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15th out of 43 books
—
57 voters
Intervention (Intervention #1-2)
by
Julian May
Intervention sets the scene for Julian May's new trlogy of the Galactic Milieu.
For 60 000 years the five races of the Galactic Milieu have watched and waited for the time when human mental development on Earth is ready for the Intervention ...
As the twentieth century draws to its end, phenomenal mental powers are displayed by 'operants' all across our planet... They can 'f...more
For 60 000 years the five races of the Galactic Milieu have watched and waited for the time when human mental development on Earth is ready for the Intervention ...
As the twentieth century draws to its end, phenomenal mental powers are displayed by 'operants' all across our planet... They can 'f...more
Paperback, 673 pages
Published
August 1988
by Pan Books Limited
(first published 1987)
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The story of the years immediately prior to the discovery and immediate sequestration of Earth by the benevolent Galactic Federation, as seen through the eyes of the amiably cantankerous Dartmouth bookseller Rogatien Remillard, who is like Heinlein's Lazarus Long but with better jokes (though much less sex). The underlying theme of the emergence of telepathy in the human race, and its challenge to humanity, is so much Teilhardian noospheric phooey, but the character of Uncle Rogi keeps it all to...more
This is a possible alternative starting point to Julian May's universe.
It is possible - but starting with The Many-Coloured Land would be a much better idea, unless you can't get hold of it. See my review here.
OK, so this is the alternative. The Saga of the Exiles dealt with the adventures of a group of humans in a Pliocene Earth under the rather chaotic control of the Tanu and to a lesser extent the Firvulag, and their constant wars, using significant mind powers. The humans got there while run...more
It is possible - but starting with The Many-Coloured Land would be a much better idea, unless you can't get hold of it. See my review here.
OK, so this is the alternative. The Saga of the Exiles dealt with the adventures of a group of humans in a Pliocene Earth under the rather chaotic control of the Tanu and to a lesser extent the Firvulag, and their constant wars, using significant mind powers. The humans got there while run...more
Originally published on my blog here in November 1998.
In terms of publication date, Intervention falls between the Saga of the Exiles series and the Galactic Milieu trilogy; in terms of the internal chronology, it comes before either (time travel making later events in the lives of May's characters happen millions of years before earlier ones). It is May's longest work, and has an expository character, filling in much of the background of the other series.
Intervention is the memoirs of Rogatien...more
In terms of publication date, Intervention falls between the Saga of the Exiles series and the Galactic Milieu trilogy; in terms of the internal chronology, it comes before either (time travel making later events in the lives of May's characters happen millions of years before earlier ones). It is May's longest work, and has an expository character, filling in much of the background of the other series.
Intervention is the memoirs of Rogatien...more
The scope of this saga spanning eight novels is staggering. A gate is opened to the past, specifically the Pliocene era. But it is a one-way trip. Adventurous souls travel back, and find a world unlike any they could imagine. Epic conflict rages between ancient races, and the future destiny of man is decided. The initial four books make up The Saga of Pliocene Exile.
* The Many-Coloured Land
* The Golden Torc
* The Nonborn King
* The Adversary
These can be read as a standalone series, but who wou...more
* The Many-Coloured Land
* The Golden Torc
* The Nonborn King
* The Adversary
These can be read as a standalone series, but who wou...more
This is my most favourite Julian May book, and one of my Top Ten Books Ever. It's great as a standalone or as part of her other series. It charts the development of Earth's metapsychic mind from roughly the Second World War through to the 22nd Century through the eyes of agent-provocateur Rogi Remillard. It also traces the lineage and psychic exploits of the Remillard Dynasty, the Sakhvadze family, and the O'Connor "Mental Mafia", and the development of psychic powers from just a few people to u...more
I read this as a teenager and just finished rereading it, almost 20 years later. This (along with the subsequent Galactic Millieu Trilogy) are among my all-time favorite books. Great world-building: starting from the 1940s and branching out into alternate history / future settings starting in the 1990s, extending into the 2100s. The scale of Intervention ranges from the conflicts between family members all the way up to global political / social intrigue.
There are a few issues with pacing and w...more
There are a few issues with pacing and w...more
I had completely forgotten what a great book this is. A prequel to May's 'Saga of Pliocene Exile' that was split into two volumes for US publication (bad idea), Intervention is a hybrid SF story and generational saga along the lines of Anne Rice's Witching Hour. Two brothers discover as children that they have metapsychic powers as unseen alien races observe them, waiting for humanity to achieve unity before they annihilate themselves. May's characterizations are great - much better than one ten...more
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Summary
...more
All over the world, the metapsychics are honing their skills, learning to stretch their incredible minds far beyond the ken of ordinary humans. Most are dedicated to the harmony of the human soul. But some have darker intentions...If the metapsychics succeed in uniting Earth's minds to take the next step up in human evolution, a place awaits humanity among the alien peoples of the fabulous Galactic Milieu. But if evil minds prevail in their bid for power, Earth will be cut off...and m
I love this book. Mainly I love the character of Rogi Remillard, the narrator. It's fairly rare to have a second hand book dealer as the main character of a novel, and Julian May paints such a vivid picture of him that it's clear she knows exactly what second hand book dealers are like! He's a low psionic-powered member of a remarkable family which is instrumental in taking the Earth into a new alliance with alien races who also have psionic powers, and he is long lived enough to see the whole s...more
One of my all-time favourites. The book I turn to when I need to escape.
Uncle Rogi is a man with talents, along with his twin brother. Rogi takes the lighter path, his brother the darker one. They are the beginning of a dynasty with a range of super human powers and Rogi is shepherded by a being he thinks is a figment of his imagination, to facilitate the growth of this family and others like them around the globe; to advance the evolution of humanity.
Uncle Rogi is a man with talents, along with his twin brother. Rogi takes the lighter path, his brother the darker one. They are the beginning of a dynasty with a range of super human powers and Rogi is shepherded by a being he thinks is a figment of his imagination, to facilitate the growth of this family and others like them around the globe; to advance the evolution of humanity.
Re-reading this book (3rd time I think, have read the whole series at least twice, so I get a bit confused). The story of the Remillard clan who become senior figures in the development of human mental powers, which in turn heralds contact by a watching alien confederation hoping to add humanity to their group.
Knowing the full series makes it even more fun to read, and try (and fail) to spot inconsistencies.
Knowing the full series makes it even more fun to read, and try (and fail) to spot inconsistencies.
I read this years ago when it was first published. After that, I would wait avidly for the next to arrive at the local bookshop. These books made an impact somehow. I sold them at a garage sale in the '90's then re-bought the set recently. Fantasy + science fiction + metas + in depth character development = excellent read.
Hey Amy, this is the series I was telling you about - this is the prequel to the Galactic Milieu trilogy (Jack the Bodiless, Diamond Mask, and Magnificat) and is followed the by Saga of the Pliocene Exiles. You should soooooo read them. Summary again: If the Kennedys were psychic! And French-Canadian Catholics migrated to New Hampshire instead of Irish Catholics migrated to Boston. In the future!! (Actually, some of this book takes place in the twentieth century, but eventually it's in the futur...more
I didn't quite enjoy it while I was reading, but one of my best friend asked me to read it once more because it is a good book, and I'm going to but I really think it is boring.
Any way after I will read it again I may change my review..
Any way after I will read it again I may change my review..
This ties back to the Saga of the Pliocene Exiles . . . eventually. Fantastic series. Own them all and will leave them in my will to a lucky reader somewhere. If you haven't read them from book one on, you are missing out!
Feb 26, 2013
Jeff Raymond
marked it as unfinished-reads
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
to-read-sci-fi
I can't say for sure what it was that threw me off about this one, but about 60 pages in I decided I didn't want anything to do with this right now, acclaimed or not.
Read the 4 Saga of the Exiles books before this one or you'll spoil some of the surprises waiting for you. You have been warned :)
A superb bridge between the four books of the Saga of the Exiles and the 'prequel' Galactic Milieu trilogy, this saga sweeps the reader from the first glimmer of metapsychic power in humankind all the way to the Intervention, taking in many familiar historical events alongside the founding of the Remillard dynasty.
What happened to the magic and wonder of the Many Colored Land? It's completely absent here.
A really great sci-fi book. Author prescient about many technological advances.
Enjoyable, standard May. A bit shorter than her normal fare, so a bit less depth.
One of the best WTF moments ever, and all in the last sentence!
Addicted to the book to the point of obsession....back in the day
One of my favourite books ever.
read before June 1993
A GREAT READ!
Brilliant!
Judy Colchin --
This is popcorn sci-fi. I just need one more handful...
I plan on reading more from this author. Her style is a bit simplistic, but it follows the formula of other sci-fi I enjoy, that is just enough to make me think while still being deliciously stupid at times. One species, for example, had an entire body that was one giant sex-organ. Which is perhaps not far from what our skin must be like to someone without the same senses... anyway, much fun.
I plan on reading more from this author. Her style is a bit simplistic, but it follows the formula of other sci-fi I enjoy, that is just enough to make me think while still being deliciously stupid at times. One species, for example, had an entire body that was one giant sex-organ. Which is perhaps not far from what our skin must be like to someone without the same senses... anyway, much fun.
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