Omnivore

Three scientists came to the mysterious planet Nacre to discover, to explore, to record. Utterly defenseless, they trekked through the grotesque jungle of multiform mushrooms and dense spore-clouds, hoping to unlock the secret of this strange world. The stunning climax of their mission was just the beginning of a complex drama in which their survival—and return to earth—could spell the extinction of humanity.

Eighteen space explorers had died or disappeared on Nacre, a planet dominated by mushrooms, spore-clouds, a dim sub, and strange one-eyed creatures called mantas.

To this forbidden planet came three more scientists to explore, discover and record. They barely understood what their mission was, and the significance of the mantas they were able to bring back with them to Earth. Subble, a government investigator, was sent to interview them—to learn how they succeeded where many others before them had failed.

Subble was a very particular kind of investigator--one who could be judgmental without bias, who could kill without guilt, whose only real job would be, eventually, to die in a job well done. He couldn't know when that eventuality would arrive. He could only keep trying...

The trio of scientists he confronted was indeed strange: Veg, the brawn of the group was a vegetarian. Aquilon, the beauty, ate everything—she was an omnivore. Cal was the brains of the crew. His emaciated body could only survive by drinking the blood of animals ... a carnivore.

Just as the three of them discovered one another's dark secrets, Subble was able to learn the true meaning of the relationship between Aquilon, Veg and Cal...between omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore—and the effect they had on the mantas and ultimately, on Earth's survival.

About the Author

Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony is one of the world's most prolific and popular authors. His fantasy Xanth novels have been read and loved by millions of readers around the world, and have been on the New York Times Best Seller list twenty-one times. Although Piers is mostly known for fantasy and science fiction, he has written several novels in other genres as well, including historical fiction, martial arts, and horror. Piers lives with his wife in a secluded woods hidden deep in Central Florida.

Reviews

"Omnivore is a thorough and intelligent science fiction story. The parallels between the inhabitants of the planet of Nacre, the three suspects, and humankind in general is extremely intriguing and timeless. The concepts behind the workings of the planet of Nacre itself are very creative and clever. The characters are creatively realistic with a touch of 1960's nostalgic spirit. This unique mixture creates a story that is both entertaining and thought provoking." —Tami Brady

"A brilliant blend of adventure and imaginative scientific extrapolation, Omnivore creates one of science fiction's most remarkable and memorable alien ecologies, in an acclaimed novel that has become a true SF classic." —SF Rediscovery

"The mushroom world of Nacre is original and cleverly constructed, with well-developed systems of botany, biology, and ecology; but the fanciful science backgrounds don't intrude on the plot which is as tightly woven and as suspenseful as that of a detective story. —Publisher's Weekly