What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadow's End
“Tepper takes the traditional icons of fantasy, restores their resonance, and makes them her own.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
A century ago, a mysterious force wiped out human life on all surrounding worlds, leaving the planet Dinadh untouched. Now the unknown force is back—and this time humanity’s only hope lies with a woman who’d give anything not to get involved.
Lutha Tallstaff’s mission is to locate the famed adventurer Leelson Famber, who has disappeared, taking with him what may be the only clue to the nature of the deadly threat. But Lutha cannot know that finding Famber will be the easy part of her journey. Through terrain alive with savage winged wraiths and fountains of fire, she will fight her way to the holiest place on the planet. And only then will she discover the shocking truth about the coldly inhuman force that threatens the future of mankind.
A century ago, a mysterious force wiped out human life on all surrounding worlds, leaving the planet Dinadh untouched. Now the unknown force is back—and this time humanity’s only hope lies with a woman who’d give anything not to get involved.
Lutha Tallstaff’s mission is to locate the famed adventurer Leelson Famber, who has disappeared, taking with him what may be the only clue to the nature of the deadly threat. But Lutha cannot know that finding Famber will be the easy part of her journey. Through terrain alive with savage winged wraiths and fountains of fire, she will fight her way to the holiest place on the planet. And only then will she discover the shocking truth about the coldly inhuman force that threatens the future of mankind.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Sheri S. Tepper
66 books1,039 followersSheri Stewart Tepper was a prolific American author of science fiction, horror and mystery novels; she was particularly known as a feminist science fiction writer, often with an ecofeminist slant.
Born near Littleton, Colorado, for most of her career (1962-1986) she worked for Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, where she eventually became Executive Director. She has two children and is married to Gene Tepper. She operated a guest ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She wrote under several pseudonyms, including A.J. Orde, E.E. Horlak, and B.J. Oliphant. Her early work was published under the name Sheri S. Eberhart.
Born near Littleton, Colorado, for most of her career (1962-1986) she worked for Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, where she eventually became Executive Director. She has two children and is married to Gene Tepper. She operated a guest ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She wrote under several pseudonyms, including A.J. Orde, E.E. Horlak, and B.J. Oliphant. Her early work was published under the name Sheri S. Eberhart.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 21, 2021
Sheri S. Tepper is a new author for me. Shadow's End is one of her standalone Sci-Fi novels, published originally in 1994. How to describe this intricate, fascinating story? Well, let's see.
(Ed. Note - apologies in advance for any misspelling of characters' names. It is Sci-Fi after all) The story for the most part is narrated by Saluez, a woman on the planet of Dinadh. She fleshes out many of the gaps in the story. The story also follows to other women; Lutha Tallstaff, sent to Dinadh along with her strange son, Leely, to try to discover more about a threat to mankind, the Ularians, who seem to be destroying human life on other planets in the Hermes sector; and Snark, a Shadow, who is sent as part of a team of Shadows to the planet of Perdur Alas, also in the Hermes sector, where the human science group have disappeared, presumably by the self-same Ularians.
Confused? Well, like so many rich, detailed Sci-Fi novels, it takes time to get into this story, the characters, the life on the various planets, everything. But as you try to understand what is going on, you find a fascinating story with characters who you will find yourself drawn to and feeling for, and with themes that strike home. Mankind ruled by the Fastigats and Firsters, has spread out into space, inhabiting planets, covering them in domes, removing all other animal life (basically creating a gene pool for later use) and establishing primacy of human life. On some planets there are still some animals. Dinadh has a form of oxen, beasts of burden and some wild life.
There are other forms of life on Dinadh, a threatening life called the Kachis, winged beings that come out at night. Women are offered as some form of sacrifice which comes clearer as the story progresses. Saluea has been scarred by them and is now one of the masked women, who lives in the shadows of her hive, with other such women. She is assigned to help Lutha and her group, find out about the Ularians. The small group undertake a journey across Dinadh to the meeting place and must attempt to survive in the open. In the meantime, a pair of assassins have been sent to remove the threat they seem to present. As well, Snark tries to survive on her planet, hiding from the 'big Rottens', observing, remembering... OK, I see. It's so difficult to describe this story, suffice it to say, you need to read it and experience it for yourself.
So many themes explored, theological (creationism), man's abuse of his environment (supremacy over any other creatures), genetic manipulation, women as subordinates (this really struck a chord with me). It was such an excellent story, getting better and better as I got deeper into it. Sci-Fi permits the creation of such wonderful worlds and allows us to look at what we're doing with our own lives and world from an external viewpoint. Well worth reading. I have two more of Tepper's books in my shelf to try. So glad I discovered her writing. (4.5 stars)
(Ed. Note - apologies in advance for any misspelling of characters' names. It is Sci-Fi after all) The story for the most part is narrated by Saluez, a woman on the planet of Dinadh. She fleshes out many of the gaps in the story. The story also follows to other women; Lutha Tallstaff, sent to Dinadh along with her strange son, Leely, to try to discover more about a threat to mankind, the Ularians, who seem to be destroying human life on other planets in the Hermes sector; and Snark, a Shadow, who is sent as part of a team of Shadows to the planet of Perdur Alas, also in the Hermes sector, where the human science group have disappeared, presumably by the self-same Ularians.
Confused? Well, like so many rich, detailed Sci-Fi novels, it takes time to get into this story, the characters, the life on the various planets, everything. But as you try to understand what is going on, you find a fascinating story with characters who you will find yourself drawn to and feeling for, and with themes that strike home. Mankind ruled by the Fastigats and Firsters, has spread out into space, inhabiting planets, covering them in domes, removing all other animal life (basically creating a gene pool for later use) and establishing primacy of human life. On some planets there are still some animals. Dinadh has a form of oxen, beasts of burden and some wild life.
There are other forms of life on Dinadh, a threatening life called the Kachis, winged beings that come out at night. Women are offered as some form of sacrifice which comes clearer as the story progresses. Saluea has been scarred by them and is now one of the masked women, who lives in the shadows of her hive, with other such women. She is assigned to help Lutha and her group, find out about the Ularians. The small group undertake a journey across Dinadh to the meeting place and must attempt to survive in the open. In the meantime, a pair of assassins have been sent to remove the threat they seem to present. As well, Snark tries to survive on her planet, hiding from the 'big Rottens', observing, remembering... OK, I see. It's so difficult to describe this story, suffice it to say, you need to read it and experience it for yourself.
So many themes explored, theological (creationism), man's abuse of his environment (supremacy over any other creatures), genetic manipulation, women as subordinates (this really struck a chord with me). It was such an excellent story, getting better and better as I got deeper into it. Sci-Fi permits the creation of such wonderful worlds and allows us to look at what we're doing with our own lives and world from an external viewpoint. Well worth reading. I have two more of Tepper's books in my shelf to try. So glad I discovered her writing. (4.5 stars)
April 3, 2011
The fragrant, sun-checkered canyon lands of the planet Dinadh seem to be a peaceful backwater of the universe...except for one thing. A century ago, a mysterious force wiped out human life on all surrounding worlds, leaving Dinadh untouched. Every team sent to investigate vanished. Every attempt to contact survivors met with a devastating silence. Now the unknown force is back -- and this time humanity's only hope for survival lies on Dinadh...with a woman who'd give anything not to get involved. Lutha Tallstaff is a brilliant linguist, a devoted mother, and a reluctant emissary to Dinadh. Her mission is to locate the famed adventurer Leelson Famber, who has disappeared, taking with him what may be the only clue to the nature of the deadly threat. But for Lutha, finding Famber, who also happens to be her estranged lover and the father of her child, is the last thing she wants to do. At Lutha's side on this perilous quest is her strange and beautiful young son, a boy whose father denies his humanity but whose bizarre abilities will soon have far-reaching consequences. Reunited on Dinadh, the threesome find themselves traversing a planet dazzling in its cool springs and blossoming fruit trees, dangerous in its fountains of fire and rapacious winged wraiths. Yet only when they approach the planet's holiest place will Lutha discover the truth about her child, about the savage Ularians, and about the future of humankind. For she, her lover, and their son figure in a pattern of cosmic importance that will shake the universe -- and their understanding of life, love, good and evil -- to its very foundations. (publisher's blurb)
Although the cover blurb only mentions one of them, Tepper's novel follows the stories of three women: Saluez of Dinadh, Snark the Shadow, and the above-mentioned Lutha Tallstaff. The three disparate women have one thing in common: victimhood.
Saluez is a victim of Dinadh's social structure and religious practices which often have tragic consequences for women. Snark, because of her anti-social tendencies, has been sentenced to a form of behavior control known as Shadowhood, in which she acts as servant to the mighty but is completely unnoticeable by those she serves. And Lutha -- strong, intelligent, capable Lutha -- is victimized by her own longing for Leelson Famber even in the face of utter rejection by both him and his family.
Lutha's mission sets her on a path which ultimately unites these women and brings them to a single destiny. Together their actions will determine their own fates and that of mankind. Along the way, Tepper paints us a vivid landscape of alien worlds and odd beings, strange politics and xenophobic religions, and she shows us the far-reaching consequences of seemingly minor acts.
A well-told, almost poetic novel.
Although the cover blurb only mentions one of them, Tepper's novel follows the stories of three women: Saluez of Dinadh, Snark the Shadow, and the above-mentioned Lutha Tallstaff. The three disparate women have one thing in common: victimhood.
Saluez is a victim of Dinadh's social structure and religious practices which often have tragic consequences for women. Snark, because of her anti-social tendencies, has been sentenced to a form of behavior control known as Shadowhood, in which she acts as servant to the mighty but is completely unnoticeable by those she serves. And Lutha -- strong, intelligent, capable Lutha -- is victimized by her own longing for Leelson Famber even in the face of utter rejection by both him and his family.
Lutha's mission sets her on a path which ultimately unites these women and brings them to a single destiny. Together their actions will determine their own fates and that of mankind. Along the way, Tepper paints us a vivid landscape of alien worlds and odd beings, strange politics and xenophobic religions, and she shows us the far-reaching consequences of seemingly minor acts.
A well-told, almost poetic novel.
January 26, 2013
Earth is of course the real evil in this book and the slightly corrupted old testament phase; "Therefore be fruitful and multiply, and replace all other creatures with humankind and its domesticated beasts, and replace all other green things with those plants useful to human life..." Well could it be any clearer..destroy everything is what it means and there are those even in this more enlightened day believe they can do just that, whereas most of us know the sting in the tale is that we will be destroyed too. So earth swarms out amongst the stars and meets firm resistance but that resistance is subtle and so far removed from us........ a book that had my imagination reeling. Terrifying in a way you can't quite out your finger on....the best fear...
February 21, 2018
Sheri S. Tepper is one of my favorite SciFi writers, or SciFantasy if you prefer, and I have been enjoying her books since I discovered “Grass”, almost thirty years ago. Recently I had been concerned that I had an overinflated opinion of eighties SciFi. Back then, the genre was experiencing a significant increase in new SF writers, established SF writers gaining their due notoriety, readership exploding, and new and established publishers joining the movement. I dove in head first and thought I’d gone to heaven. Now, having turned 56, would I still find that the SciFi of the eighties was truly as amazing as I remembered?
Well I am extremely happy to find that “Shadow’s End”, is every bit as good today, as it would have been when it was first published long ago. Tepper, who was definitely ahead of her time, was also one of the several women SciFi authors that truly affected my way of seeing our world, and the roles that males and females had traditionally followed. Both Tepper and LeGuin really changed my views and fortunately, while I was still young enough for that to occur.
In “Shadow’s End”, we are presented with the mystery of several planets within a galaxy, losing their entire populations, as if they had been “disappeared” by a galactic magician. Tepper then assembles her cast of characters on the, as yet affected planet Dinadh, and you begin the slow process of finding the truth behind it all. As in most of her stories, she has created very unique worlds, and even more unique social structures. Unfortunately, their is always a fly in the ointment. Will our group of protagonists be able to solve the mystery in time, and save mankind from extinction?
I’m confident you’ll be turning the pages as rapidly as I was.
Tepper has an incredible grasp of not only social structures, but theology and religion as well. She writes of the pitfalls of mankind as well as any writer, SciFi or otherwise. This story deals with the Firster’s misconceived beliefs that “the Universe was made for man”, and that all else is secondary. She in fact, surprised me, with a reference to the Bible and a scene in which an ark is saving all of the species of animals and delivering them to an “Eden” planet.
Here is quoted a passage, passed on to all children of Dinadh - “Do not wish to live forever. Do not believe that every man-shaped thing is holier than something else. Do not look into the mirror to see the face of God. Do not weave your life only in one color, for Behemoth will not bless you if you do .”
Great story, hope it moves you as well.
Well I am extremely happy to find that “Shadow’s End”, is every bit as good today, as it would have been when it was first published long ago. Tepper, who was definitely ahead of her time, was also one of the several women SciFi authors that truly affected my way of seeing our world, and the roles that males and females had traditionally followed. Both Tepper and LeGuin really changed my views and fortunately, while I was still young enough for that to occur.
In “Shadow’s End”, we are presented with the mystery of several planets within a galaxy, losing their entire populations, as if they had been “disappeared” by a galactic magician. Tepper then assembles her cast of characters on the, as yet affected planet Dinadh, and you begin the slow process of finding the truth behind it all. As in most of her stories, she has created very unique worlds, and even more unique social structures. Unfortunately, their is always a fly in the ointment. Will our group of protagonists be able to solve the mystery in time, and save mankind from extinction?
I’m confident you’ll be turning the pages as rapidly as I was.
Tepper has an incredible grasp of not only social structures, but theology and religion as well. She writes of the pitfalls of mankind as well as any writer, SciFi or otherwise. This story deals with the Firster’s misconceived beliefs that “the Universe was made for man”, and that all else is secondary. She in fact, surprised me, with a reference to the Bible and a scene in which an ark is saving all of the species of animals and delivering them to an “Eden” planet.
Here is quoted a passage, passed on to all children of Dinadh - “Do not wish to live forever. Do not believe that every man-shaped thing is holier than something else. Do not look into the mirror to see the face of God. Do not weave your life only in one color, for Behemoth will not bless you if you do .”
Great story, hope it moves you as well.
July 21, 2018
At times a tough read but in many ways a wonder of creative endeavor. Tepper has built a rather extraordinary analogy of modern environmental, human, and animal rights issues — set in space and on alien planets. While some of the symbolism here continues to elude me (the nodding heads on sticks for example), I found myself drawing many comparisons between her writing and feminist politico Margaret Atwood as well as science fiction writer Orson Scott Card. Shadow’s End is hands down one of the strangest books I’ve read to date, including magical realism works by Hunter Grass, Salman Rushdie, and Gabriel Garcia Marcus. But despite its resounding oddity, I cant deny that Tepper seems to push the limits of her creativity energy and impressively weaves together a many threaded story into a unique and energizing read. Weeks later I am still considering the implications of her work, still processing the story. To me, this is the mark of an exceptional writer, and the power and beauty of complex literature.
January 14, 2009
This book sucked me in with my absolute favorite guilty-pleasure theme ever: Space Mystery. Some big, creepy thing going on on some planet that people are set out to investigate.
I enjoyed it overall, the desire for Space Mystery was apeased, but the ending of the book was deeply unsettling to me. I understood clearly the feminist issues it was addressing, and perhaps it upset me because--despite the obvious fantastical plot--I recognized in it the cyclical pattern of patriarchy and consumption that our culture never seems able to break away from completely.
I enjoyed it overall, the desire for Space Mystery was apeased, but the ending of the book was deeply unsettling to me. I understood clearly the feminist issues it was addressing, and perhaps it upset me because--despite the obvious fantastical plot--I recognized in it the cyclical pattern of patriarchy and consumption that our culture never seems able to break away from completely.
July 26, 2015
Sadly this one fell to bits before the end. The resolution didn't really make sense - *god* creates huge evil smelling jellyfish that eliminate people on worlds in one sector then proceed to eat up all the native life left ... and then brings back all the creatures people have selfishly killed off earlier and stored as patterns in a computer. I also didn't believe that the male songfathers would see 'living on' as big bats with big teeth as a type of immortality and make a 'bargain' with god to hand over their pregnant women to same ... not a keeper I'm afraid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2018
This is the third Tepper book I've read, and I'm beginning to sense a pattern. A pattern not in the stories themselves but in the themes. Of course, this is only the third book of hers I've read, so I could be completely wrong and what I'm picking up on could be isolated to only these three books (well, probably not just these three, because there are still two more books in the series with Grass, and I suspect the themes from the first book will carry into the other two); however, until proven otherwise, I'm going to go with these as common themes throughout her books:
Questioning women's traditional place in society and, through that, man's function in the world.
Telepathy. (Which seems weird to me but each of the three books I've read have had some sort of telepathy/empathy as a major thread in the story.)
Metamorphosis. (Which wasn't present explicitly in The Gate to Women's Country, but a case could be made for a metamorphosis metaphor in that book.)
Actually, let's throw in a fourth: apocalypse. Each book has dealt in some way with some sort of apocalyptic happening.
Shadow's End has an interesting perspective. It's a third person story told via first person much like, say, the Sherlock Holmes stories are told by Watson. This used to be a pretty common way to tell a story (see also The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Moby Dick among others), but we moved away from that as a society throughout the 20th century until, now, it's hardly ever used at all. It's a style that I like and find much more appealing than the glut of straightforward 1st person stories coming out over the last couple of decades.
The person telling the story tends to be someone who is mostly an observer, rarely taking direct action in the plot, as is the case in this book with Saluez. This allows a much more nuanced telling of the story, as you get, also, the perspective of the person narrating. I think it provides a much more flexible method of telling a story.
One of the ideas explored in this book is that of invisible people. I don't mean invisible people; I mean people who go about unseen. Saluez is one of these people, which makes her role of observer/narrator work quite well. There is a parallel here to, say, the maids at hotels being invisible people. I'm sure it's not an accident.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book; well, I enjoyed most of this book. The exploration of the Dinadhi people was really quite fascinating, and the book pulled me along as the story progressed. However, I was not fond of the ending, about the last 10% of the book. I don't really know much about Tepper other than that she started writing after she had retired from whatever it was she had done all of her life and that I've read three of her books. So, not knowing anything about the way she wrote, this books feels as if she wrote herself into a place that she didn't know how to get out of.
I don't know; maybe, she's like me and pretty much knows the ending before she starts writing the story, which would mean the ending was what she had in mind from the beginning, but it didn't feel that way. And it's not that the end is bad or anything; it was just... unsatisfying.
It's not enough to dissuade me from recommending the book, though; it's just not the Tepper book I would say you should start with if you're going to check out her books. Go get yourself a copy of The Gate to Women's Country and give it a read.
Questioning women's traditional place in society and, through that, man's function in the world.
Telepathy. (Which seems weird to me but each of the three books I've read have had some sort of telepathy/empathy as a major thread in the story.)
Metamorphosis. (Which wasn't present explicitly in The Gate to Women's Country, but a case could be made for a metamorphosis metaphor in that book.)
Actually, let's throw in a fourth: apocalypse. Each book has dealt in some way with some sort of apocalyptic happening.
Shadow's End has an interesting perspective. It's a third person story told via first person much like, say, the Sherlock Holmes stories are told by Watson. This used to be a pretty common way to tell a story (see also The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Moby Dick among others), but we moved away from that as a society throughout the 20th century until, now, it's hardly ever used at all. It's a style that I like and find much more appealing than the glut of straightforward 1st person stories coming out over the last couple of decades.
The person telling the story tends to be someone who is mostly an observer, rarely taking direct action in the plot, as is the case in this book with Saluez. This allows a much more nuanced telling of the story, as you get, also, the perspective of the person narrating. I think it provides a much more flexible method of telling a story.
One of the ideas explored in this book is that of invisible people. I don't mean invisible people; I mean people who go about unseen. Saluez is one of these people, which makes her role of observer/narrator work quite well. There is a parallel here to, say, the maids at hotels being invisible people. I'm sure it's not an accident.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book; well, I enjoyed most of this book. The exploration of the Dinadhi people was really quite fascinating, and the book pulled me along as the story progressed. However, I was not fond of the ending, about the last 10% of the book. I don't really know much about Tepper other than that she started writing after she had retired from whatever it was she had done all of her life and that I've read three of her books. So, not knowing anything about the way she wrote, this books feels as if she wrote herself into a place that she didn't know how to get out of.
I don't know; maybe, she's like me and pretty much knows the ending before she starts writing the story, which would mean the ending was what she had in mind from the beginning, but it didn't feel that way. And it's not that the end is bad or anything; it was just... unsatisfying.
It's not enough to dissuade me from recommending the book, though; it's just not the Tepper book I would say you should start with if you're going to check out her books. Go get yourself a copy of The Gate to Women's Country and give it a read.
July 15, 2017
One great thing about Sheri S. Tepper is you can tell exactly what her hangups are. If everyone on Earth were so transparent, social dynamics would be no problem. In this book we have all the classic Tepperisms, such as: headstrong, capable, beautiful woman with a record-breaking IQ who likes to boss fellas around; a derpy dude who underestimates women and doesn't deserve his status in life; a highly-sensitive and intelligent waif-like orphan creature from a repressed race that the dominant race ignores and forces into servitude; misunderstood children who are considered to be retarded but actually have special gifts; a barely-functional, totally implausible society that is ruled by a topheavy religious patriarchy.
Basically all of the major aspects of Tepper's psyche are here in this almost unreadable passion play. The story wears itself out long before it descends into absolute madness in it's almost hilarious mind-numbingly insane conclusion. The chapters alternate in perspective before the disparate strands finally tenuously ravel together in a poorly woven fabric of absurdity that one marvels at the sheer fecklessness of the author and of the courage it must take to publish anything so transparently a nightmare maelstrom of one's own psychological turmoil.
Tepper's later works are simply masterpieces in awful storytelling and yet I cannot stop reading them. If you are expecting this to be anything like her great books from the 80s you are in for a shocker. For a while I was convinced it was a different author with the same name. But they are addicting in their unabashed horridness and I continue to marvel at how she can continue to publish these works so un-selfconsciously. I don't know how much more I can take of Sheri S. Tepper but I'm going to find out.
Basically all of the major aspects of Tepper's psyche are here in this almost unreadable passion play. The story wears itself out long before it descends into absolute madness in it's almost hilarious mind-numbingly insane conclusion. The chapters alternate in perspective before the disparate strands finally tenuously ravel together in a poorly woven fabric of absurdity that one marvels at the sheer fecklessness of the author and of the courage it must take to publish anything so transparently a nightmare maelstrom of one's own psychological turmoil.
Tepper's later works are simply masterpieces in awful storytelling and yet I cannot stop reading them. If you are expecting this to be anything like her great books from the 80s you are in for a shocker. For a while I was convinced it was a different author with the same name. But they are addicting in their unabashed horridness and I continue to marvel at how she can continue to publish these works so un-selfconsciously. I don't know how much more I can take of Sheri S. Tepper but I'm going to find out.
September 7, 2017
Sheri Tepper's not perfect, and here's a good example of a book which features both some of her strengths (unusual character backstories, a profound capacity for description) and some of her weaknesses (choppy pacing, wacky conclusion, surrender to certain gender archetypes). And I'm not saying she's alone in having these weaknesses, either. It would have been a shock for her to be ahead of her time on everything in every single novel. I'm also not particularly the worse off for having read this specific book. It's just ... really, Tepper? REALLY? That ending. I'm not sure I can accept that it reflects or comments in any insightful way on patterns of patriarchal behavior and et cetera. If it was going to do that, it needed to do so much more loudly and obviously so that I didn't read it as a simple surrender to the "easy reach" so many science fictional books make, in putting women back into toxic positions of subjugation to men.
Luckily, I have several more books in the Arbai series to find and read. The first, Grass Grass , was amazing. Tepper is capable of great things! And also ... some failures. As we all are.
Luckily, I have several more books in the Arbai series to find and read. The first, Grass Grass , was amazing. Tepper is capable of great things! And also ... some failures. As we all are.
March 25, 2013
I don't think I'd recommend this book to many people. Its audience is, I suspect, pretty limited. It includes aspects of religion and feminism and ecocentrism and concepts of privacy, disability, authority -- all encased in a story about alien worlds and cultures. So I doubt we'll see it on best-seller lists any time soon.
But I still enjoyed it, as I enjoy all of Tepper's work. She hits all my buttons satisfyingly, if not as subtly as I prefer. I get invested in the characters and I visualize all the environments and I start thinking about things other than my own small brain-universe. It's a bit of a mental workout, but a good one, one that excites me every time I pick up the book.
If you're looking for something similar but not quite as...full-fledged, I suggest Grass, or the slightly-less-sci-fi/fantasy Gate to Women's Country.
But I still enjoyed it, as I enjoy all of Tepper's work. She hits all my buttons satisfyingly, if not as subtly as I prefer. I get invested in the characters and I visualize all the environments and I start thinking about things other than my own small brain-universe. It's a bit of a mental workout, but a good one, one that excites me every time I pick up the book.
If you're looking for something similar but not quite as...full-fledged, I suggest Grass, or the slightly-less-sci-fi/fantasy Gate to Women's Country.
January 18, 2019
All the themes and messages typical of Tepper's work. This one had some great commentary on religion, in particular. But, I wouldn't rank it among her best or most enjoyable books.
The book has a rough start and is tough to get started. Once hooked, though, it pulls you in and I thought it might end up as a four or maybe even five star read. But, then, the ending happened. The last ten percent of the book or so was totally unsatisfying. The first part of the "secret" that was revealed was fine (although expected, particularly knowing her other books), but the rest of it, just no. I can't say more without spoilers, but it left me annoyed.
The book has a rough start and is tough to get started. Once hooked, though, it pulls you in and I thought it might end up as a four or maybe even five star read. But, then, the ending happened. The last ten percent of the book or so was totally unsatisfying. The first part of the "secret" that was revealed was fine (although expected, particularly knowing her other books), but the rest of it, just no. I can't say more without spoilers, but it left me annoyed.
December 8, 2023
Upgraded my two stars to three. This is not Tepper's best novel, but I enjoyed reading it for the first time in probably 20 years. It was worth a revisit.
Tepper's common themes about the treatment of women and children and also the destruction of nature show up in the book and I think it's one of the bleakest descriptions of humanity absolutely not living in harmony with the rest of the environment I've read for a while. Tepper was a bit of a seer when it comes to this, and was a huge influence on my development as a baby environmentalist.
Tepper's common themes about the treatment of women and children and also the destruction of nature show up in the book and I think it's one of the bleakest descriptions of humanity absolutely not living in harmony with the rest of the environment I've read for a while. Tepper was a bit of a seer when it comes to this, and was a huge influence on my development as a baby environmentalist.
February 26, 2009
This is my third Tepper book, and I've noticed her writing takes at least a couple chapters to really sink into the story. The first few pages of her books seem to be a "wtf?" experience, but once she gets on a roll you can't take your eyes away. Her endings tend to be on the almost wacky and barely believable side, which is actually a bit refreshing and novel. This particular book reminded me a lot of the Dune books, and as always she makes some great jabs at politics and sexism. I wouldn't say this is my favorite book ever, but definitely worth picking up.
September 6, 2009
I really quite enjoyed the vast majority of this book. The characters are real, and the setting emerges from the characters' experience of it. The world has just enough plausibility as a possible future to be quite thought provoking.
Unfortunately, the gripping plot breaks down at the end. I expected revelation; I'm not actually sure what it was. I may well have to re-read the ending, and see if I missed something, or if it really did just sort of unravel instead of wrapping anything up.
Unfortunately, the gripping plot breaks down at the end. I expected revelation; I'm not actually sure what it was. I may well have to re-read the ending, and see if I missed something, or if it really did just sort of unravel instead of wrapping anything up.
November 12, 2011
While not my favorite, holy crap is this book creepy. Well all her books are creepy but like Grass this will definitely give you the heebie jeebies. Societies in her books make trade offs for various reason and usually suffer the consequences. What makes her characters interesting is the viewpoint of both the outsider and the insider. A mix of sci-fi and fantasy I always recommend her books to anyone. Bit of a warning, they aren't easy reads so impatient people might not get into them easily as there's not alot of action early on, she spends her time world and character building.
June 19, 2016
Another author I am so glad to have been introduced to. Reminiscent not only of Tolkien and Le Guin, as mentioned on the back cover, but also of the best storytelling of Dan Simmons in his Hyperion Cantos. This is a beautifully lyrical novel that spins a mystery for the ages. It takes an incredible look at religion and myth and both the good and evil they can spawn. Also takes a fascinating look at those who live in the shadows and those whose intelligence and gifts are not obvious to the naked eye. I look forward to reading more Tepper in the future.
May 12, 2009
Sheri Tepper is one of my favorite authors. This novel was original and detailed, but in some places I was confused as to what the scenery/creatures looked like. Thank goodness for Michael Whelan's cover art! :)
The ending was a little strange, even for such an outlandish world, but it was exciting.
Tepper describes human relationships very well. Especially the love/hate ones.
The ending was a little strange, even for such an outlandish world, but it was exciting.
Tepper describes human relationships very well. Especially the love/hate ones.
August 21, 2012
It was fine, but I think her feminist environmentalist sensibilities were much more text than subtext in this book. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but one doesn't necessarily want to feel beat about the head by it. Also notable for the odd man on the bus who asked me "So, are her books are strange as they used to be?" Pot, kettle.
July 31, 2017
Good solid Sherri S. Tepper. Her imagination goes all over the place. For colorful backgrounds and characters and twisty plots you can't do better. Wild planetary backgrounds with sense-of-wonder features like few other writers can create.
March 30, 2009
This isn't my favourite of hers. I enjoy her work. She is an author who has terrible summaries on the back of the book but is worth holding judgment until you read the book.
Read
June 28, 2011Compelling story and then about 30 pages from the end it appears she put the book down and someone wildly untalented picked it up and finished it for her.
October 5, 2011
Liked this less than others, but she is always enjoyable.
September 23, 2015
More obviously moralistic than others but I love her and she can do very little wrong in my eyes. The storytelling method was also different to other Tepper novels, I quite liked it.
May 29, 2024
Saluez has been sent into shadow on the planet Dinadh. Her crime seems to be unworthiness, as assessed by the Holy Kachis, nocturnal wraiths that can mutilate. With her face mutilated Saluez’s pregnancy must proceed in secret among the other shadow women. Dinadh has had a strange history. It is the only planet in the sector that the alien Ularians did not wipe clean of humans a century earlier and the patriarchal rulers have adopted a religious plan of isolationism. When a new Ularian menace emerges, gifted linguist Lutha and her strangely autistic son Leely are sent to Dinadh to find the man who may hold the key to unravelling the Ularian mystery. But Leelson is Lutha’s ex and Leely’s father, which complicates matters. There forms an unlikely troupe to head to a festival held every century to rededicate the holiness of the Kachis and human resolve to the practice of homonormalism - elimination of all animals other than humans - a part of the Firster belief.
What transpires on Dinadh is shocking. The true nature of the Kachis is revealed and it is not Holy by any means. The lies of the patriarchy are exposed, and the troupe of Saluez, Lutha, Leely and Leelson, with an assassin hired to kill Leelson and kin, are warped to the planet Perdur Alas, where a creature that might as well be God, awaits in judgement. For most of the book I suspended disbelief. It entertained and there were enough twists and turns to keep me flicking pages. But the end descends into metaphysics and, (while I applaud the sentiments), Sheri S. Tepper delivers a heavy-handed moral. Still worth reading.
What transpires on Dinadh is shocking. The true nature of the Kachis is revealed and it is not Holy by any means. The lies of the patriarchy are exposed, and the troupe of Saluez, Lutha, Leely and Leelson, with an assassin hired to kill Leelson and kin, are warped to the planet Perdur Alas, where a creature that might as well be God, awaits in judgement. For most of the book I suspended disbelief. It entertained and there were enough twists and turns to keep me flicking pages. But the end descends into metaphysics and, (while I applaud the sentiments), Sheri S. Tepper delivers a heavy-handed moral. Still worth reading.
July 7, 2020
This is a story with multiple parts involving several people so jumps around between these various aspects with the Alliance in overall control of a number of planets that are places for the the expanding human race to settle on based upon the premise that "The Universe is for man." People are encouraged to have as many children as possible and planets are "homo-normed" to remove all life forms other than humans to maximize space for people to live.
The central background story is a mysterious force which appeared a century ago wiping out all human life on several planets on the fringe leaving the planet Dinadh untouched. Now the unknown force is back and the Alliance is trying to determine what is going on and Dinadh becomes the focus of the story and unknown to all involved holds discover the truth about the coldly inhuman force that threatens the future of mankind.
The central background story is a mysterious force which appeared a century ago wiping out all human life on several planets on the fringe leaving the planet Dinadh untouched. Now the unknown force is back and the Alliance is trying to determine what is going on and Dinadh becomes the focus of the story and unknown to all involved holds discover the truth about the coldly inhuman force that threatens the future of mankind.
May 18, 2020
This was a disappointing book from an author I generally love. Yes, Tepper always explores social themes in her books, and yes, she's known for very creative, complex world building. But there was way too much going on here, and the result was a muddled mess that kind of stumbled past the finish line in a heap.
General spoiler alert going forward.
On top of that I was... maybe a little offended by the magical mentally handicapped child. I knew as soon as the character was introduced that he would be either the key to solving the mystery, or the solution to the galaxy-wide problem. Oh how I wish he had simply been the main character's mentally handicapped child, there to provide diversity in characters and explore the cultural question of the humanity of the mentally handicapped. For his mother is (rightfully so) determined to view him as a person, invested in his humanity and his agency, while his father is (wrongly, in my hopefully ubiquitous opinion) convinced that he's no more than an animal, and should have been aborted in the womb or left to die in infancy. Neither turns out to be right because of the weird science fiction plot, of course. But in real life, the humanity of the mentally disabled or neurotypical is STILL up for debate in many circles. And good grief how I wish this book had made the right point without, well... turning him into a magical artifact.
I think this was Tepper's environmentalism book. The human culture in this book is obsessed with expansion. They cover as many worlds as possible with human cities, filling them up, breeding through in vitro to create as large a human population as possible. And plants and animals are wiped out, their genetic codes saved so they can be cloned at any time... but they aren't. And the result of this quiverfull/manifest destiny mashup is that an angry alien god wipes out planets full of humans to allow nature to recover. It's all very the Star Trek movie with whales... but way less effective as an allegory for protecting the environment.
The side plot with the king and assassins was dumb and useless. That's all I'll say about it.
I did think Tepper was saying something important about abusive relationships with the two main characters. They were drawn together but so obviously not right for each other. They couldn't help themselves, and kept hurting each other emotionally, yet yearning for each other physically, and caring so deeply about the other's mental and emotional well-being. The fact that this perfectly human scenario was also ruined by the deus ex machina in the end was disappointing.
I always enjoy Tepper's style. And of course she always sprinkles in that sweet, sweet feminist symbolism that I love so much. But this was one I could have skipped. It paled in comparison to Grass and The Gate to Women's Country.
General spoiler alert going forward.
On top of that I was... maybe a little offended by the magical mentally handicapped child. I knew as soon as the character was introduced that he would be either the key to solving the mystery, or the solution to the galaxy-wide problem. Oh how I wish he had simply been the main character's mentally handicapped child, there to provide diversity in characters and explore the cultural question of the humanity of the mentally handicapped. For his mother is (rightfully so) determined to view him as a person, invested in his humanity and his agency, while his father is (wrongly, in my hopefully ubiquitous opinion) convinced that he's no more than an animal, and should have been aborted in the womb or left to die in infancy. Neither turns out to be right because of the weird science fiction plot, of course. But in real life, the humanity of the mentally disabled or neurotypical is STILL up for debate in many circles. And good grief how I wish this book had made the right point without, well... turning him into a magical artifact.
I think this was Tepper's environmentalism book. The human culture in this book is obsessed with expansion. They cover as many worlds as possible with human cities, filling them up, breeding through in vitro to create as large a human population as possible. And plants and animals are wiped out, their genetic codes saved so they can be cloned at any time... but they aren't. And the result of this quiverfull/manifest destiny mashup is that an angry alien god wipes out planets full of humans to allow nature to recover. It's all very the Star Trek movie with whales... but way less effective as an allegory for protecting the environment.
The side plot with the king and assassins was dumb and useless. That's all I'll say about it.
I did think Tepper was saying something important about abusive relationships with the two main characters. They were drawn together but so obviously not right for each other. They couldn't help themselves, and kept hurting each other emotionally, yet yearning for each other physically, and caring so deeply about the other's mental and emotional well-being. The fact that this perfectly human scenario was also ruined by the deus ex machina in the end was disappointing.
I always enjoy Tepper's style. And of course she always sprinkles in that sweet, sweet feminist symbolism that I love so much. But this was one I could have skipped. It paled in comparison to Grass and The Gate to Women's Country.
August 25, 2020
Like every Tepper book I’ve read, this book had some incredible stories of women and women’s communities, their tragedies and victories and their places in various levels of male controlled societies. The book is told through several women’s different places in this universe. This story was a little heavy on high-court politics and mystery for me, those are not my favorite genres. The end turned into a bit of a rushed mess, but I’m still rating this highly because or so many beautiful and tragic moments.
March 2, 2023
This book was hard to get into - the initial set up has horror elements that I had to skip. Like several of Tepper's later novels, there is an element of vengeance on those who 'humanform' the world, extinguishing other species and life in the process. Then there's Leely whose apparent disabilities have placed unbearable strain on his family, and isolated his mother, but who is not what he appears to be. The world of Dinabh has much to recommend it, and there's enough complexity in the plot to keep me reading avidly once I have allowed myself to accept the set up.
July 16, 2017
Structurally identical to Grass (an investigatory team is sent to an isolated planet with bizarre customs because it holds the key to humankind surviving a spreading interplanetary disaster), which limited how much I could enjoy it. The commentary on gender and environmental is well done, but the characters are not particularly likeable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews