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The Chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped #1-3
The Chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped
463 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1986
3 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Sheri S. Tepper
74 books1,082 followersSheri Stewart Tepper was a prolific American author of science fiction, horror and mystery novels; she was particularly known as a feminist science fiction writer, often with an ecofeminist slant.
Born near Littleton, Colorado, for most of her career (1962-1986) she worked for Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, where she eventually became Executive Director. She has two children and is married to Gene Tepper. She operated a guest ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She wrote under several pseudonyms, including A.J. Orde, E.E. Horlak, and B.J. Oliphant. Her early work was published under the name Sheri S. Eberhart.
Born near Littleton, Colorado, for most of her career (1962-1986) she worked for Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, where she eventually became Executive Director. She has two children and is married to Gene Tepper. She operated a guest ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She wrote under several pseudonyms, including A.J. Orde, E.E. Horlak, and B.J. Oliphant. Her early work was published under the name Sheri S. Eberhart.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 30, 2019
3.5 stars
I really struggled to rate this, and in the end based it mostly on my level of enjoyment.
On the one hand, Sheri is an amazingly creative author. She has created a wonderfully original and intricate world with many new creatures and names. She also does really well at layering her characters, unlike some other Fantasy writers where the joy is more in the energy of the story rather than the complexity of the characters.
On the other hand, my brain really struggled at times to read this book. If I was at all tired, there wasn't even any point in trying as I just went to sleep. (Don't get me wrong though, it wasn't boring - not at all!)
At times, it was the writing. I would get completely lost while trying to follow the thread of a paragraph and would have to re-read it a number of times to grasp what it was trying to tell me.
Other times, my own imagination failed me. I just could not imagine what Sheri was describing. It was too much removed from my frame of references. It's the first time I've read a book and wished there were pictures to refer to!
At other times, or perhaps in conjunction with the above, there were just too many new words. She didn't just create new words for new things, but also had new words for verbs and sometimes for familiar things.
I am glad I had all three books (in one). Although none of the stories really ended on a cliff-hanger. I did like where the third book ended in terms of closing a loop which started in the first book. Although there were some hints that this was a mini loop rather than the final loop. I'm OK with that. It wasn't a happy ending by any means, but it felt satisfying. And, I suspect it wasn't a proper ending. I haven't checked, but I think there are more books in the series.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely - to the right person. Would I read it again? Probably not.
I really struggled to rate this, and in the end based it mostly on my level of enjoyment.
On the one hand, Sheri is an amazingly creative author. She has created a wonderfully original and intricate world with many new creatures and names. She also does really well at layering her characters, unlike some other Fantasy writers where the joy is more in the energy of the story rather than the complexity of the characters.
On the other hand, my brain really struggled at times to read this book. If I was at all tired, there wasn't even any point in trying as I just went to sleep. (Don't get me wrong though, it wasn't boring - not at all!)
At times, it was the writing. I would get completely lost while trying to follow the thread of a paragraph and would have to re-read it a number of times to grasp what it was trying to tell me.
Other times, my own imagination failed me. I just could not imagine what Sheri was describing. It was too much removed from my frame of references. It's the first time I've read a book and wished there were pictures to refer to!
At other times, or perhaps in conjunction with the above, there were just too many new words. She didn't just create new words for new things, but also had new words for verbs and sometimes for familiar things.
I am glad I had all three books (in one). Although none of the stories really ended on a cliff-hanger. I did like where the third book ended in terms of closing a loop which started in the first book. Although there were some hints that this was a mini loop rather than the final loop. I'm OK with that. It wasn't a happy ending by any means, but it felt satisfying. And, I suspect it wasn't a proper ending. I haven't checked, but I think there are more books in the series.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely - to the right person. Would I read it again? Probably not.
April 14, 2025
This compilation and the True Game one were some of the earliest and formative fantasy I read. I bought it from WH Smith (which is being rebranded?) because the Stephen Bradbury cover appealed. I didn’t realise at the time how important Tepper would be to my beliefs in eco concerns and feminism but she definitely helped shape a teenage me. And this remains, perhaps most importantly for a GR review, an absolutely cracking read. It’s one of my absolute favourites along with the Grass Trilogy and the Marianne series (which is much more light hearted). I don’t see Sheri Tepper mentioned enough but she is one of the greatest fantasy writers in my opinion.
September 21, 2011
Probably the best trilogy I read growing up, since I didn't discover Andre Norton until I was grown. I really wish this lady's newer books were as good, but they really aren't. These are her best, and it goes slowly downhill from here.
October 30, 2019
2019 reread: No real change in my opinion though I think that I appreciated Mavin and Himaggery's relationship more this time around.
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This second trilogy in the Land of the True Game series goes back in time to give us, as the title says, the chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped (Peter's mother). Not quite as enthralling as the first trilogy but it does show the beginnings of a more feminist viewpoint which was the hallmark of many of Tepper's later works.
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This second trilogy in the Land of the True Game series goes back in time to give us, as the title says, the chronicles of Mavin Manyshaped (Peter's mother). Not quite as enthralling as the first trilogy but it does show the beginnings of a more feminist viewpoint which was the hallmark of many of Tepper's later works.
August 22, 2010
I love all of the True Game books. This was the first one I read and I love Mavin, she is a fully developed character full of faults and failings as well as strengths and talents. Tepper knows how to write strong women!
June 20, 2022
Books #1 & #3 get 5 stars. Book #2 gets 3 stars.
Books #1 & #3 further build on the lore of 'The True Game' through the eyes of Mavin, who makes a fantastic protagonist.
Book #2 sticks Mavin on an island nation, which as far as the canon goes is pretty much an island unto itself. I was a little disappointed. There are flashbacks, and knowledge of this island is needed for later books, so you're stuck reading it.
One small complaint, the class struggle alluded to in the first trilogy is pretty much forgotten in the rest of the series. I thought that added a meaningful dimension to the series, but oh well. It's still great fantasy.
As I always say with this series, it's such a shame these have never been adapted to film.
Books #1 & #3 further build on the lore of 'The True Game' through the eyes of Mavin, who makes a fantastic protagonist.
Book #2 sticks Mavin on an island nation, which as far as the canon goes is pretty much an island unto itself. I was a little disappointed. There are flashbacks, and knowledge of this island is needed for later books, so you're stuck reading it.
One small complaint, the class struggle alluded to in the first trilogy is pretty much forgotten in the rest of the series. I thought that added a meaningful dimension to the series, but oh well. It's still great fantasy.
As I always say with this series, it's such a shame these have never been adapted to film.
Read
April 4, 2021Lovely. I've not read any other True Game tales so it was slightly confusing as an introduction to the world but well worth it and I'll definitely keep my eye out for more. I love this independent, isolated being and her pragmatic, bitter-sweet approach to interpersonal connections.
Currently reading
June 15, 2023(12th April, 2023) I entered this book as "reading" many years ago, and put it on/in a pile of books I was also "currently reading" (they get shifted in importance when I change the book I read)- and it disappeared. I searched multiple times all over the house for it. I suddenly found it today while looking for another book, which is also in that pile of books I originally put it in in the living room. I hate my house sometimes (Ok, it's my brain, but I "know" it's the house, really.).
(15th June 2023) I re-found the book a week ago and put it on the book cart so I can see it to read it. Amazingly, it has a bookmark in it and, having scanned a couple previous pages (I was at the beginning of a chapter), I remember the story before it - considering how long ago I'd misplaces the book - I'm quite pleased about that. It means I can continue reading as if nothing happened.
(15th June 2023) I re-found the book a week ago and put it on the book cart so I can see it to read it. Amazingly, it has a bookmark in it and, having scanned a couple previous pages (I was at the beginning of a chapter), I remember the story before it - considering how long ago I'd misplaces the book - I'm quite pleased about that. It means I can continue reading as if nothing happened.
October 13, 2015
Mavin is a multifaceted character and she is unique in literature.
She is her own person, and though the first book which details the early part of her life is not easy to digest, the nastiness and lewd behaviour of people around her..... but Mavin's triumph over those hurdles is amazingly well written.
It's fun to read but there is an odd, other-worldliness about the whole story, almost like Ms Tepper walked into the Twilight world of Patricia McKillip's books.
The more you visualize, the more you're entrenched.
June 20, 2013
A trilogy that hooks you in from the beginning with imagination and compelling characters. The shape shifting was completely new to me and was excellently written and was thoroughly thought through.
I really enjoy Tepper's feminist slant on things, and I love reading strong female characters especially when fantasy and sci-fi can be so focused on male characters.
This is a brilliant, dark and entertaining novel and I can't wait to start reading The End of the Game.
I really enjoy Tepper's feminist slant on things, and I love reading strong female characters especially when fantasy and sci-fi can be so focused on male characters.
This is a brilliant, dark and entertaining novel and I can't wait to start reading The End of the Game.
September 26, 2014
I can see why she is viewed as a feminist writer. Given that most fantasy is the opposite in my experience , it was a very interesting and refreshing read. I am interested to read some of her more direct feminist works. I really liked the titular character and wished we could have seen some of her other adventures. The book series spanned so much time I feel like I missed out.
June 28, 2014
Mavin rocks! She's tough, funny, kind and mysterious. The world she inhabits has Sheri S. Tepper's usual deft, imaginative touch, along with plenty of characters to love or loathe. This is another series that I read over and over.
May 2, 2015
When Sheri Tepper is on form, not much can beat her. Older stuff is definitely better. I will happily read and re-read the books of the True Game until I am an old, old lady.
April 24, 2017
Despite this being the first part of the True Game series, I found it much later than I found the second and third parts. It was really fun and interesting to read through Mavin's story recognizing locations and people I knew from the later books and seeing how they became important to the tale. I think my favorite part of this volume was the Flight of Mavin Manyshaped, just because it was so different from the other True Game books but still recognizably Tepper's work. She was really good at coming up with very weird and yet somehow logical and coherent settings for her quirky characters.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews