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The Enigma Score
The Presences mean something different to each of Jubal's colonists. In some, these towering crystals inspire awe, in others fear. A small band must break throught the long silence between humanity and the Presences to strike a new alliance - and bring about the end of a tyrannical dynasty.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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597 people want to read
About the author
Sheri S. Tepper
74 books1,083 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 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 19, 2019
-Exotismo curioso en el género al frente, detrás otra cosa más habitual.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Tras el largo silencio (publicación original: After Long Silence, 1987), nos lleva al planeta Jubal, de reciente colonización por parte de la humanidad, y en el que existen una estructuras cristalinas conocidas como Presencias (algunas de ellas tienen el tamaño de pequeñas montañas) que liberan energía cuando interaccionan con las personas y sus ruidos, con resultados mortales. La Distribuidora de Brou Limitada tiene la concesión sobre el planeta, y sobre las licencias para los cantores (personas que con música y canto pueden interaccionar con las Presencias y evitar su ataque), maneja las reglas del Consejo de Explotación Planetaria a su manera y no está interesada en que crezca la idea de que, como dicen algunos, las Presencias sean seres inteligentes porque ello cambiaría la forma de interacción de la humanidad con el planeta (lo que afectaría a la cuenta de resultados de la empresa).
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Tras el largo silencio (publicación original: After Long Silence, 1987), nos lleva al planeta Jubal, de reciente colonización por parte de la humanidad, y en el que existen una estructuras cristalinas conocidas como Presencias (algunas de ellas tienen el tamaño de pequeñas montañas) que liberan energía cuando interaccionan con las personas y sus ruidos, con resultados mortales. La Distribuidora de Brou Limitada tiene la concesión sobre el planeta, y sobre las licencias para los cantores (personas que con música y canto pueden interaccionar con las Presencias y evitar su ataque), maneja las reglas del Consejo de Explotación Planetaria a su manera y no está interesada en que crezca la idea de que, como dicen algunos, las Presencias sean seres inteligentes porque ello cambiaría la forma de interacción de la humanidad con el planeta (lo que afectaría a la cuenta de resultados de la empresa).
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
July 14, 2014
I finished this last night, and expressed a deep sigh of satisfaction as I laid it on the bedside table and turned out the light.
Vintage Tepper. And a lovely piece of work it is.
Jubal, a planet in the process of colonization by humans, is a world full of strange and wonderful things, some amusing, some dangerous. The Presences, large crystalline structures scattered throughout the land, are dangerous, and they are everywhere, preventing easy travel between settlements. They can be passed only with the aid of a Tripsinger, a trained vocalist and musician who accompanies a group of travelers and, in essence, sings the party past the fragile crystal mountains. Each structure requires a different song; the song seems to set up some sort of counter-resonance peculiar to the individual structure that prevents the crystal from fracturing due to the vibrations made by the mules, wagons, and humans as they pass. Even one wrong note could cause a potentially fatal shatter. One structure, called Enigma, has thus far proven impassable: no one has discovered the proper song which will allow safe passage. Except, perhaps, one person.
And then there are those who want to see the Presences destroyed because they hinder free trade and easy commerce. A strange cult which worships the Presences has also arisen. Amid much intra-planetary politics, money grubbing, and, umm, a few alluded-to deviant sex games, the fates of Jubal and the Presences will be decided.
In this early novel, Tepper establishes some of her touchstone themes which she continues to develop in her later work: responsible use of natural resources; religious fanaticism; tolerance of differences; human (and non-human) rights.
Tepper's vivid imagination stands her in good stead here. As a trained vocalist myself, I was intrigued by the notion of literally singing for one's life. How would the knowledge that one wrong note could kill affect the quality of my song? I was captivated by the viggies, small indigenous mammalian-like creatures, who are so much more than they seem. As are the Presences themselves, beautiful and deadly and awe-inspiring.
My only quibble with the story is insufficient information on the cult of the Crystallites. Did they want to preserve the Presences? Or were they allied with those who wished to destroy them? Either I missed it or Tepper never made clear what precisely was their purpose, their agenda. The agenda of the leaders was made quite clear, but not the purpose of the cult they established -- what was the propaganda they preached? At any rate, it's a relatively minor quibble in an otherwise wonderful read.
While surfing about the internet, I discovered this book has an alternate title. It is also known as The Enigma Score. A rose by any other name, etc. etc.
Vintage Tepper. And a lovely piece of work it is.
Jubal, a planet in the process of colonization by humans, is a world full of strange and wonderful things, some amusing, some dangerous. The Presences, large crystalline structures scattered throughout the land, are dangerous, and they are everywhere, preventing easy travel between settlements. They can be passed only with the aid of a Tripsinger, a trained vocalist and musician who accompanies a group of travelers and, in essence, sings the party past the fragile crystal mountains. Each structure requires a different song; the song seems to set up some sort of counter-resonance peculiar to the individual structure that prevents the crystal from fracturing due to the vibrations made by the mules, wagons, and humans as they pass. Even one wrong note could cause a potentially fatal shatter. One structure, called Enigma, has thus far proven impassable: no one has discovered the proper song which will allow safe passage. Except, perhaps, one person.
And then there are those who want to see the Presences destroyed because they hinder free trade and easy commerce. A strange cult which worships the Presences has also arisen. Amid much intra-planetary politics, money grubbing, and, umm, a few alluded-to deviant sex games, the fates of Jubal and the Presences will be decided.
In this early novel, Tepper establishes some of her touchstone themes which she continues to develop in her later work: responsible use of natural resources; religious fanaticism; tolerance of differences; human (and non-human) rights.
Tepper's vivid imagination stands her in good stead here. As a trained vocalist myself, I was intrigued by the notion of literally singing for one's life. How would the knowledge that one wrong note could kill affect the quality of my song? I was captivated by the viggies, small indigenous mammalian-like creatures, who are so much more than they seem. As are the Presences themselves, beautiful and deadly and awe-inspiring.
My only quibble with the story is insufficient information on the cult of the Crystallites. Did they want to preserve the Presences? Or were they allied with those who wished to destroy them? Either I missed it or Tepper never made clear what precisely was their purpose, their agenda. The agenda of the leaders was made quite clear, but not the purpose of the cult they established -- what was the propaganda they preached? At any rate, it's a relatively minor quibble in an otherwise wonderful read.
While surfing about the internet, I discovered this book has an alternate title. It is also known as The Enigma Score. A rose by any other name, etc. etc.
September 26, 2013
I can't help suspecting that this book was written directly after Tepper read Anne McCaffrey's "Crystal Singer" (1982), was horrified by its portrayal of the exploitation of alien worlds, and said, "I'm going to show a different perspective on this!"
Both books feature an alien world of harsh yet dramatic aspect, covered with large crystals that respond to sound (esp. singing), are extremely sharp and dangerous, prone to slicing up people, but yet have an elite/apart group of people (singers) to work with them. But in McCaffreys book, the 'Crystal Singers' sing to shatter the crystals in specific ways for mining, and in Tepper's the 'Tripsingers' sing to *avoid* shattering the crystals, allowing caravans and other travellers to pass through them unharmed.
It fits with Tepper's usual ecological awareness.
Of course, there are other elements on the planet: governmental, corporate, and religious, who would just love to destroy the unique crystals, for their own immediate profit... which of course leads to much dramatic conflict.
Published in 1987, this book is not quite as adeptly written as many of her more recent books, but, if one can disregard the distracting resemblance to the earlier book, it's a pretty good sci-fi thriller with an action-filled climax.
Both books feature an alien world of harsh yet dramatic aspect, covered with large crystals that respond to sound (esp. singing), are extremely sharp and dangerous, prone to slicing up people, but yet have an elite/apart group of people (singers) to work with them. But in McCaffreys book, the 'Crystal Singers' sing to shatter the crystals in specific ways for mining, and in Tepper's the 'Tripsingers' sing to *avoid* shattering the crystals, allowing caravans and other travellers to pass through them unharmed.
It fits with Tepper's usual ecological awareness.
Of course, there are other elements on the planet: governmental, corporate, and religious, who would just love to destroy the unique crystals, for their own immediate profit... which of course leads to much dramatic conflict.
Published in 1987, this book is not quite as adeptly written as many of her more recent books, but, if one can disregard the distracting resemblance to the earlier book, it's a pretty good sci-fi thriller with an action-filled climax.
September 26, 2009
Anyone who's seen The Sound of Music knows that singing to the mountains isn't a new concept. And fantasy literature from long before Tolkien to current offerings is with references and themes involving large rock formations possessing personalities and/or "awareness".
With After Long Silence, however, Sheri Tepper taps into the interesting concept that crystalline awareness may be paired with well-rendered harmonies, with consequences for not singing on-key! I wasn't particularly amazed by the prose or depth of description, but it works well enough so as not to detract from the story itself. Well-thought-out and paced so as to neither overwhelm or lag.
Have given the matter some thought, and I can't think of another book I've read that spun my imagination in quite the same way. If you like soft science fiction with just a touch of fantasy, it's well worth the read in my opinion.
With After Long Silence, however, Sheri Tepper taps into the interesting concept that crystalline awareness may be paired with well-rendered harmonies, with consequences for not singing on-key! I wasn't particularly amazed by the prose or depth of description, but it works well enough so as not to detract from the story itself. Well-thought-out and paced so as to neither overwhelm or lag.
Have given the matter some thought, and I can't think of another book I've read that spun my imagination in quite the same way. If you like soft science fiction with just a touch of fantasy, it's well worth the read in my opinion.
August 18, 2021
Sheri S. Tepper just can't be beat in terms of incredibly complex but effortless-to-read worldbuilding, and her approach to etymology always blows me away. Upon finishing this, I immediately re-read my favorite of hers, Grass, after maybe ten years , and holy shit, it holds up. This is the intense huge budget sci-fi epic film we (and by we, I mean me) should be making, not another DUNE film.
March 27, 2020
It's from 1987, but the human problems are every bit as relevant today ... and quite unusual.And, of course, sentient crystalline structures talking.
February 12, 2023
M’ha costat arribar fins al final, perquè m’atreia moltíssim el worldbuilding que ens proposa l’autora, però l’estil és molt dens, per la història que t’acaba oferint, que no acaba estant a l’altura de les expectatives que et crea.
January 19, 2019
Jubal es un planeta en vias de colonización por los humanos que exportan una 'yerba' alucinógena: el Brou. Este es un planeta peligroso y hermoso debido a las Presencias, unas formaciones cristaloides que explotan cuando hay ruidos o vibraciones de máquinas ocasionando la muerte a quienes pasan cerca de estas; la única forma de pasarlas es cantándoles. De ahi la importancia de los Tripsingers, una especie de cofradia que dedican a estudiar variaciones de cantos para pasar cada una de las diversas Presencias llevando caravanas con gentes y equipos.
Un día que un Explorador y un Tripsinger creen haber encontrado la melodía para poder pasar el peligroso "Enigma", es cuando empiezan las muertes y las persecuciones. ¿Quienes son responsables, la Compañía, el culto de los Cristalites? ¿Y por qué?
-----------
Es un libro de esos que crees que entiendes lo que pasa y a la mitad te dan vuelta todas tus teorías.
Me encantaron los viggies :3. La imaginación increible de Tepper destaca siempre con los no-humanos.
December 8, 2023
My first reread for probably more than 20 year. I'd forgotten how much I love The Enigma Score, it's absolutely classic Tepper with good characterisation, interesting aliens, greedy and venal bad-guys and crystalline eminences! Honestly, it's such a great stand-alone novel, I should have reread it sooner. It reads as well in my 50s as it did in my teens and 20s. Highly recommended
September 11, 2022
Another great from Sherri S Tepper, ruminating on the nature of sentience. I always have a bit of an existential crisis after reading one of these.
One of her earlier books, so a bit different from the rest. Won a dollar in the vocab game with my dad off the many big words in this book. Didn’t vibe with the 30 year old man and 18 year old woman romance in this book though 😬
One of her earlier books, so a bit different from the rest. Won a dollar in the vocab game with my dad off the many big words in this book. Didn’t vibe with the 30 year old man and 18 year old woman romance in this book though 😬
November 1, 2023
A little out of my comfort zone this one. I've had two previous encounters with this author, one was weirdly fascinating, the other so repugnant I abandoned it. So, I haven't tried again for many years. However this was recommended by someone in a Facebook Fantasy Fiction group, so I gave it a go.
It starts off fairly conventionally, a planet with a relatively young human colony, still largely unexplored but important because of it's one exportable crop. A main character whose wife and brother are killed, so he sets off on a quest to find out why, along with two devoted acolytes. But then it starts to get interesting. The interest developed gradually along two main strands. One was the complex interactions of the humans on the planet, their conflicting ambitions and the extreme measures some are willing to take in order to achieve their goals. The other line of interest is the planet itself, it's native inhabitants and the very enigmatic crystalline Presences. Somewhere along this path, you realise that it's more science fiction than fantasy!
I suppose there's also a third plane of interest - the lives of the small group of humans you get to know really well. The ones who genuinely care about the planet and it's ecosystem, the ones who are most likely to suffer at the hands of the exploiters. It's tempting to say they are the common folk, but that would not be true because they have uncommon skills that eventually help save the day.
Hard to say more without giving away spoilers. I found it well written although there were a few typos in the kindle version. The sentient aliens (the small, mobile ones as opposed to the Presences) are very interesting indeed with a life cycle that must be unique - certainly in any sci fi I've ever encountered! They also have a life philosophy we could all benefit from.
It starts off fairly conventionally, a planet with a relatively young human colony, still largely unexplored but important because of it's one exportable crop. A main character whose wife and brother are killed, so he sets off on a quest to find out why, along with two devoted acolytes. But then it starts to get interesting. The interest developed gradually along two main strands. One was the complex interactions of the humans on the planet, their conflicting ambitions and the extreme measures some are willing to take in order to achieve their goals. The other line of interest is the planet itself, it's native inhabitants and the very enigmatic crystalline Presences. Somewhere along this path, you realise that it's more science fiction than fantasy!
I suppose there's also a third plane of interest - the lives of the small group of humans you get to know really well. The ones who genuinely care about the planet and it's ecosystem, the ones who are most likely to suffer at the hands of the exploiters. It's tempting to say they are the common folk, but that would not be true because they have uncommon skills that eventually help save the day.
Hard to say more without giving away spoilers. I found it well written although there were a few typos in the kindle version. The sentient aliens (the small, mobile ones as opposed to the Presences) are very interesting indeed with a life cycle that must be unique - certainly in any sci fi I've ever encountered! They also have a life philosophy we could all benefit from.
July 12, 2023
I'll be honest I bought this book based on the cover (I know you're not supposed to do that but can you blame me?) and I was not disappointed. The Enigma Score by Sheri Tepper is a sci-fi ecological mystery about a planet of giant resonating and sometimes exploding crystals and the humans settled in this amazing and hostile world.
Tasmin Ferrence is part of an order of monk-bards who sing melodies that resonate with the giant crystals to stop them exploding. But as he tries to find the cause of a tragedy with his acolytes, he teams up with the explorer Don Furtz and is caught up in a deeper conspiracy involving the nature of the crystals (and monkey-like viggies that live among them) and the corrupt capitalists looking to extract more wealth from this planet. And there's a whole cast of other characters mixed up in the plot.
I wish this book had like, a fandom, because I kept wanting to see maps of the world of Jubal or drawings of Viggies and whatnot. I also loved the explicit ecological, feminist, and anti-capitalist themes. It all reminded me of Ursula K Leguin (which I think is a fair comparison).
This novel was a bit slow but once it got going the twists of the mystery and the world building made it hard to put down. The characters all had strong motivations and the story didn't skimp on the science aspects of science fiction. The way the Presences and the Viggies operated was really cool and appropriately alien. Some aspects of the world and characters were underdeveloped and probably could have been dropped altogether, and my main issue was with the weird sexual between the 30-odd Tasmin and the 18ish Clarin but there were themes of relationship trauma throughout the book so maybe the author was trying to say something I don't know. Either way I loved this book, and I can't wait to read more Tepper.
Tasmin Ferrence is part of an order of monk-bards who sing melodies that resonate with the giant crystals to stop them exploding. But as he tries to find the cause of a tragedy with his acolytes, he teams up with the explorer Don Furtz and is caught up in a deeper conspiracy involving the nature of the crystals (and monkey-like viggies that live among them) and the corrupt capitalists looking to extract more wealth from this planet. And there's a whole cast of other characters mixed up in the plot.
I wish this book had like, a fandom, because I kept wanting to see maps of the world of Jubal or drawings of Viggies and whatnot. I also loved the explicit ecological, feminist, and anti-capitalist themes. It all reminded me of Ursula K Leguin (which I think is a fair comparison).
This novel was a bit slow but once it got going the twists of the mystery and the world building made it hard to put down. The characters all had strong motivations and the story didn't skimp on the science aspects of science fiction. The way the Presences and the Viggies operated was really cool and appropriately alien. Some aspects of the world and characters were underdeveloped and probably could have been dropped altogether, and my main issue was with the weird sexual between the 30-odd Tasmin and the 18ish Clarin but there were themes of relationship trauma throughout the book so maybe the author was trying to say something I don't know. Either way I loved this book, and I can't wait to read more Tepper.
September 8, 2020
This book had some really cool concepts. Giant crystal structures that you have to play the exact right songs for otherwise they explode if you get to close to them leading to the creation of a class of people who are basically D&D bards? An evil corporation who wants to exploit the natural resources and destroy the natural beauty of the world? Sign me up!
Unfortunately, the relationships are all kind of terrible. The main character's wife is described as really childish and immature and he constantly complains about her. It's super uncomfortable but thankfully(?) Then, there's the scene where the main character and another woman are hiding in a cave from a dangerous, sadistic assassin who's right outside and actively looking for them. Somehow, this makes the pair so horny that they have to have sex right that very minute. While the dangerous assassin is right outside of their hiding spot.
All the weird relationship stuff is worth it for the scene where the main characters That scene was fantastic.
Unfortunately, the relationships are all kind of terrible. The main character's wife is described as really childish and immature and he constantly complains about her. It's super uncomfortable but thankfully(?) Then, there's the scene where the main character and another woman are hiding in a cave from a dangerous, sadistic assassin who's right outside and actively looking for them. Somehow, this makes the pair so horny that they have to have sex right that very minute. While the dangerous assassin is right outside of their hiding spot.
All the weird relationship stuff is worth it for the scene where the main characters That scene was fantastic.
September 1, 2020
Sheri S. Tepper had already authored a trilogy of trilogies before writing After Long Silence. Each of the nine books of the True Game, however, were largely focused on one central character for a shorter number of pages, which is why After Long Silence feels very much like Tepper's first real attempt at a truly epic tale.
All the elements of her later hallmark stories are there: an inventive science-based premise for a fantastic world, a number of characters of conviction in whom a reader might feel invested, an oppugnant force threatening to ruin the protagonists' lives, but the ecology of the very planet on which they live. As truly exciting as the story is, and as high as the stakes are, however, the latter quarter of the story sometimes feels a little half-baked. Certain plot lines that have received a lot of attention trail off into nothingness; characters vanish altogether.
Although After Long Silence feels like a test run for the grand sagas Tepper would produce during the nineteen-nineties, it's still a highly-enjoyable novel on its own merits. Read in context of her massive literary output, it's a harbinger of even better things to come.
All the elements of her later hallmark stories are there: an inventive science-based premise for a fantastic world, a number of characters of conviction in whom a reader might feel invested, an oppugnant force threatening to ruin the protagonists' lives, but the ecology of the very planet on which they live. As truly exciting as the story is, and as high as the stakes are, however, the latter quarter of the story sometimes feels a little half-baked. Certain plot lines that have received a lot of attention trail off into nothingness; characters vanish altogether.
Although After Long Silence feels like a test run for the grand sagas Tepper would produce during the nineteen-nineties, it's still a highly-enjoyable novel on its own merits. Read in context of her massive literary output, it's a harbinger of even better things to come.
March 28, 2021
The plot and world was pretty interesting and I probably would like given at least 4 stars if it weren't for a few things that seriously bothered me. There were too many instances and mentions of rape happening which I absolutely hate and find completely unnecessary in any fictional story. It also seemed like most of the graphic violence that happened was against the women in the book. The main character Tasmin was annoying and I hated This was all surprising since I've read that the author was an advocate and volunteer for Planned Parenthood.
September 30, 2013
Not my favorite of her books, but very inventive and interesting. I don't really care for any of the characters, and in particular dislike Tasmin--probably irrationally. That blonde thin tormented and unhappy type...blrgh. But I do really enjoy the indigenous lifeforms (as always). Rereading this you realize how much technology has changed us so that the future in this book, feels very dated.
September 7, 2014
lu et relu sans être lassé j'adore l'idée d'êtres pensants en cristal de la taille d'une montagne que l'on doit "bercer" pour pouvoir passer d'une poche de terre à une autre Des caractères attachants, des intérêts douteux ou remarquables, une histoire inclassable Reste dans mon top 10
September 5, 2018
Not quite as polished as some of Tepper's later books, but still . . . such a unique voice, complex plot, engaging characters, etc. One of the great SFF authors, for sure.
October 3, 2024
Primero que nada: ¡ADVERTENCIA! ¡NO LEER LA SINOPSIS QUE SE PUSO DE ESTE LIBRO, PUES ESTÁ LLENA DE SPOILERS!
Esta fue la primera historia escrita por Sheri S. Tepper que leí. Es 100% ciencia ficción (a diferencia de otros de sus libros que son difíciles de definir), y es una de sus obras más "ecológicas", o como mínimo, una en la que la ecología de un planeta juega una parte importantísima en la trama.
El libro transcurre en Jubal, un planeta cubierto en un 90% de formaciones cristalinas muy susceptibles a las frecuencias de audio que tienden a romperse y estallar con cualquier sonido, lo que hace sumamente difícil el viaje por tierra entre los lejanos asentamientos de colonos humanos, obligados a establecerse donde hay suficiente suelo capaz de sostener cultivos. Para poder mantener el comercio en Jubal surgen los "Cantores", humanos que estudian las frecuencias a las que las formaciones cristalinas se mantienen inertes o "dormidas" y permiten el paso de pequeñas caravanas. Los Cantores son responsables por la seguridad de una caravana y por mantener dormidas a las distintas formaciones cristalinas por las que deben pasar. Cada formación cristalina responde a una mezcla de frecuencias específica y los Cantores deben aprender las "canciones" de cada formación importante. El libro relata la historia de uno de estos Cantores en un momento en el que el destino de Jubal está a punto de cambiar, pues la corporación que mantiene la colonia humana decide que las cosas no pueden seguir así.
Recomiendo este libro a aquellas personas a las que les guste la ciencia ficción de colonización de planetas, de sobrevivencia en un medio hostil, de encuentro con nuevas razas extraterrestres y de acción/aventura. Y claro, historias de ciencia ficción sobre mundos con ecologías totalmente distintas de la de la Tierra.
Esta fue la primera historia escrita por Sheri S. Tepper que leí. Es 100% ciencia ficción (a diferencia de otros de sus libros que son difíciles de definir), y es una de sus obras más "ecológicas", o como mínimo, una en la que la ecología de un planeta juega una parte importantísima en la trama.
El libro transcurre en Jubal, un planeta cubierto en un 90% de formaciones cristalinas muy susceptibles a las frecuencias de audio que tienden a romperse y estallar con cualquier sonido, lo que hace sumamente difícil el viaje por tierra entre los lejanos asentamientos de colonos humanos, obligados a establecerse donde hay suficiente suelo capaz de sostener cultivos. Para poder mantener el comercio en Jubal surgen los "Cantores", humanos que estudian las frecuencias a las que las formaciones cristalinas se mantienen inertes o "dormidas" y permiten el paso de pequeñas caravanas. Los Cantores son responsables por la seguridad de una caravana y por mantener dormidas a las distintas formaciones cristalinas por las que deben pasar. Cada formación cristalina responde a una mezcla de frecuencias específica y los Cantores deben aprender las "canciones" de cada formación importante. El libro relata la historia de uno de estos Cantores en un momento en el que el destino de Jubal está a punto de cambiar, pues la corporación que mantiene la colonia humana decide que las cosas no pueden seguir así.
Recomiendo este libro a aquellas personas a las que les guste la ciencia ficción de colonización de planetas, de sobrevivencia en un medio hostil, de encuentro con nuevas razas extraterrestres y de acción/aventura. Y claro, historias de ciencia ficción sobre mundos con ecologías totalmente distintas de la de la Tierra.
October 7, 2025
On Jubal the human settlers harvest brou - a narcotic plant - for export. Run by the PEC and corrupt management the trade would be jeopardised if any sentient life was confirmed on Jubal and to that end a falsified assessment is being prepared so that the brou will remain flowing. On Jubal however are massive crystal monoliths known as the Presences - formations lethal to human travel unless notes or music of the right resonant frequencies are sung (by Tripsingers) to counter the vibrations. The suspicion that the Presences may be sentient has persisted for years but is about to be decided against by the officials who have ben bought off by the big companies on Jubal. Sheri S. Tepper has given us a fascinating possibility of silicon based life and how it might work and also a puzzle story with intrigue, psychopathic evildoers and a surprise from a third species who nobody suspected might be sapient. Well worth the time spent!
January 9, 2026
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-enigma-score-by-sherri-s-tepper/
A settler planet where specially trained singers must pacify the mysterious giant crystals which otherwise explode and kill travellers; the evil capitalists and bigots who want to destroy the entire ecology to make it useful for humans; and the cute cuddly alien viggies, which are in fact more than they seem. And it’s not just about pacifying the crystal Presences, but about opening up communication between the humans and the indigenous inhabitants of the planet. A chunky book, perhaps a bit old-fashioned by twenty-first century standards, but there’s a lot in it.
A settler planet where specially trained singers must pacify the mysterious giant crystals which otherwise explode and kill travellers; the evil capitalists and bigots who want to destroy the entire ecology to make it useful for humans; and the cute cuddly alien viggies, which are in fact more than they seem. And it’s not just about pacifying the crystal Presences, but about opening up communication between the humans and the indigenous inhabitants of the planet. A chunky book, perhaps a bit old-fashioned by twenty-first century standards, but there’s a lot in it.
March 26, 2018
Good and evil in an amazing, very detailed, fantasy environment and its inhabitants. The inhabitants and the place become alive in your mind as you read and it's astounding. So clever, so much imagination. The people, the Precences and the Viggies needed to find a way to work together to save their home from blatant destruction and greed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Lo he abandonado por la mitad, no me estaba aburriendo del todo, pero se me hacía muy cuesta arriba, sobre todo por lo denso que era y la poca trama que mostraba, al menos en las primeras 150 páginas. Me ha gustado el worldbuilding y la premisa es muy interesante, pero no tenía ningún aliciente más para seguir.
November 26, 2019
3.5* Some typical science fiction tropes (i.e. very evil conglomerate and corrupted colonial government fighting to stop recognition of sentient life) that was saved by the use of interesting characters, a fanatical religion portrayal and a fascinating "native" crystal species.
February 26, 2020
I liked many of the concepts and some of the characters, but the storytelling was a bit clunky and rudimentary. I gave it three stars anyway, perhaps just because I really like the other Tepper book I read.
February 18, 2021
I’m convinced I will never not enjoy a Tepper novel. After Long Silence is so excellently creative in its setting and premise, even if the plot feels a bit overly familiar, being my fourth Tepper book. This is a book exploring sentience and respecting all forms of life no matter how foreign (i.e. sentient crystals). It’s Tepper’s use of language as a plot device that makes this book so interesting and the world-building around it is great. Her characters are fine but forgettable and her villain is a little too evil perhaps, but it’s what I would consider a fun first attempt at what would later become her Arbai trilogy.
October 8, 2022
A great book, with interesting world building particularly around the ecology of an alien world and how humans would engage with it. However, it could be a little more polished. I would recommend Grass, by the same author, over this.
June 1, 2017
It's an okay book. Not one of Tepper's better ones but still readable.
March 10, 2018
beaucoup de plaisir à lire cette histoire, entre sf et fantasy.
May 18, 2018
A fairly typical Tepper novel, with the native intelligences of an alien world exposing the divisions between humans who are motivated by power and those capable of empathy.
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