From Booklist
On a world covered by oceans whose massive waves thwart remote seafaring voyages, Hab Miquay is a whaling ship's captain who secretly hungers to venture beyond the confines of his close-knit community. As far as his fellow citizens are concerned, Hab's homeland of Paras is the only civilized continent on the planet. Yet a chance encounter with notorious scientist Esten Pepteri uncovers evidence of another, distant, volcanically active landmass, and in short order Hab sets off with Esten in specially designed ships to locate the new continent. After a harrowing voyage, Hab and Esten set foot on Ortok, a bleak and rocky land where, in contrast to Paras'-compassion-centered society, the inhabitants practice deceit to survive. When the two are captured, Hab must forge an uneasy alliance with his increasingly inquisitive captors and conceal Paras'all-too-tempting charms from Ortok's invasion-minded warriors. Blending deft, inventive characterizations into a masterfully lucid, action-centered narrative, Mackay's latest should appeal strongly to fans of military and alien-world-based sf.
Carl HaysCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Product Description
"Tides" tells the tale of the rise of two intelligent species on the same planet, at a time in their history when they first encounter each other. Paras and Ortok are the only two continents on this planet, the homes to these two different species, and are separated by thousands of miles of ocean. Paras is lush and hospitable, a place where no one ever knows want. It has produced a culture of kindness and honesty. Ortok is bleak and volcanic, where the inhabitants survive at a subsistence level. It has given rise to a culture of cruelty and deceit. But, will the citizens of Paras forever remain honest? And, will the sentient species on Ortok finally cast out deceit? Hab, a Parassian mariner, follows a cloud of volcanic ash twenty thousand leagues across the world-spanning ocean, battling iced-over seas, the decimation of his crew, and, worst of all, the killer tides - tides that because of two close moons are monstrous in size and are virtually unnavigable in any but the most ingeniously designed ships. Watch cultures collide in this brilliant new novel by the award-winning author of "Omnifix" and "Orbis".
