THE GHOST OF THE REVELATOR

Sequel to Of Tangible Ghosts (1994), Modesitt’s intriguing, flavorsome alternate-world yarn where ghosts are real and America doesn’t exist; instead, the continent is split among Columbia, Quebec, Deseret, and New France (some maps would have been useful); Europe is dominated by the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Adolph Hitler (under his real name) is the Empire’s Ambassador to Japan; cars run on steam; computers are “difference engines,” and you don’t telephone, you “wire.” Columbia’s Johan Eschbach is Professor of Natural Resources at Vanderbraak State University in New Bruges. His wife, Llysette, a world-famous diva, was jailed and tortured by Austro-Hungary. Johan himself used to work, unwillingly, for the Spazi (secret police) and still retains his government connections. Columbia is negotiating with Deseret, the Mormon state, over the supply of synthetic fuels, and to sweeten the process, Llysette has been booked to sing in Great Salt Lake City. According to local custom, Johan must accompany her, providing him an opportunity to do a little discreet spying. But the situation is fraught with danger: expansionist Austro-Hungary wants no treaty between Columbia and Deseret; New France’s spy chief is skulking around; someone is trying to obtain details of Johan’s “ghosting technology”; and an assassination attempt against Johan, or Llysette, or both, fails narrowly. Deseret itself is riven by a power struggle: a dissident group kidnaps Llysette, intending to seize control of the government by forcing Johan to summon the ghost of Joseph Smith! Appealing characters, agreeably labyrinthine plotting, a fascinatingly detailed backdrop—and, love ‘em or loathe ‘em, ghosts.