The Stars Asunder

Mageworlds #6

by Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald

The star systems of the Mageworlds are linked by magic. Only when trained Mages have found a Way to a new world can the great colonizing and trading ships follow. But beyond the furthest worlds is a great gap, beyond which, hint the legends, lie vast, rich human worlds long lost to the Mages' trade.

Now the most powerful Mage-circle ever is determined to walk to those worlds, to reunite humanity's sundered branches and make a fortune in the process. And young Arekhon sus-Khalgath, scion of the most powerful of the clans of starship builders, has left his inheritance to join them.

But immense forces are arrayed against them. Blood will be spilled, and dynasties thrown down, before the worlds of mankind are again united. For the first time in living memory, the Mages will go to war--with themselves.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

385 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

aka Nicholas Adams (with James D. Macdonald), Martin Delrio, Robyn Tallis (with James D. Macdonald)

Debra Doyle has a doctorate in English literature. Together, she and James Macdonald have written numerous sf/f books. They live in Colebrook, New Hampshire.

Series:
* Mageworlds
* Circle of Magic
* Bad Blood

Series contributed to:
* Tom Swift IV
* Robert Silverberg's Time Tours
* Daniel M Pinkwater's Melvinge of the Megaverse
* Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the Mage Worlds series. This book however is much different from the previous books. It takes place 500 years prior to the events in the first 5 books. In the earlier books the story was told from the view point of characters from the Adept Worlds, the good guys. The Adept Worlds are at war with the Mage Worlds, the bad guys. Now in this book we see events leading up to the Mage Wars from the view point of characters from the Mage Worlds. We also see that they aren't necessarily all bad people. There is more ground action and less space battles in this book but it is still a good read.

[O.M. Wills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may sound silly. But the erotica author in me hones into one thing. How many of you read this and turned to look at the front of the book? Why?...because you wanted to see the face of that true player. : )

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabbed this from the free library at the rec center at the Naval Base here in San Diego. I didn't have much hope for it: I've never heard of this series or either of it's authors. But I was quickly hooked on this interesting meld of space opera and magic.

If I have but one complaint, is that this ended with a cliff-hanger. At the last 75 pages it was very clear that all of the important plot points were not going to be sewed up neatly before the last page. I would have liked to have had this and it's follow-on "A Working of Stars" as one consolidated mini-omnibus. But I get how mass-market paperback releases work.

I'm not sure I'm 100% interested in the older books in the series, seeing as how this is in essence a prequel to them (and few if any chartacters here will be there, as it were), but I will be gladly press on to read "A Working of Stars" to finish out a rather enjoyable series.

Out-of-print I assume, but very much recommended.

[Delilah Bluette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like every other book of the Mageworlds series, I adored this book. The civilization created in the Mageworlds is fully developed and realized. Once you immerse yourself into the story you feel like its the only world which could have existed under the circumstances.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pre-prequel!

[Samantha Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

While its well written, drags a little in places as it sets up the “Professor” back story

[Pat Ambrosic · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was entertaining.