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Review Summaries
"When a backwoods medieval England duchy is the subject of a hostile alien scouting party, the aliens soon find that the primitive English are not to be be taken lightly. The plucky English take the fight to the aliens' own subject planets and find themselves fighting in defense of all mankind. The advanced arts of the aliens are rapidly turned against them by the wiley hero, but he must face weakness of friend, family, and foe alike as he tries to bring his subjects safely to an Earth lost among the countless stars. The narrator is a Catholic priest along for better or worse, and his witty but dry administration of his Holy duties make the story immensely entertaining, and this device somehow successfully combines tongue-in-cheek backwardness with real intrigue and very human characters. A very accessible work by Anderson that can be enjoyed by almost all ages and tastes."
Nate Lovell, Resident Poul Anderson Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%
Tone of book
- humorous or laughable
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- stranded on alien planet, fighting aliens to survive
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV:
- fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
War or Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- sword fights
- lasers
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- religious figure
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
Profession/status:
- dictator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- unfriendly aliens
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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