The Dream Compass — Jeff Bredenberg

First in the Merquan Chronicles, a science fiction adventure of a revolt against tyranny in a postapocalyptic world from “a writer to watch closely” (Roger Zelazny).
 
Earth has been devastated in a long-forgotten conflict. From the ashes of myriad nations and civilizations rose a martial state under the reign of a merciless dictator. Despite ruling most of the planet, the Monitor will not permit any competing population to threaten his realm. To ensure his empire, he plans to unleash a weapon of mass destruction with the potential to destroy the world he so desperately wishes to subjugate under his dominion.
 
But there are those unwilling to bow before the Monitor: Anton Takk, a labor-camp escapee driven by dark secrets; Rosenthal Webb, an aging revolutionary hiding deep within a mountain, waiting for the right time to return; Tha’Enton, a glory seeking warrior and musician; and Pec-Pec, clever magician, Rasta mystic, and master manipulator. In their fight for their individual freedoms, they will inspire a revolution that will save the world.
 
Author Jeff Bredenberg “writes sustained action sequences which twist like mating serpents; his themes are important ones; and his voice is different from anyone else’s in the business” (Roger Zelazny).