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Children of the Star - Sylvia Engdahl Book Review

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Review Summary
Noren, who has grown up in a primitive society, embarks on a journey of protest against the Scholars and Technicians who oppress his people by restricting their access to knowledge and technology. He is condemmed by his fellow villagers and convicted of heresy for his ideas.
Noren is determinded to discover the truth at any personal cost, but is unaware of what this will mean for him.

Jenny, Resident Scholar

Omnibus containing the trilogy This Star Shall Abide, Beyond the Tomorrow Mountains, and The Doors of the Universe, published by Meisha Merlin, 2000. ISBN 1892065142.

Noren knew that his world was not as it should be--it was wrong that only the Scholars, and their representatives the Technicians, could use metal tools and Machines. It was wrong that only they had access to the mysterious City, which he had always longed to enter. Above all, it was wrong for the Scholars to have sole power over the distribution of knowledge. The High Law imposed these restrictions and many others, though the Prophecy promised that someday knowledge and Machines would be available to everyone. Noren was a heretic. He defied the High Law and had no faith in the Prophecy's fulfillment. But the more he learned of the grim truth about his people's deprivations, the less possible it seemed that their world could ever
be changed. It would take more drastic steps than anyone imagined to restore their rightful heritage.

Sylvia Engdahl, Resident Scholar


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Detailed literary breakdown of Children of the Star
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - info about lifeform(s)/society/phenomena
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - accused criminal
Age: - a teen
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
Profession/status: - scholar
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Mountains - Domed/Underground City
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society - humans in a primitive/fantasy society - empty, or nearly empty world
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Children of the Star
Kingdom Of Cages by Sarah Zettel
The Course of the Empire by Eric Flint and K.D. Wentworth
Zelerod's Doom by Jacqueline Lichtenberg
Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds
Monument by Lloyd Biggle Jr.




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