Shadow of the Warmaster

Diadem #10

by Jo Clayton

Equipped with the deadliest of weapons, The Warmaster, a huge orbiting battleship, was the Imperator's key to control. Through its very presence he held an entire planet in thrall. For who would risk the destruction of an entire world to bring him down? First in an exciting new series.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

398 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 4, 1988

About the author

Jo Clayton, whose parents named her after Jo in Little Women, was born and raised in Modesto, California. She and her three sisters shared a room and took turns telling each other bedtime stories. One of her sisters noted that Jo's stories were the best, and often contained science fiction and fantasy elements.

Clayton graduated from the University of California in 1963, Summa Cum Laude, and started teaching near Los Angeles.

In 1969, after a religious experience, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, joining the teaching order Sisters of Mount Carmel as a novice. She left three years later, before taking final orders.

During her time in New Orleans, Clayton sold sketches and paintings in Pioneer Square to supplement her income.

After being robbed several times, Clayton moved to Portland, Oregon in 1983. She remained there for the rest of her life.

Clayton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996. Jo continued to write during her year and a half in the hospital. She finished Drum Calls, the second book of the Drums of Chaos series, and was halfway through the third and final book when she lost her struggle with multiple myeloma in February, 1998.

Literary executor Katherine Kerr made arrangements with established author Kevin Andrew Murphy to finish the third book of the Drums of Chaos series. It is now completed.

Reviews

[Brent Moffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a book in the middle of a series. There were some references that made me think I should already know what it was referring to. It was a good story with a lot of threads that would lend itself to a followup. Doesn't seem to be one, though

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of the Diadem books, but still enjoyable.