This is an omnibus edition containing the complete novels Defender of the Flame and Herald of the Flame. (For more reader reviews, see the description pages for these novels.)
Starship pilot Terry Radnor is elated to be among those chosen to defend the secret colony Maclairn against enemies who pose a threat to the spread of paranormal human mind powers and commits himself wholly to its cause, not suspecting how much grief his commitment will cost him. Happy in his new marriage and advancing rapidly in his career, he has no idea of the ordeals and perils that will reshape his life. Nor does he guess that the destiny ultimately in store for him is far stranger than anyone could have imagined.
While this series follows the Hidden Flame series–consisting of Stewards of the Flame and Promise of the Flame, which tell of the founding of Maclairn–it is a completely independent story set two hundred years later that can be read alone. Though it is not a Young Adult book and is not appropriate for middle school readers, it will be of special interest to adults and mature teens who have enjoyed Engdahl’s YA novels Enchantress from the Stars and The Far Side of Evil since it deals with some of the psi powers depicted in those books and takes a similar view of humankind’s place in the universe.
