Title: The Citadel

Author: Frank Dravis

Publisher: Six Factors Publishing LLC (July 31, 2024)

Language: English

Paperback: 382 pages

Genre: Science Fiction

ISBN: 978-0999688663

ASIN: ‎B0D5L3LL7W

Reviewed by: Eric Hildeman

5-Star Review – Wonderful story of triumph over oppression

The Citadel by Frank Dravis is the third novel in the Dianis, A World In Turmoil chronicles. Dianis is a legally protected planet, with little more than iron-age technology. But it is also the only known planet to have a precious mineral known as aquamarine-5, something desperately needed to power the weapons needed in humanity’s intergalactic war against an alien menace known as the Turboii. As such, the planet finds itself caught between huge interstellar forces intent on subverting the locals’ rights, violating the rules protecting Dianis, and exploiting the planet’s natural resources. A shady corporation known as Nordarken Mining, purposes to seize the aquamarine by any means necessary. They ally with the local religious zealots, known as Paleowrights, and their lizard-like allies, the Troglodytes, hoping to yoke their strength in order to subvert the planet.

Book One, The Foundry, focuses on Achelous, an off-worlder sworn to protect the planet from extrasolar influences, who finds himself torn between loyalty to the firm he works for, and the woman he loves, a local princess named Marisa. When he is ordered to a different planet entirely, he finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. So he decides to embark on a radical course of action. He goes rogue and begins teaching the locals how to build more modern weapons, such as cannons, crossbows, and pistols. The defense of the aquamarine comes to a head at the fortress protecting the mine’s entrance, known as Wedgewood.

Book Two, The Matriarch, focuses on the Matrancy, an order of extra-sensory women who advise the rulers of the Avarian Federation (something akin to the Bene Gesserit of Dune). Achelous has gone underground, and the Matriarch herself purposes to find him before Nordarken’s allies do. But the religious zealots get to him first. Achelous goes missing, presumably captured. When the Matriarch finally corners Marisa, she informs her that Achelous can be forgiven, if he resigns his post, becomes the Planetary Council for the Matrancy, and agrees to wed Marisa. But first, he must be found. Alive.

Book Three focuses on The Citadel, a fortress where the Paleowrights have hidden away Achelous. After learning of his whereabouts, a force is mustered to lay assault to the Citadel and free him. Led mostly by Marisa, this motley band of local provincials, technologically sophisticated extrasolars, and the Matrancy lay siege to the Paleowright stronghold. The battle does not go well, and there are high casualties on both sides. In the melee, the Viscount Helpring, and his Scarlet Saviors manage to reach Achelous first, and drag him away to be eventually transported off-world. What happens next is something I will leave to the reader.

The entire series straddles two genres. One has an intergalactic empire with AI's, super-surveillance, cryostasis pods, teletransportation, and all the political intrigue that goes with them, and the other is a small, woodland civilization with barely iron-age technology and a segment of its population gifted with E.S.P. It features both machines of science, and sensitives with paranormal abilities. It has both pirates and privateers, swords and lasers. Yet the book has a clear identity, and one that's been used before: a backwater civilization is potentially exploited by high-tech entities, until one off-worlder decides to lead that civilization to freedom. It's the formula used for everything from Dune to Avatar. And, like Frank Herbert's Dune, the narrative has many different families, factions, clans, royalties, and schemers. But unlike Herbert, who feeds all that information to his readers a spoonful at a time, Dravis turns on the firehose. He must provide the reader with a detailed cast of characters, plus maps, just so the reader doesn’t get lost. It is very easy for a reader to feel daunted. Nevertheless, if the reader perseveres, they are treated to a wonderful story of triumph over oppression. Highly recommended.