The Citadel - A Detailed Review

Recently, I was asked by the Wisconsin Writers' Association to read and review a sci-fi/fantasy novel called The Citadel, written by Frank Dravis. Since it was the third in a trilogy, I read the first two volumes before reading the current, third installment. But I only wrote up a brief review of The Citadel. Here, I will go into more detail by incorporating my reviews of the first two books as well.

The Citadel is the third in the "Dianis, A World In Turmoil" chronicles. It is set in a world so dizzyingly multi-faceted that Frank Dravis has to provide the reader with a detailed cast of characters, terrestrial and intergalactic maps, and continual background descriptions throughout every scene. This sometimes lends the stories a complexity which is difficult to follow, and the early chapters are prone to info-dumping. But later chapters skillfully capitalize on what was established before. When one gets the hang of it, it's really quite a good story.

The first two volumes set the stage for the backwater planet of Dianis, and I will take a moment to outline what those two books covered:

Dianis is protected by an intergalactic law called the Universal Law of Unclaimed Planets, or ULUP, which protects planetary cultures that are alien, uncultured, or primitive. Yet the planet is also rumored to have a vast quantity of the precious mineral aquamarine, without which, the Avarian Federation (because of course it's a Federation) cannot fuel the strange alien weapons they need to fight the alien menace known as the Turboii, with whom they are at war. As such, the economic and political forces at work to violate the ULUP and seize the aquamarine are overwhelming. Certain members of the ruling class, independent of the Avarian Federation, elect to use a private mega-corporation, Nordarken Mining, to quietly subvert the ULUP, and take control of the aquamarine. Nordarken uses internal connections with the local religious zealots, known as Paleowrights, and their allies, a race of lizard-like aliens called (no joke) Troglodytes, conspire to take control of the planet from within, thus paving the way for Nordarken Mining to make its move.

Into this situation is placed Achelaus, a military veteran and Chief Inspector of the IDB (Interspecies Development Branch), charged with enforcing the ULUP and protecting Dianis from technological and cultural contamination from extra-solar influences. But as the IDB begins to abandon its principles, opening the door for the planet to be exploited, Achelous finds himself suddenly reassigned to another world entirely, and he has only two weeks to move. But he cannot simply leave. For one thing, he knows that abandoning the planet to Nordarken Mining will result in the utter ruination of the planet. For another, he is in love with a local princess of Tibur named Marisa, with whom he has already fathered an illegitimate son -- something in stark violation of the ULUP. He could simply abandon them and accept his new assignment, or he could smuggle them off-world, keeping them in hiding. But neither of these options is without peril. Caught between a rock and a hard place, he opts instead for a radical third radical option. He decides to blow off his reassignment, go rogue, and instead uplift the culture on Dianis, giving the locals more modern weapons such as pistols, crossbows and cannons, thus ushering in a new technological age on Dianis and, he hopes, preventing Nordarken Mining from gaining a foothold.

Achelaus' efforts come to a head at the walled, mountain village of Wedgewood, made into a fortress which guards the lone aquamarine mine, and where Achelous has established a foundry for weapons manufacture. As the Paleowrights and Troglodytes attack Wedgewood, a motley coalition of Timberkeeps, Tiburs, Ascalons, wards, and mercenaries fight to repel the attackers. It may be a spoiler to say they were successful, but it wouldn't be a trilogy if the defense of Wedgewood's foundry didn't end in victory.

In book two, the battle for aquamarine continues. The pro-Dianis team discovers archaeological evidence of the Loch Norim, who originally settled the planet - a discovery with huge implications. Meanwhile, Achelaus has gone underground, trying to avoid facing the repercussions of his decision to go rogue. But the lust for aquamarine has not diminished for the humans at war with the Turboii, and moves are continually being made to thwart the locals and seize the planet's natural resources. The Matrancy, which is an order of female psychic adepts which council those in power (this universe's answer to the Bene Gesseritt of Dune), has purposed to find a way to get control of the planet's aquamarine for the benefit of the Federation (just as Achelous has long suspected). They are also interested in the many gifted psychics that certain populations on the planet seem to have. As such the Matriarch herself leads the effort to root Achelous out, and all parties realize that the way to get to him is through Marisa, who becomes a prime target. But the Paleowrights find Achelous first. After a bloody skirmish with their Praetorian guard, the Scarlet Saviors, Achelous' friend Baryy is killed, and Achelous himself goes missing -- presumably captured by the Scarlet Saviors under the command of Viscount Helpring.

When the matrancy finally corners Marisa (after a protracted series of skirmishes), the Matriarch decrees to her that Achelous can be forgiven for his misdeeds, especially since the archaeological expedition proved that Marissa is descended from the Loch Norim. In exchange for his pardon, Achelous must accept the role of Planetary Counselor for the Matrancy, resign from the IDB, and wed Marisa. But Achelous must first be found -- alive -- to be presented with the Matriarch's offer, which he must accept or face trial for violating the ULUP. Book 2 closes with the beginning of an earnest search for the missing Achelous, who, they hope, can now finally come out of hiding. After some inquiries, Achelous' hiding place is discovered. He is in a place called The Citadel.

In book three, the quest to find Achelous is in full swing. He had indeed been captured by the Scarlet Saviors and was in the process of being transferred to a city where he could be transported off-world to face a sham-trial, and execution. But a group of Drakan privateers observes the religious zealots, led by the Viscount Helpring, carrying their wounded prisoner on board their ship, and are intrigued. Deciding he must be of great value, they blow off their assignment to transport the Viscount, setting sail without him, and killing the lone Scarlet Savior on board who raised an objection. Achelous finds himself in the custody of the Empire of Nar Drakas. The Drakans are Paleowrights as well, but not nearly as oppressive as the religious zealots who held him before. But they want the technology he gave to the defenders of Wedgewood, and they'll stop at nothing to get it. As such, they take him to their stronghold, the Citadel.

After learning of Achelous' whereabouts, a force is mustered to lay assault to the Citadel and free him. Led mostly by Marisa, this motley band of local provincials and technologically sophisticated extrasolars lay siege to the Drakan stronghold. The battle does not go well, and there are high casualties on both sides. In the melee, the Viscount's Scarlet Saviors manage to reach Achelous first, and drag him away to be transported off-world. How that plays out is something I will leave to the reader.

The entire series straddles two genres. One has an intergalactic empire with AI's, super-surveillance, cryostasis pods, teletransportation, and all the political intrigue that goes with it, and the other is a small, woodland civilization with barely iron-age technology. It features both machines of science, and sensitives with paranormal abilities. It has both pirates and privateers. Yet the book has a clear identity, and one that's been used before -- a backwater civilization gets exploited by high-tech entities, until one off-worlder decides to lead that civilization to freedom. It's the formula used for everything from Dune to Avatar. And, like Frank Herbert's Dune, the narrative has many different families, factions, clans, royalties, and schemers. But unlike Herbert, who feeds all that information to his readers a spoonful at a time, Dravis turns on the firehose. It is possible to eventually follow what's happening, but not before the reader feels daunted. Nevertheless, if the reader perseveres, they are treated to a wonderful story of triumph over oppression.

There are a few minor issues pertaining to typos, but not enough for me to get my hackles up. My main issue with the storyline is how incredibly dense and multi-layered it is. But that's to its benefit as well as its detriment. Once the reader gets the hang of it, the story becomes an incredible adventure.

Highly recommended.

Eric

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