Well of Shiuan - book 2 of the Morgaine cycle - C.J. Cherryh - cover artist Michael Whelen
Well of Shiuan - book 2 of the Morgaine cycle - C.J. Cherryh [fantasy novel - November 12, 2015 - 0656]
The Morgaine book series by C.J. Cherryh consist of four novels. The second book "Well of Ivrel"(1976) is commented upon in this report.
The following is my synopsis of the back-story for these four novels:
The ancient Qhal Empire expanded and dominated civilizations throughout the Galaxy. The Qhal are human in appearance and can breed, if desired, with other humanoid beings. The teleportation Gates technology the Qhal reversed engineered and utilized for interstellar travel were discovered in ruins on a dead world. The Qhal did not invent the Gates. Using the Gates the ruthless Qhal who despised other "native" beings imposed their wills without remorse. In the end the downfall of the Qhal was in the nature of the Gates. The Gates in addition to providing instantaneous travel between star systems could also be used to travel forward in time. It is speculated from analysis of ancient Qhal artifacts on many worlds that travel back in time unraveled the Qhal civilization. Qujalin are human offspring that have bred with Qhal beings. Morgaine is a Qujalin who has undertaken a quest to go from world to world destroying the master Gates since there influence corrupts societies, nature and individuals. It should be noted that all worlds contain many Gates but only one Master Gate. Shutting down the Master renders them all just dead stone monuments.
I have not been able to definitely determine the motivation that propels Morgaine to go from world to world closing the Gates. Certainly the Gates are inherently evil but I was she given a mandate by some council or organization or is she self - motivated, the latter appears to be the case as best I can determine. Her journeys are difficult and dangerous yet her persistence and dedication never waivers. There is enormous opposition to her task since those in power lose all when the Gates is sealed. Fortunately she is in possession of an incredibly magical sword - Changling by name - that is partnered with the mystical evil of the Gates and provides her a weapon that can irrevocably draws individuals to oblivion. How she aquired this incredibly powerful weapon is unknown. Use of the sword takes a psychic toll on her. All the books take place in medieval type world. The technologies evident are body armor and cross bows; horses are the only means of transportation. These pre industrial revolution locals makes for interesting stories but I question if the Qhal who were interstellar travelers what happened to their technology?
Vanye the bastard son of Nhi Rijan killed his half-brother Nhi Kandrys and cut off several fingers of his other half-brother Nhi Erij in a fight he was goaded into by the half-brothers. His father was incensed with grief and anger and cursed his son and pronounced him an "ilin" an outcast. Vanye was "claimed" by the Qujalin Morgaine to assist her in defeating a clan leader who aspires for the forbidden knowledge of the Gates. At the story unfolds her becomes her assistant is riding worlds of Master Gates.
Well of Shiuan - book 2 of the Morgaine cycle:
The setting for this book is alien planet that had in the distant past been an outpost of the Qhal. The planet has earth-like conditions and is populated with men and descendants of the Qhal who have breed with the humans. The planet's moon had experienced a cataclysmic event that results in a steadily rising sea level and a forbidding sense of dread among the inhabitants. The society is pre-industrial and feudal ruled by clans who maintain uneasy alliances and truces with adjoining clans. Warriors are respected for their skills with bows and swords and their horsemanship. Anything to do with the Qhal - the Gates or beings with Qhal blood - Qujalin - is an object of justified superstitious dread. Nonetheless some individual's lust for the powers Qhal items can provide. Morgaine and her sworn assistant Vanyn appear intent on closing the Master Gate. Degenerate Qhal, a being masquerading as Vanye's cousin and angry locals conspire to thwart their plan.
This book screams for a glossary of terms - alas there isn't one. The author with a masters of arts in mythology fills her books with cryptic terms for places and locations that, frankly, were unfamiliar to this reader. Alas I had to slow down take a few notes and use some page index tabs to refer back too and I was ok and good to go. It was worth the effort - this is a many-layered story with several very strong personalities competing for the reader attention. The climax of this story, a stand-alone book as published, begs for sequel. Fortunately for us there was one.
I have read several of Ms. Cherryh's books and to be honest they are an acquired taste and put demands on the reader not accustomed to her writing style and narrative pacing. In this book the narrative pacing proceeded glacially. Nonetheless I enjoyed this book and will eventually read the two remaining sequels.
Well of Shiuan - book 2 of the Morgaine cycle - C.J. Cherryh - cover artist Michael Whelen
Well of Shiuan - book 2 of the Morgaine cycle - C.J. Cherryh [fantasy novel - November 12, 2015 - 0656]
The Morgaine book series by C.J. Cherryh consist of four novels. The second book "Well of Ivrel"(1976) is commented upon in this report.
The following is my synopsis of the back-story for these four novels:
The ancient Qhal Empire expanded and dominated civilizations throughout the Galaxy. The Qhal are human in appearance and can breed, if desired, with other humanoid beings. The teleportation Gates technology the Qhal reversed engineered and utilized for interstellar travel were discovered in ruins on a dead world. The Qhal did not invent the Gates. Using the Gates the ruthless Qhal who despised other "native" beings imposed their wills without remorse. In the end the downfall of the Qhal was in the nature of the Gates. The Gates in addition to providing instantaneous travel between star systems could also be used to travel forward in time. It is speculated from analysis of ancient Qhal artifacts on many worlds that travel back in time unraveled the Qhal civilization. Qujalin are human offspring that have bred with Qhal beings. Morgaine is a Qujalin who has undertaken a quest to go from world to world destroying the master Gates since there influence corrupts societies, nature and individuals. It should be noted that all worlds contain many Gates but only one Master Gate. Shutting down the Master renders them all just dead stone monuments.
I have not been able to definitely determine the motivation that propels Morgaine to go from world to world closing the Gates. Certainly the Gates are inherently evil but I was she given a mandate by some council or organization or is she self - motivated, the latter appears to be the case as best I can determine. Her journeys are difficult and dangerous yet her persistence and dedication never waivers. There is enormous opposition to her task since those in power lose all when the Gates is sealed. Fortunately she is in possession of an incredibly magical sword - Changling by name - that is partnered with the mystical evil of the Gates and provides her a weapon that can irrevocably draws individuals to oblivion. How she aquired this incredibly powerful weapon is unknown. Use of the sword takes a psychic toll on her. All the books take place in medieval type world. The technologies evident are body armor and cross bows; horses are the only means of transportation. These pre industrial revolution locals makes for interesting stories but I question if the Qhal who were interstellar travelers what happened to their technology?
Vanye the bastard son of Nhi Rijan killed his half-brother Nhi Kandrys and cut off several fingers of his other half-brother Nhi Erij in a fight he was goaded into by the half-brothers. His father was incensed with grief and anger and cursed his son and pronounced him an "ilin" an outcast. Vanye was "claimed" by the Qujalin Morgaine to assist her in defeating a clan leader who aspires for the forbidden knowledge of the Gates. At the story unfolds her becomes her assistant is riding worlds of Master Gates.
Well of Shiuan - book 2 of the Morgaine cycle:
The setting for this book is alien planet that had in the distant past been an outpost of the Qhal. The planet has earth-like conditions and is populated with men and descendants of the Qhal who have breed with the humans. The planet's moon had experienced a cataclysmic event that results in a steadily rising sea level and a forbidding sense of dread among the inhabitants. The society is pre-industrial and feudal ruled by clans who maintain uneasy alliances and truces with adjoining clans. Warriors are respected for their skills with bows and swords and their horsemanship. Anything to do with the Qhal - the Gates or beings with Qhal blood - Qujalin - is an object of justified superstitious dread. Nonetheless some individual's lust for the powers Qhal items can provide. Morgaine and her sworn assistant Vanyn appear intent on closing the Master Gate. Degenerate Qhal, a being masquerading as Vanye's cousin and angry locals conspire to thwart their plan.
This book screams for a glossary of terms - alas there isn't one. The author with a masters of arts in mythology fills her books with cryptic terms for places and locations that, frankly, were unfamiliar to this reader. Alas I had to slow down take a few notes and use some page index tabs to refer back too and I was ok and good to go. It was worth the effort - this is a many-layered story with several very strong personalities competing for the reader attention. The climax of this story, a stand-alone book as published, begs for sequel. Fortunately for us there was one.
I have read several of Ms. Cherryh's books and to be honest they are an acquired taste and put demands on the reader not accustomed to her writing style and narrative pacing. In this book the narrative pacing proceeded glacially. Nonetheless I enjoyed this book and will eventually read the two remaining sequels.