Hachette India

Solar Nation

Erica Blaney

Now that Lalune has escaped the sinister cyberclinic with Solly's help, together they embark on the daunting task they have been assigned as the prophecised holders of the Key of Being. They don't yet know who the third key holder is, but they are soon to find out - as on the other side of Clandoi, a stammering psychic youth called Seachran is about to stumble across them with their friends, Etolantie, Pruppas the fungus and Aube the Seer. The three need to unlock the secret of the Janus Tree, a portal which, if not used wisely can be destructive..but should enable them to lead the people of Clandoi to a literally brighter, better, ecologically functioning world. This is a compelling and pacy conclusion to a wonderfully imaginative and beautifully characterized sci/fi fantasy. All the familiar characters are there, but new ones too - unforgettable! Through it all there is a poignant love story to be told, which not even Lalune's blindness and Solly's abduction to be used as a 'body' for a spoilt and tyrannical Prince can thwart. Deeply satisfying.

Erica Blaney

When Erica was at school she entered every available writing competition and always came either second or third which she found most frustrating! Later one of her stories was shortlisted for the Real Writers Award 2003 and another was published in the online science fiction site Aphelion. She is a compulsive reader - anything from Chicken Licken to Chick Lit and takes a keen interest in ethical issues: global warming permaculture cloning genetic engineering all of which spill over into her writing though she hates to preach simply provoke questions from her readers. Erica also sings Mezzo Soprano in her local choral society and interestingly lived on a houseboat for many years with her family. She is relieved now to be living on dry land! The wonderful Cybernation was her first published novel.