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eBook Category: Science Fiction/Spiritual/Religion
eBook Description: What if the Pope WEREN'T Catholic? What if she never HAD been? It's 1997, in a universe much like ours. But here the Pope is dead, and the conclave to elect the new head of the Catholic Church has chosen someone who is not a Cardinal--or even a Catholic--or even a man. Act of God? Fraud on the College of Cardinals? What changes will she bring to the Church? And some people will never accept a woman Pope? how do you protect her from the those who have sworn to kill her? Imagine you're the Pope--do you let priests marry? Balance family planning, divorce, sexual orientation, Church power--with the historic teachings of the church? This is Yarbro's breakthrough book! Speculative fiction; a modern-day political adventure; and a religious thriller set backstage at the Vatican. How do you face the responsibilities that have been handed to you--never mind that you didn't ask for them.

eBook Publisher: Hidden Knowledge, Published: 1999
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2005

35 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [2.0 MB], eReader (PDB) [697 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [730 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [635 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [554 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [569 KB], hiebook (KML) [1.6 MB], Sony Reader (LRF) [788 KB], iSilo (PDB) [596 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [750 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [805 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [923 KB]
Words: 222306
Reading time: 635-889 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
ISBN: 0967915902

"...astonishingly excellent ... an excellent read, full of intrigue, and thoroughly thoughtful and thought-provoking. Don't miss it."--Analog

"The novel features a compelling cast of characters and a genuinely unique story."--Publishers Weekly

"Yarbro blends elements of political intrigue and philosophical drama in a thought-provoking tale that should appeal to fans of supernatural thrillers as well as speculative fiction."--Library Journal

"Watch out Websters--a spider with fearsome fangs and potent poisons, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, has crawled into your lair with her latest book, Magnificat: Be aware that clicking on that download may permanently alter your mind!"--Gahan Wilson

"Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's grasp of history, superb characters, immense narrative drive, makes for compulsive reading."--George Zebrowski, John W. Campbell Award-winning author of Brute Orbits

"Outstanding book, engrossing, a classic .... this author has a wonderful gift for storytelling. 4 Stars out of 4."--inscriptionsmagazine.com

As he set the nib of his pen on the vellum, Ottone, Cardinal Folgar, was possessed by a strange dizziness; there was a whiteness behind his eyes, light that was more than light, a fluttering of breath, a sense that something hovered over him, a moment that was suspended in eternity. Then it was gone and he passed a shaking hand across his brow, murmuring thanks to God that He had chosen to leave him on earth a little longer. How ironic, he thought in the next instant as he touched the crucifix that hung on his breast, if he died now, while the Cardinals were gathered in conclave to choose a new Pope: a new Pope for the second time in three years, and with the millennium fast approaching, bringing with it a religious fervor Cardinal Folgar had not encountered before in his lifetime.

From inclination as much as habit the Cardinal still prayed in Latin, relishing the tolling cadences he had mastered as a child. Now the familiar liturgy took his mind off the peculiar, brief episode that might presage disaster. His brother had died of a stroke, just three years ago. Perhaps this was how it had begun. He continued his thanks to God, shutting out the arthritic ache in his knees as well as his growing irritation with his fellow-Princes of the Church, who, like him, were about to submit their ballots to be counted. He set aside the old-fashioned crow-quill pen.

Then he glanced down at the vellum and shook his head. He had been instructed to disguise his handwriting, and had certainly succeeded in doing so. Would it be possible to read the name of Sylvestre, Cardinal Jung in that disjointed scrawl? That was not supposed to be his concern. He crossed himself and got up from his knees, impatient to be done. There was another long week of maneuvering, he was convinced, before his own conservative faction and Marc-Luc, Cardinal Gemme's radicals would come to terms. Both sides would probably compromise, either with the popular Vitale, Cardinal Cadini, or the Canadian, Dominique, Cardinal Hetre. For the time being, there was a ritual to the politics of the conclave as there was to everything in the Church--hence his temporary support of Cardinal Jung, though he did not want the pompous Swiss to be elected.

He put his vellum into a foil-lined envelope and began to heat sealing wax over a match. This was one reform of John-Paul II's he could approve, this simplifying of the presentation of ballots; as he pressed his Cardinal's ring into the dollop of hot wax, he thought he felt a distant, fleeting echo of his earlier disorientation. He blew out the match and resumed his prayers.