Julian May

The Rampart Worlds

These books take place in a far future where human civilization has spread through a tremendous region of space. Huge interstellar corporations control much of space and much of the daily lives of citizens. Amazingly, familiar brand names and music survive. The use of such things as Nike shoes and Jimmy Buffett music give the stories a familiar tone while only being a little jarring.

Perseus Spur: The first book of the Rampart Worlds series, this book introduces us to Helmut Icicle, a beach bum and Throwaway tour guide for the rich who is not what he seems. Caught up in events beyond his control, he must revert to his former life and reunite with his family.
September 16, 2001
Orion Arm: This is book two of the Rampart Worlds series. Similar to her other books, the characters are relatively powerful and wealthy and the story spans the galaxy. In this case, the story centers around the struggles of a family company, Rampart, which struggles against competitors in a business environment where company conflict can be little different from interestellar war.
June 25, 2000

Intervention/Pliocen Exile/Milieu

These books take place in the same universe, though they focus on different times and characters. The all focus on the members of a family of particularly powerful operants (people with mental powers). They take place in the Mediterranean basin in the Pliocene and in the distant future.