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On Nurusha—an island in the Great Southern Sea on the planet of Paz—Niki Kaznov’s village, Sochi, sank into the sea after huge earthquakes caused by Perigamia—a period when the planet Paz passes close to its star (Gamma One Volantis—the third brightest star in the constellation of Volans), Gamawun. The only one left alive, Niki ends up in New London, where he begins to have strange dreams about things that seem familiar. It’s his time of Enlightenment. The ancient Fathers have a plan for him to take thousands and leave the planet Paz and establish life elsewhere. He just has to figure out what that plan might be.
With the help of a nosy reporter named Albo Shan, a love interest named Pasha Valdar, and the leader of a group called Twelve Points of Light, Niki gains access to a shuttle which has lain dormant for over two hundred years. This shuttle plus others are their ticket off Paz if they can outrun other groups, like the Paz Cadre and the Twelfth Generation, who are looking for the only direct-line Delta alive—which just happens to be Niki. In a time when children are planned through genetics and not allowed birth unless the right seed parents are mixed, Niki is considered the strongest and most precious specimen. Naturally, everyone wants him for their own purposes.
Elsewhere in the galaxy, a ship is on its way through space to find life out there somewhere and establish contact with them. Their journey has a direct bearing on the Enlightenment. It’s a mission with a purpose, though there are those who have doubts about it.
If you’re a sci-fi lover and you’re used to navigating your way through strange names for planets and objects, you’ll enjoy reading Seeds of Memory. Mr. Jacobs has certainly created a whole new world—one you can visualize, all the way down to its weather patterns—and a misguided villain who wants to be the supreme ruler of the planet.
I found, however, that there were too many characters to really get a feel for any of them. The most dynamic character, to me, was the reporter, Albo Shan. He wasn’t as mechanical as the others, and he seemed to have a bit of a personality all his own. I also liked Alexandra Guzman-Paz, another character who added color to the story.
Characters aside, though, Seeds of Memory is a well-written read. It’s worth checking out if you’re into science fiction that has a bit of a cold, clinical edge to it.
Ed. Note: For more on Seeds of Memory, visit Double Dragon Publishing.
