The Language of Power

Like many fantasy readers, I can be a bit gunshy about authors with multi-part epics that they are totally writing, stop asking them about it. This is one of the few exceptions, because the Steerswoman author makes sure to make every book interesting in it's own right and doesn't hold back satisfying plot points for display in books that will never be written. I hope Rosemary Kirstein finishes more Steerswoman books, but if she doesn't I'm still happy to have read them.

I especially enjoyed the exploration of the difference between power and omnipotence in this one. Approaching a powerful foe does not always require looking them in the eye.

I forget who recommended the first book in this series, The Steerswoman, but when I came across a copy in a local charity shop, I bought it, later read it… and liked it so much I went and tracked down the remaining Steerswoman books (only the first was ever published in the UK, so I had to buy US editions… and there was such a long gap between books two and three that the first two were re-issued in an omnibus edition.) The Language of Power follows directly on from The Lost Steersman, but none of the books really make much sense unless read in order from The Steerswoman. Rowan is back in the seaport of Donner, trying to make sense of the events recounted in previous book. But her efforts to track down the records of a previous show more Steerswoman draw unwanted attention from the wizards… but then she stumbles upon Will, the boy genius who was taken on as apprentice by a friendly wizard, and it seems they’re trying to figure out the same things. These books are hugely likeable, and the presentation of science fiction as fantasy is perfectly pitched. It’s not a new idea, by any means – even Robert Jordan used it, for example – but Kirstein’s talent is in presenting understandable science fiction to the reader, not a handful of sf buzzwords or well-worn tropes, in such a way that it’s obvious this is sf to everyone except the characters. Sadly, the story is not yet complete and the recent installments have taken a while to appear. But it’s worth hanging in there, because these books are lots of fun. show less

This is book four of a series about the Steerswoman, Rowan. This amazing series might have one or two more books, if and when they get published. This fourth book is similar to the previous books in the series. We follow Rowan in her search to uncover the mysteries of with the wizards and the guidestars.

Rowan comes to Donner and does what Steerswomen do. She questions people who might have known the wizard at the time 4 decades earlier when the guidestar was brought down. She finds the Donner connection to Slado, the head wizard she suspects of being the lead enemy.

Again, I admire the descriptive detail of the author in the day-to-day lives of the characters. When a town is visited in the books, you know what the town looks like, and show more especially what it feels like in that town.

When people are threatened with danger and death, you know why they die and why they live. I love the way the characters are real in this book, like the scenery. Each person we are introduced to has a back story and motivations. Even the villains have reasons for why they do things. This kind of writing is not what we are used to. There are world famous rich authors who are cranking out books, and getting huge movie deals, with no idea how to represent realistic characters or story world.

There is one major aspect of the book that would be a spoiler if this were book one. If you have not read the three previous books, skip this paragraph of my review, This aspect I was not aware of when I first picked up the first book to read, Steerswoman. I was not sure I wanted to continue reading that first book. I don't often read fantasy books. The series has 'wizards', 'dragons' and 'magic.' Someone reviewing the first book revealed the huge spoiler that actually the books are not fantasy. Rowan and the characters in the books think magic exists, but actually when they investigate, in the proper way, they find understandable explanations for all marvelous events. I think this series would be useful in schools to teach students about scientific thinking and methodology.

I only have two reservations about this book. First, the description of the search for the dragons was very long, running over many pages. Second, this book ends with a great need for a sequel. I approached the last pages of the book dreading the ending without a next book to pick up. I will buy the next book, as soon as it comes out. Many mysteries in the series are revealed in this book, but the tension in the long term story has not been resolved.

Who will appreciate this book and series? Unfortunately, the universe of readers who will like this type of writing may be limited. Probably readers have to have experienced enough in their lives to appreciate descriptions of real events in a fictional book. The plot is not driven by action and violence. Occasionally violence and action happens. Those incidents occur because someone makes a mistake, miscalculation or coincidences happen. Readers have to enjoy reading for the sake of character development, not for action alone.

I think this is one of the most interesting series ever written and hope new people can discover it. Enjoy! show less

This, the 4th book in the Steerswoman series, absolutely does not finish the story. I really do hope that Kirstein does finish it - and that we're not in for another 11 year wait, as there was between the second and third books. Although this is a good bok, and an excellent entry into the series, I was also disappointed that it does not deal with some of the most dramatic revelations of the previous book at all. (Intelligent aliens! Possibly threatened by humanity's existence on the planet! What to do?) Instead, Rowan is back to trying to go up against the mysterious wizard Slado, trying to divine his motives and figure out his 'magic' - which, to us, looks an awful lot like technology. Again, this is an excellent book - and it's a show more pleasure just to be able to spend more time with Rowan - but hopefully the next installment is on the way! show less

I don't really have any big criticisms of this, aside from the fact that I didn't want it to end. The story is a return to the first book in the series, in a lot of ways, and a smaller scope than the previous two (mostly because Rowan doesn't travel much in this one, and the book is much shorter). It didn't blow my mind the way the previous book did, and one of the action-y parts got a bit repetitive, but these are minor complaints. The story was still riveting, the characters delightful, and the relationships rich. Plus, lots of very good food descriptions in this one. I hope Kirstein hurries up and finishes this series. I love it so much.

Ongoing discussion in SFFBC group.

I'm disappointed in Rowan for the choice to not interview Nid promptly.
Kirstein is so good at consciously avoiding cliches and contrivances, but this felt like a big flaw to me.

Love the ending w/ the ppl of Donner.

Found the bit that reminded me of the Power of Labyrinths to be the most powerful meditative or 'spiritual practice' for this atheist. I wish there was a labyrinth around here... I used to live near Reno and even the simple one at the arboretum was an experience... as was reading about these folks (effectively) walking one.

I still admire the heck out of these books but I still don't actually *enjoy* reading them enough to reread or get frustrated that the next are not yet available. So if show more anyone else is quietly reading this thread and not commenting because not feeling as enthused as all you vocal people, know that you are not alone!

I like the details. For example, noting the temperature difference from up on a horse, riding, vs. being closer to the ground, walking.

And just some lines, "... hang from the end of a bit of string and cheerfully, innocently, count." show less

[Amy] I've raved about this series before, and here I am, looking for the right words with which to do it again. It's so very much fun watching Rowan discover more and more about the world in which she lives - and, I confess, figuring a few more details out myself, as while I certainly assembled the big picture quite some time ago, there have remained quite a few gaps in my own understanding of this world, which is a large part of the appeal, I think.

I'm not sure how I managed not to hear about the first books in this series until they were republished in omnibus form, though, because the worldbuilding is nothing short of brilliant, the characterization believable and mostly likeable to boot, and the plotting superb. These, in short, show more are Damn Fine Books.

Unfortunately, this installment marks the end of the series as currently published, so now I must wait an unknown length of time before I get a new fix. Ah, well. This sort of waiting is at least an unpleasantness with which I have long familiarity.
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(Alistair) We pause now for a torrent of unqualified praise, much like last time (The Lost Steersman) and the time before that (The Steerswoman's Road).

No, seriously. I could not love these books more if I tried. As both of us have said, repeatedly, the worldbuilding (which hits my personal reader's sweet-spot perfectly; the ideas, yes, the delicious ideas!), plotting and characterization is all Excellent. The device used (see the former-mentioned entry above for details, spoiler-coated for your protection) is among the best implementations of it I've seen done, if not the best. Watching the protagonists discover the workings of their world and solve their problems over the course of these books has been an utter delight.

The only even slight complaint I have is that books beyond this point have not yet been published, and so I have to wait for more!

Impossibly highly recommended. Exospherically recommended. Go out and buy them all RIGHT NOW.

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