Reavers of Skaith

Brackett's combination of old-school science fiction adventure and 1970s environmentalism doesn't disappoint. Even though the second volume in this trilogy was a little weak, I'd highly recommend all three to any science fiction fan. And while the connections were a little lighter in the second volume, I stand by my assertion that these novels must have been an inspiration for George R. R. Martin. Winter is coming, indeed.

[full review here: http://spacebeer.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-reavers-of-skaith-by-leigh-brackett.ht... ] ( )

Finished up [The Reavers of Skaith] the third in the Eric John Stark/Skaith trilogy -- LOVED it -- now maybe I'm just in a mood, but on another thread there was discussion of rating within genres, so you don't compare [Moby Dick] with [Dune] - the thing is [[Leigh Brackett]] can really write, and unlike the way books are written now (endless detail, endless numbers of pages, not that there is anything wrong with that) she is so spare, so focussed, it's just beautiful stuff. "In the low desert, frost had dimmed the reptilian colors of sand and rock and in the debatable lands beyond the trees were hung with the funeral draperies of dead leaves." Skaith, the planet, has a bit of the flavor of Helliconia, the Aldiss world, but preceded it by about a decade. The sun around which Skaith spins is dying, the area where people live is closing in but the Wandsmen who have been in control of most of the planet for millenia do not want to give up their power and want to send away the spaceships that come to offer to take people to new planets to settle -- enter the heroic and feral Eric John Stark to save the day. Here you will find telepathic hounds that kill with fear, half-bird half men, - earlier when the culture of Skaith was at its peak, their scientists could reengineer people to live in the sea or underground or almost anything they wished. All good fun. ****1/2. ( )

Last stand for a dying order.

Stark and his allies (even those who would be more than happy to stick a sword in his neck), have to try and do what they can to save as many people as possible.

Cities start to crumble on the dying world of Skaith and only mass evacuation can save the half of the population that will die.

The old powers would rather stay and see that happen, and our hero has to try and change it, avoid crazed madwoman, and stay alive in the process.

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2008/03/eric-john-stark-skaith-03-reavers-of.html ( )

Last stand for a dying order.

Stark and his allies (even those who would be more than happy to stick a sword in his neck), have to try and do what they can to save as many people as possible.

Cities start to crumble on the dying world of Skaith and only mass evacuation can save the half of the population that will die.

The old powers would rather stay and see that happen, and our hero has to try and change it, avoid crazed madwoman, and stay alive in the process.

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2008/03/eric-john-stark-skaith-03-reavers-of.html ( )