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White Wing
Earth is gone, blown to bits in battle with the alien Sejiedi. Now the remnants of humanity fight on, in uneasy alliance with the Galactic League—their only purpose to avenge their world, their only pride the Honor of the Wing.
But League politics will not tolerate pride in a refugee people, and the White Wing is under insidious attack. A powerful enemy attempts to brand one unit of the Wing as traitors, discrediting the entire human race.
But the Honor of the Wing is not so easily compromised....
But League politics will not tolerate pride in a refugee people, and the White Wing is under insidious attack. A powerful enemy attempts to brand one unit of the Wing as traitors, discrediting the entire human race.
But the Honor of the Wing is not so easily compromised....
- GenresScience FictionFiction
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
8 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Kendall
5 books3 followersAlternate Known Names:
Shariann Lewitt
Shariann N. Lewitt
S.N. Lewitt
Gordon Kendall - pseudonym also for Susan Shwartz
Shariann Lewitt
Shariann N. Lewitt
S.N. Lewitt
Gordon Kendall - pseudonym also for Susan Shwartz
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 22, 2024
A flight within the stoic, ostracized White Wing is challenged when the loss of one of their own coincides with an attempt at political sabotage. I came for this for the group marriage which constitutes the flight, and to my delight it's both textual (despite limitations of being published in 1985, read: no homo) and central to the narrative. The primary tension is the flight's need to hide the intimacy, vulnerability, joy, and even the fact of their marriage, and that setup is contrived--and the book also struggles on a technical level, with headhopping, overacting, and dense early scenes that all stem from an excess of "show, don't tell." But the payoff, although predictable, is hugely gratifying. I eat this stuff up: interpersonal issues hidden within a harsh space opera setting; martyrdom and longing and outsider status; intimacy as weakness, but that weakness as a hidden source of strength. Gordon Kendall is an overtly masculine pseudonym for Shariann Lewitt and Susan Shwartz, which I feel explains a lot: this is written directly from the id, but it's a different id than most sci-fi, and it's an id similar to my own.
(Very much a 3-3.5* book but I liked it, so.)
(Very much a 3-3.5* book but I liked it, so.)
June 23, 2021
Read in the page scans at the Internet Archive.
Actually, "skimmed" the page scans is more accurate. Book is longer than its plot; a lot of text is given to the relationships, which seem oddly uncomplicated for an intimate relationship incorporating six or seven people. Characters are thin, most of them generic human-shaped bipeds with indistinguishable personalities. Point of view is a problem; the reader sometimes head-hops through multiple characters in a scene. This doesn't really work: the reader doesn't have time to get a handle on the pov character before being handed to another pov, which tends to blandify everybody. It was difficult to connect with the characters.
I think there was just a lack of believability here. The White Wing appears to keep its polyamorous relationship secret for ... well, "just because," that's why. The relationships inside the group were oddly low-key for young people who are sleeping together (but just heterosexual relationships--I guess "Kendall" didn't want to get too far off a well-beaten path); they have parties, they grieve, they have off-screen sex in decorous couples, but nobody gets jealous or feels left out or misunderstood. They are tired a lot, so maybe that's why. ;) It was difficult to see what made the Earthers so obviously different from the other ethnic groups or to see how they were looked down on. And I can't say I found believable what happened to Earth.
Plot was interesting. I just kept finding myself rewriting the book in my head.
Actually, "skimmed" the page scans is more accurate. Book is longer than its plot; a lot of text is given to the relationships, which seem oddly uncomplicated for an intimate relationship incorporating six or seven people. Characters are thin, most of them generic human-shaped bipeds with indistinguishable personalities. Point of view is a problem; the reader sometimes head-hops through multiple characters in a scene. This doesn't really work: the reader doesn't have time to get a handle on the pov character before being handed to another pov, which tends to blandify everybody. It was difficult to connect with the characters.
I think there was just a lack of believability here. The White Wing appears to keep its polyamorous relationship secret for ... well, "just because," that's why. The relationships inside the group were oddly low-key for young people who are sleeping together (but just heterosexual relationships--I guess "Kendall" didn't want to get too far off a well-beaten path); they have parties, they grieve, they have off-screen sex in decorous couples, but nobody gets jealous or feels left out or misunderstood. They are tired a lot, so maybe that's why. ;) It was difficult to see what made the Earthers so obviously different from the other ethnic groups or to see how they were looked down on. And I can't say I found believable what happened to Earth.
Plot was interesting. I just kept finding myself rewriting the book in my head.
October 8, 2016
This book is just one of those books that leaves you wanting more. You can't actually believe that there is only this one story told in the universe the authors have created here.
I read this book originally in the 90's. I have had a copy in my library in dead tree form ever since then. It is a bit dog-eared and worn, and was well used when I purchased it, but it is also one of a few books that has followed me around the world, and one which I never begrudged carrying. I've re-read it multiple times, and have been hoping that it would one day show up on Kindle...so far, no joy.
Sadly after all these years, I doubt the authors will ever write anything else in this universe.
A fantastic story of pride and honor in the face of entrenched discrimination. It is worth many re-reads.
I read this book originally in the 90's. I have had a copy in my library in dead tree form ever since then. It is a bit dog-eared and worn, and was well used when I purchased it, but it is also one of a few books that has followed me around the world, and one which I never begrudged carrying. I've re-read it multiple times, and have been hoping that it would one day show up on Kindle...so far, no joy.
Sadly after all these years, I doubt the authors will ever write anything else in this universe.
A fantastic story of pride and honor in the face of entrenched discrimination. It is worth many re-reads.
September 7, 2013
Brilliant book, have read it several times over the years. Looked for more but can't find any - such a shame
July 18, 2021
Gordon Kendall is a pseudonym used - for one book only - by S N Lewitt (Shariann Lewitt) no doubt for the same reason female writers have always used male pen names. The Internet Speculative Fiction Database says the book was a collaboration with Susan Shwartz.
Humans are in a war against the Sej. Earth has been destroyed and the remnants of its population forced to take refuge on other human worlds of the League, where they are seen as largely second-class citizens and subject to prejudice. Earthers’ military arm, it has to be said, does not help in this regard. Except in their own company its members keep their emotions to themselves, presenting an unflinching, unemotive face to the worlds at large, only ever expressing their feelings in private. The League’s armed forces are split up into Wings, each with its own designated colour. The White Wing of the title is the Earther Wing, trained up on Wing Moon, a world given to them begrudgingly by the League. Their unit of battle is typically, though not always, made up of groups of seven. These are tight knit contingents, living and fighting together, joined in a contract they call marriage. Never has a member of White Wing been captured by the Sej. If any of them is in danger of that (and the subsequent maltreatment the Sej will no doubt administer) they are granted what is called the Mercy. In other words their own unit will kill them in order to prevent it. This happens to squad member Maryam in chapter two and makes pilot Gregory, who committed the deed, almost a pariah among the other Wings.
Squad Comm officer Suzannah has an eidetic memory. Her chief in League Security, Federico Hashrahh Kroeger, is another eidetic, keen to capture as much data about Earthers as he can. The plot revolves around the gap Maryam’s death has left in the squad, the solo pilot Dustin who may in the end become her replacement, Sej spies called Bikmat and Aglo, a Sej drug named hathoti, and a rabble-rousing politician, Ag Kolatolo, eager to exploit and amplify anti-Earther attutudes. The novel’s resolution is perhaps a bit too optimistic about how easily prejudice in public life can be overcome.
The book is a fairly typical SF tale of its time. Of military SF at any time. There are sufficient battle scenes and intrigue to satisfy adherents of the form but there is more of a tendency towards describing the interactions between, and thoughts of, the characters than most of its male purveyors tend to provide.
Humans are in a war against the Sej. Earth has been destroyed and the remnants of its population forced to take refuge on other human worlds of the League, where they are seen as largely second-class citizens and subject to prejudice. Earthers’ military arm, it has to be said, does not help in this regard. Except in their own company its members keep their emotions to themselves, presenting an unflinching, unemotive face to the worlds at large, only ever expressing their feelings in private. The League’s armed forces are split up into Wings, each with its own designated colour. The White Wing of the title is the Earther Wing, trained up on Wing Moon, a world given to them begrudgingly by the League. Their unit of battle is typically, though not always, made up of groups of seven. These are tight knit contingents, living and fighting together, joined in a contract they call marriage. Never has a member of White Wing been captured by the Sej. If any of them is in danger of that (and the subsequent maltreatment the Sej will no doubt administer) they are granted what is called the Mercy. In other words their own unit will kill them in order to prevent it. This happens to squad member Maryam in chapter two and makes pilot Gregory, who committed the deed, almost a pariah among the other Wings.
Squad Comm officer Suzannah has an eidetic memory. Her chief in League Security, Federico Hashrahh Kroeger, is another eidetic, keen to capture as much data about Earthers as he can. The plot revolves around the gap Maryam’s death has left in the squad, the solo pilot Dustin who may in the end become her replacement, Sej spies called Bikmat and Aglo, a Sej drug named hathoti, and a rabble-rousing politician, Ag Kolatolo, eager to exploit and amplify anti-Earther attutudes. The novel’s resolution is perhaps a bit too optimistic about how easily prejudice in public life can be overcome.
The book is a fairly typical SF tale of its time. Of military SF at any time. There are sufficient battle scenes and intrigue to satisfy adherents of the form but there is more of a tendency towards describing the interactions between, and thoughts of, the characters than most of its male purveyors tend to provide.
December 30, 2021
Humans will not be kept down and this story illustrates that beautifully. I loved the rumors that had grown up around the team's of pilots in the White Wing due to them never showing any emotion, or even reaction, in public. The political intrigue, combined with the betrayal and discovery of spies, was done really well. This book is going on my list of books that deserve a re-read.
June 18, 2018
I wonder what ever happened to Kendall. This was his first book (only book?) and a pretty good read. 3.5 stars
July 6, 2025
Mix of flying, controlling your outward emotions, honor, family, and intrigue. Twist near the end, but you will probably see it coming.
February 6, 2016
This was actually better than I expected, and I'm not the biggest fan of sci Fi, so 4*is doing very well. This wasn't too heavy on the technical jargon and hardcore fantasy, and focused more on the plot and characters than massive world building, which I do appreciate. I liked the dynamic of the white wing and how they behaved around the other colours, and definitely how that relationship was built upon throughout the book.
Dustin, pretty cool dude.
Dustin, pretty cool dude.
March 18, 2009
I really love this book. Humans are part of an alliance but are second-class citizens (and not even citizens). This is the story of a squad in the White Wing who are defending the alliance from the "bad guys". The character development is very well done. The story line enfolds in a somewhat unexpected manner. I recommend this to all who enjoy space navy type adventures.
May 21, 2015
Another re-read: I'd give it around three and a half, still holds up pretty well. 'Kendall' in spite of the name and macho author biography, was in fact a pen-name for Shariann (S.N.) Lewitt and Susan Shwartz, and it seems a bit of a pity that they didn't write more under this identity.
February 17, 2011
Another book where we root for someone because of the unbelievable odds and pressures against them. That's all too common and easy to overdo, but I liked this one a lot.
March 12, 2011
One of my favorite sci-fi books. Recently re-read it and it is still good.
October 21, 2014
While the personalities and emotions of the White Wing were vividly described, the surrounding characters and situations seemed vague.
July 23, 2012
Loved it. One of my best books. it is up there with the best of Heinlein. Has he written any more? I have read it 3 times
October 28, 2013
fantastic storyline that not only builds a hell of a view of a loving poly family, but also covers the pain of war (and SPACE!) as well as addiction. Wish he'd written more!!
July 11, 2007
Brilliant space opera with war, angst, love and redemption. A rollicking good read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews