A Zen master in a primitive society gets turned into a nanotech-enhanced "demon" by a mad, malicious mushroom-farmer. The master, now gifted with superhuman strength and senses, must flee his fearful Luddite fellows or face death. The similarly gifted, space-faring Rykashans take him in and use more "nanites" to bring their low-tech stray up to speed. Pssht! A spray can of nanites teaches the master the rudiments of Rykashan society. Pssht! He then learns to be a space janitor. Pssht! He later becomes a "needle jockey," a sort of interstellar flying-ace/truck driver, who even gets to talk to God (or a god, at any rate).

Leave it to L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Fall of Angels, Ghost of the Revelator) to pull this sort of weirdness. But, as should be expected from such an inventive author, the quirky mise-en-scène serves a purpose: setting a story of personal transformation against a Twilight Zone-ian backdrop of contrasting societies, ethics, and tech levels. Although flat in spots and maybe a little pokey, Gravity Dreams is a winning little SF drama, the tale of one man's realization that true knowledge doesn't come from a can. --Paul Hughes


From Publishers Weekly
The transformation of a young man from an agrarian Luddite to a physiologically enhanced star pilot provides the plot for Modesitt's (The Ghost of the Revelator) latest, a far-future SF adventure. Young Tyndel is content with his career as a teacher and following the antitechnology philosophy of his religion, Dzin. But when he's infected with nanites, microscopic machines that alter his blood chemistry, he's labeled a "demon" and forced to flee his home of Dorcha for the high-tech neighboring country of Rykasha. Tyndel is welcomed by the ultra-rational Rykashans, who not only embrace his enhanced abilities, but recognize that he has innate talents that would make him an excellent intergalactic pilot. At first, Tyndel resists Cerrelle, his Rykashan teacher, and eschews the teachings administered through nanopills, preferring to work as a "low tech" worker on an orbital station. Yet eventually he relents and asks to begin training as a pilot. Tyndel overcomes his squeamishness, letting the Rykashas "adjust" his nervous system so he can complete the space program and integrate himself into his new society. Modesitt does a fine job of creating a believable world where citizens are exhorted to accept complete responsibility for their actions and genetically "rehabilitated" if they do not. While some readers might be put off by the excessive philosophizing on Dzin naturalism vs. Rykashan pragmatism, the novel is loaded with enough hard science and space opera elements to please the author's large and avid body of fans. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Infected by nanites designed to enhance the capabilities of the human mind and body, Tyndal flees his theocratic homeland for a neighboring country inhabited by "demons" who dwell in a society of technological wonders. Modesitt's latest novel traces Tyndal's struggle to adapt to a new way of life in a society that accepts the superhuman as "natural." The author of the popular Recluce series displays a unique ability to infuse the minutiae of everyday life with depth and meaning in this stand-alone sf tale that belongs in most libraries. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Independent new SF venture from the author of Colors of Chaos (Jan. 1999) etc. In the 46th century, Dzin Master Tyndel teaches philosophy and lives peacefully with his beloved wife Foergathat is, until a vengeful neighbor infects Tyndel with nanites, microscopic machines that enhance his physical and mental capabilities. Unfortunately, thanks to long-ago wars and social upheavals caused by the nanites, Tyndel now faces imprisonment and slow death unless he can escape to Rykasha. The high-tech Rykashans fix Tyndel's primitive and dangerous naniteshe becomes effectively immortaland fill his head with knowledge that he has trouble assimilating. Rykasha's balanced but remorseless social system, however, requires Tyndel to make recompense. Beautiful, sympathetic Cerrelle recommends starship pilot training, where Tyndel's Dzin philosophy gives him advantages. But confused, resentful, angry Tyndel rejects Cerrelle and her advice, opting instead for unskilled labor on a remote space station. Three years pass before Tyndel accepts his situation, apologizes to Cerrelle, and accepts training. Piloting a starship is arduousimagine playing multidimensional Tetris against whizzing, strange-smelling neon blocks of frozen music that can kill youbut his Dzin calm helps. Later, after several ships vanish, Tyndel must attempt to negotiate with the mysterious, godlike entity inside the Anomaly. A persuasive alternate socioeconomic system, solid personal growth, and memorably weird hyperspacealong with a disappointing plot and a so-so chat with an uninteresting god. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"Modesitt provides the very best in science fiction--thrilling adventure viewed through the crucible of the human spirit,"--Romantic Times

The space adventure side of the tale will be all that many readers want, and they will be thoroughly satisfied. Modesitt never fails on that level. But he is more than an adventure writer; he is also quite a thoughtful fellow, and I found his musings on the need for responsibility in a high-tech society the more fascinating aspect of this novel."--Analog

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Gravity Dreams is a stand-alone action adventure, filled with conflict and featuring Modesitt's trademark: a confrontation with difficult moral and ethical questions invoked by the story.. "Set in the distant future on Earth, our hero, Tyndel, born and raised in a conservative and rigidly structured religious culture, is exiled to a more technologically advanced civilization. He must adjust quickly to this space-faring civilization, which his own righteous nation considers evil and peopled by demons. Fortunately, he has the rare talent required to become a space pilot. What no one expects, least of all Tyndel, is that he might meet God, or at least a vastly superior being, in space.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The transformation of a young man from an agrarian Luddite to a physiologically enhanced star pilot provides the plot for Modesitt's (The Ghost of the Revelator) latest, a far-future SF adventure. Young Tyndel is content with his career as a teacher and following the antitechnology philosophy of his religion, Dzin. But when he's infected with nanites, microscopic machines that alter his blood chemistry, he's labeled a "demon" and forced to flee his home of Dorcha for the high-tech neighboring country of Rykasha. Tyndel is welcomed by the ultra-rational Rykashans, who not only embrace his enhanced abilities, but recognize that he has innate talents that would make him an excellent intergalactic pilot. At first, Tyndel resists Cerrelle, his Rykashan teacher, and eschews the teachings administered through nanopills, preferring to work as a "low tech" worker on an orbital station. Yet eventually he relents and asks to begin training as a pilot. Tyndel overcomes his squeamishness, letting the Rykashas "adjust" his nervous system so he can complete the space program and integrate himself into his new society. Modesitt does a fine job of creating a believable world where citizens are exhorted to accept complete responsibility for their actions and genetically "rehabilitated" if they do not. While some readers might be put off by the excessive philosophizing on Dzin naturalism vs. Rykashan pragmatism, the novel is loaded with enough hard science and space opera elements to please the author's large and avid body of fans. (July) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Infected by nanites designed to enhance the capabilities of the human mind and body, Tyndal flees his theocratic homeland for a neighboring country inhabited by "demons" who dwell in a society of technological wonders. Modesitt's latest novel traces Tyndal's struggle to adapt to a new way of life in a society that accepts the superhuman as "natural." The author of the popular Recluce series displays a unique ability to infuse the minutiae of everyday life with depth and meaning in this stand-alone sf tale that belongs in most libraries. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Independent new SF venture from the author of Colors of Chaos (Jan. 1999) etc. In the 46th century, Dzin Master Tyndel teaches philosophy and lives peacefully with his beloved wife Foerga￯﾿ﾽthat is, until a vengeful neighbor infects Tyndel with nanites, microscopic machines that enhance his physical and mental capabilities. Unfortunately, thanks to long-ago wars and social upheavals caused by the nanites, Tyndel now faces imprisonment and slow death unless he can escape to Rykasha. The high-tech Rykashans fix Tyndel's primitive and dangerous nanites—he becomes effectively immortal—and fill his head with knowledge that he has trouble assimilating. Rykasha's balanced but remorseless social system, however, requires Tyndel to make recompense. Beautiful, sympathetic Cerrelle recommends starship pilot training, where Tyndel's Dzin philosophy gives him advantages. But confused, resentful, angry Tyndel rejects Cerrelle and her advice, opting instead for unskilled labor on a remote space station. Three years pass before Tyndel accepts his situation, apologizes to Cerrelle, and accepts training. Piloting a starship is arduous—imagine playing multidimensional Tetris against whizzing, strange-smelling neon blocks of frozen music that can kill you—but his Dzin calm helps. Later, after several ships vanish, Tyndel must attempt to negotiate with the mysterious, godlike entity inside the Anomaly. A persuasive alternate socioeconomic system, solid personal growth, and memorably weird hyperspace—along with a disappointing plot and a so-so chat with an uninteresting god.