Sea of Plague: Heart of the World

by James Axler

Kane and his band of exiles continue their tireless war to stop the tides of damnation for mankind in a post-nuclear America. But the battle reaches a terrible and crucial crossroads as Cerberus... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373638396
• ISBN13: 9780373638390
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Gold Eagle
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Bring in even more changes

Sea of Plague is the finale of what started out as a ground-breaking totally outlanders shattering novel, Talon and Fang. Here we have Kane of the current timeline learning of his future, and what is laying in wait for him, his friends and the woman he loves, but is too pig headed to admit to it. The novel picks up where Kane of the future is killed, but not before successfully sending the deranged dwarf Sindri, back into the past.It's a bit confusing, but due to the fact that Sindri had been out of the time line until he was rescued by Kane, he and he alone would be able to effect the changes that would not create a whole new timeline, an alternate branch of reality. Of course, no one believes him, until Kane of the current era goes over the disk that Sindri brought back with him. That's when it appears that Kane goes rogue, and ends up imprisoning Lakesh, and allowing Sindri to go free. The novel has a number of difficult branches to follow, mainly involving Sam's plans for the future. Then there is the doomsday cult that wants to bring about total destruction of reality, bring on blessed entropy, an end to everything, lead by none other than BOTH Erica van Sloan and Baron Beausoleil.The Author has really shaken things up with the novel. After reading it, the reader is left to wonder - will Lakesh betray the exiles, either intentionally or un-intentionally? Will said man hook up with the Dragon lady, Erica?Will Kane finally stop being pig headed and admit how deeply he cares for Brigid, and visa versa? Will they finally get married, like they did in Talon and Fang?Will they get another Manta to replace the one that had been shot down over India, in an attempt, which appeared to have been successful; to thwart Sam the Imperators plans for world domination?What twists and turns does the author have planned for the future of the series? What can we expect from him? Considering how the series and the characters have changed over the past couple of years, you can rest assured that whatever he has planned, it's nothing that any of us would expect, and that it will be earth shattering in both magnitude, and how it effects the world that he has created. I would be as bold to say that none of the other current writers working for GE could even come close to what he has achieved. If they could, then all of GE's series would end up being best sellers. What can we expect?Only time, and the author, will tell.

Another Awesome Entry In The Outlanders Saga

I can't say enough great things about Outlanders and its creator Mark Ellis. Mark Ellis has set a new standard in the sci-fi/adventure genre and Outlanders is one of the best series of any kind being published in the world today.Sea Of Plague is another awesome entry in the Outlanders saga, picking up the storyline from Talon And Fang, which was the first part of the Heart Of The World duology. To be brief and attempt to avoid spoilers, Kane and the rest of the Cerberus resistance fighters must deal with the shocking revelations made in Talon And Fang. In order to avoid a devastating future, they must devise a plan to put an end to the Imperator's chilling plans for humanity. To this end, they attempt to form an alliance with an old enemy and undertake a desperate raid in an effort to prevent the Imperator from poisoning the earth with a monstrous plague, all the while struggling with the horrifying knowledge that one of their own may betray them and that some of them may be living on borrowed time.As always, there is plenty of white-knuckle suspense and feverish action and adventure, as well as all the bells and whistles of the very best science fiction. Mark Ellis has given the Outlanders universe a rich and fascinating history, incorporating ancient myths and modern legends into a startlingly original tapestry that resonates with true power and is populated by remarkably well-drawn characters, whether they are heroes or villains or someone straddling the line between. To me, it is the compelling and believable characters that are the greatest asset of this fantastic series, as all of them spring to life for the reader and seem to be living, breathing human beings---except for those that are not exactly human, of course.I can't recommend Outlanders highly enough. If you're not reading this series, you're missing out on some of the best popular literature that's being published today.

Sea of Plague.

This second book in the Heart of the World sequence picks up right where the frist book Talon and Fang left off. Coming on the heels of Talon and Fang this book lags a bit in parts, and is bogged down with a tremendous amount of back story that for the loyal reader is more of a rehash of pass events with in the series while being good for the new reader looking to catch up on past events, makes this book a heavy read for the loyal reader who has been enjoying the ride from the start. Thats not to say that Sea of Plague wasn't entertaining, it just seemed to come to an end before it had even begun to get its feet under itself. For me the story just began to get interesting and draw me in, when I suddenly found myself on the last page of the book. Which left me wondering why a story so full of potential was cut short. The classic Outlanders characterization, storytelling, and plot twists are part of this latest chapter of the Outlanders series though. Readers are left with more than few loose ends, that are left dangling. It will be some months before those loose threads are picked up again and expanded upon as the next book is not written by series creature Mark Ellis. All in all Sea of Plague was enjoyable, and entertaining, though if your looking for another rip roaring ride like Talon and Fang you will be some what disappointed. Even though this latest story is not the best Outlanders that Mark Ellis has given us, it is still light years above and beyond the regular sci-fi that is put out on the market!! If your a long time fan or a new reader who has just discovered the Sci-fi gem that is Outlanders this is still a great read and well worth shelling out your hard earned money for which still earns it a 5 star rating from this loyal reader.

Can't get much better

This is only the third of the Outlanders series I've read and as far as excellent science fiction adventure is concerned I don't think you can get much better.The second part of the Heart of the World storyline was gripping from beginning to end but I wished I had read the earlier books with Sam and Colonel Thrush.But I will go back and find the earlier books. I'm a fan for life now! The Outlanders series has the same feel to it as Stargate Sg-1 and even Farscape!

A Challenging Book

OK....a word to the wise. In some ways this is good place to start with the OL series, in other ways it isn't. The backstory of Sam/the Annunaki/Thrush is fleshed out but I can see where it would be confusing to a new reader coming in cold. For all that, Sea of Plague is everything you would want from a OL book even though it's a challenge to the reader. It's very different from Talon and Fang but the stakes are higher. Loose ends that have been dangling for years are finally tied up, but not completely. We learn the fate of Baron Cobalt after the Imperator War and more about Sam's very bizarre mind. Crazy Baron Sharpe and his councilor Crawler make a reappearance and it should come as no surprise that Sharpe is sees a kindred soul in Sindri. The plot in a nutshell is that the Cerberus warriors jump into action to keep the future depicted in Talon and Fang from coming to pass and they do it with the usual OL style. Even though the characters and basic plot are familiar, Mark Ellis manages to put them into new and tense situations. Grant is captured and horrifically tortured, Kane, Domi and Lakesh lead the way to free slaves from the Scorpia Prime, and there is a lot of dramatic tension in the early part of the book when questions of loyalty and even sanity are raised among the heroes. The action scenes crackle with excitement and the character interactions are as always clever and entertaining. In my opinion where Sea of Plague falls short, compared to Talon and Fang is the lack of the big menace as was the case with prior book. Bioweapons are horrifying but they just don't seem as grand as interdimensional temporal windows! The soldiers of the Scorpia Prime don't really come off as matches for the Cerberus warriors. Also there was no new character as cool and sexy as Tanvirah or any character like her. The evil Baroness Beausoliel makes a return, though if you like hybrid psycho witches. But all of these criticisms are minor compared to the pleasure that fans of the series will take in seeing the Cerberus warriors doing what they do best--facing off against terrible odds to save the body and soul of humanity.