Category: Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Walker
ISBN-10: 0802787649
Type: Fiction
Pages: 288
Copyright: March 2001 (orig. 1970)
When peoples from three worlds at different levels of advancement meet on the planet Andredia, only the courage and faith of three young people can prevent tragedy. Is this a story about the future, or about the past?
A Newbery Honor Book ~ Winner of the 1990 Phoenix Award, given by the Children's Literature Association "from the perspective of time" ~ Finalist for the 2002 Book Sense Book of the Year Award in the Rediscovery category.
The Federation Anthropological Service would never officially have allowed Elana to be on this mission to the medieval planet Andrecia. If Youngling peoples found out that a supremely advanced and enlightened society like the Federation existed, it would irreparably damage their evolution. Stowing away aboard her father's ship, Elana suddenly becomes the key to a dangerous plan to turn back the invasion of Andrecia by an aggressive, space-faring Youngling civilization. How can she possibly help the Andrecians, who still believe in magic and superstition, against a force armed with advanced technology -- without revealing her alien powers?
Apprentice medical officer Jarel wishes that the planet the Imperial Exploration Corps has chosen to colonize didn't have a "humanoid" population already living on it. The invaders don't consider the Andrecians to be human, and Jarel has seen the atrocious treatment the natives get from his people. How can he make a difference, when he alone regrets the destruction that his people bring?
Georyn, youngest son of a poor Andrecian woodcutter, knows only that there is a terrible dragon on the other side of the enchanted forest, and he is prepared to do whatever it takes to defeat it. In his mind, Elana is the Enchantress from the Stars who has come to test him, to prove he is worthy of defeating the dragon and its powerful minions. Despite both Elana's and Jarel's inner turmoil, Georyn's burden is by far the heaviest. Ultimately, he must pit his innocent faith in the magic of his Enchantress from the Stars against foes who have come from a world beyond his comprehension.
Now also available in paperback from Firebird, ISBN 0142500372.
Professional Reviews
A classic
"Not just a novel for young adults but also one of the finest sf novels ever written--a classic of the genre. The only possible complaint one can make is that, after finishing it, you will likely find yourself disinclined for a while to pick up anything else in the genre for fear it will, as it were, taste of ashes. In sum, it is almost impossible to convey how good this book is. Please just read it." --John Grant, InfinityPlus, May 2001
Enchanting
"Engdahl’s thoughtful and enjoyable story has been republished for a whole new generation to discover. The story has a subtle allegorical premise that is still valid even after all this time. Engdahl successfully weaves a beautiful story from the perspectives of three distinct civilizations at three different levels of technological maturity.... Both an enchanting coming-of-age story and a compelling moral lesson that teaches respect for other cultures." --Sierra Phillips, Barnes & Noble Editorial Review, March 2001
Wonderfully complex
"This is a wonderfully complex story that weaves together three different narratives, exposing three different levels of cultural development. Walker’s new edition of this long out-of-print title now has a gorgeous cover by Leo and Diane Dillon." --Tracy Wynne, Book Sense 76: Science Fiction and Fantasy Rediscoveries, November 2001
