The Golden Queen
by Dave Wolverton
writing as David Farland
 |
Tor (New York): 1994. Paperback: 318 pages. ISBN-10: 0-76531-315-4 Suggested retail price: $5.99 (US) Tags: bears; fantasy; insects; Science Fiction; time travel Tactical strength: [6/10] |
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In the far future, humanity has spread over the galaxy. Most races have been genetically altered for specific purposes: survivability on a world with extreme environmental conditions or enhanced to be the leader class. A stereotypical, though creatively described, race of insect- like creatures--the Dronon--have taken control of the human worlds. In particular, the insect queen has taken control of the Omni-mind, a world- sized computer with a special mesh headset used to house all human knowledge and to enable the wearer to serve as the ultimate judge for all human disputes.
In spite of the advanced technology, some worlds chose to live a backward life without technology, although they usually have some genetic engineering, such as genetic memory of English and talking bears. The main character, Gallen O'Day comes from such a world.
One night in a bar, Gallen meets Everynne, who hires Gallen to guide her to a hyperdimentional gate (or to use the term from another universe, a stargate). Everynne is the clone of the late, defeated wearer of the Omni-mind, and she is on a quest with her bodyguard to defeat the Dronon queen through ritual combat.
Wolverton easily describes the interesting technology that he has created, but often the characters make judgements or guesses about information that should be available through the digital assistants most of the characters wear. Even if the assistants do not contain the needed information, Wolverton should have anticipated more of the results of the technology he envisioned. At times, I had the same feeling as I get when watching a Star Trek episode where the transporter would easily solve the problem, but for some unexplained reason, the Enterprise crew uses the shuttle craft.
The characters in The Golden Queen never really interested me.
Gallen and the other characters from his backward planet learn a lot
about technology, but they never really mature or deal with any
serious personal crisis. Instead, the characters seem a vehicle to
present Wolverton's interesting setting.
I must admit that I read The Golden Queen immediately following
George Martin's A Game of Thrones,
and reading a book of such high quality has probably influenced my
rating and opinion of Wolverton's book.
Originally published using the author's real name Dave Wolverton and
as two volumes, this being the first volume, ISBN 0-81255-255-5.
Republished in a combined edition as Worlds of the Golden Queen
using the penname David Farland.
