Riders of the Winds

Changewinds #2

by Jack L. Chalker

This is a tale of a choice of dreams, and a choice of nightmares, down, deep, where the Changewinds blow. Volume I of the "Changewinds" series is entitled "When the Changewinds Blow".

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic

276 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1988

About the author

Besides being a science fiction author, Jack Laurence Chalker was a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for a time, a member of the Washington Science Fiction Association, and was involved in the founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society. Some of his books said that he was born in Norfolk, Virginia although he later claimed that was a mistake.

He attended all but one of the World Science Fiction Conventions from 1965 until 2004. He published an amateur SF journal, Mirage, from 1960 to 1971 (a Hugo nominee in 1963 for Best Fanzine).

Chalker was married in 1978 and had two sons.

His stated hobbies included esoteric audio, travel, and working on science-fiction convention committees. He had a great interest in ferryboats, and, at his wife's suggestion, their marriage was performed on the Roaring Bull Ferry.

Chalker's awards included the Daedalus Award (1983), The Gold Medal of the West Coast Review of Books (1984), Skylark Award (1985), Hamilton-Brackett Memorial Award (1979), as well as others of varying prestige. He was a nominee for the John W. Campbell Award twice and for the Hugo Award twice. He was posthumously awarded the Phoenix Award by the Southern Fandom Confederation on April 9, 2005.

On September 18, 2003, during Hurricane Isabel, Chalker passed out and was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of a heart attack. He was later released, but was severely weakened. On December 6, 2004, he was again rushed to hospital with breathing problems and disorientation, and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and a collapsed lung. Chalker was hospitalized in critical condition, then upgraded to stable on December 9, though he didn't regain consciousness until December 15. After several more weeks in deteriorating condition and in a persistent vegetative state, with several transfers to different hospitals, he died on February 11, 2005 of kidney failure and sepsis in Bon Secours of Baltimore, Maryland.

Chalker is perhaps best known for his Well World series of novels, the first of which is Midnight at the Well of Souls (Well World, #1).

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chalker knows how to tell a story! This picks up right where the previous novel finished; like most of Chalker's trilogies, they are really just one novel broken into three parts probably by the publisher for sales. Our two leads, Sam and Charley (both female) are making their way to Booleen's 'hub' when tragedy strikes (in part due to a flash flood, part due to rogue attackers) and the convoy they are in gets destroyed. The group, due to another event, becomes split, with Charley and Sam's wife being captured by thugs and Sam finds herself in a commune.

Lots of interesting musings (as usual for Chalker) on subjectivity and the human condition, and this series seems to focus on homosexuality and society at large. 3.5 stars rounding up for GR.

[Metalfist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changewinds nummer 2! Het eerste boek in de trilogie was een aangename kennismaking met Jack L. Chalker, maar het was wel niet helemaal hetgeen ik er van verwacht had. Zijn fantasiewereld an sich is mooi opgebouwd en er zijn een aantal elementen die me absoluut aanstaan, maar langs de andere kant gaat hij op bijvoorbeeld de dynamiek tussen Sam en Charley in de mist. Dat lost hij wel netjes op in Riders of the Winds aangezien beide dames het merendeel van het boek apart van elkaar zijn.

En toch is het weer niet goed, een mens moet toch op iets commentaar kunnen hebben. Op zich heeft Chalker hetzelfde probleem als ik vaak heb bij dit soort “tweede deel in een reeks van drie” boeken. De opzet en de grote lijnen zijn in het eerste boek uitgetekend en de grote climax wordt opzij gehouden voor het derde boek. Het helpt ook niet dat Chalker zijn Changewinds saga gewoon geschreven lijkt te hebben als één groot verhaal en dat de uitgeverij gewoon er ergens halverwege een streep onder heeft gezet en gezegd “dit is deel 2”. Charley en Sam delen dus weinig pagina’s met elkaar en daardoor krijg je wel een leuke afwisseling qua setting, maar ze blijven allebei nogal hangen in een nietszeggend plot over mensen met vleugels en allerlei soorten heksen. Ik merkte dat het me op den duur niet meer zoveel kon boeien in wat voor straatje zonder einde onze dames (inclusief Boday) terecht komen, gewoon omdat alles zo compleet uit de lucht lijkt komen te vallen. Weinig elementen ook die me deze keer ten volle wisten te overtuigen (dat amulet in het eerste boek bijvoorbeeld waarin een demon zat vond ik wel tof) en het is pas helemaal op het einde dat Chalker me wat warm weet te maken voor deel 3.

En die gaat ongetwijfeld binnenkort nog uit de kast getrokken worden, maar ik ben nu wel vrij zeker dat ik niets meer van Chalker ga kopen. Hoewel, dat klopt misschien niet helemaal. Ik heb nog altijd Midnight at the Well of Souls liggen en moest die me nu opeens enorm hard bevallen, dan wil ik wel op zoek gaan naar de overige delen. Ik betwijfel het echter.

[Malum · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every now and then Chalker will come very close to making this a very good little fantasy novel, and then he will do something like name a character "Big Tits" and I go back to giving up hope.

It's frustrating because I feel like Chalker was a genuinely good writer with a comfortable, easy to follow, workmanlike prose that I really enjoy. It's unfortunate that he has chosen with this series to write what is basically creepy porn.

[Joy]

I love it

[James]

This is a tale of a choice of dreams, and a choice of nightmares, down, deep, where the Changewinds blow. Volume I of the "Changewinds" series is entitled "When the Changewinds Blow".

[Rubén · Rating 1 out of 5]

Might actually be one of the worst books I've ever read, and I generally like Chalker.

maybe review later, maybe just a thoughts-dump. I think I regret reading this

[Bryan457 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this series. I kept hoping it would get better, but it never did.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

finding and trusting friends is an amazing development of humanity

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

10

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charley and Sam are a bit too much the victims in this volume, an OK read showing its age.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade B-. Book Cw2.