Free (Kindle) Ancient Heavens by Robert E. Vardeman [Sci-Fi Terraforming Eden Cult]

[ATDrake]

Ancient Heavens by Robert E. Vardeman (ISFDB, Wikipedia, SFE), a 1972 Hugo Award finalist for Best Fan Writer, in addition to being an author in his own right, is his standalone science fiction novel dealing with themes of terraforming and human settlement with religious fallout, starring a man whose job it is to terraform a distant planet into a paradise for a cult finds himself becoming their new object of worship, as the Creator of their new Eden, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Venture imprint.

This was originally published in 1989 by Avon, and is probably mislabeled as being the 7th in the author's mid-80s co-written War of Powers series of epic fantasy with demons in it, since ISFDB thinks this is a standalone sci-fi, unless maybe the plot holds some seriously surprising twists which would make one the backstory for the other.

Currently free @ Amazon (available to Canadians & in the UK and pretty much everywhere else Amazon sells worldwide, since this is being done via their KDP Select exclusive-or-else program)

Description
Richard Drake didn’t take the Church of Lost Eden seriously — until that surviving 20th century cult gave him the chance to fulfil a lifelong dream.

His job is to transform a distant, hostile planet into a new human Eden. And he is provided with the resources, the time and the technology for the greatest engineering feat in human history.

But man does not live by bread alone — and water and free oxygen are not enough to keep the inhabitants of New Earth satisfied.

They want a Creator to worship.

And Richard is the top candidate for the job ...

Ancient Heavens is an intriguing and thrilling story of terraforming and human vices in alien territory.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

This was originally published in 1989 by Avon, and is probably mislabeled as being the 7th in the author's mid-80s co-written War of Powers series of epic fantasy with demons in it, since ISFDB thinks this is a standalone sci-fi, unless maybe the plot holds some seriously surprising twists which would make one the backstory for the other.

Well, as the review helpfully titled I am the author states: The description of this being book 7 in the War of Powers series (which I also coauthored) is wrong on several points. This is science fiction, not fantasy. It is not part of any series but was intended as a standalone book.

[ZodWallop]

And thanks for the share. The book sounds interesting.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Well, as the review helpfully titled I am the author states: The description of this being book 7 in the War of Powers series (which I also coauthored) is wrong on several points. This is science fiction, not fantasy. It is not part of any series but was intended as a standalone book.

Thanks, I totally missed that. (I don't always look at reviews at 1 AM in the morning after having been up since 6 the previous day, if the other non-blurb story info seems reasonably clear, which it usually is.)