The Webs of Varok (The Archives of Varok) - Softcover

Neeper, Cary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1622220013 ISBN 13: 9781622220014

Publisher: Penscript Publishing House, LLC, 2012

Synopsis

Silver medalist, YA fiction -- Nautilus Book Awards
Finalist, science fiction-- ForeWord's Book of the Year Awards
 
In an alternate 21st century Solar System: Tandra Grey has left Earth for the ancient sustainable culture of Varok, with its promise of stability for her young daughter. But a genius with a hidden talent sets her eye on Varok's wealth--and Tandra's soul mates. Tandra, the elll Conn, and the varok Orram must untangle a web of deceit to restore balance for Varok and their fragile new family.

The second novel in Cary Neeper's Archives of Varok series, The Webs of Varok follows the new, offworld adventures of the characters from Neeper's 1975 novel A Place Beyond Man, re-released in 2011. With three more titles coming in 2013-14, the five-volume Archives of Varok travels with Tandra's family on quests from Earth to the Oort Cloud with several stops in-between.

About this title

From the Author:

Award winner, speculative novel The Webs of Varok could also be called a New Adult book, not just YA and adult science fiction. The young human girl central to the mixed-alien family saga grows up on the alien planet Varok in the second book of The Archives of Varok series. In the third book, in her twenties, she will lead a team to Earth to teach steady state ethics, and in the fourth she will travel to the strange watery planet of her beloved ellls to explore her faith in creation.
 
Her fantasy is that she can secure the future of Earth, which is set in an alternate 21st century solar system inhabited by communicative aliens too close and too savvy to ignore. Their humorous antics add fun to the serious business of recovering their own planets' sustainability (in The Webs of Varok) and convincing Earth that it must convert ASAP to a global steady state economics (in The Alien Effect, coming soon). The series creates a fantasy model of a friendly solar system where reason and understanding leave room for tackling the huge problems of long-term survival
 
 Along with its imaginative neighbors, the novels portray a realistic Earth projected to the 2060's. Its communicative aliens have humanoid characteristics that mask very subtle differences that make them truly alien and challenge the mixed family at its deepest psychological levels. The definition of family is put to the test, as are some common human economic misconceptions and blindsided notions about overpopulation stress and resource depletion.

In The Webs of Varok--the second book in the series--Tandra Grey crosses millions of miles of empty space to live with her adopted family on Varok, with its promise of stability for her young daughter. With her are Orram, a humanoid varok who experiences life through mindful awareness, and Conn, a fun-loving elll--a schooling amphibioid who experiences life through many senses. Together as a family, they leave the Elll-Varok Observation Base on Earth's moon, believing they can no longer influence the fate of life on Earth. They hope that Varok's steady state economy can serve as a model for Earth.

But their new home and future come under threat when a gifted mutant sets her eye on Varok's wealth--and Tandra's soul mates. The varokian beauty Mahntik will use her genius to achieve dominance at any cost. With a scheme of profit, fear and lies she spurs rebellion, carelessly raising the specter of inter-species war. Tandra's family must untangle a knurled web of deceit, kidnapping and murder to secure their world and save their family bonds. Can trust among species win the day?

From the Back Cover:

The Webs of Varok (Prologue excerpt on back cover)

"Push off and sail up here, Tandra. You need to hear this."

I didn't like the elll's uncharacteristic dry tone. My soul-brother, the aquatic member of our new family, Conn had not spoken English since we left Earth's moon. Goose bumps surged up my arms.

"We have a personal message from Varok," Orram said. "It's coded 'urgent,' but I'll bet a kaehl egg it's not, considering the source." The varok also spoke English, trying his best to sound reassuring.

As I glided to the flight deck, Conn reached back and wrapped my hand in the wide fins between his six fingers. Ahead, Jupiter appeared in the ship's main viewing screen, its deceptive beauty roiling with stripes of gorgeous pastel colors.

The radio hacked and coughed up a silken feminine sound in Varokian, unlike anything I had heard other varoks produce. "Orram? Mahntik speaking. Welcome home."

About this edition

• Publisher: Penscript Publishing House, LLC
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1622220013
• ISBN 13: 9781622220014
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320