In the early years of the twenty-first century, Earth teetered on the brink of ecological destruction. Then the alien Hefn came, determined to save the dying Earth—and to the Hefn, the ends always justified the means. Humans were given nine years to correct their mistakes—alone, with no recourse to the Hefn's advanced technology. If by then the Earth's ecology had not stabilized, the Hefn would solve the problem for good . . . by eliminating humans entirely. But slowly, against their will, some of the Hefn became deeply involved with their human counterparts. And to the handful of people who came to know them, the Hefn made a great as mentors, researchers, rulers . . . and saviors. But could those few friendships sway the Hefn to help save a despoiled planet—and the human race? "A considerable achievement." — The New York Times Book Review

With the Evil priests of the Dark Order dominating the realms of the Thlassa Mey, hope for freedom is scarce, but the goddess Pallas chooses an unlikely collection of misfits to become the heroes of their homelands. Original.

The long-awaited conclusion of the Holy Ground trilogy! Occupation of Earth is now in its 27th year, and relations between humanity and the dictatorial Hefn have never seemed shakier. The aliens mission is to save the planet from its human abusers; and the Baby Ban imposed by mass hypnosis has made Earth a cleaner, wilder, less crowded place. But the Ban has now lasted so long, and provoked such hatred, that when a spark is struck the situation explodes into worldwide riots on one side and retaliatory mindwipings on the other. Years of effort by the eco-spiritual Gaians, who mediate between humans and Hefn, have been destroyed. While the Gaians regroup and brainstorm frantically in an atmosphere of doubt and danger, one obsessed Hefn and one young woman begin a radical experiment. Pam Pruitt has discovered a growing ability to acquire information by non-rational means. Childhood suffering has empowered her, in a way once understood by hunting and gathering peoples—an understanding lost with that lost lifeway—to communicate with mysterious forces through strong to function as a shaman on behalf of her community, the human race.