Adiamante

Earth, the peaceful capital of a long-fallen interstellar empire, is confronted by deadly violence when the warships of a former colony attack, and it is up to planetary coordinator Ecktor deJanes to eliminate the menace without violating Earth's non-aggression principles.

©1996 L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (P)2018 Tantor

Incredible plot unraveling

This story started very slowly and it was unclear where it was going. At least one early chapter had a poem-like sound to it. However, I am very glad that I stayed with this story. It is a better than average comment on human condition. And, the story was told with virtually no swearing and no sex. I highly recommend it!!

Adiamante is a very fascinating story.

Wow. Ten thousand years after a lot of great technology to be developed and misused to cause a catastrophic war to make a great split of mankind. Now the “evicted” instigators descendants return to right the wrong forced on their ancestors. How this author thought that of not only changes in technology that would occur but how the language and words would change is clever. At first I was a little frustrated in understanding what was being said but after a bit it started to sink in. I was “trying to listen” unlike the Marsibs. The word changes were pretty cool unlike the changes used by Jar-Jar Binks in Star Wars. The government that developed on Old Earth is very interesting. The rules of the Construct seamed tough but it strove to keep society humming with regular people and those of enhanced abilities living together in harmony. Very neat.

Interesting take on philosophical SF

It’s different than most military SF, and takes some careful listening to grasp the philosophies of government & ecology. Different is good, if one is open to it. Has some elements to successful classic thoughtful science fiction literature. Review by Rick, April 27, 2024

Glad I found this again!

I read this in paperback in the 1990's. Hearing it is much better, as the narrator really catches the coordinator's inner voice.

Unsatisfying and massive plot holes galore

If you think trans-human hippies would be a cool thing get this book. Otherwise you should give it a pass. A hard pass.