Title:
Seven Swanns
Author:
Dominique Tomas
Published By:
New Concepts Publishing
ISBN:
N/A
Release Date:
Available Now
Format:
Electronic
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Nineteen-year-old Princess is the only survivor of a mysterious virus that hit the population of her colony. The disease mutated all those who had been born on the planet into "Swanns" -- swan-like creatures native to the planet -- and killed everyone else outright. Even her seven brothers finally mutated, leaving her totally alone. Princess herself began to change, but the change was arrested when she picked some nettles in the colony garden. This is the story of how Princess survives, meets the man who will become her husband, and saves her brothers from their fate.
This short novella (100+ pages) is a science fiction interpretation of The Brothers Grimm's fairy tale "The Six Swans," in New Concepts' "Valentine's Fourteen Days of Fairytale Romance" series. As in the fairy tale, the brothers are turned into swans, and may only be turned back into men by nettles. Their sister is tasked with gathering enough nettles to change them, and while she gathers, she may not speak. This is an excellent science fiction interpretation of the familiar fairy tale. It contains all the elements of the original, explained in a logical scientific way. The romance between Princess and her prince is interesting, in that neither speaks the other's language, and for much of the time, communicate only with pictures drawn on a slate. The protagonists are depicted as complex personalities, engaging under difficult circumstances. This story is rated Sensual by the publisher for several moderately explicit love scenes. I enjoyed this novella, and recommend it for its creativity and skillful execution.Reviewed by: Jean
