How many times have you been exasperated by attempts to solve problems on a personal level? How frustrated, sad, or angry do you get watching politicians trying to solve local, national, and international problems with talk, action, more talk, etc. in a seemingly endless, circular pattern? Welcome to the world of Benita Alvarez-Shipton. Journey with Benita as she enters the dawning of a new age, the age of the Pastich, an alien race with startlingly unique insight and solutions into the human experience.
Benita and her new friends explore the art, beliefs, culture, law, and politics of Earth and Pistach-home in a fascinating, plot-driven story. Images and sensory connections transfix our reading experience as we discover with Benita the source of the Pistach mystique, The Fresco. In a mind-boggling manner, Benita watches as the struggle between fixing problems and respecting individual choice proceeds. We wonder, as we fly through the pages, how successful the power-hungry VP's of this world, aligned with another group of enemy aliens, will be in stopping the transformation of a world used to prolonging rather than fixing problems.
Just when it seems the action freezes, Benita and special emissaries from our government make a discovery about The Fresco that threatens the destruction of the Pastich and Earth. They must travel to this intriguing, but danger-fraught world to help their helpers. Although most readers will quickly conclude who the winner will be, they will not be prepared for the stunning adventures that follow.
Earth will never be the same and neither will you, the reader. For you will see and hear, with new eyes and ears, think in a different way than ever anticipated while you read and are tempted to cancel every other event until finished with this imaginative, challenging work of art. Nanobots, male pregnancies, genetic alteration of "breeding madness", an "ugliness" campaign, and an artistic "miracle" are just a very few of the humorous, sane, and sensitive delights awaiting each reader.
Winner of the Best Fantasy Novel of the Year for a previous work, Sherri Tepper has again managed to surpass her previous, numerous creations. No, it isn't preachy; it doesn't produce utopia. However, all men and women, people of different religions, races, and creeds might be better for reading this timely, significant fictional expose. This wonderful novel is truly about who we are, the way we live, and the way we "could" live on this Earth and perhaps, with other planetary creatures of like mind and spirit. Enjoy the trip!