Powers That Be
by Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Co-author)
Petaybee - Powers (1), Petaybee Extended (1)
On This Page
Description
A dazzling collaboration by two award-winning SF talents. Strange things were happening on the icy planet called Petaybee. Unauthorized genetically engineered species had been spotted, while some people were simply disappearing. None of the locals were talking to the company, so the company sent disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock to spy. But a strange thing happened. With her relocation to the arctic planet came a return of Yana's health and strength. And the more she got to know the show more people of Petaybee, the more determined she became to protect her new home.... show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
Nice, feel-good SF. If you look at it critically, I'm sure you can find some things to complain about; the easiness with which Yana accepts all the strange things for instance, and the way the locals trust her instantly. Some things may be just a bit too easy, but basically, I don't care. It's charming, has some nice concepts, a nice community and it is easy on the brain. Perfect in my current mood.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book; based loosely on reality, the surrounding environment and community is powerful and well shown. The characters
are interesting and believable, and the premise of the book works well. Unfortunately, the resolution is just a little far fetched and fantastic for my
taste. However, it's still worth the read. You'll enjoy every minute you spend getting there, just beware that at the end you may find you did not enjoy
where you got.
are interesting and believable, and the premise of the book works well. Unfortunately, the resolution is just a little far fetched and fantastic for my
taste. However, it's still worth the read. You'll enjoy every minute you spend getting there, just beware that at the end you may find you did not enjoy
where you got.
Strange things are happening on the icy planet of Petaybee: Unauthorized genetically engineered species have been spotted; geologic survey teams sent to locate newly detected mineral deposits are either coming up empty or disappearing altogether. And the locals aren’t talking—especially not to the company bent on exploiting the planet.
Disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock seems to be the perfect spy for the company. The frailty that was a liability in the military allows her to gain the trust of the Petaybean natives. But miraculously, with Yana’s relocation to the arctic planet comes the return of her health and strength. And the closer she gets to the people of Petaybee, the more determined she is to protect her new home. For show more something unusual and wonderful is happening on Petaybee. Something worth fighting for, even dying for—but especially, something worth living for. . . . show less
Disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock seems to be the perfect spy for the company. The frailty that was a liability in the military allows her to gain the trust of the Petaybean natives. But miraculously, with Yana’s relocation to the arctic planet comes the return of her health and strength. And the closer she gets to the people of Petaybee, the more determined she is to protect her new home. For show more something unusual and wonderful is happening on Petaybee. Something worth fighting for, even dying for—but especially, something worth living for. . . . show less
A science fiction novel with a truly original concept, a sentient planet. Yanaba Murdock has been discharged from the service for medical reasons. But, they send her to Petaybee (short for "The Powers That Be") to investigate why survey teams are disappearing. When her health begins to miraculously improve, Yanaba realizes there is more to this world than cold and ice. And, she now has a home she wants to fight for.
Yanaba Maddock is sent to Pataybee, a strange, very cold planet. She came here to spy the “natives” of this planet and find out why survey teams have gone missing and why there have been unknown genetically altered species roaming about. The more she’s on Petaybee, the more she loves it, and the more she wants to protect, but there are people who are destroying it, and the planet is fighting back.
There really wasn’t much to this book. On page 50 I just wanted the book to end. It gotten better…barely…but I kept on reading, even though it was killing me to go on. It wasn’t that bad, but it could’ve been a lot more. The ending was touchy and sweet, but that’s all it has. I was very disappointed, and maybe I expected too show more much for this book.
Rating: Three and a Half Stars *** ½ show less
There really wasn’t much to this book. On page 50 I just wanted the book to end. It gotten better…barely…but I kept on reading, even though it was killing me to go on. It wasn’t that bad, but it could’ve been a lot more. The ending was touchy and sweet, but that’s all it has. I was very disappointed, and maybe I expected too show more much for this book.
Rating: Three and a Half Stars *** ½ show less
Petaybee a terraformed planet, with people from Irish and northern hemisphere (earth)indigenous heritage is discovered to be sentient ...
(Note: I have no idea why I gave this book the rating I did. I had a paper book rating journal at the time I read this, and didn't always write reasons for my star ratings. I don't remember when I read it exactly, either, though I think it was before the sequel was published so I'm going to guess that it was late 1994.)
Members
- Recently Added By
Published Reviews
ThingScore 50
[...] traditional collaboration has its literary risks, and in this case what starts out as an intriguing SF yarn eventually succumbs to what looks suspiciously like a case of too much enthusiasm.
added by Nevov
Lists
Best reading order of Anne McCaffrey's non-Pern sci-fi
43 works; 2 members
al.vick-series
381 works; 2 members
Author Information
260+ Works 208,021 Members
Anne McCaffrey was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 1, 1926. She received a degree in Slavonic languages from Radcliffe College. She worked in advertising for Helena Rubenstein from 1947 to 1952. Her first publication was a short story in Science Fiction Magazine, and her first novel, Restoree, was published in 1967. She is a well-known show more author of over 100 books, mostly science fiction, including the Dragonriders of Pern series, the Crystal Singer series, Acorna's Children series, The Twins of Petaybee series, and Barque Cats series. She won numerous awards including the Hugo Award for Best Novella for the short story Weyr Search in 1968 and the Nebula Award for Best Novella for Dragonrider in 1969. In 2006, she was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. She has also written books under the pseudonym Jody Lynn. She died of a stroke on November 21, 2011 at the age of 85. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough was born March 23, 1947. She won a Nebula Award in 1989 for her novel The Healer's War. She has written numerous books with Anne McCaffrey including The Twins of Petaybee series and the Acorna series. (Bowker Author Biography)
Some Editions
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Pocket (5576)
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Powers That Be
- Original title
- Powers That Be
- Original publication date
- 1993
- People/Characters
- Yanaba Yana Maddock; Diego Metaxos; Sean Shongili; Buneka "Bunny" Rourke; Terce; Seamus (show all 55); Charles "Charlie" Demingtieff, 2nd Lt; Adak O'Connor; Moira; Simon; Clodagh Senungatak, shanchie; Giancarlo, Col; Sean Shongili Sr, Dr; Sean Shongili, Jr, Dr; Natark; Steven L "Steve" Margolies; Lavelle Mallony; Aisling Senungatak; Sinead Shongili; Sedna Quinn; Arnie O'Malley; Finbar O'Malley; Ungak; Mick Oomilialik; Eithnee Naknek; Donal Demingtief; Brit; Sigdhu; Ferdinand Metaxos; Mequ; Puto; Navarana; Bryn Maddock; Ruby Demintieff; Torkel Fiske; Whitaker Fiske; Liam Malloney Jr; Liam Malloney Sr; Foymi Khan, Col; Sandov Rowdybush; Chs Collar; Nanuk; Tutiak; Tim; Maureen; Snaluk; Sven; Orla O'Shay; Richard Arnaluk "Rick" O'Shay; Levindoske "Ornery Eyes"; Connely; John "Johnny" Kevin Intiak Green the third, Cpt; Winona Sorenson, Cpl; Michael Huyukchuk, Lt; Ingumuk J Keelaghan, Spec 4th
- Important places
- Kilcoole, Petaybee; Petaybee
- Dedication
- We dedicate this book to
Neva Reece
for holding down the Scarborugh fort (and supplying the cats with TLC) while we wrote at McCaffrey's house in Ireland.
Thanks from us both, Neva. - First words
- Sitting in the crowded processing center of Petaybee's spaceport, Yanaba Maddock eyed the side door as a drowner would eye a drifting spar.
- Quotations
- I was sent here to die, too, here where the snows live
The waters live, the animals live and the trees live,
and you - Yanaba Shongili,
Powers That Be
p180 - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Nobody's perfect."
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,878
- Popularity
- 11,418
- Reviews
- 11
- Rating
- (3.72)
- Languages
- English, French, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 16
- ASINs
- 5