1991. I found this in a second hand bookshop but it was an ARC that had obviously done the rounds. Synopsis courtesy of Amazon "A near future Earth is dying due to human interference; Tech-Green is doing its best to repair the damage and is insisting that mankind leaves the planet to give it time to heal. Ari Famber, is the result of a genetic experiment she knows nothing about. Leila Saatchi, a friend of Ari's dead father, has promised to find her and protect her from others who may seek to use Ari for their own ends." Great concept and well thought out. The mixture of steam-punk with classic mysticsm is intriguing. You certainly can get lost in the story! Recommended. "“A ground mist, morning white, hid all but a suggestion of landscape. A dreamer could imagine green fields might lie there, trees with leaves, even animals moving slowly over the grass. Concentrate hard enough and the smell of living plants might be conjured up. A psychic could probably manage it; someone good with ghosts.”
April 30, 2014
Strong, frightening, joyful, honest and delicious! Such an amazing book! Ok, ok...I know I'm a total, massive, huge Storm Constantine fan girl, but this is a brilliant book. Storm has a stunning talent for creating imagery of such clarity that you can almost smell the smoke of the camp fires, feel the breeze across your skin, hear the crystal waters splash around you.
I find myself lost from reality in this book. I'm on the journey with them, sitting quietly in the corner, just observing. I'm with them in the desert, on the road, in the city. I'm with them through it all! It's exhilarating!
I find myself lost from reality in this book. I'm on the journey with them, sitting quietly in the corner, just observing. I'm with them in the desert, on the road, in the city. I'm with them through it all! It's exhilarating!
Want to read
September 9, 2010*note to self.copy from Al.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews