The Ambush of Shadows

The Pelbar Cycle #5

by Paul O. Williams

An Ambush of Shadows is the fifth book in the classic series of postapocalyptic novels about the people of Pelbar. Despite the tentative peace established in the eleven hundred years since the destruction of the United States, the Tantal tribe remains ready for battle. After their disastrous defeat by the Pelbar tribes at Northwall, the slaveholding Tantal have kept their distance. But since the Pelbar forces began moving northward to colonize the shores of the Bitter Sea, the Tantal forces have been on the attack.

 

Then one day, a roving tribe of Tantal warriors kidnaps a young girl during a raid on Pelbar explorers. The child is Raydi, daughter of Stel Westrun, Pelbar master craftsman, reinventor of the steamboat, and son of the leader of the Pelbar city-state Pelbarigan. Stel vows to reclaim his daughter and seek revenge, becoming the single-minded foe of all things Tantal.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Paul Osborne Williams was an American science fiction writer and haiku poet. Williams was professor emeritus of English at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois.

His most notable science fiction works are a series of novels, the Pelbar Cycle, set in North America about a thousand years after a "time of fire", in which the world was nearly totally depopulated. The novels track a gradual reconnection of the human cultures which developed. Much of the action takes place in the communities of the Pelbar, along the Upper Mississippi River — in the general vicinity of Elsah. Several cultures, including the matriarchal Pelbar, join together in the Heart River Federation. Others, especially the tyrannical Tantal and slave-raiding Tusco, fall apart after suffering defeats. The predominant characters are change agents: Jestak, Stel and his wife Ahroe Westrun. All are Pelbar. Williams won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1983.

He is also known as a writer of haiku, senryū, and tanka, and wrote a number of essays on the haiku form in English. In a 1975 essay, he coined the term "tontoism" to refer to the practice of writing haiku with missing articles ("the", "a", or "an"), which he claimed made the haiku sound like the stunted English of the Indian sidekick, Tonto, in the Lone Ranger radio and television series. Williams was the president of the Haiku Society of America (1999) and vice president of the Tanka Society of America (2000).

Williams died on June 2, 2009.

Reviews

[Иван Величков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Тази беше доста по-приключенски ориентирана от предишните две, но успя да запази все пак общата морална посока на поредицата.
Главни герои отново са семейство Уестрън от втората книга, но действието се развива близо двайсет години по-късно. Стел се е превърнал в един доста приличен изобретател, благодарение на работата си с хората от Купола. Пследното му изобретение - параход трябва да стигно до източната граница на бъдещете федерация. За нещастие обаче, бива нападнат от племето Тантал, които отвличат дъщеря му, за да ѝ промият мозъка. Голяма грешка.
През това време жена му води преговорите за новата федерация от името на Пелбар и има проблеми от съвсем друго естество. Бившия капитан се сблъсква с нови наченки на политическа система и не успява а балансира между отговорности и семейство. А новата позиция предлага и други изкушения, както и проблеми.
Все пак двамата, макар и по различен начин отделно един от друг ще успеят да приобщат племето Пещак към федерацията на Сърцето.

[Lucy Cummin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great convention is taking place to try and form a Federation of the cultures of the western lands: Pelbar, Sentani, Shumai, Atherer, and all the rest--so many of them drawn together by Jestak and Stel in earlier books. One group stubbornly persists in fighting, the Tantal who are the buffer now between the Innanigani of the east coast and the developing Federation. The Innanigani are a true threat, the most "advanced" culture (with the most remnant toys from the Great Fire to help them) they are expanding westward. Ahroe, Stel's wife is the Director of this convention. She and Stel have lost their way maritally as their separate preoccupations and interests have gradually drawn them apart. Stel has built a steamboat from plans and ideas offered by the (very few survivin) Dome people, now part of Pelbar culture, and heads north to the Bitter Sea (Great Lakes). But in a clash with the Tantal his daughter Raydi, who stowed away, is captured. Well, of course, being Stel, he will get her back. And the Tantal will be very very sorry they took her, of course! Lots of emotional stuff in this one, about family and the way people and marriages evolve. Beautifully done. ****

[James]

An Ambush of Shadows is the fifth book in the classic series of postapocalyptic novels about the people of Pelbar. Despite the tentative peace established in the eleven hundred years since the destruction of the United States, the Tantal tribe remains ready for battle. After their disastrous defeat by the Pelbar tribes at Northwall, the slaveholding Tantal have kept their distance. But since the Pelbar forces began moving northward to colonize the shores of the Bitter Sea, the Tantal forces have been on the attack. Then one day, a roving tribe of Tantal warriors kidnaps a young girl during a raid on Pelbar explorers. The child is Raydi, daughter of Stel Westrun, Pelbar master craftsman, reinventor of the steamboat, and son of the leader of the Pelbar city-state Pelbarigan. Stel vows to reclaim his daughter and seek revenge, becoming the single-minded foe of all things Tantal.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid entry in the Pelbar Cycle. Stel and Ahroe are major characters, and the Tantal reappear as the chief antagonists. A major theme is the strain that years and responsibilities can place on family. The novel can be tough going at times because Williams juggle multiple plot threads and groups of characters often in the space of only a page or two.

[Michael Bafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the more morally toned books in the Pelbar Saga. Unfaithfulness? Falling out of and or into love, obedience and respect in children and youth? Anger, hate, humor. War or peace? Weapons or discussion? Fortunately all of this does.not interfere with the pace of this action packed story.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t mess with family, especially someone’s daughter. The Tantal were about to feel the wrath of Stel Westrun, Pelbar master craftsman, as he attempts to rescue his daughter from the clutches of the Tantal. It may be a rescue mission, but for the Tantal it is the end of their world.

[Peter Monck · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I have noted before I am really enjoying these books. I do not look forward to the day when I finish the last of them. This again tells of another facet of the world as it recovers from apocalypse.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 of the Pelbar cycle, and a good entry into the series.

[Kione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool ideas.

[Michelle Beese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Paul O. Williams!

[Brian]

Pelbar Cycle

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read!!!!

[SciFiOne · Rating 3 out of 5]

1985 grade C-

Series book P5