The Courtesan Prince (The Okal Rel Saga)

by Lynda Williams

In this volume: When Earth's first attempt to conquer the far reaches of space was thwarted by the failure of a faster than light transportation system, the first colonists were abandoned. Subsequent... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1894063287
• ISBN13: 9781894063289
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishing
• Length: 453 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Addictive

I first started reading the Okal Rel Universe with Lynda Williams' first book (the third in the series), "Throne Price", with Alison Sinclair. I had difficulty with that book, because I wasn't yet familiar with the Okal Rel Universe. But this one, I didn't put down until I was finished. I began reading, and became so absorbed in this rich and captivating place that I went back and read "Throne Price", along with anything I could get my hands on to do with Okal Rel. Williams' characters are fascinating; her stories complex and intriguing. One of the aspects I most enjoyed with this book was the dialogue; the interactions between the handful of primary characters. This book is far more engaging than any movie could ever be. It rivals Herbert's "Dune", both in its complexity and in its richness. Williams takes a brilliant and complex universe and invites us in, pulls us in, and keeps us there, turning pages, wanting more, voraciously lapping up everything she tosses our way. I should like to thank her for creating this wonderful thing, this series of books that will be treasured for years to come. "Why only four stars then?" you ask. Only because it helps to be familiar with Okal Rel before diving in. It helps to know a little about the history - a little more than what's in the preface - and to have read some of the Okal Rel novellas to familiarise yourself with the background of the universe. It isn't strictly *necessary* to do so, but I recommend it. Luckily, all of this is available: http://www.okalrel.org/

Waiting with Aniticipation for the Next Book!!!

This is a fascinating new world of rich, complex characters, relationships and cultural conflicts! I love how Lynda has chosen to grapple with difficult social issues by presenting them through a "safe" distant world.....

Read this book and get hooked!!

This book is truly, simply put, amazing. Set in the universe of Okal Rel, I found myself awestruck and lured in by the meticulously thought-out galaxy and characters. Oh, the characters! Electric, brilliant characters, both unique and full of life, they grab hold of your affection (and sometimes hatred) and don't let go. And of course, to accompany all this, is a wonderful plot, brimming with adventure, seductive romance, politics and more then the characters' fair share of hardships. Plus, as an extra bonus, the universe is open to fans! Enthusiasts can write novellas set in the Okal Rel universe and get a chance to work with the author, Lynda Williams, herself! This is indeed one of my favourite books of all time! Okal Rel is a whole new, wonderful universe and will get the reverence it truly deserves.

Sex, Swords, and Spaceships = Courtesan Prince

Sex, swords, spaceships, what more could you want? Courtesan Prince by Lynda Williams is the story of the beautiful, soul searching, anguished Amel's search for and discovery of his hidden identity and his passionate liaison with the fiery pilot, Anne. The half-naked female spacer finds her male "Beauty" in the midst of painful, physical, psychologically generated cultural clash, rushes to his defense, and sets into motion a destiny of lust, romance, compulsion, and intrigue. First contact between two lost societies of Earth, genetically enhanced super beings the Sevolites of Gelion and the humans of Rire, had failed eons earlier and accident has brought renewed potential for conflict. Small numbers on both sides struggle to balance a fragilely wrought peace confounded by motivations of duty, honor, and sacrifice. All the factors contrive for the enticing entry into the world of Okal Rel. Courtesan Prince is the first novel in a ten book series. Book two, Righteous Anger, set for release in 2006, follows the tale to the House Nersal and Sevolite intercultural, religious, genetic conflict. Book four, published first in 2002, written with Allison Sinclair, Throne Price details the search for the next heir to the Sevolite Empire. All three novels are produced by Edge Publications of Calgary, Alberta. Lynda's novellas, Kath, Mekhanstan, and The Lorel Experiment, are available through Windstorm Creative, of Port Orchard, Washington. The Okal Rel website offers current work and visual representations of the universe: [...] Dark/ light, good/evil, and the blurred lines in between, Amel and Anne, later Horth Nersal and Ameron, struggle to do right between the simple honesty of sword law and artificially arbitrated intelligence. The personal battles are situated against ingrained values of ethnocentric cultural superiority. Set in an alternate universe, the perennial struggle mirrors the fissures in society today. Cosmic, a colossal tale, written by a lady with a universe in her head, the Okal Rel series fills the void left in the conclusion of Star Trek and Star Wars franchises.

First in the series but not first in the world

The author Lynda Williams has given significant thought to this first book of 10 planned in the Oka Rel universe. In this book on a broad level we see 2 distinct cultures that have arisen from the ashes of a terrible civilization collapsing war which happened thousands of years previously. From the ashes of the previous earth like cultures we see one group who embrases technology and one who does not. The groups are pitted against each other in cultural, social and technological ways. On a deeper level her ability to develope characters with enough depth to seem real gave me characters I could love and wanted to see "win" and others who I found myself loathing. In exploring the differences and similarities Lynda has given us new ways of thinking about the world around us and the culture driven moralities that exist in our current world. Her presentation and delivery really sucked me into her world and carried me through the book causeing me to want more. I look forward to her next books in this series.