A Plague of Angels

Sheri S. Tepper

A Plague of Angels is another one of Sheri S. Tepper's novels that twists, turns, doubles back, and winds around on itself with an unexpected ending.

Abasio longs for adventure throughout his young life. Now, at 13, he is sneaking away from his family farm and going to the city Fantis. He doesn't know what he'll do, but he has to find out. Along the way he meets a man with a young girl. She is an Orphan, on her way to grow up in a special village. In the city, Abasio quickly becomes a member of the Purple Gang. For the next 18 years he lives a ganger's life, although he is careful about some things. He becomes an atypical but trusted Ganger.

Then Fate steps in. Abasio spies Orphan while on a mission to her village one day. There is an attraction between the two of them that is swift and brief. He has to return to the City. Later he is able to leave on his own. No one in Fantis knows he is going to look for a woman. By now Orphan has grown up and leaves her village shortly after his mission. Abasio finds Olly (her new name) working happily on a farm. She sends him away because she feels she has more to do. It is only after he has to escape the City and finds her again that Olly learns that he is intertwined in what she has to do - which is to save civilization on Earth.

A Plague of Angels is one of Tepper's cautionary tales of a possible future. It is a mixture of fantasy with trolls, ogres, and smart animals and part science fiction with space shuttles, nuclear fission, and androids. Although the book proceeds chronologically, it doesn't always make sense in the first third of the book. A Plague of Angels jumps around stories, keeping the reader on the edge of confusion.

The second half of A Plague of Angels pulls all the different story lines together. The novel gets stronger, keeping the reader's attention. But the end, while reasonable, falls apart for the reader. Once again, the story gets a bit muddled, and its strengths seep away. If you've read and like Sheri S. Tepper's work, you'll enjoy A Plague of Angels. If you haven't read any of her work, don't start with this one. Try The Gate to Women's Country or The Margarets instead.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence, Suggestive dialogue or situations