Stewards of the Flame is Sylvia Engdahl's seventh novel, yet her first new book in over 25 years. Her previous novels were all directed at the young adult market as fantasy books, while her latest is a full-fledged sf book aimed at an older audience.

Jesse Sanders, the captain of a star freighter, takes a moment of shore leave to get a drink in a bar on the planet Undine, and wakes up in a hospital, finding his life turned into a nightmare. It seems that the government of Undine is run by doctors, who see their mission as aggressively eliminating any threat to the well-being of its inhabitants, namely their free-will. Here's a brilliant twist on dystopianism, taking that which most people see as humanitarian and proper—the care and well-being of fellow human beings—and pushing the logic to the extreme. After all, as many a politician and intellectual has remarked, most people are unable to see their own best interest, and all too often engage in self-destructive behavior, such as smoking, extreme sports, fast food, and alcohol. People fail to see their own addictions, and an occasional glass of wine or whiskey is naturally an indicator of a dangerous addiction.

As Sanders discovers, he has no rights on Undine. His superiors have been informed of his dereliction of duty. His ship has already left orbit, and he is slated for a drastic and brutal cure that will result in violent illness the next time he touches alcohol. As Sanders undergoes this intrusive treatment, he discovers he has allies. At first it is simply the nurse who attends him. They discover a mutual spark, maybe instant love. She seeks to aid his escape, but complications arise and he finds himself deeper in trouble. But, just when all seems lost and he faces total loss of mental control for his willful disregard of his own good, he is as suddenly released. Sanders, now stranded on a strange and dangerous planet, turns to the only person who showed him any kindness, Carla, the nurse who tried to aid his escape.

Carla invites him to a weekend island excursion with some friends, and Sanders quickly feels at ease with them. There is something unusual about this group, as they seem far more relaxed about life and not as cowed by the medical strictures the rest of the planet must suffer. Indeed, Sanders quickly discovers they are rebels of a sort. They do not seek to overthrow the current regime, or oppose it directly. Rather they seek refuge in a world that grows less and less free. Medical checks take place regularly and any small danger to one's health is instantly cause for action. In this world, no one dies, but remain horrifically “alive” in massive vaults of the undead, bodies sustained but minds and other functions gone or diminished.

Sanders discovers an additional secret. This group he has joined possesses certain unbelievable powers. They can heal wounds through self-control, and appear to communicate through telepathy. At first Sanders resists all these strange notions. Despite having gone through a terrible experience at the hands of the over-zealous medical establishment, Sanders seems to reject everything presented to him. His barriers of belief require repeated pressures before accepting what seems quite logical and obvious. Initially, I saw this struggle as strange and frustrating, but to give in quickly and without thinking would have rendered Sanders too pliable a character. Instead, Sanders asks probing questions along his path of discovery, which through doubt makes him much stronger.

Engdahl's book has a definite individualist bent. Although one can question some of the characters' abilities on the basis of science, their passion for liberty and the desire to live free lives cannot be denied. The book builds just the right amount of tension, and shows the stark reality of benevolent tyranny, one that any so-called liberal democracy could creep towards quite easily. I've read countless 20th century dystopias, and this reminded me of several (Ira Levin's One Fine Day, for example). While some of the characters are almost too perfect to be likeable, the two main characters and a handful of the supporting cast make up for this. With a cliff-hanger ending one might think that a sequel is in order. Stewards of the Flame manages to speak strongly for our rights to choose our own destinies.