Magnificat (Galactic Milieu #3) ANNOTATION
The eagerly awaited finale of a modern SF classic--May's Galactic Milieu Trilogy, which began with Jack the Bodiless and continued with Diamond Mask. The mystery involving Jack the Bodiless, the metaphysically talented Dorothea, and Fury, the insane metaphysic creature determined to become sole ruler over all humankind, explodes anew. At last, the momentous secret at the heart of the trilogy is revealed.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
By the mid-twenty-first century, humanity is beginning to enjoy membership in the Galactic Milieu, a confederation of exotic races spread throughout the galaxy. Human colonies are thriving on numerous planets, life on Earth is peaceful and prosperous, more and more humans are being born with the metapsychic abilities that characterize the next step in human evolution . . . and it is not long before these gifted minds will at last achieve total Unity. But xenophobia is deeply rooted in the human soul. And ethnocentrism all too often rears its ugly head. A growing corps of rebels plots to keep the people of Earth forever separate in the name of human individuality. At their head is a man obsessed with human superiority: Marc Remillard, scion of the family that almost singlehandedly led humanity into the Galactic Milieu, and one of the most formidable metapsychics ever. Marc's goal is nothing less than the elevation of human metapsychics above all others, by way of artificial enhancement of mental faculties. His methods are unpalatable, his goal - a great generation of bodiless brains with gargantuan metapsychic powers - is horific. And so Marc and his co-conspirators are forced to continue their work in secret, not only to implement the Mental Man scheme but also to eventually take over the Milieu by force. Only the very Unity he fears and abhors can foil Marc's plans. And only his brother, Jack the Bodiless, and the young woman called Diamond Mask - and the awesome power of their combined minds - can hope to lead the metaconcert to destroy Marc, Unify humanity, and pave the way for the Golden Age of the Galactic Milieu to begin . . .
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Though billed as the "finale" to May's Galactic Milieu Trilogy (Jack the Bodiless; Diamond Mask), this convoluted adventure creates more confusions than conclusions. By the middle of the 21st century, certain humans have achieved superior psychic abilities that have prompted a group of alien species to invite humanity to join their Galactic Milieu, a telepathic alliance. But Rebel forces (who are often led astray by the evil Fury and its children, the Hydra) fight against entering the Milieu, so humanity can remain separate and sovereign. Told from multiple viewpoints, the novel's touchstone is Rogatien Remillard, who is writing a history of his powerful clan. The story line courses through the marriage of Diamond Mask and Jack the Bodiless, the uncovering of the identity of the Fury and the completion of some mind-enhancing scientific projects that will enable human minds to become the most powerful in the galaxy. While the narrative may confuse those unfamiliar with the earlier volumes, series fans should find that, though it may not deserve its own magnificat, it definitely merits some praise. (Mar.)
BookList - Roland Green
May concludes the Galactic Milieu trilogy, which is a prequel to the multivolume Saga of Pliocene Exile that describes the absorption of the human race into a union of civilized metapsychic races. The focus here is, as in "Diamond Mask" (1994), on three characters: the potent metapsychic Dorothea, the mutant genius Jack the Bodiless, and the ambitious metapsychic lunatic Fury. The plot is as convoluted as usual in May's work and as impossible to summarize. The ending is actually enough of a surprise to be well worth not describing; at least it should be mentioned that it is one of a number of enormously powerful scenes. "Magnificat" is obviously the wrong book with which to start either Galactic Milieu or May's work in general, but readers familiar with May's ambitious, sometimes sprawling, often magnificent sagas will find it richly rewarding.
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