The Elysium Commission

Last updated
The Elysium Commission
Elysium Commission cover.jpg
First Edition book cover
Author L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
Cover artist David Seeley
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Science fiction, Detective fiction
Publisher TOR
Publication date
February 2007
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages336 (first edition hardcover)
ISBN 0-7653-1720-6
OCLC 73140223
813/.54 22
LC Class PS3563.O264 E94 2007
Preceded by The Eternity Artifact  
Followed by The Natural Ordermage  

The Elysium Commission is a science fiction novel by American writer L. E. Modesitt, Jr., published in 2007. Set in the far future, the novel follows private investigator Blaine Donne as he investigates several different cases.

Contents

Literary significance and reception

Reviews of The Elysium Commission were mixed. Kirkus Reviews said that the novel had "some brisk action closes the proceedings, but otherwise, mediocre problems and solutions--our hero has little idea how to Google for information and spends most of his time asking his friends for gossip." [1] Publishers Weekly said "Modesitt cleverly weaves together disparate threads of information to form a complete tapestry." [2] Jackie Cassada reviewing for the Library Journal said "Prolific sf author Modesitt (the "Spellsong Cycle") creates a far-future tale of intrigue and mystery featuring a tough but admirable sleuth." [3]

Allusions

Throughout the book, Modesitt makes tongue-in-cheek references to a number of other science fiction and fantasy authors. These are usually in the form of statements or thoughts by a character, and often jumble the order of the authors names or of their novels. Examples include "Jordan Robert" (Robert Jordan) and "The Lictor's Sword" (in reference to Gene Wolfe's The Sword of the Lictor ). Other references are made to Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness . Another author given a nod is Paula Volsky.

Notes

  1. "THE ELYSIUM COMMISSION". Kirkus Reviews. 74 (19): 995–996. October 1, 2006. ISSN   0042-6598.
  2. "The Elysium Commission". Publishers Weekly. 253 (44): 39–40. November 6, 2006. ISSN   0000-0019.
  3. Cassada, Jackie (December 1, 2006). "The Elysium Commission". Library Journal. 131 (20): 115. ISSN   0363-0277.

Related Research Articles

The Golden Oecumene is a science fiction trilogy by the American writer John C. Wright. It consists of three books, The Golden Age, The Phoenix Exultant and The Golden Transcendence.

<i>Evolution</i> (Baxter novel) 2002 anthology by Stephen Baxter

Evolution is a collection of short stories that work together to form an episodic science fiction novel by author Stephen Baxter. It follows 565 million years of human evolution, from shrewlike mammals 65 million years in the past to the ultimate fate of humanity 500 million years in the future.

<i>Space</i> (Baxter novel) 2000 novel by Stephen Baxter

Manifold: Space is a science fiction book by British author Stephen Baxter, first published in the United Kingdom in 2000, then released in the United States in 2001. It is the second book of the Manifold series and examines another possible solution to the Fermi paradox. Although it is in no sense a sequel to the first book it contains a number of the same characters, notably protagonist Reid Malenfant, and similar artefacts. The Manifold series contains four books, Manifold: Time, Manifold: Space, Manifold: Origin, and Phase Space.

<i>The Hunters Blades Trilogy</i>

The Hunter's Blades Trilogy is a fantasy trilogy by American writer R.A. Salvatore. It follows the Paths of Darkness series and is composed of three books: The Thousand Orcs, The Lone Drow, and The Two Swords. The Two Swords was Salvatore's 17th work concerning one of his most famous characters, Drizzt Do'Urden. In this series, Drizzt tries to stop an orc king from spreading chaos and war. The series reached the New York Times bestseller list and is followed by the installments of the Transitions series.

<i>Lazarus Rising</i> (novel) 2003 novel by David Sherman and Dan Cragg

Lazarus Rising is the ninth novel of the military science fiction StarFist Saga, written by David Sherman and Dan Cragg.

<i>The Great War: Breakthroughs</i> Book by Harry Turtledove

The Great War: Breakthroughs is the third and final installment of the Great War trilogy in the Southern Victory series of alternate history novels by Harry Turtledove. It takes the Southern Victory Series to 1917.

The Mammoth Trilogy is a series of books by hard science fiction author Stephen Baxter. The books in it were published between 1999 and 2001. It contains the novels Silverhair, Longtusk and Icebones.

<i>Far Horizons</i> Science fiction anthology edited by Robert Silverberg

Far Horizons: All New Tales from the Greatest Worlds of Science Fiction is an anthology of original science fiction stories edited by Robert Silverberg, first published in hardcover by Avon Eos in May 1999, with a book club edition following from Avon and the Science Fiction Book Club in July of the same year. Paperback and trade paperback editions were issued by Eos/HarperCollins in May 2000 and December 2005, respectively, and an ebook edition by HarperCollins e-books in March 2009. The first British edition was issued in hardcover and trade paperback by Orbit/Little Brown in June 1999, with a paperback edition following from Orbit in July 2000. The book has also been translated into Spanish.

<i>Brass Man</i> 2005 science fiction novel by Neal Asher

Brass Man is a 2005 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the third novel in the Gridlinked sequence.

<i>Flash</i> (Modesitt novel) 2004 novel by L. E. Modesit

Flash is a science fiction novel by American writer L. E. Modesitt, published in 2004.

<i>Heart of Gold</i> (novel) 2000 novel by Sharon Shinn

Heart of Gold is a science fiction novel by American writer Sharon Shinn, published in 2000. The story occurs on an unnamed world in an unnamed city where three races live together. The books focuses on conflicts between the aristocratic, pastoral, and matriarchal Indigo and the clannish, technological, and patriarchal gulden, with little said about the third albino race.

<i>The Ethos Effect</i> 2003 novel by L E. Modesitt, Jr

The Ethos Effect (2003) is a science fiction novel by American writer L. E. Modesitt, Jr., a sequel to The Parafaith War. It is set in a future where humanity has spread to the stars and divided into several factions. Many factions including the Eco-Tech Coalition, the Revenants of the Prophet ("revs") and the Taran Empire are engaged in escalating conflict over territory and their competing social philosophies. Against this background, former Taran Empire officer Van C. Albert is recruited by the mysterious Trystin Desoll to work for the equally mysterious Integrated Information Systems.

<i>Mercury</i> (Bova novel)

Mercury is a 2005 science fiction novel by American writer Ben Bova. The story chronicles the chain of events which leads Mance Bracknell, a shy but gifted engineering student, from the pinnacle of success to the depths of misery and vengeance. The book is part of the Grand Tour

<i>Odyssey</i> (novel) 2006 novel by Jack McDevitt

Odyssey is a science fiction novel by American writer Jack McDevitt. It was a Nebula Award nominee for 2007. It is set in the 23rd century and "explores the immorality of big business and the short-sightedness of the American government in minimizing support for space travel."

<i>Archform: Beauty</i> 2002 novel by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Archform: Beauty is a science fiction novel by American writer L. E. Modesitt, published in 2002. It is set in 24th century Earth.

The Sacred Band of Stepsons

The Sacred Band of Stepsons is a fictional ancient cavalry unit created by Janet Morris and based on the historical Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite strike force of paired lovers and friends that flourished during the fourth century BC in ancient Greece. The Sacred Band of Stepsons series of fantasy novels and stories take place in a myth-like milieu that mixes historical places such as Nisibis, Mygdonia and Chaeronea; warriors such as Theagenes ; gods such as Enlil, Maat and Harmonia; philosophers such as Heraclitus and Thales; cavalry tactics and customs such as homosexuality in the militaries of ancient Greece with those that exist only in fantasy. The exploits of the Stepsons are chronicled in eleven short stories and nine novels. In a fantasy context, this series explores the difficulties facing war-fighters in personal relationships and the enduring questions surrounding the military's historical mixing of homosexuals and heterosexuals in combat.

<i>Conan of Venarium</i> Novel by Harry Turtledove

Conan of Venarium is a fantasy novel by American writer Harry Turtledove, edited by Teresa Nielsen Hayden, featuring Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in hardcover by Tor Books in July 2003; a regular paperback edition followed from the same publisher in July 2004.

<i>Nebula Awards Showcase 2001</i>

Nebula Awards Showcase 2001 is an anthology of science fiction short works edited by Robert Silverberg. It was first published in hardcover and trade paperback by Harcourt in April 2001.

<i>The Bards of Bone Plain</i>

The Bards of Bone Plain is a fantasy novel by Patricia A. McKillip. It was first published in hardcover and ebook by Ace Books in December 2010, with a book club edition issued simultaneously with the Science Fiction Book Club and a trade paperback edition following December 2011. The first British edition was published in ebook by Gateway/Orion in December 2015.

<i>The Sorceress and the Cygnet</i> Fantasy novel

The Sorceress and the Cygnet is a fantasy novel by Patricia A. McKillip. It was first published in hardcover by Ace Books in May 1991, with a paperback edition following from the same publisher in January 1992. The first British edition was published in hardcover and trade paperback by Pan Books in June 1991, with a standard paperback edition following from the same publisher in May 1992. It was subsequently combined with its sequel The Cygnet and the Firebird into the omnibus collection Cygnet, issued in trade paperback by Ace Books in March 2007.