Gibbon's Decline and Fall - Hardcover

Science fiction is a genre traditionally dominated by male fantasy and values, where Terminator-style machismo saves the universe. Sheri S. Tepper writes feminist science fiction. Exit Terminator, enter Sophy. Sophy was a standout in her college class, for all kinds of reasons from looks to brains to spiritual qualities; she was also reticent about her origins. It is only when she disappears that her former classmates begin to discover just how special she was. Woven into Tepper's cosmology is the matriarchal system that once held sway on earth before males usurped that power. It turns out the "Goddess" is alive.

With each new novel, Sheri Tepper's devoted following has grown, as more and more readers discover this remarkable talent. Her richly imagined future worlds are filled with unforgettable characters, exotic backdrops, and epic adventures. In Gibbons Decline And Fall, she outdoes herself, proving yet again why Analog dubs her "one of the greats of human literature."

In 1959, a group of six young women meet as college freshmen, forming a bond that will last a lifetime. One of them possesses a dazzling and unearthly beauty, but Sophy, as they call her, is always mysterious about her background. When she is threatened one night they rally to her aid, and then and there they swear a pact to stay friends forever.

Fast forward to the year 2000, when strange events are unfolding around the world. A ruthless politician is amassing a terrifying, fanatic power base. The suicide rate has gone through the roof. And the global birth rate has suddenly plummeted to nearly zero. Something evil is threatening the world, and only these six extraordinary women can stop it. But Sophy has been missing for years, and they soon realize that unlocking the secret to her disappearance will be the key to the survival of humanity.