From Publishers Weekly
Deadly monks, harassed bird people, daring pilots and a vicious amnesiac are but some of the disparate personalities enlivening the intricate future world upended in Australian author McMullen's latest SF epic. Hailing from different lands, they all wind up in Libris, Australica, the domain of the Dragon Librarians and their computer, the Calculor, after simultaneous, unrelated phenomena make their world go haywire. All electrical machines short-circuit, and the barrier that kept all pure humans out of vast tracts of land disappears. An Airlord from across the sea must obtain from Australica the means to keep her homeland ahead of its enemies in the race for land. This race forces the birdlike aviads to flee what had previously been their havens. An assassin monk becomes a spy for Libris, partnered with a woman who has been mysteriously transformed into a deadly creature with no memory. Ambiguity in the various protagonists' character is a refreshing touch, though it does make it difficult to decide whom to root for. Since the author provides much of the background in two previous novels (Souls in the Great Machine and The Miocene Arrow), first-time readers may be at a bit of a loss. Nonetheless, this stands as a sturdy, enjoyable addition to the McMullen canon. (Sept. 26)Forecast: The publisher's odd decision not to position this title as part of a series, or at least indicate it shares the same world as other works by McMullen, could confuse readers and dampen sales.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
With the cessation of the deadly Call and the changes in the orbiting Mirrorsun, Earth undergoes a crisis of frightening changes. The Dragon Librarians of Australica desperately seek solutions to the problem of a deteriorating society by attempting to rebuild their human-powered Calculor by force if necessary. Set 2000 years in the future, McMullen's (Souls in the Great Machine, The Miocene Arrow) sf epic examines the implications of low technology and religious idealism set against a world in the throes of transformation. For most libraries. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
*Starred Review* The final novel of the Greatwinter trilogy returns us to Australica, the country of dueling librarians. Assassinated in her prime, the chief librarian of the ancient library, Libris, in the city of Rochester, has been replaced by the young, cynical, and brilliant Franzas Dramoren, former head of the library's espionage section. Dramoren's political expertise is soon tested by the rise of a fanatical religious movement that demands the destruction of all fueled engines and by the disturbing acceleration in its rotation of Mirrorsun, the vast artificial intelligence that protects the atmosphere from excessive solar radiation and selectively destroys machinery developed above a certain level of technological sophistication. The North American Airlords have launched an ambitious covert program to fly to Australica to begin trading for horses. They have a second agenda, however: to battle the Aviads--humans possessing a trace of avian DNA--who were so soundly defeated in North America. Meanwhile, Martyne, trained in the infamous fighting arts of the Baelshan monastery, travels to Rochester to avenge his sister's rape and murder. McMullen tosses us into the action--of which there is plenty--rarely revealing all aspects of events but instead letting us delightedly discover the full story as the characters do. A captivating conclusion to a brilliant series. Roberta Johnson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"A stunning idea--the Calculor's as real as if McMullen had built it in his backyard--with an utterly convincing setting, breathtaking developments, and a captivating narrative." --Kirkus Reviews (pointer review)

"A comprehensively imagined future...Vivid imagery...creations both bizarre and believable. McMullen's word of Greatwinter is both tangibly present and beautifully imagined." --The New York Review of Science Fiction

"Gives a new moral dimension to the old SF theme of power and knowledge and the power that can be gained by those with secret knowledge of the working of the world." --Foundation



Book Description
Imagine a glittering, dynamic, and exotic Earth two thousand years in the future, where librarians fight duels to settle disputes, there is no electricity, fuelled engines are banned by every major religion in Australia, humanity has split into two species, and intelligent cetezoids rule the oceans.
Fundamentally, unexpectedly, things are changing everywhere. As catastrophe looms and civilization begins to crumble, the Dragon Librarians have just one means left to hold their world together: to kidnap every numerate person on the continent and rebuild their out-of-date human-powered computer-the Calculor.



About the Author
Sean McMullen is one of the leading Australian SF authors to emerge during the 1990s, having won more than a dozen national awards in his homeland. In addition, he has sold several dozen short stories to magazines such as Analog, Interzone, and Fantasy & Science Fiction, and was co-author of Strange Constellations, a History of Australian SF. He established himself in the American market with the publication of the Greatwinter trilogy (comprised of Souls in the Great Machine, The Miocene Arrow, and Eyes of the Calculor). His fiction has been translated into Polish, French, and Japanese. The settings for Sean's work range from the Roman Empire, through Medieval Europe, to cities of the distant future.

He has bachelor's and master's degrees from Melbourne University, and post-graduate diplomas in computer science, information science and business management. He is currently doing a PhD in Medieval Fantasy Literature at Melbourne University, where he is also the deputy instructor at the campus karate club, and a member of the fencing club. Before he began writing, Sean spent several years in student reviews and theatre, and was lead singer in three rock and folk bands. After singing in several early music groups and choirs, he spent two years in the Victorian State Opera before he began writing.

He lives in Melbourne with his wife Trish and daughter Catherine.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"In Sean McMullen's glittering, dynamic, and exotic world two thousand years in the future, librarians fight duels to settle disputes, there is no electricity, fueled engines are banned by every major religion in Australica, humanity has split into two species, and intelligent cetezoids rule the oceans." "In space, the enigmatic Mirrorsun has begun to spin. Immense solar sails are pushing vast amounts of energy into its ancient orbital band, energy that could tear it apart - or be directed down at Earth. Already the hypnotic Call has ceased, and all electrical machines have been reduced to molten metal. A religious prophet has risen and is attempting to bring together the entire continent of Australica under her rule." "Meanwhile, her diesel-powered sailwing shot down by religious fanatics, the American princess Samondel is forced to set aside her trade-seeking mission and disguise herself as a student. Her only friends are a disgraced monk who is a member of the secret police and a beautiful young librarian who is a dangerous and unstable psychopath. From these unlikely friendships she must form an alliance between two continents and two species, and prevent ultimate war." Fundamentally, unexpectedly, things are changing everywhere. As catastrophe looms and civilization begins to crumble, the Dragon Librarians of Australica have just one means left to hold their would together: to kidnap every numerate person on the continent and rebuild their out-of-date human-powered computer - the Calculor.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Deadly monks, harassed bird people, daring pilots and a vicious amnesiac are but some of the disparate personalities enlivening the intricate future world upended in Australian author McMullen's latest SF epic. Hailing from different lands, they all wind up in Libris, Australica, the domain of the Dragon Librarians and their computer, the Calculor, after simultaneous, unrelated phenomena make their world go haywire. All electrical machines short-circuit, and the barrier that kept all pure humans out of vast tracts of land disappears. An Airlord from across the sea must obtain from Australica the means to keep her homeland ahead of its enemies in the race for land. This race forces the birdlike aviads to flee what had previously been their havens. An assassin monk becomes a spy for Libris, partnered with a woman who has been mysteriously transformed into a deadly creature with no memory. Ambiguity in the various protagonists' character is a refreshing touch, though it does make it difficult to decide whom to root for. Since the author provides much of the background in two previous novels (Souls in the Great Machine and The Miocene Arrow), first-time readers may be at a bit of a loss. Nonetheless, this stands as a sturdy, enjoyable addition to the McMullen canon. (Sept. 26) Forecast: The publisher's odd decision not to position this title as part of a series, or at least indicate it shares the same world as other works by McMullen, could confuse readers and dampen sales. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal