Adult Sci Fi/Fantasy, published maybe 1970s, boy on a planet where they shift into castes at maturit
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1meyliassa
I read the book in the late 90's, and I remember that the person I got the book from was fondly remembering the author's work and hoping that they'd re-release her books because they were so good. So I have the idea that the author is a woman, and at the time was out of print.
The general premise of the story is that the main character (male) is on a planet where everyone shifts into one of two castes at maturity. The dominant caste in some manner feeds on the secondary caste (slave caste?). He shifts one way, and the girl he loves shifts the other way. She's either sent away or runs away, but he goes looking for her after he accidentally kills his (friend? cousin?). He finds and either kidnaps or rescues her, and they run away together, and try to reach a group of the other caste on the planet? Maybe in another country? They find out that he is a healer of some kind, and I have the notion of "having extra channels" or "secondary channels", but I can't mentally track down the reference.
My recollection was that the book was similar to other work published in the 1970's, but could have been published anywhere in the 60's-80's.
Not much to go on, but I've been looking for a title or author for the last 3 or so years and would appreciate any help. Thanks!
The general premise of the story is that the main character (male) is on a planet where everyone shifts into one of two castes at maturity. The dominant caste in some manner feeds on the secondary caste (slave caste?). He shifts one way, and the girl he loves shifts the other way. She's either sent away or runs away, but he goes looking for her after he accidentally kills his (friend? cousin?). He finds and either kidnaps or rescues her, and they run away together, and try to reach a group of the other caste on the planet? Maybe in another country? They find out that he is a healer of some kind, and I have the notion of "having extra channels" or "secondary channels", but I can't mentally track down the reference.
My recollection was that the book was similar to other work published in the 1970's, but could have been published anywhere in the 60's-80's.
Not much to go on, but I've been looking for a title or author for the last 3 or so years and would appreciate any help. Thanks!
2jjmcgaffey
Yeah. I think I know what you're talking about - haven't actually read the series, but the 'feeding on' thing is distinctive. Female SF author, the two castes each have a single-syllable name and the series is called the onename-othername series - Ki-Vor, Sil-var or something like that. And the feeders have tendrils to feed with. Arrgh!
3lquilter
Yeah, this one is on the tip of my tongue because of the caste / feeding-on thing. I wanted to say Jane Gaskell or Sharon Green - maybe because I'm thinking of one of those yellow Daw paperbacks. But I don't think either of those are right.
Are they feeding, as in psych powers? As opposed to, say, literal cannibalism?
Are they feeding, as in psych powers? As opposed to, say, literal cannibalism?
4meyliassa
It isn't Sharon Green, though some of the elements do strike me as similar... I haven't read Jane Gaskell. For some reason I want to say the author has either a P or a B in her name? I could be totally mistaken.
And the feeding is just that (yes it does use tentacles, I'd forgotten that), and there's some kind of fluid exchange. It's not blood that they're feeding on, so not strictly vampirism, but it's definitely some kind of tangible fluid that one caste produces and the other caste needs.
And the feeding is just that (yes it does use tentacles, I'd forgotten that), and there's some kind of fluid exchange. It's not blood that they're feeding on, so not strictly vampirism, but it's definitely some kind of tangible fluid that one caste produces and the other caste needs.
5infiniteletters
It almost sounds like Octavia Butler's Bloodchild, but that's a short story and the plots are very different.
6meyliassa
Booyah!
jjmcgaffey and lquilter, I owe ya both one! After nearly 2 hours of searching through DAW book titles, I found it. Well, RenSime led me to Jacqueline Lichtenberg and then to First Channel.. which was the one I was looking for.
Thank you everyone for your help.. now I just have to find a copy of it ; )
jjmcgaffey and lquilter, I owe ya both one! After nearly 2 hours of searching through DAW book titles, I found it. Well, RenSime led me to Jacqueline Lichtenberg and then to First Channel.. which was the one I was looking for.
Thank you everyone for your help.. now I just have to find a copy of it ; )
7jjmcgaffey
RenSime! There we go! Congrats.
