Welcome to the land of wonders, where time travel is possible, space travel a reality, and "what ifs" come to life. Join me as I explore new worlds--and old ones--filled with scientific wonders, new civilizations, and strange new mysteries to consider.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.
That said, on to the review!
Major Yanaba Maddock was relocated to Petaybee following a terrible ordeal that left her lungs ruined and her career ended. Her job was to investigate the mysterious disappearances and deaths of mining teams being sent to the planet to unearth the valuable minerals and ores clearly visible on scanners from outerspace. What she doesn't expect, however, is her reception into the village of Kilcoole and the effect Petaybee and its people have on her. Now, as the secrets of the planet reveal themselves to her one by one, she wonders if what the company she works for is wrong to try to exploit the world. Curly-haired unicorns. Telepathic dogs and cats. Caves that offer deep communion with...something, something that aids her in physical, psychological, and spiritual recovery. When things come to a head--as they must inevitably do, what with the company demanding profitable returns from the planet they worked so hard to terraform--whose side will she fall on: the company's or her adopted world's?
Yanaba Maddock--or Yana, as everyone calls her--is an extremely likeable character. It might be easy to pity her at first since her disabled status "traps" her planetside and away from the action and in poor health to boot, but when you compare her new surroundings to the ones she just came from, you have to wonder whether the punishment is actually a reward. The bleak description of shipboard and space station life conjures up all sorts of images: austere bulkheads, rank and germ-filled air, bland food pellets and all-around lifelessness. Contrast that to what Petaybee has to offer--fresh air, fresh food, creativity, life--and you can understand why Yana would start to change her opinions about planetside life.
The authors present all the strange oddities of Petaybee slowly and casually, allowing the reader to learn and accept life on Petaybee at the same pace the Yana does. The subcutaneous layer of "brown fat" makes sense, as does the difficulty of Petaybeans to adjust to warmer temperatures. The adaptations of the unicorns, dogs, and cats also are also plausible and acceptable...though the origin of the unicorn's horn might need further explanation. Also impressive was the incorporation of Earth's indigenous peoples' cultural traditions into the Petaybean way of life. The lower technological level and the resultant dependancy on physical exertion to survive make the "imported" traditions (they came with the settlers who were of those indigenous peoples) highly plausible and exceptionally reasonable. Of course, it also makes the dependency on machinery and advancement laughable in some instances, such as when Yana has no idea how to cook fish for herself.
I've reviewed books by Anne McCaffrey and books by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. The collaboration on this book produced a terrific must-read that draws on science fiction, fantasy, anthropology, sociology, and a whole lot of -ologies I probably wouldn't recognize if they hit me over the head. Sound intimidating? Well, don't fear! The story flows along with a smoothness that is obviously the result of two accomplished writers working in sync with each other!
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