La Hechicera de las Estrellas

Elana #1

by Sylvia Engdahl

Elana, que procede de una civilización tecnológicamente muy avanzada, se esconde en la nave de su padre y aterriza en el planeta Andrecia, un mundo primitivo que vive aterrizado por la amenaza de un dragón terrible. Georyn, el menor de los hijos de un humilde leñador andreciano, quiere convertirse en el hombre más sabio del reino y sabe que sólo lo conseguirá si vence al dragón y obtiene la recompensa prometida por el rey. En su viaje encontrará a Elana, que, a sus ojos, es la Hechicera de las Estrellas.
Muy pronto la admiración que Georyn siente hacia ella se va convirtiendo en un sentimiento cada vez más profundo que la muchacha también comparte. Pero, ¿es posible el amor entre dos personas tan distanciadas en el tiempo y el espacio? ¿Cuál es el secreto que esconde Elana? ¿Conseguirá Georyn liberar al reino del temible monstruo?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, Classics

346 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1970

About the author

Sylvia Engdahl is the author of eleven science fiction novels, six of which, including the Newbery Honor book Enchantress from the Stars, are YA books also enjoyed by many adults. Although she is best known as an author for Young Adults, her most recent novels, the Founders of Maclairn duology (Stewards of the Flame and Promise of the Flame) and the Captain of Estel trilogy (Defender of the Flame, Herald of the Flame, and Envoy of the Flame) are adult science fiction and are not appropriate for readers below high school age. For FAQs about them and more, visit her website.

She has also written a nonfiction book, The Planet-Girded Suns: Our Forebears' Firm Belief in Inhabited Exoplanets, of which updated and expanded paperback and ebook editions were published in 2012, and three collections of her essays. Most of the nonfiction books listed under her name were edited, rather than written, by her as a freelance editor of anthologies for high schools.

Engdahl says, "I never listed more than a few of the books I read here and now the list is so outdated that i have removed all but a very few that are still among my favorites, plus ebooks I produced for my mother and for my friend Shirley Rousseau Murphy. For current lists of good books on the subjects I care about, please visit the Opinion section of my website."

Reviews

[Sylvia]

This is my best-known novel. Though often given to children as young as the 6th grade because it was a Newbery Honor book, it is really intended for teens and is also enjoyed by many adults.

Since I see that long ago I posted a statment here about my book as a "review." i guess I will update it with a couple of facts I wish people knew.

First, for the reviewers who say they disagree with the idea that some cultures are more "advanced" than others, well, so do I, if we are thinking of different cultures on Earth. I have said repeatedly at my website and elsewhere that the book is NOT meant to be an allegory about relationships between cultures on Earth, because everybody on Earth is a member of the same species. It is about the evolutionary advance of entire species, not mere differences among cultures of the same one. Sentient species that evolved on different worlds, if there are any, have existed for different lengths of time; they are separated by many centuries, or millennia, of evolution. Most people would agree that we are more advanced than Stone Age cavemen--and I think someday we may meet species as far ahead of us as we are ahead of humans who lived that long ago. Of course the time frame in the book is shorter to make a story, but the principle applies.

Second, I didn't base the story on Star Trek -- I established the non-interference policy of the Service in portions of the story I wrote in 1957, long before StarTrek existed. But I don't claim to have created it. The main reason I hate to see the Prime Directive spoken of as if Star Trek invented it is that this ties it too closely to science fiction. I believe advanced species really do have such a policy, because if they didn't, the worlds of all the sentient species in the universe would end up as mere copies of the oldest one, without a chance to mature on their own. The Prime Directive ahouldn't be considered a part of any fictional universe, but rather as a theory of why SETI hasn't detected any messages from superciviilzations and why there aren't any aliens here in UFOs.

[Brenda Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a young teen I found this book in the early 70s, in the shipboard library on the USS Woodrow Wilson. I was utterly enthralled, and saved up until I could buy my own copy -- my very first hardback fiction purchase! I still have that volume, which introduced me to SF and probably got me where I am today. Yes, it's that good!

[Josiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Your feelings for a person who has come to mean something to you colors all your memories, so that you can't describe them effectively."

—Elana, "Enchantress from the Stars", PP. 68-69

"If we don't approach this with warmth and compassion and faith in these people as human beings, we haven't a chance of succeeding."

—Elana's father, "Enchantress from the Stras", P. 72

I find myself stunned into near disbelief by just how enormously powerful and incredibly good is this book. "Enchantress from the Stars" builds slowly but with sure intent, melding together flawlessly into a taut, suspenseful story that had me leafing forward like crazy, going on for hundreds of pages without even the slightest break in my attention. The plot is completely immersing and fiercely gripping, keeping the reader on edge with almost intolerably suspenseful action and feeling.

"But a light now waxed within him at the knowledge that such wonders as he had been shown could exist."

—Enchantress from the Stars, P. 96

"Must a man then live as his fellows live, and never reach beyond?"

—Georyn, "Enchantress from the Stars", P. 98

The first book I read that really gave me an exceedingly high view of the potentials in the science fiction genre was Nancy Farmer's "The House of the Scorpion", and I am saying an awful lot when I state that I would place "Enchantress from the Stars" in the same company. Sylvia Louise Engdahl broaches complicated and ethically challenging subjects with marvelous accessibility, pointing out very plainly in her writing that while circumstances might change, and with those circumstances the views of people, nevertheless the emotions and mentality and basic needs of people stay the same, which to me is the idea that makes terrific science fiction into what it is. The emotional consequences of the interaction between Elana, Georyn, Jarel, Evrek and still others is wrenching and starkly painful, painting pictures of such powerful resonance that the reader cannot help but be drawn in, and become a part of this future world. It has been a long time since I have read such a soul-stirringly striking novel.

"The human mind is incredible. It can do nothing without belief, yet practically anything with it."

—Elana's father, P. 101

"It would be a poor enchantment indeed that had no price".

—Georyn, P. 105

"No one ever has all the facts. All a person can do is to choose a goal that seems worthwhile and commit himself to it."

—Elana's father, PP. 110-111

"What is it, I wonder, that makes two people suddenly become important to each other? So important that everything else around them just fades away?"

—Elana, P. 121

"Enchantress from the Stars" tackles issues of both ethical and emotional nature with equal skill, entwining the two important concepts into one narrative that flows forth as well as any story that I have ever read. Constructed along very realistic-feeling lines, the story thread weaves and turns unexpectedly and takes the reader into surprising places, never faltering in its drive. The result is one of the most amazing books of any kind that I have ever read, and one that I could not recommend highly enough.
"Enchantress from the Stars" is one of THOSE books, the ones that add another dimension to one's life and affect one's thoughts and personal considerations forever. I cannot say enough good things about this book.

"People who love each other can no more keep from communicating than from breathing".

—Elana, P. 124

"It is the only happiness now possible to me, to know that all is well with you".

—Georyn, P. 270

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this older YA SF, and will again when it comes up in the Newbery club in the Children's Books group. Sure, there was an awful lot of discussion and not a whole heck of a lot of action, but that's fine by me because I do read SF for the 'what if' exploration of ideas.

Definitely a good fit, as it happens, for fans of Star Trek, with its exploration of a 'prime directive' and for fans of Star Wars, with a mysterious 'force' (in this case, telepathy and psychokinesis). But more than that. Also, it's appropriate that Lois Lowry, author of The Giver, would write the intro. to the reprint - Engdahl's perspective & voice have much in common with Lowry's.... and fans of Lowry's Newbery winning SF would probably like this, too.

Should generate a good discussion in the club... would probably lead to even richer conversations in a teen reading group.

Only a couple of quotes, because most of the book isn't pithy. This first can be read as defense of faith, or of belief in magic, or even as encouragement to do science... what context will you enjoy?

"Why, if nobody believed anything except what they understood, how limited we'd be!"

And consider, do you agree with Georyn?

"For it is better to know of what exists than not to know. I would rather be helpless than blind...."
---
Discussion is this month so I have reread it. I think I appreciated it more, but enjoyed it a tiny bit less, this time. No matter; I still recommend it. And the sequel, too!
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A third read because I recently read Engdahl's Children of the Star and something from this made a brief cameo there. Turns out I can't even recall or recognize that connection though.

" If you want to train a man to do something difficult, you start by finding out how he reacts to difficulties."

" The servants of the Dragon are not demons either, but men who have been bewitched. They are a danger to you, but they are not in themselves evil."

[JHM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was in the sixth grade, and it changed my life. Not only was this the first science fiction story I'd ever read, it was my introduction to the idea that where you come from shapes how you see and interpret the world.

The story is presented as an intersection of fairy tale and sci-fi adventure, with the medieval residents of the planet Andrecia interpreting the high tech tools of an advanced civilization as a "dragon".

Elana, the story's heroine, is a somewhat rash but deeply principled young woman who accepts the consequences for all her actions and who faces the conflicts between heart and duty with a clear vision. The two other two p.o.v. characters share her idealistic qualities, each expressing them through the lense of his own unique background.

[Donna Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this YA sci-fi book. It is definitely character driven, but the science parts were good too. It was actually more like anthropology, I’d say—Elena is a young woman on her first mission. She is trying to protect a youngling world (less developed) from colonization by a space-faring people who are nonetheless not as morally developed as Elena’s people.

Elena must accomplish her task (along with her father and her fiancé) without allowing the indigenous people to know that she is from a more advanced civilization. This mission requires some seriously complicated maneuvering as well as difficult ethical reasoning.

The book does a great job of presenting questions of the morality of colonialism, as well as allusions to biblical stories. A very satisfying read.

[Valerie]

I actually have two editions of this. This book is one I like to reread. I like the language, and the raising of issues about who qualifies as 'human' (for example).

But I often don't agree with the arguments. I don't accept that loyalty and adherence to 'irrevocable' commitments are good behavior. It's taken me a lot of wrestling with my conscience to get to this point. This book made me reconsider--and I came to the same conclusion, after seriously considering the arguments.

Loyalty, by definition, is not sticking with ideas and people when you agree with them. If you agree with them, you don't NEED loyalty, since your own conscience and reason support you. It's when you DISagree with them that you need loyalty--and you can't afford it then. You can't give away your need to make independent decisions EVERY TIME. It's not acceptable to use the excuse of 'it's an emergency, and we have no other choice but between two evils--so we have to decide which is lesser'. No oath can absolve you of the responsibility to think things through, and not to do terrible things. Even if I could accept that the oath is just binding you to do what you'd decide to if you thought things through (and I can't), I can't accept the notion that you can make decisions ahead of time, or that you EVER have the right not to think things through. It's like the notion that, in the field, you can't take time for mourning. You MUST make time for mourning. Eating and sleeping can be sacrificed more easily than dealing with your emotional needs while on assignment. If you don't take the time to mourn, the questions raised by a loss don't get properly dealt with--and you'll make bad decisions about later matters.

I don't agree that ANY suffering is 'necessary'. If people only advance through suffering, then progress is, in fact, an immoral thing. I don't WANT to believe that present suffering is the price of future benefits. I'd MUCH rather believe that suffering is pointless, and that all sacrifices are in vain--so that I'll feel free to help people in need. I recall Miep Gies commenting that the only way to decide to help people instead of abandoning them (or worse yet, helping hurt them) was never to believe that anyone deserves what happens to them.

I don't agree that the Andrecians have no 'technology'. If the 'more advanced' societies don't regard the technical solutions the Andrecians have as technology, then they have a mistaken definition of technology. The Andrecians may not have such things as gunpowder (or they may, and it's not widespread). They certainly don't have spaceships. But they DO have technology, though we don't see much of it. We do see the products of it, however. They have looms (of some sort) because they wear cloth. They have wine-making technology. They have metalworking technology. They have woodcarving technology. They can almost certainly make charcoal. To define these things as not 'technology', because they don't involve 'science' in the way it's been (re)defined since the Enlightenment is perhaps not surprising for the Imperials--but the more 'advanced' Federation members should have escaped that pitfall at some point. Qualifying the term 'technology' with the adjective 'mechanized' doesn't really resolve anything. There were mechanized technologies in many ancient civilizations. It's not an accident that the early 'factories' were described as 'mills'. A mill is a mechanism, by definition. Adding an engine (steam or otherwise) to the works doesn't substantially change how it works.

Furthermore, there's a tendency to argue that feudal systems are previous to 'civilized' ones, in a dependable and progressive history. It was not so in Europe on Earth, and it may not have been so anywhere on Earth. One of the exercises we had in archaeology class was to put artifacts in chronological order. We all made the same mistake. One society was considerably less 'advanced' that another (Mississippian and Hopewell, for those who are keeping score). On any standard of life (wide-ranging trade, health, food security...you name it), the agricultural Mississippians were worse off than the hunting and gathering Hopewell--who preceded them chronologically.

In Europe, feudal societies developed in areas where the preceding CIVILIZED societies had collapsed. Many later spread to other areas which had been inhabited by 'barbarians'--but many of the 'barbarian' societies had actually been incorporated into the empires that collapsed. Note, for example, that in most versions of Arthurian lore, the people of Camelot are trying to REestablish (or conserve the remains of) ROMAN Britain. They aren't harking back to pre-Roman times, but to a period when most places south of what's now the Danelaw were part of a client state of the Roman Empire.

Whether a feudal state COULD be developed in the absence of the 'villas' for the villages to cluster around is not clear. It may be that the prior civilization is an essential prerequisite. At least one of my anthropology teachers argued that a main reason for the collapse of the Roman empire was actually a progressive technological development. A new type of plow was developed that made it possible to plow areas that were previously not cultivable. The local people thus became less dependent on the redistribution systems of the empire--and so were able to send the tax collectors away without starving the next bad year.

Of course, the Roman Empire was quite long-lasting. Though it ebbed and flowed for centuries, it's unlikely that there was any one reason for its final collapse. So to test whether feudal societies would develop 'naturally' in the absence of the ruins of empire, it would be necessary to examine agricultural societies that never DID develop any sort of feudal society, and never had been incorporated in empires.

The Domesday book demonstrates some of the processes by which a society that had been only semi-feudal (if that much so) developed into fully feudal societies, with few to no pockets of freeholders who could 'go where they would'. But, for example, Pueblo societies (which, after 'Anasazi' times, were mostly NOT agricultural, but rather horticultural) stubbornly resisted this sort of hierarchical structure--to such a degree that when the Conquistadores tried to impose it, the nonviolent Pueblos rose in revolt against them.

You can argue that the Pueblos were an isolated case, and not typical of responses to feudalization. Perhaps. But too many people forget that the old expression that 'the exception proves the rule' uses an old sense of the word 'prove', which is the EXACT SAME word as the word 'probe'. The exception TESTS the rule, and often the rule fails the test.

The Andrecian 'natives' in this book are not immature in any sense. The idea that societies go through stages similar to the development of human children is a fallacious one. It's also dangerous, because it leads to the notion that people who don't have 'technology' in the narrow sense that's used aren't fully human.

It's a pity, really. The book is a good one, and the issues that are raised in it are important. A little more thought would make it a truly great book. But in its present state, the resolution doesn't live up to the youthful promise. It's not just that people's lives are ruined, and they don't get the rewards they have a 'right' to hope for. It's also that NO reward would repay the mischief that's inflicted--or ANY imposed or 'natural' suffering. And is suffering to 'deserve' happiness REALLY a model we want to encourage?

Federation societies are essentially undescribed in this book. The Academy is explicitly distinguished from the ordinary societies--but it's not very thoroughly described, either. In a sense, there's mostly definition by exclusion. There's a lot more description of what the Federation is NOT than about what it IS.

The Federation in James White's books is much more realistic. Very different peoples live and work together in a somewhat fractious Pax Galactica. But they don't pretend to be 'superior' to planet-bound cultures. And they're very far from having solved all their problems. They've tried to balance protection from dangers with maximal freedom--but they often fail--sometimes in silly ways. Why should you have to order a century's supply of nutmeg to avoid questions, for example? Still, their attempts are more concrete (and steel, and composites) and more individualistic than the nebulous 'Federation' sketched in this book.

[J. Boo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a youth, and remembered as a short story until I ran into Cheryl's review (thanks again!) Picked it up from the library and took out the book for a second spin.

The overarching structure is quite clever: the tripartite narrative of a medieval native of a planet, an advanced alien invader, and another, far more advanced alien -- the titular Enchantress -- who is trying to get the second group of aliens to give up their attempt to settle the planet while not letting either group know who she really is.

Unfortunately, the creativity of the structure wasn't matched by the creativity of the content. This was serviceable at best, and also full of a whole bunch of tropes with which, as a child, I was perfectly fine, but now find annoying: everybody chock full of psychic powers that just need a special push to come out, wuv, Trek-y Prime Directives, etc.

Interesting to read after such a long delay. Past Me and Present Me got to have a great chat about each others' literary tastes. There's a sequel - also read when I was young - but I think I will leave it be.

What I won't leave be is Engdahl 's website. It's remarkably content-rich; she's very active for an author in her mid-eighties.

[Melissa McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first pick of my new book club, surprising me because I hadn't thought of it in years. I read and loved it as a teen because it was so different and challenged the notion of the separation between magic and science. Told from three different viewpoints, this story of members of an advanced civilization trying to protect a fledgling society from being conquered by another race of starfarers gets at the heart of what it means to be civilized.

Each character comes from a race at different stages of development: Georyn's people are at what we'd call a medieval level of society, Elana is a member of an extremely advanced civilization that has moved past war and conquest, and Jarel's society is technologically advanced but still trying to conquer other worlds. Elana's people have developed psychic talents to go along with their technology, Jarel's people are advanced enough for space flight, and Georyn's are still fighting with swords and see the world through the lens of superstition. Elana is the main character, but Georyn's and Jarel's perspectives are used often enough that we see how each event becomes different when seen through their eyes. The scenes from Georyn's point of view also have a different narrative style that sounds semi-medieval and makes those sections feel like a quest story. It's an interesting approach that gives the book more emotional weight than the relatively simple story would otherwise have.

The members of Elana's race take the Prime Directive a whole lot more seriously than Captain Kirk ever did, to the point that they're willing to die rather than reveal the truth of their existence to any civilization not far enough advanced to handle the knowledge. Elana, who is too young to have taken oath as one of her people's advance anthropological agents, is pressed into service when a member of the expedition is killed horribly for exactly that reason. Elana starts out as a relatively self-centered young woman, naïve despite her education, and the book is on one level about her growth through her role in saving the natives of Andrecia from the conquering forces, as well as through her relationship with Georyn, one of said natives. It's young love that's doomed from the start, since we know there's no way the two can stay together, but Elana doesn't realize the implications or the danger until it's too late.

The plan Elana's expedition comes up with depends heavily on Clarke's law that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, though in this case the "technology" is psychic ability. The way the plan plays out reminded me strongly of what Diana Wynne Jones did with Power of Three, though not as tightly limited in perspective. I can't say I was emotionally connected to this book so much as I admired what Engdahl attempted, but it was as enjoyable as I remembered despite its age. The copy I own is a battered first edition signed by the author, though not inscribed to me, and I found it in a little fantasy book store in Eugene, Oregon that's no longer there. That's the sort of thing I find memorable.

[Olga Godim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sci-fi book is simultaneously incredibly naïve and incredibly arrogant. It describes a clash of three cultures, each in a different stage of social and scientific development.
The Federation is a highly evolved, space-faring civilization. They’re so evolved, they are telepathic. They don’t wage war or conquer the less-developed societies. Instead, they travel among the populated worlds and study them. The protagonist, a student Elana, belongs to this society of peaceful explorers. Their mandate dictates that they can’t interfere in the others’ progress, to the point of rather dying than disclosing information.
The second on the scale of techno-development is the Empire. They are just starting to explore the stars and they are quite military, set on colonization of as many planets as possible. Everyone less developed than they are is considered sub-human. One of the characters, Jarel, is a young medical officer with the Empire expedition, launched onto the planet of Andrecia. He is the doubting type – he isn’t sure species less developed should be considered sub-human but he isn’t openly rebellious either. He is just brooding most of the pages dedicated to him
And then there is Andrecia. Its society is feudal, with no technology. For them, the machines the Empire employs to clear the land for their colony are dragons, driven by evil. Perhaps their point of view is not too far off. Some Earth citizens think so too. One of the protagonists, Georyn, belongs to this civilization. He resolves to perform a heroic deed – kill the ‘dragon’ – and Elana and her crew are set on helping him to drive the dragon (aka the Empire colonists) off Andrecia – for the good of Andrecia, I presume.
But what methods could they use without revealing themselves? They decide to utilize Georyn’s belief in magic to outwit the Empire, to hoax the new colonists into leaving this particular planet. The Federation explorers are also pretty willing to sacrifice anyone, from their own society or from any other, to achieve their goals. Lives are worthless to them compared to their lofty principles.
They pull Georyn’s strings like experienced puppeteers, and even Elana, who is falling in love with the young man, obeys her captain’s decrees and plays the role of an ‘enchantress from the stars’, granting Georyn some ‘magical’ wishes and assigning him pretty harrying tasks. He is a pawn to her commands, but the poor schmuck believes in her magic anyway.
There are no ‘nice’ persons in this story, except maybe Georyn, although he is described as a pretty dense yokel who accepts as absolute dictum anything his beloved enchantress tells him. He doesn’t question her pronouncements. He doesn’t try to discover the truth. His side of the story resembles an original fairy tale – the youngest son of a poor woodcutter, Disney style. The enchantress says ‘jump’ – he jumps.
Elana does have doubts, kudos to her, but they are more growing pangs than a serious disagreement with her elders. Deep inside, she’s convinced that her Federation is the only one that’s right and good. She is ready to die for her society doctrines. I’m not sure I agree with the Federation and their haughty, idealistic views of the lesser civilizations. That’s why I don’t think I like Elana much. I think she is a silly girl, ready to become a martyr for silly reasons.
The Empire representatives also act surprisingly silly, almost senseless. Why would they believe the Federation’s childish trickery, played by Georyn? It’s unexplainable to me. They shouldn’t have, and they wouldn’t in reality. Their behavior is illogical from start to end, playing to the author’s ideology instead of the realistic worldview.
I know the book was written in 1970, but its year of publication doesn’t excuse its primitive political ideas or the simplicity of its characters. The writing is good though, beautiful. And the story is probably okay, if its readers are 13 or about. But for me, a jaded reader, it feels slightly out of whack.

[Strona po stronie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An old fashioned science fiction YA book with a bit of a Star Trek vibe (I love Star Trek!). I have to admit that it's obviously well-written and the plot and characters are interesting. Moreover, it has some of my favourite elements, like a clash of different cultures or a more or less believable romance. It also has an important message. It's definitely worth reading. Still, because of the writing style (some POVs are like memoirs, some like legends of the round table), it's just not really captivating. Mostly not atmospheric. Why? It could have been great...

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten to fifteen years after reading this book, I still remember the scene in which the anthropologist-from-the-stars gives the woodcutter-who-believes-in-magic orange soda, and he's like "magic elixer!" Hah! Loved this story of high technology and low meeting--it's kinda a Prime Directive parable.

[Brok3n · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hierarchy problem

Here is Enchantress from the Stars as I see it. Probably the way I see it is not the way you see it, and I am absolutely certain it is not the way that Sylvia Engdahl sees it:

Enchantress from the Stars recounts an encounter among three civilizations: The Andrecians, the Imperialists, and the Federation. The Federation is a culturally advanced interstellar Trekoid thingy, and is represented in this book by three members of the Federation Anthropological Service, Elana (the main narrator), Elana's fiancé Evrek, and her father. The Imperialists are from a planet that recently developed starships and that has landed on Andrecia to colonize it. The Imperialist narrator is Jarel. The Andrecians are a primitive agricultural civilization on Andrecia. The Andrecian narrator is Georyk. If you don't like my use of the derogatory word "primitive", you're going to have a problem with Enchantress, because this is explicitly how the Imperialists view the Andrecians, and also how the Feds view both the Andrecians and the Imperialists, although they substitute the dripping with condescension word "Youngling". The Feds use this word for any civilization that don't have the psychic powers the Feds do.

The Fed team has landed in order to foil the Imperialist invasion. They can't directly intervene because they have sworn an oath that is basically the Prime Directive from Star Trek. (Engdahl even tells us in her FAQ that the Service Oath is meant to be an improved version of the Prime Directive.) So Elana's father has a sneaky plan to get the job done.

To understand the plan, you have to understand that Elana's father is a morally flexible puppet-master who has no scruples against tricking absolutely anyone, up to and including his own daughter, into doing what he has convinced himself is The Right Thing. His plan is to teach a naive Andrecian a magic trick (psychokinesis -- this is something the Feds can do), have him perform it in front of the Imperialists, thus scaring them off the planet. Does this sound like a believable plan to you? It doesn't to me. But on the other hand, if you're a character in a novel and the author is on your side, any plan is a good plan.

So they do it. Georyk gets to be the Andrecian patsy. Of course he and Elana fall in love, because that's just what happens in novels like this. What's more, Elana's father later admits that he manipulated them into falling in love, in order to better motivate poor Georyk. With a small assist from Jarel (remember Jarel?) the implausible plan is implausibly a Complete Success.

Blog review.

This novel also trips over one of my pet peeves. I'm going to bore y'all by ranting about it, but I'm protecting it with spoiler tags so you don't need to see the rant if you don't want to.

I have for many years been unhappy with the treatment of telepathy in Science Fiction. The authors of SF novels never seem to realize that telepathy is real, we have it, and the real thing is a far richer and more interesting phenomenon than the pale imitations they invent. Here's how it works: each of us (well, most of us) has an organ in our head, controlled by the brain, that can transmit waves through the air. These waves encode thoughts. We also have two organs in the head (two for directionality) that can sense these waves and sent them to the brain. There are specific parts of the brain devoted to encoding and decoding thoughts. In this way I can transmit my thoughts to you.

Now, some of you are saying, "Does L really believe this? What are they smoking?". But the others got the con. Here is that explanation again, with gloss:

Each of us (well, most of us) has an organ in our head (the mouth), controlled by the brain, that can transmit waves (sound waves) through the air. These waves encode thoughts (the encoding is called "language"). We also have two organs (ears) in the head (two for directionality) that can sense these waves and sent them to the brain. There are specific parts of the brain (Broca's and Wernicke's areas, mostly) devoted to encoding and decoding thoughts. In this way I can transmit my thoughts to you.

Telepathy is such a fantastically useful thing that it would be astonishing if we did not have it. So, in fact, we do. Now I'm obviously cheating here -- speech is not telepathy. Why not? Because the definition of telepathy specifically excludes it: "the communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses". In other words, telepathy is, by definition, speech without speech. But in every important functional sense, we humans are telepathic. In fact, you and I are engaging in an act of telepathy right now.

Now, most SF authors who put telepathy in their books realize that they have to make it better than speech somehow, or what would be the point? What really bothers me about these attempts to pump up telepathy is that they are so, so lame. Speech and language are such amazing, fascinatingly versatile parts of human culture, encompassing not just in person vocal communication, but writing, music, ASL, poetry, sound recording technology... No fictional version of telepathy I have ever seen comes even close to the real thing.


Blog review.

[Jamie Dacyczyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, old-school YA science fiction book. This is the kind of thing that I wish I'd read when I was 12, because I would have LOVED it and probably read it over and over again. Without the nostalgia element now, I don't love it, but do recognize the quality of the story. It's a Newbury Honor Book, but definitely one that seems to have fallen through the cracks.

This book is about a woodcutter's son who, along with his brothers, decides that they're going to seek the king's favor by slaying a dragon that's been ravishing the countryside. Along the way they receive help from a magician called the Starwatcher, who sets three tasks for them to complete before he will give them what they need to defeat the dragon. This brings them to seek out the aid of a mysterious Lady, an Enchantress, who lives in a hut in the forest. She bestows magic items upon them so that they may complete the magician's tasks....

......Except that the dragon is really a forestry machine brought there from another planet by a colonizing empire. This Empire seeks out planets to take over, and this world (Andrecia) is one of them. They know that they're much more technologically advanced than the primitive native population, so setting up the planet as a colony and herding all of the native humans into a reservation shouldn't be too hard....

....Except that the Starwatcher and the Enchantress are actually ALSO from another planet, only their civilization is even MORE advanced than the Empire. They're so advanced that they have a peaceful society, and also have the ability to use telekinesis and telepathy. They're tasked with preventing civilizations like the Empire from meddling in the affairs of more primitive planets, while also preventing the Empire from knowing that there are much more advanced planets out there. If either the Andrecians or the Empire knew about the more advanced civilizations, it would potentially stunt their own societal development, so utmost secrecy is required. The Enchantress is really a girl named Elana, who stowed away on her father's ship when he came to Andrecia with two other crewmates with the plan to subtly discourage the Empire from taking over this world. There are some complications, so now Elana needs to play a role in their plans....which is to basically teach ESP skills (ie, magical spells) to a few of the natives so that when the conquering Empire sees the Andrecians levitating objects (with magic!), they'll hopefully freak out at this affront to their strictly-science-based understanding and leave the planet.

This book is told in three POVs: Georyn, the youngest woodcutter's son, Jael, an apprentice medical officer with the Empire, and Elana, the aforementioned mission stowaway. What the author did really well was change the way the three POVs are told. Georyn's reads like a fairy tale, because as far as he knows there is legitimately a dragon, an Enchantress, magical objects, etc. His part of the story is essentially a fantasy story (hence my fantasy tag for this one), and the writing has that old-school fantasy feel...almost Tolkien-ish? Meanwhile, Jael and Elana's have a more updated feel to the writing (although this book is from the 1970s, so it's not THAT modern), since they're both from "future" times. The switching back and forth between the styles is what makes this book for me.

Elana is a bit of an impulsive idiot at times, but she's also young and untrained. Her father spends quite a lot of time explaining things to her (and thus to the reader), but I guess that makes sense since he's basically field training her in the moment. She's apparently in a relationship with the third member of their party (Evrek), but it seems more like a platonic "I guess we'll get married someday since it's the most convenient thing" kind of relationship than a romance. He's barely involved in the story, so this component did feel a bit out of place.

The whole concept of this book is really interesting. Imagining how a medieval-ish superstitious culture would perceive technology that's more like our own culture (in a few years perhaps), and how a purely science-based culture might perceive a culture that's so far ahead it's come around again to embracing supernatural abilities....

If I were to compare this to another book, I'd say it reminds me most of "The Darkangel" trilogy, by Meredith Ann Pierce (though this book was written first). Both are books that initially seem like they're fantasy novels, but then as the layers get peeled back for the reader, it becomes clear that it's a science-fiction story. To the character within the book, everything happening is because of magical reasons, but in truth what we're dealing with is interplanetary travel.

As I said, this book was written in the 1970s, so some aspects definitely have a dated feel. I don't know if today's teens will appreciate this kind of book or not. The old-school writing style (and the OLD old-school writing style of Georyn's POV) might turn off teens who are used to action-packed and romance-heavy fantasy trilogies. This is definitely a book that spends a lot of time with character development, and (in the vein of mid-century sci-fi) a lot of time discussing ethical and philosophical matters.

This was my first time re-reading this book, having only read it once 10+ years ago. I own a copy, and decided it was time to re-read and decide if I want to keep it. After reading it now, I honestly wavered back and forth on whether to keep it. There are copies available at other libraries (my own copy is the one retired from my library), so it's not like it will be unavailable to me if I pass along this copy. I want my personal library to be books that I plan to read over and over, and I'm not sure yet if that will be the case with this one. If I'd read it around the time I first read the Darkangel trilogy, I would probably love it the same way since the styles are so similar. I think that even though I didn't *love* this one, I still really admire what the author has created here.....Hm. I guess I'll hold onto my copy for now and think about it.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

...I didn't like this.

I really wanted to like it! I really did. I just couldn't.

I can see why people like it, but for me, the negatives outweighed the positives.

1. I didn't particularly like any of the characters. I thought Elana herself was quite arrogant at times and none of the other characters were very fleshed-out.

2. There was more telling than showing. I was told every single motivation for everything and, to be honest, it gets tiring after awhile.

3. The rest of the writing was a bit...boring. The whole book itself moved really slowly and even at the climax, I didn't really want to see what happened next. I didn't really care about the characters or the story.

4. That whole romantic subplot thing was kind of weird. I don't mind romantic subplots at all! This one just didn't work, because I felt like it was just there. I can see why it's there as a plot device, It just didn't seem right.

It wasn't all bad, though! The characters brought up a lot of interesting moral views that were really cool to read about. I'm not sure if I agree with all of them, but they were interesting none-the-less.

[Archy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has watched way too much Star Trek, this book is basically an exposition on the Prime Directive. Elena is a trainee about to enter the service which protects "younger" civilizations from self-destruction or domination by other species. She becomes entangled in a tricky situation where she must teach Georyn to use his innate psychokinetic powers to fight off the "dragon" of another humanoid species without revealing her true nature. They of course fall in love, which is what gives Georyn the strength to finally complete his quest. At the end Elena must leave Georyn behind to protect his species.

The story is good, and the book is well written. I've never liked books written in the first person, and the dominant story line is told in the first person. I might have given it 4 stars, if it weren't in the first person.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about this young adult fiction in the Chinaberry catalog. It's a Newberry Honor Book that had been out of print.

What a delightful book -- full of mythology and symbolism and right vs. wrong dilemmas. Elana is a stowaway on a Federation Anthropological Service mission headed by her father. They go to a "youngling" world to try to stop interference from another society invading the planet. Elana becomes the key to the mission, and it's fraught with dangers and difficult decisions. Elana's choices help her grow, and her courage when all seems lost is heartwrenching.

What a WONDERFUL book for young and old alike.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I really enjoyed the blending of sci-fi with fantasy, and the idea of not two cultures clashing, but THREE - and all three at different socio-technical levels. I like the questions of what it is to be "human." All three cultures have different philosophical takes on this. It's a modern day philosophical parable. It shows the strength of diversity, belief, fear, love, and humanity. It shows how a moral man who but stands until he can act has power even when surrounded by seeming corruption and immorality. It shows how rigid compliance to a thing is inhuman, and humanity needs to be flexible in thought, word, and deed. It shows how self-confidence is powerful and that we all need help. It was an amazing work. If you haven't read this book, I really recommend it.

[R. G. Nairam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why, if nobody believed anything except what they understood, how limited we'd be!"

This was definitely a more mixed reading than the elation that came with the first one. I thought I had a coherent review in my head, but I think instead I have a scattering of points, centered on each POV:

1) Georyn is by far the highlight of this book, and the style and voice of his sections are my favourite. What I was so excited about in 2014 was a book that gave so much dignity and respect to someone from a roughly medieval situation--this is sadly lacking in a lot of public understanding and even historical fiction. Engdahl allows Georyn to be fully medieval and fully human, admirable, intelligent, even wise. It is still wonderful to see, and it really elevates the book.

2) Elana's POV is more mixed. For one thing, she sounds overly young to me a lot of the time. She is very into her exclamation points and dramatic statements. A lot of her emotions are directly told to the reader, instead of being show by her actions. She also creates a number of plot problems by being quite stupid.

Her POV also contains most of the philosophizing of the book: mainly around the very Prime Directive-esque rules Elana's advanced civilization has about their interactions with less advanced civilizations. If you like Star Trek: Next Gen. episodes where Picard gets to wax poetic about the Prime Directive (which I happen to), that's essentially what you get from Elana's father. He's always right, succinct, and philosophical. It's neat but not incredibly engaging if you're not as into the concepts holding the story together or you happen to have read it before.

(Or perhaps heard Picard give a lot of the same arguments.)

I do like the books whole idea about belief and truth, and the use of symbols to understand a truth--how they vary by culture. Lack of knowledge =/= lack of wisdom. "Progress" and technological advancement does not always mean the civilization is better. It's fascinating and, again, gives medieval people a lot more respect than I'm used to encountering.

3) Then there's Jarel. Oh, Jarel. As I started this reread, I had a bit of an "oh no" when I got to his sections, because even in the first go-round they are irritatingly obvious as a Point. We need to understand his POV for the climax to work, but nothing about his thoughts surprises us, and none of it is very nuanced. It's interesting, in a book focused on giving so much humanity to Georyn that it paints Jarel and his comrades as more black-and-white.

The main thing that stuck with me from 2014 until now was a moment of the climax, and the climax is still gorgeous and wonderfully thematic, and the closing of the book a tantalizing mixture of uplifting and melancholy.

It's not the perfect book my euphoric experience in 2014 had led me to believe. But it still wonderful, and I appreciate what it offers the world.

Also, <3 <3 Georyn.

"There are worse fates than to see beyond your grasp."

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got halfway through this before I gave up (I'm 53 now, life is too short to keep reading books one's not enjoying!)

It could have been titled "Ode to Mansplaining" as the all-knowing father goes on for pages, chapter after chapter, hectoring his daughter about stuff that she ought to know (to be fair, she doesn't seem to know the stuff she ought to know, but that's another issue!) The viewpoint is split for the most part between the characters who think they're in a fantasy, and the characters who know they're in a sci-fi novel, but you get nothing added from the other viewpoint--the SF characters know exactly what the fantasy characters are thinking, so reading their viewpoint is redundant.

Other nits: I'm sure a "higher" civilization (itself an outmoded concept) can come up with better ways to save a planet than this screwy plan, the main protagonist is apparently of marriageable/university age, but acts/thinks/feels about 10, nobody's actually interesting (apparently they find each other interesting, but for no clear reason), and an early death is dispensed with / accepted so casually as to put one off our supposed heroes right away (and was also stupid).

So mostly, I found it annoying, although I imagine it seemed radical in its day "Hey, kids, other people's cultures are valuable and you shouldn't colonize them!")

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s)

[Amy Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not enjoy sci-fi. I never have and I don't know that I ever really will.

But I LOVED this book.

I asked my mom one day what her favorite book had been as a teenager, and she ended up ordering this for me. I read it not out of an actual desire to read the book, but rather because I love her and wanted to talk with her about it.

The first couple of chapters were basically what I expected out of a sci-fi novel, and I didn't have high hopes that I'd like it. But by maybe three or four chapters in, I was actually captivated — partially by the plot itself, but mostly by the way it was written and how it made me feel. Rarely has a book made me stop and think so much; I frequently found myself stopping to really absorb what had just been said because it was so thought-provoking and paradigm-shifting, at least for me.

Above all, this book gave me hope: hope in the power of mistakes and what we learn from them, hope in the genuine goodness love and faith can produce (and how much of a difference it makes in ours and others' lives), and in people's and societies' ability to evolve beyond what we can presently imagine.

This is truly an extraordinary novel and I'm so thankful to have read it.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The well known story goes like this: a dragon begins to terrorize the land and the king sends forth his strongest warriors. When his warriors fail, he sets forth a decree that any who slays the dragon shall be rewarded. To take up this task is a poor woodcutter's youngest son, aided by a beautiful enchantress and a wise old man who give him three tasks and reward him with the magical gift needed to defeat the dragon.

"Enchantress from the Stars" retells this story from the point of view of Elana, the young "enchantress" who is, in fact, a member of a far more advanced race charged with watching over the young society of the Andrecians (the society to which the woodcutter's son belongs) and protecting them from a more advanced society which has invaded and is using their machines (read: dragon) to colonize Andrecia. Elana, her father, and her fiancee cannot expose themselves to either society, and thus assume the elf-like role of legend as they train Georyn, their chosen hero, to scare the invaders into leaving.

Cleverly written, Enchantress combines fantasy and science fiction in a seemless exploration of society, mythology, and the limitless boundaries of human imagination.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read half of this in print a few years back, but couldn’t get through it. Finally finished it as an audio book in 2018. The plot and concepts were interesting, but the main character Elana annoyed me to no end. The amount she didn’t understand (despite her supposed years of training) felt more like a excuse for the narrator to explain things to the reader. Elana came off as a helpless young damsel needing everyone around her to spoon feed her information and instruction in between her emotional outbursts. It drove me nuts, but at least I now know how the story ends.

[VeeDawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the best science fiction ever, but I loved the idea of the three levels of development for civilizations and people too: First wonder and believing in the supernatural, second discarding superstition and revering science, and finally the discovery is made that what was termed "supernatural" (or faith) has been perfectly natural all along and is in reality a part of the very science that sought to reject it.

[Gloria Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Imperial Exploration Corps has arrived at the planet Andrecia where they intend to expand their population. The Corps believes only in material technology and sees the primitive natives as subhuman. Jarel, a doctor assigned to the colonizers, is appalled to see the mistreatment of the indigenous people.

The colonizers are using a dragonlike machine to sterilize the environment so it will be safe for settlement. Georyn, a woodcutter's son, has heard of the dragon and is determined to kill it. On the way he meets an enchantress from the stars (Elana) who teaches him magic that should improve his chances to win.

Elana belongs to an advanced interstellar civilization that hides from those cultures less advanced. In secret her civilization sends agents to rescue planets from exploitation. Elena hadn't completed her training as a secret guardian. Overcome with eagerness she leapt ahead of her readiness and found herself tasked with the seemingly impossible goal of saving a medieval culture from the invasion of a colonizing force. Using psychic and scientific knowledge, she hides her identity as she plays along with Georyn's superstitions and belief in magic.

We follow the viewpoint of three characters. Elana speaks in first person, so we know she's the main protagonist. Jarel's story is told in a straight forward fashion but in third person. Georyn's story is also in third person but in a poetic way that gives us a sense of the medieval.

All three persons are novices, unsure of their futures but passionate to do what's right. And we wonder how Georyn can succeed with the so-called spell Elana has taught him. How will he, in his innocence, convince the Corps to pull out their machinery, their colonists, and leave? How can all this occur without Elana giving herself away?

The charm, the discreetness, and integrity--as well as the novice state of our heroes--marks this as a young adult novel. We don't know how the king of the medieval society discovers a "dragon" exists and needs to be killed. And the author has a tendency to talk down to the reader or over explain a positive philosophy, as if reducing the reader to the middle grade.

There is a feel of magic in this story, the feel of a fairy tale, a simplicity that adds great charm. I love this and the sense of compassion not found in so many novels. Our heroes are changed as they face different futures with the strength of understanding and willingness to sacrifice.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is much more character driven than plot driven, focusing on three people: Elana, Georwyn, and Jarel; their thoughts, their actions, and their interactions with each other. Elana is from the Federation, the most advanced people in the universe, for whom telepathy and telekinesis is as natural as eating. Jarel is from the Empire, a civilization that is spacefaring and seeking to colonize new planets. Their belief is that science and nature is all there is; they do not believe in the supernatural. Georwyn is a native of the planet, Andrecia, that the Empire has arrived upon to colonize. Their people have approximately the technology of the medieval period of Earth. The thrust of the novel is that Elana, her father, and her fiancé need to try to help one of the natives to develop some telekinetic power, and so frighten the Empire's colonizers into leaving the planet. But Elana, et al, are under strict oath not to reveal who they really are. The plot moves along slowly, but surely, as Elana, et al train Georwyn to fight the "dragon" (actually a mechanical machine that clear cuts land). Not everything goes completely according to plan in this well-thought out, engrossing novel.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. A really Star-Treky concept (first contact but disguised as a fairy tale) but written pre-Star Trek (this was published in 1970?!), and just... so... deeply concerned with ethics in a way I find comforting 50 years down the line. I guess I also find it comforting to think that in these days of our ongoing national nightmare we may still, in the long haul, be ultimately progressing somewhere.

In my tradition of "this thing reminded me of this other thing", the ending conversation with Elana's father reminded me of one of the ending scenes in Call Me By Your Name (movie), with Elio and his father (you know which scene I mean). Same good thoughtful dad vibes.

Feel your feelings!

bye

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I decided to reread Sylvia Engdahl's Enchantress from the Stars for my Newbery reading challenge. (It was a Newbery Honor book in 1971). I loved, loved, loved it the first time I read it. I loved it just as much the second time. (I love it when a book rereads well. Not all books do. That's one way you can distinguish between a good book and a great book.) I would definitely say it's a premise-driven book, but, that being said there is plenty of action and plenty of characterization. So it has many strengths.

Enchantress from the Stars is narrated, primarily, by a young woman named Elana. The novel is reflective, in a way, because the novel is an account of her first 'adventure' on another planet. She's writing her report, giving her side of the story. But this novel is more than just her side of the story. It ventures to include the perspectives of two others--a young man, the woodcutter's youngest son, Georyn, and a young medical officer named Jarel. Both Georyn and Jarel are from Youngling cultures. Georyn is a native to Andrecia; Jarel is from another planet, a planet in a different stage than Georyn's, but a great deal less advanced than Elana's. (He is with the Imperial Exploration Corps). Jarel is just one of many in the first ship sent to "colonize" this planet.

Elana is on a ship with several other agents--including her father--when they learn that Andrecia is being invaded, and a Youngling culture/civilization is being threatened. They can't directly intervene. And they definitely can't reveal themselves. But they can try to influence things subtly, indirectly. Elana is chosen--with some reluctance--to interact with the natives. Well, she's to interact with two brothers--Terwyn and Georyn. These two are on a quest--along with their older brothers--to KILL A DRAGON. Yes, they are on their way to get the king's blessing, the king's permission to enter the Enchanted Forest. They don't know what dangers they'll face, but they know the fiery dragon must be stopped. These brothers see Elana an an enchantress, a faery perhaps. They see her as having great power, great wisdom, great magic.

So Enchantress from the Stars reads as a fantasy novel--a fantasy novel in the style of a fairy tale. But. Of course it also reads as a great science fiction novel with space ships, etc.

What did I love about this one? Everything! I loved the premise. Just loved it! I loved the world-building, the setting, the atmosphere. I loved the storytelling. I loved the characterization!!! I loved Elana. I loved Georyn. I loved Jarel. I even cared a great deal about the Starwatcher and Evrek. I thought this book was just so well written.

[StarMan · Rating 4 out of 5]

IN SHORT: Prime Directive vs Magic/Technology. YA story, but many adults will also like. First published in 1970, but holds up pretty well.

VERDICT: 4+ YA stars, 3+ adult stars. A rare sci-fantasy mashup that actually works, albeit requiring some forced suspension of disbelief on my part.

PLOT: Young Elena contrives to visit a "primitive" alien world before she's been fully trained. She becomes an important part of a small, unusual rescue mission where both technology and magic play a role... and in which lives will be irrevocably altered.

If the idea of a fairy tale with a sci-fi basis (or vice versa?) intrigues you as a YA or adult reader, you can probably find this award-winning book at a library.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOME DETAILS (no big spoilers):

In spite of every character acting exactly as they should -- and far too many convenient plot developments -- this is a darn good sci-fantasy story that should not be missed. It's both simple and a bit profound. Give it a read if you enjoy unusual coming-of-age stories with a bit of humor, some odd situations, and a hint of danger.

Note: Elena also stars in a stand-alone other Engdahl story, The Far Side of Evil.

BREAKDOWN (on 5-point YA scale):
PLOT: 3.5/5
CHARACTERS: 2 to 5/5
PACE: mostly slow to slow-moderate
REALISM: low to moderate (and you probably won't mind)
BEGINNING: 4.5/5
MIDDLE: 3/5
ENDING: 4/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 2.5/5
WRITING STYLE: 4/5

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ALSO CONSIDER THESE SIMILAR BOOKS:

The Green Book by Jill Patton Walsh (kids/YA)
Expendable by James Alan Gardner (Adult)
The Keeper of the Isis Light by Monica Hughes (YA)
Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston (YA)
Earth Girl by Janet Edwards (YA)
Stray by Andrea K. Höst

[Althea Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't aware when I ordered this book that it was a YA selection... now, I pretty often read books that have been marketed toward teens - but I have this perception of two types of teen books (or childrens' books, for that matter.) One type is where the author had a story to tell, and told it, and then the publisher decided, for what ever reason, that the story would sell more to young people... and then the second sort is where the author says, "I feel like imparting a Valuable Message to Young People Today, so I will write an Instructive Book."
Unfortunately, I feel that 'Enchantress From the Stars' is firmly in the second category.
The protagonist, Alana, is a young woman from an advanced human culture, much like Ursula LeGuin's Ekumen - they travel the stars, studying, mostly keeping their nose out of more primitive planets' affairs (Prime Directive?) but anonymously interfering in the case of potential disaster.
In this case, a primitive planet has been invaded by a colonizing team from a more technologically advanced and violent culture. The locals see the machines and gear of the invaders in the context of dragons and spells. Alana, although not yet a sworn member of the team, stows away on her father's ship, and is forced to become a full-fledged member of the team when one team member abruptly dies. Although unprepared, she must play the role of an 'enchantress' to the locals, who live in a culture similar to that seen in Western fairy tales.
The plan is to convince the colonists that the locals possess 'magic' or psychic powers, in order to scare them into leaving. In doing so, Alana gains some experience and maturity, falls in love (sorta), and learns respect for those from less-advanced societies.
I didn't really buy that this whole 'plan' would work at all - the way the invading culture was presented, I'm sure they would be much more interested in studying a primitive race with psychic powers, rather than just running away, no questions asked.
My other problem with it is that the book is written in the format of a letter from Alana to a cousin (whom we never meet). However, the narrative spends a LOT of time explaining things about the society and culture that Alana lives in that she would never feel the need to state explicitly to a relative living in the same milieu. This sort of thing is one of my big pet peeves in literature...