Name Of A Shadow

by Ann Maxwell

PLANET WITH NO TOMORROWSIts landscapes are washed by waterfalls of prismatic colors; its lush plains covered with turquoise aphrodisiac flowers. But soon there will be no flowers, no lovers, no tomorrows. The planet Malia has violated the Sole Restraint of Concorde, the space federation, by waging undeclared war on its former colony world, Vintra. Now Malia faces a swift and terrible world-consuming molecular fire. As time ticks toward extinction for all Malians, Kayle, the mind-link, and Ryth, the pattern-master, race to discover why a people would knowingly commit an act of self destruction. Their only hope is a beautiful, unwilling accomplice, Faen, the last of an ancient aristocracy. She alone knows the secret of the sarsa, the musical instrument that can summon the undying wisdom of the shadows. She alone can call its name....

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1980

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author

aka Lowell Charters, Elizabeth Lowell, A.E. Maxwell individually and with co-author/husband Evan Maxwell and Annalise Sun.

Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one non-fiction book. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. The novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery to suspense.

Writing as Ann Maxwell, she began her career in 1975 with a science fiction novel, Change. Since then, seven of her nine science fiction novels have been recommended for the Science Fiction Writers of America Nebula Award; A Dead God Dancing was nominated for what was then called TABA (The American Book Award).

In 1976 Ann and Evan (as A. E. Maxwell) collaborated with a Norwegian hunter and photographer, Ivar Ruud, on The Year-Long Day, a nonfiction work that was condensed in Reader's Digest and published in four foreign editions and three book club editions. In 1985, the first A. E. Maxwell crime novel featuring a couple called Fiddler and Fiora was published by Doubleday. The Frog and the Scorpion, received a creative writing award from the University of California. The fourth book in the series, Just Enough Light to Kill, was named by Time magazine as one of the best crime novels of 1988.

Ann and Evan (writing as Ann Maxwell) have published four suspense novels, the most recent of which is Shadows and Silk. These novels appeared on nation-wide bestseller lists.

In 1982, Ann began publishing romances as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994). Since July of 1992, she has had 30 novels on the New York Times list. Her most recent book is BLUE SMOKE AND MURDER.

Reviews

[Vickie Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is still an old favorite. I love the uniqueness of Ryth's and Faen's characters.

My old eyes would love to see this book available as an e-book so I could adjust the font size 🙂

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made a lasting impression on me and I loved it!

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in 7th or 8th grade, I found it in the classroom, on Mr Norton's back table with all the other paperbacks you could borrow - it's a sci fi fantasy, these guys end up in a planet that is incredibly lush with color, fragrance, sounds ... basically all the senses are erotically lavished .... the natives are so sensitive, they can see (and have words for) colors regular people cannot see. Color is used as language, and different color rooms and houses mean things. Orange was bad. There was something about a plant with flowers that tinkled like bells and had an intoxicating pollen ... haha is this why I later became a gardener??? Naturally, the native lady is hot sexy as hell, and she's all into the guy. .... Mr Norton's back table wasn't all smut, I found (and read) Hikes Verne's The Mysterious Island back there, too ...

This book really made an impression on me, I still think of it on occasion, even now, over 30 years later! I JUST today (9/26/12) found it in my attic! (yes I guess I swiped it from Mr Norton.) And I excitedly flipped through it, and ... wow it looks REALLY cheesy!! I want to read it again, but ... I'm afraid! What if it sucks?!?

"Well, pattern man, what now?"
"All things are equally probable."
With a dissatisfied grunt, Kayle turned to Faen, but she merely stood, watching the Sharnn. Pain moved like lightning through her eyes and her fingers traced a t'sil'ne phrase near his back, but not touching. Not touching.
"Strap on your knife, Sharnn," she said, her voice devoid of the emotions that burned behind her silver eyes.

Yeah, if that doesn't scream cheese then I don't know what does. And yet ... I want to keep reading.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read 5 books by Ann Maxwell. This is the fourth in a row to feature impending planetary destruction. I subtracted a star for this.