Oracle
The slab bore curious markings, but nothing resembling writing. Hatsutmer could neither recognise what it was, nor of what material it had been made. Not wood, not clay, not metal, not any stone that he could put a name to...
Any simpleton could see what it was not.
What it was... even the wisest of men could not say. But he knew what the strange slab exuded. He could feel it quickening his blood, tugging at his lifesoul.
Power.
It is North Africa in 17,000 BC. North of the Saltwater Sea, towering cliffs of solid water are melting. A remnant group of Neanderthal lionfaces has been pushed south by the ice, subjugated by a pre-Egyptian civilization. Their leader Jackalfoot is Beastmaster to the reigning child-King, whose evil uncle wants the throne and is willing to do murder to get it.
A trainee priest finds a strange speaking-stone in the deep desert, which he imagines to be an oracle. He uses its power to become High Priest of the Hippopotamus Cult. His wife is High Priestess of the Lilypad Goddess, and together they have the prophecy business sewn up. But she has a secret, a past indiscretion whose discovery could destroy her.
A former warrior and his gladiator enemy are preparing to fight to the death in the Arena for the annual Championship, during which Jackalfoot's favourite sabretoothed lion is certain to be slaughtered. The warrior's infatuation with a young lionface herbalist threatens them both.
Unknown to anyone except the manager of the Arena, criminal pandemons are covertly recording bloody gladiatorial contests to entertain perverted clients throughout the Galaxy. With the arrival of a magnetotorus herd migrating from a distant star, the plasmoids living peacefully in the Sun become aware of the pandemon menace, and the pandemon's stolen Precursor ship decides to subvert its own programming and take a hand in events. Now it all starts to get complicated...
Oracle, the long-awaited prequel to Wheelers and Heaven, tells a story of intergalactic scope, in which bizarre aliens and their advanced technologies clash with a violent ancient civilisation -- with devastating consequences for both.
Any simpleton could see what it was not.
What it was... even the wisest of men could not say. But he knew what the strange slab exuded. He could feel it quickening his blood, tugging at his lifesoul.
Power.
It is North Africa in 17,000 BC. North of the Saltwater Sea, towering cliffs of solid water are melting. A remnant group of Neanderthal lionfaces has been pushed south by the ice, subjugated by a pre-Egyptian civilization. Their leader Jackalfoot is Beastmaster to the reigning child-King, whose evil uncle wants the throne and is willing to do murder to get it.
A trainee priest finds a strange speaking-stone in the deep desert, which he imagines to be an oracle. He uses its power to become High Priest of the Hippopotamus Cult. His wife is High Priestess of the Lilypad Goddess, and together they have the prophecy business sewn up. But she has a secret, a past indiscretion whose discovery could destroy her.
A former warrior and his gladiator enemy are preparing to fight to the death in the Arena for the annual Championship, during which Jackalfoot's favourite sabretoothed lion is certain to be slaughtered. The warrior's infatuation with a young lionface herbalist threatens them both.
Unknown to anyone except the manager of the Arena, criminal pandemons are covertly recording bloody gladiatorial contests to entertain perverted clients throughout the Galaxy. With the arrival of a magnetotorus herd migrating from a distant star, the plasmoids living peacefully in the Sun become aware of the pandemon menace, and the pandemon's stolen Precursor ship decides to subvert its own programming and take a hand in events. Now it all starts to get complicated...
Oracle, the long-awaited prequel to Wheelers and Heaven, tells a story of intergalactic scope, in which bizarre aliens and their advanced technologies clash with a violent ancient civilisation -- with devastating consequences for both.
Science Fiction & FantasyScience FictionHard Science FictionSpace Opera
RELEASED2021
PUBLISHERIndependently Published
LENGTH367
LANGUAGEEN
Jack Cohen, FRSB was a British reproductive biologist also known for his science books and involvement with science fiction. *--Wikipedia*
Oracle
The slab bore curious markings, but nothing resembling writing. Hatsutmer could neither recognise what it was, nor of what material it had been made. Not wood, not clay, not metal, not any stone that he could put a name to...
Any simpleton could see what it was not.
What it was... even the wisest of men could not say. But he knew what the strange slab exuded. He could feel it quickening his blood, tugging at his lifesoul.
Power.
It is North Africa in 17,000 BC. North of the Saltwater Sea, towering cliffs of solid water are melting. A remnant group of Neanderthal lionfaces has been pushed south by the ice, subjugated by a pre-Egyptian civilization. Their leader Jackalfoot is Beastmaster to the reigning child-King, whose evil uncle wants the throne and is willing to do murder to get it.
A trainee priest finds a strange speaking-stone in the deep desert, which he imagines to be an oracle. He uses its power to become High Priest of the Hippopotamus Cult. His wife is High Priestess of the Lilypad Goddess, and together they have the prophecy business sewn up. But she has a secret, a past indiscretion whose discovery could destroy her.
A former warrior and his gladiator enemy are preparing to fight to the death in the Arena for the annual Championship, during which Jackalfoot's favourite sabretoothed lion is certain to be slaughtered. The warrior's infatuation with a young lionface herbalist threatens them both.
Unknown to anyone except the manager of the Arena, criminal pandemons are covertly recording bloody gladiatorial contests to entertain perverted clients throughout the Galaxy. With the arrival of a magnetotorus herd migrating from a distant star, the plasmoids living peacefully in the Sun become aware of the pandemon menace, and the pandemon's stolen Precursor ship decides to subvert its own programming and take a hand in events. Now it all starts to get complicated...
Oracle, the long-awaited prequel to Wheelers and Heaven, tells a story of intergalactic scope, in which bizarre aliens and their advanced technologies clash with a violent ancient civilisation -- with devastating consequences for both.
Any simpleton could see what it was not.
What it was... even the wisest of men could not say. But he knew what the strange slab exuded. He could feel it quickening his blood, tugging at his lifesoul.
Power.
It is North Africa in 17,000 BC. North of the Saltwater Sea, towering cliffs of solid water are melting. A remnant group of Neanderthal lionfaces has been pushed south by the ice, subjugated by a pre-Egyptian civilization. Their leader Jackalfoot is Beastmaster to the reigning child-King, whose evil uncle wants the throne and is willing to do murder to get it.
A trainee priest finds a strange speaking-stone in the deep desert, which he imagines to be an oracle. He uses its power to become High Priest of the Hippopotamus Cult. His wife is High Priestess of the Lilypad Goddess, and together they have the prophecy business sewn up. But she has a secret, a past indiscretion whose discovery could destroy her.
A former warrior and his gladiator enemy are preparing to fight to the death in the Arena for the annual Championship, during which Jackalfoot's favourite sabretoothed lion is certain to be slaughtered. The warrior's infatuation with a young lionface herbalist threatens them both.
Unknown to anyone except the manager of the Arena, criminal pandemons are covertly recording bloody gladiatorial contests to entertain perverted clients throughout the Galaxy. With the arrival of a magnetotorus herd migrating from a distant star, the plasmoids living peacefully in the Sun become aware of the pandemon menace, and the pandemon's stolen Precursor ship decides to subvert its own programming and take a hand in events. Now it all starts to get complicated...
Oracle, the long-awaited prequel to Wheelers and Heaven, tells a story of intergalactic scope, in which bizarre aliens and their advanced technologies clash with a violent ancient civilisation -- with devastating consequences for both.
Science Fiction & FantasyScience FictionHard Science FictionSpace Opera
RELEASED2021
PUBLISHERIndependently Published
LENGTH367
LANGUAGEEN
Jack Cohen, FRSB was a British reproductive biologist also known for his science books and involvement with science fiction. *--Wikipedia*
