THE LAST IMMORTAL

by J. O. Jeppson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1979

Tec, a super-robot built by an unfriendly alien civilization, spends many ages serving the human race before requesting a well-earned quietus. He is awakened eons later to find that the universe is about to begin the process of gravitational collapse and that the surviving descendants of long-dead Terra need his help in the attempt to reach an alternate universe in its first stage of expansion--the very universe from which Tec's old masters (the dragon-like Roiiss) escaped during its previous collapse. Tec's fellow-adventurers include an agreeable intelligent tortoise, a genetically re-engineered human with a hero-fixation, a pretty and empathic blonde, and their robot-brained, emotionally susceptible ship. To reach Alpha Universe they must deal with the Roiss, a sentient galaxy with understandable delusions of grandeur, and a power-mad robot which has taken over a quasi-human body and mind. The story is pretty good, the parading of themes and literary overtones less so. What Jeppson can do best is create workable characters; her demented robot-human villain is carried off with particular panache. Rough around the edges, but enjoyable--something like Poul Anderson with less science and stronger dramatis personae.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1979

Categories: FICTION