How to describe this? The best words come from the reviews quoted inside the front cover: "Sheri S. Tepper has given us a genuine SF novel of ideas about religion and fanaticism, legends and heroism, and men and women (among other things), reminiscent at times of Le Guin, Vance, Cordwainer Smith, and Frank Herbert." Locus. "A challenging look at the nature of religion and the role it plays in the civilizations of man and other beings in the universe." Rave Reviews.

On the planet Hobbs Land lives and grows an odd fungus, which benefits the inhabitants of that planet while they keep its existence a secret, even from themselves. On Ahabar, in the fundamentalist province of Voorstod, a plot is hatched to force the return of renowned singer Maire Girat from Hobbs Land, where she had fled decades before. On Thyker, a few members of another fundamentalist sect come to believe that the inhabitants of Hobbs Land are under the control of something other than the Overmind, and set themselves to remedy that unacceptable situation.

In this novel Sheri S. Tepper further explores the territory she seems to have claimed for her own: that of religion, feminism, and relationship of man to his environment. Fully-imagined worlds and richly detailed characters. A very nice piece of work. Recommended.

(And at last I know where the Hobbs Land gods come from! They play a part in one or two later Tepper novels, which I had read before finding this one.)

I really enjoyed this book, having read Grass I was keen to read the next one of the Arbai trilogy. It has very little direct relationship with Grass but there are common themes and I hope the final book Sideshow will bring things together a bit more.
A lot of people slate Tepper for being a feminist or putting her concerns about gender a bit too simplistically. However, the main character of this book, Sam, is sympathetic and vulnerable. Some of the Voorstod characters were a bit one-dimensional.
I particularly enjoyed the different religions - the Hobbs Land Gods and the Baidee, plenty food for thought.
Looking forward to Sideshow! ( )

Sheri S. Tepper is not a series writer, but in this and a few other books that connect, she comes close. These books explain how humans went from being separate to finding harmony with one another and the world around them. I really enjoyed both this book and the concept of "The Hobbs Land Gods," which, though they seem almost an easy answer put things together in a sort of unity that I can really appreciate. The Hobbs Land Gods are organizers that join people together- almost like a far-reaching version of Librarything. :} ( )

Superb novel about prejudice and religion, told with more humour and less preachiness than some of her other work. ( )