I haven't read Patric Carman's first Atherton book, House of Power, but enough information is given in this second book, Rivers of Fire, to understand what is going on. Atherton, an artificial world apparently in orbit around a severely polluted Earth, is changing. Settlers from Earth had their memories of Earth and the fact they're on an artificial world wiped from their minds. Our young heroes and heroine, Edgar, Samuel, and Isabel, were born on Atherton.

Edgar has an ability to climb that mountaineers and rock climbers would envy. Now that the highlands are sinking, the people living there need to move to the tabletop land of villages (one of rabbit farmers, one of sheep farmers, and the Grove, where fig trees grow). The lowest level, where the murderous creatures known as 'Cleaners' come from, is no longer separated from Tabletop. The Cleaners have multiple legs, Octopus-like suckers on their bellies, and appallingly sharp teeth. They will be the main menace of the book, although the crat of a place under the House of Power, are more than reasonably dangerous as well. Some creatures living near the rivers of fire are scary. One can kill instantly and the other's sting could be fatal if experienced three times in a day. Too bad they dwell along the only avenue of escape for Samuel, Isabel, Vincent the guide/warrior, Sir William, and Dr. Kincaid. (Edgar's avenue of escape can hold only one person and it's unlikely the others could have survived it.)

Since the world has started changing, water is hard to come by. The two villains are looking for the source of the water where the crats live. A secret is revealed, the villains get theirs, and quite a few unnamed characters, as well as fewer named ones, are killed. One person's foolish action endangers only himself. Another's gets about 30 people killed. Neither horse nor rabbit lovers will like that scene.

As adventures go, there is plenty of excitement and daring. The thing that angered me was Dr. Kinkaid (Kincaid?) declaration at the end about something the creator of Atherton did that the scientist thought was best. Given the number of people and animals who died because of the Cleaners, I would not have blamed the person being told if he had slapped or punched that jerk. ( )

Atherton, satellite world created as a refuge from our own polluted Earth (the Dark Planet), originally had three levels separated by steep rocky cliffs. Now, those three levels are collapsing and sinking into one another, and the people from the top two levels are about to meet up with the vicious monsters from the lowest level. The top level is sinking fastest, and is starting to flood, so Edgar, Isabel, Samuel, Dr. Kincaid and Lord Phineus are on the hunt through the interior underground caves for the creator of Atherton, brilliant scientist Dr. Maximus Harding who is rumored to be insane. While Edgar and friends search desperately for the way to save Atherton from its apparent physical self-destruction, the villagers and the people from the Highlands must unite to battle the hungry and vicious Cleaners -- giant, nasty, centipede-like monsters that are basically all razor-sharp teeth and legs. Will the humans brought to Atherton be able to survive all that its creator has placed here with them? Definitely read House of Power first if you haven't. Great sci-fi for grade 6 and up. ( )

Book Summary: This story is set on the fictional manmade planet of Antheron and is the second book in the Antheron series. The main character, Edgar, warns the citizens of the Tabletop that the horrible creatures called the cleaners are coming. Meanwhile, Edgar's friends Samuel and Isabel are searching for the hidden source of water they know that the evil Lord Phineus is hiding.

Content Summary: This book contains topics about growing up, being independent, and challenging authority. It also contains many Biblical references and similarities. Although it is set in a fantasy world, children can still gain from the life lessons it presents.

Website: www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/athertonseries/.../alpPOView.doc

This book was a little hard to understand from my point of view. ( )

Atherton is a 3-tiered world created by men as a refuge from a dying Earth. This is the follow up to "the House of Power." Intriguing world, characters and crisis situations. Edgar, a young boy - maybe 10, is the main character and leads the way to discovering the secrets of Atherton's origin and mysteries.