A Plague of Angels by Sherri S. Tepper
RECOMMENDED
In a word: Unique
Plot: Set in a strange and unusual future, where most humans have left the Earth for the stars; in an almost fairytale-like land, inhabited by giants, trolls, ogres, dragon and a few settlements of humans. A farm boy, Abasio, has decided to leave his grandfather's farm and find adventure in one of the few remaining cities left. Once there, he finds the cities are teeming with color-coded gangs. He is forced to join the Purples and quickly learns the gang way of life.
Meanwhile, in an ArchetypalVillage, a little girl is being raised as an Orphan. Around her are other archetypes: The Oracle, The Hero, The Bastard, and The Fool. But Orphan is not really an Orphan. When Orphan has the Oracle give her a prophecy, it becomes clear that she needs to leave her little village and journey to dangerous and unknown places.
Meanwhile, in a Place of Power, a disfigured and demented Witch schemes to leave the Earth and go to the stars once again, to bring back weapons and take over what remains of civilization. There is only one thing she needs to complete her space shuttle - an organic guidance system. She sends her android Walkers far and wide to search for the one person who is able to link to the ship and drive it to the stars - Orphan.
Orphan, destined to team up with Abasio, is the only one that can stop the evil Witch and save humanity.
Thoughts: Wow, this one is kind of hard to describe, and I'm not sure I did a good job at it. Wildly original, like most Tepper works, the world in which Orphan and Abasio go on their adventure is wonderfully detailed. What is left of the humans live in cities, overrun with violence, drugs and debauchery, farms or small settlements, more in tune with nature. Around the humans is a vast wilderness populated by mythical, and dangerous, creatures. The environmental angle gets a bit heavy handed at times, but it's worth reading the book just to go to this strange and unusual world.
The only thing that keeps this book from being highly recommended is its length. It's obvious that Tepper loves the world she created, she doesn't seem to want to leave it. The book drags toward the end.
If you like this, try reading: Grass by Sherri S. Tepper; Paladin by C.J. Cherryh; Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card