Calumet Editions

Voice of the Elders

Author:

In a near-future Earth shattered by climate refugees, Rohini Haakonsen attends a UN summit when humanoid aliens—the Elders—appear, offering to fix the crisis. Chosen as an ambassador to their world, Rohini becomes a target: masked gunmen try to kidnap her, exposing fierce resistance to the aliens’ plan. With Agent Jane Smith and a Daoist secret society, she flees worldwide, hunting the truth before Earth destroys her.

A probing science fiction novel with compelling environmental themes. I’d call this book Daoist Cli-Fi. A new sub-genre.

—Dan Bloom, editor, The Cli-Fi Report

Description

In the near future, the ravages of a warming planet have worsened, driving a new era of climate refugees. Rohini Haakonsen, a young Indian-American woman, attends a UN conference on the problem when humanoid aliens materialize. Known as the Elders, the aliens present themselves as benign, even offering to help us solve our climate crisis. Can they be trusted? Rohini is chosen to join a group of ambassadors to the aliens’ world, but when masked gunmen attempt to kidnap her, it becomes clear not everyone on Earth is willing to go along with the aliens’ plans. Eventually, along with Agent Jane Smith, Rohini is forced to flee, accepting the help of a Daoist secret society. Rohini’s search for the truth takes her around the globe and into the deepest recesses of her own mind. Before she can make it to the Elders’ world, she must survive her

Product Details

PublishedJanuary 23, 2023
ImprintCalumet Editions
LanguageEnglish
Print length295
ISBN-13978-1960250544
Dimensions6 x 0.66 x 9 inches

In this fantastical blend of rich history, ancient lore and fantasy, Ripley uses ancient parables and current science to explore our fractal relationships: from the inner space of the mind encompassing the entire universe to the solar breaches of the magnetosphere acting like acupuncture points on a human. An adventure story with meaning. –Nina Munteanu, author of Water Is… The author sets the plot up beautifully and then delivers. I liked the plot. I loved the protagonist, and all the characters were well constructed. The setting was also done well. This future world is a logical extrapolation of the world we live in now. All these components of storytelling come together in a crisp, tight tale that would no doubt make a great movie.

—Ray Simmons, Readers' Favorite

In keeping with Greg’s passion for health and the power of nature, he has created a novel that addresses in a unique manner the problem of global warming – that obvious condition (extreme temperatures, fires, flooding, storms, diminished natural resources) that the president denies is happening – and makes it a journey as the ‘impossible’ results in alien invasion.

—Grady Harp, verified review on Amazon

Voice of the Elders by Greg Ripley will certainly appeal if you are concerned about climate change. It is a loosely written novel fulfilling two very different goals, one being a commentary on the state of the planet, the other being a science fiction story unlike any other. When combined, the result is an intriguing and different kind of novel to escape in. Highly recommend for a fun and creative story.

—V.E., verified review on Amazon

Ripley brings suspense and mystique that would please any science fiction reader. I love how the plot slowly unfolded and the thrill of interacting with the aliens. I really enjoyed reading this novel even though the ending had some sad parts.

—JoJo Maxson, verified review on Amazon