Elephant Song

Circus World #3

by Barry B. Longyear

When their spaceship Starshow crashes on a desolate planet, the members of O'Hara's Greater Shows, a futuristic circus, struggle to keep themselves and their animals alive, stranded on a world without an audience.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

234 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1982

About the author

Barry Brookes Longyear was an American science fiction author who resided in New Sharon, Maine.

Reviews

[Craig]

Though it was the last published, this is the middle volume of Longyear's Circus World trilogy. It tells the story of O'Hara's Greater Shows, on board the starship City of Baraboo, which crashes on the planet Momus. It's a very poignant and well-written survival tale, with a unique look at the cultural and societal evolution and adaptation of the Circus World from the time of the crash to the time of the last elephant. Stirring stuff, and great for those who remember the magic of The Big Top.

[Ira (SF Words of Wonder)]

Check out my full, spoiler free, video review HERE. This is the middle part of the overall Circus World series, but I read it last since I went in publication order. It’s the tragic story of how the Spaceship (City of Baraboo) crashed onto the planet Momus. The story is mostly told by the elephant handlers called bullhands as they watch the last of the elephants die off. Really great writing and takes the reader though many emotions.

[Jim]

Interesting 1980s science fiction story by Barry Longyear....it's the second in a trilogy about a circus in space. I didn't read the first one ( "City of Baraboo" ), but, as I had picked this one up at a used bookstore, I thought I'd read it without reading the first one. It's the story of the crash of a spaceship carrying a circus to the stars. They crash on a planet which is remarkably Earth-like and they seek to settle there, keeping their circus traditions.
This is an old-style circus using elephants and I thought they were an interesting part of the story. But the focus is on the humans-- and there are some interesting characters... But I wanted more about the elephants, especially to see their personalities more developed, as in such books as Sara Gruen's "Water for Elephants" ( also about a circus ).
As the book did not live up to the title in my opinion, I gave it only ***. However, I do like Longyear's writing and will give him another chance.

[james]

Tragedy, survival, love, betrayal, growth, and more tragedies abound in this installment of the three book series. Elephant Song tells of the survivors of the sabotaged starship Baraboo, mobile home for the O'Hare circus, after burning up in the atmosphere of a planet far off course from the shipping lanes and the crash landing of the shuttles having exhausted all fuels aim the Baraboo toward the only planet in reach of the crippled ship. The troupers and few surviving animals crash on the unknown planet scattered across continents without even the necessities to live. Each day is a struggle for survival, rediscovery of tool making, burying the many dead, and consoling one another. But the circus lives... the elephants live.

This book transitions from the City of Baraboo tale and shapes how the odd culture of Momus develops, steeped with circus traditions and others shaped by generations adapting to live on the planet. Throughout the work, there is an accounting of the elephants as age and accident reduce their numbers. Bullhandlers more than most understand the significance; for what is a bullhandler with no bull. That underpins some of the recurring despair some have as to the circus survival.

Having read the books out of order, it was pleasing to learn the origins of the odd money exchange of Momus, the arrival at colors to distinguish castes of professions, and a host of other items that would shape the peoples of Momus for the next centuries.

[Mark White]

Continuing the story of City of Baraboo and Circus World, this book starts with the crash of the Baraboo's shuttles. In this regard it's a good crash / survival story. As for the rest, it's more a tail of bad parenting and its consequences. It drifts from SF into fantasy with the amazing mental powers (read magic) of the main character but generally hangs together. Solid writing and largely sympathetic characters sustain the story through the rough spots. Probably only of interest if you have read the previous two volumes but four stars nevertheless.

[James]

The original Starshow, smashed, the survivors stranded on a world without an audience."An immensely bittersweet book, every triumph bought with blood, every gain the result of sacrifice."Futura"What Barry has done . . . is to take a magnificent way of life, which today seems on the verge of extinction, and fling it bodily into the future, toward immortality."Spider Robinson

[Kathy Sebesta]

He wrote the bookend novels in Circus World then filled in the middle with this book. While the other two are good in their own way, this one is too forced and falls flat.

[Gail]

I also bought this book decades ago when it was first published, and recently dug it out of a box. This is the third book in the Circus World series, but the middle of the story. This is about what happened between the crash of the circus ship on the planet Momus and the death of the last elephant. Basically how their society developed. It's mostly told through the POV of the last bull (elephant) handler and her family, but again, told in an anthology style of this story, then that. It's interesting, but like the middle stories of many trilogies (even if it's officially the last of the books, it's still the middle of the story) it's a little sad. It's still good and worth reading. I liked it a lot.

[Terry]

Though it was written last, the book explores the time between the first and third "Circus World" volumes. It does explain the way that some of the culture of Momus (the circa world) began and developed, but it is largely a dark tale of the consequences of power under the control of those not fit for it.

[Bobo]

This is the second volume in one of my favorite series of all time. I traditionally start the set on the first of May (for those in the know). I have read the 3 volumes around 8 to 10 times. A good series from the author of the acclaimed "Enemy Mine".

[Fibrowitch]

I own this book in paper back and hard cover

[Dan Rosenthal]

Almost unreadable.. Had to force my way through the first 30 pages. Really wanted to like it too..

[Matthew]

It takes patience, but despite the slow middle, it really picks up at the end. Totally worth it. I might have to look deeper into the series.

[SciFiOne]

1987 grade B-

Series book C2