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Terre de lierre
256pages. poche. broché.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 5, 1985
12 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Tanith Lee
615 books1,965 followersTanith Lee was a British writer of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. She was the author of 77 novels, 14 collections, and almost 300 short stories. She also wrote four radio plays broadcast by the BBC and two scripts for the UK, science fiction, cult television series "Blake's 7."
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.
Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.
Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.
Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.
Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.
Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.
Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.
Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.
Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.
Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.
Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 29, 2016
who knows what tomorrow will bring? maybe sunshine and maybe rain. but as for me I'll wait and see. maybe it'll bring giant metal spiders that want to kill you.
June 3, 2021
Tanith Lee made a rare venture into straight science-fiction in this classic Wellsian alien-invasion story with some surprising twists. This one has been on the TBR shelf for years, and made for a pleasant evening of reading. Esther, the very young misfit MC in the hidden human hideout, had a bit of a Mary Sue feel to me, with her exotic sexual adventures. The ending came right out of left field, and the wonderfully atmospheric Michael Whelan cover painting is right up there with his best. 3.5 stars, recommended reading -- with a caution for a couple of grotesque murders of young women. It's been years since I've read any of Lee's stuff, and I have quite a good selection in my personal library. Might be time for some re-reading?
August 28, 2020
Unlike a lot of this author's books, this is straight science fiction and is set in a post-apocalypse future after an alien invasion by things that seem initially to be very like Wells' Martians - complete with tall tripod-like vehicles dubbed 'spiders' by the surviving humans, which wield the same kind of heat ray.
Protagonist Esther is a misfit in the underground community formed by an ex-nuclear bunker and extensions built off it by those who survived in a nameless city by retreating underground. It is now the fourth generation since the alien invasion, and few people venture Above as it is called, but Esther who is bored and rebellious finds a pipe to the surface and does so repeatedly as she becomes a teenager. Eventually, the tan she is acquiring by going outside gives her away, but far from earning punishment, she engages the interest of the community's nominal ruler, Standish. Those around her assume a sexual relationship despite the man's age, and she goes along with the pretence as it deflects the bullying she previous suffered from, but he is actually preparing her to inherit his role, having had no children of his own.
None of the characters, including Esther herself, are likeable or sympathetic - this lack of empathy gives Esther her leadership qualities but does make it difficult to really engage with her. Despite that, the first part of the book held my interest and it was intriguing to imagine that Esther was going to hold onto the leadership and begin her stated mission that, instead of stagnating as they have been for the past couple of generations, they will begin to study the aliens to learn their weaknesses, and find some method of striking back. But instead the whole book skews in a totally different direction .
It then becomes a totally different story in which Esther, though still resisting till the story's end, is really a passive observer of the real action. There is also the questionable sexual aspects whereby she So given these reservations this is for me only a 2-star 'OK' read.
Protagonist Esther is a misfit in the underground community formed by an ex-nuclear bunker and extensions built off it by those who survived in a nameless city by retreating underground. It is now the fourth generation since the alien invasion, and few people venture Above as it is called, but Esther who is bored and rebellious finds a pipe to the surface and does so repeatedly as she becomes a teenager. Eventually, the tan she is acquiring by going outside gives her away, but far from earning punishment, she engages the interest of the community's nominal ruler, Standish. Those around her assume a sexual relationship despite the man's age, and she goes along with the pretence as it deflects the bullying she previous suffered from, but he is actually preparing her to inherit his role, having had no children of his own.
None of the characters, including Esther herself, are likeable or sympathetic - this lack of empathy gives Esther her leadership qualities but does make it difficult to really engage with her. Despite that, the first part of the book held my interest and it was intriguing to imagine that Esther was going to hold onto the leadership and begin her stated mission that, instead of stagnating as they have been for the past couple of generations, they will begin to study the aliens to learn their weaknesses, and find some method of striking back. But instead the whole book skews in a totally different direction .
It then becomes a totally different story in which Esther, though still resisting till the story's end, is really a passive observer of the real action. There is also the questionable sexual aspects whereby she So given these reservations this is for me only a 2-star 'OK' read.
September 27, 2013
In the future, humans hide in underground sewer tunnels and bunkers from the alien invaders (very similar to those in Wells' 'War of the Worlds') that have taken over the surface of the planet. But rebellious, misfit Esther, one of the fourth generation to live underground, in ignorance of the reasons for the rules, breaks them and goes exploring Above. Her initiative may lead to her becoming the leader of her underground colony - or destroying their only chance for survival.
Not Lee's greatest work, but as a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, I found this to be a very enjoyable book, with some original twists to a story, that, in many ways, has become familiar
Not Lee's greatest work, but as a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, I found this to be a very enjoyable book, with some original twists to a story, that, in many ways, has become familiar
May 28, 2011
Postapocalyptic Tanith Lee - what's not to love?
I was curious what this book would be like, because Tanith Lee does so much amazing horror and fantasy (and fantasy-horror) books, that I'd wondered how she would write a science fiction book about post-apocalyptic earth.
Apparently, during/shortly after the invasion of Earth by aliens, people went underground to survive. The first half of the book is about one of these colonies, and specifically about a non-sheeple member of the colony.
The second half is about the non-sheeple (plus occasional colonists) and the aliens in their (the aliens') city.
And of course, if you asked Ms. Lee to write "Dick and Jane", I believe even that book would have it's interesting horror and erotic moments, and so does this book. It's not a typical Lee book, but it's definitely hers.
The ending could have been sad to some, but I found it interesting, and I really liked the main character, Esther.
I was curious what this book would be like, because Tanith Lee does so much amazing horror and fantasy (and fantasy-horror) books, that I'd wondered how she would write a science fiction book about post-apocalyptic earth.
Apparently, during/shortly after the invasion of Earth by aliens, people went underground to survive. The first half of the book is about one of these colonies, and specifically about a non-sheeple member of the colony.
The second half is about the non-sheeple (plus occasional colonists) and the aliens in their (the aliens') city.
And of course, if you asked Ms. Lee to write "Dick and Jane", I believe even that book would have it's interesting horror and erotic moments, and so does this book. It's not a typical Lee book, but it's definitely hers.
The ending could have been sad to some, but I found it interesting, and I really liked the main character, Esther.
May 25, 2017
-Dos partes demasiado diferenciadas.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Las sucesivas incursiones de Esther en el mundo de Arriba llaman la atención de otros habitantes del submundo y termina siendo llevada ante el líder de su comunidad, Standish, que para sorpresa de la joven no la castiga y sí comparte con ella mucha información del pasado, cuando los extraterrestres llegaron a la Tierra y la conquistaron hace más de un siglo, pero también información sobre él mismo.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. Las sucesivas incursiones de Esther en el mundo de Arriba llaman la atención de otros habitantes del submundo y termina siendo llevada ante el líder de su comunidad, Standish, que para sorpresa de la joven no la castiga y sí comparte con ella mucha información del pasado, cuando los extraterrestres llegaron a la Tierra y la conquistaron hace más de un siglo, pero también información sobre él mismo.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
February 8, 2019
Otro que pillé de la colección Ícaro de saldo, que leí y olvidé título y autor (recuerdo que los libros de esta colección no me gustaban, en general)
January 20, 2016
I read Tanith Lee's unicorn books back in high school and recently came across this book.
And.....I have to say I agree with the other reviewers. The first half was well done and did get me intrigued in the story. The second half was very pretty, but lacking actual content. Overall, I am a fan of poetic narratives, but when they seem to go on and on for no reason in a story that wasn't nearly as poetic earlier it's not great.
The lead character isn't particularly likable. But I don't really think she is suppose to be. Leaders are not always nice people. They make judgement calls that sometimes are cruel to some, but good overall. So, I don't see that as a flaw.
But the lack of movement in the second half is the problem. If you like Tanith Lee you will probably still get something positive out of it, but if you aren't familiar with her this may be one to skip.
And.....I have to say I agree with the other reviewers. The first half was well done and did get me intrigued in the story. The second half was very pretty, but lacking actual content. Overall, I am a fan of poetic narratives, but when they seem to go on and on for no reason in a story that wasn't nearly as poetic earlier it's not great.
The lead character isn't particularly likable. But I don't really think she is suppose to be. Leaders are not always nice people. They make judgement calls that sometimes are cruel to some, but good overall. So, I don't see that as a flaw.
But the lack of movement in the second half is the problem. If you like Tanith Lee you will probably still get something positive out of it, but if you aren't familiar with her this may be one to skip.
January 3, 2018
Heck yes. Your xenophilia will be satisfied.
Not as fantastical as some of Lee's other science fiction, but still damn good. A sadder ending than I'm used to seeing from Lee.
Not as fantastical as some of Lee's other science fiction, but still damn good. A sadder ending than I'm used to seeing from Lee.
January 13, 2020
Exciting and interesting read. Tanith Lee’s main female character is once again strong willed and determined. She is likeable and I enjoyed the descriptions of the post-apocalyptic world. The aliens involved we’re unexpectedly different. Not to give anything away. The ending... odd. An enjoyable read and I move on to more Tanith Lee.
May 8, 2025
I liked it. not a masterpiece, but it wasn't bad. Was written in 85, its alien invasion happened in 2001, which is in the past for us, but story takes place about 150 years later than that. I feel my biggest takeaway from it was how important it is to resist/fight in whatever way you can.
Spoilers, the aliens that are committing genocide on the humans only fall because one of their own went against them. Those with the most privilege, power, etc, have the most ability to make changes to the way things are, especially if they are of the group doing the wrongs. It takes way more work and effort for those with less to do as much. being an US citizen watching the genocide in Palestine that we are funding. We have more ability to stop the genocide than the oppressed people being genocided. (this applies to all the ways the US is funding and facilitating colonialism/genocide)
Not crazy about calling everyone who isn't the MC sheep, like no one else is a unique individual with potential to learn, like no one else resists, like no one questions why the things are the way they are, etc.
Not crazy about the aliens looking human, I get that they are the worst version of ourselves, but meh.
The ending was kinda out of no where, felt weird/out of place. There were many times I thought it felt bleak and hopeless, and how were they gonna get out of this, then it just happened for them. Outside forces make bad go away and they were never bothered again, and our MC gets to be leader, just as planned.
Spoilers, the aliens that are committing genocide on the humans only fall because one of their own went against them. Those with the most privilege, power, etc, have the most ability to make changes to the way things are, especially if they are of the group doing the wrongs. It takes way more work and effort for those with less to do as much. being an US citizen watching the genocide in Palestine that we are funding. We have more ability to stop the genocide than the oppressed people being genocided. (this applies to all the ways the US is funding and facilitating colonialism/genocide)
Not crazy about calling everyone who isn't the MC sheep, like no one else is a unique individual with potential to learn, like no one else resists, like no one questions why the things are the way they are, etc.
Not crazy about the aliens looking human, I get that they are the worst version of ourselves, but meh.
The ending was kinda out of no where, felt weird/out of place. There were many times I thought it felt bleak and hopeless, and how were they gonna get out of this, then it just happened for them. Outside forces make bad go away and they were never bothered again, and our MC gets to be leader, just as planned.
August 10, 2023
Come tutti i libri di Tanith Lee, molto denso, molto umano. Di certo non si lascia spaventare da nessun fluido corporeo, dallo sporco, dalla violenza. Nonostante questo i suoi romanzi hanno sempre delle ambientazioni spettacolari e mitiche, che siano la colonia sotterranea dove è ambientata la prima parte del libro o la Superficie ritrovata, modificata dall'invasione aliena.
La storia non è particolarmente "innovativa". Dopo la conquista della Terra da parte degli alieni, gli esseri umani hanno iniziato a vivere sottoterra, ormai da 150 anni, tant'è che si sono dimenticati del perché hanno abbandonato "il mondo di sopra". La protagonista, Esther, è una ragazza che invece è curiosa di tutto ciò che è stato e le sue incursioni, la sua curiosità e voglia di scoprire, la porteranno ad essere la prescelta per le sorti della razza umana. E questo è anche il punto negativo, cioé che la protagonista è insopportabile, oltre alla sua misantropia (e misoginia) trovo sempre piuttosto faticoso leggere romanzi dove l'eroe/eroina di turno senza particolari qualità si ritrova improvvisamente ad essere la nuova messia.
A parte questo in realtà si toccano anche argomenti che riguardano l'etica degli esseri umani: il rapporto di schiavitù volontaria e la colonizzazione e Tanith Lee ci ha regalato davvero delle pagine stupende al riguardo.
La storia non è particolarmente "innovativa". Dopo la conquista della Terra da parte degli alieni, gli esseri umani hanno iniziato a vivere sottoterra, ormai da 150 anni, tant'è che si sono dimenticati del perché hanno abbandonato "il mondo di sopra". La protagonista, Esther, è una ragazza che invece è curiosa di tutto ciò che è stato e le sue incursioni, la sua curiosità e voglia di scoprire, la porteranno ad essere la prescelta per le sorti della razza umana. E questo è anche il punto negativo, cioé che la protagonista è insopportabile, oltre alla sua misantropia (e misoginia) trovo sempre piuttosto faticoso leggere romanzi dove l'eroe/eroina di turno senza particolari qualità si ritrova improvvisamente ad essere la nuova messia.
A parte questo in realtà si toccano anche argomenti che riguardano l'etica degli esseri umani: il rapporto di schiavitù volontaria e la colonizzazione e Tanith Lee ci ha regalato davvero delle pagine stupende al riguardo.
April 16, 2024
Tanith Lee has so far never disappointed me, and this book continues the trend. I didn't quite know what to make of it - it's not one of her more talked about books - but I quite enjoyed it. The voice she uses is not the same as the one she uses in her Flat Earth novels. This books doesn't trade on rich descriptions in the way her fantasies do. The reader has fill in many of the blanks of the setting, but since this a very easily imagined setting (a post-apocalyptic bunker, in the first half, and a post-catastrophe city in the second) the reader will have no difficulty with this. This frees her hand to work on story, character development of the handful of main characters and their complex emotions. The end is satisfying and she holds her cards right to the last chapter.
Lee didn't write a lot of SF - Electric Forest might be her best known SF work. This particular book has echoes of Arthur C. Clarke (Against the Fall of Night and Childhood's End), H.G. Wells (The War of the Worlds), and maybe John Christopher's Tripods series. Days of Grass feels at times like it might have in turn inspired Carol Emshwiller's The Mount.
Cover image on this first and only English Language DAW edition is by Michael Whelan.
Lee didn't write a lot of SF - Electric Forest might be her best known SF work. This particular book has echoes of Arthur C. Clarke (Against the Fall of Night and Childhood's End), H.G. Wells (The War of the Worlds), and maybe John Christopher's Tripods series. Days of Grass feels at times like it might have in turn inspired Carol Emshwiller's The Mount.
Cover image on this first and only English Language DAW edition is by Michael Whelan.
May 31, 2019
I was quite disappointed with this book. It felt too short, somehow, to tackle the premise it laid out, and it never really got to grips with the problems it was presenting. Esther was supposed to be our heroine, and yet she never really took any action other than exploring the Above, which she does in the first chapter. After that, all of her actions are dictated by the men around her and she ends up manipulating them through sex. I've seen countless versions of the 'post-apocalyptic humanity falls into a Neanderthal society and women are ignorant broodmares, but our plucky heroine comes out on top through the power of sex, and possibly childbirth' which is reductionist and gross however you look at it, and I'd hoped that this isn't where we were headed with this book. Ultimately quite disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2024
3,5.
La primera parte me estaba encantando; la segunda cambia por completo el panorama y pinta una historia muy diferente que no me ha convencido tanto. .
La primera parte me estaba encantando; la segunda cambia por completo el panorama y pinta una historia muy diferente que no me ha convencido tanto. .
January 16, 2021
Strangely compelling. Not how it went, but makes me want to write a story where the struggling downtrodden humans realize that their alien oppressors are actually better for the world than they are and join them instead
May 25, 2025
Sometimes it felt like this book was missing some connective pieces to get the reader from point a to point b, but the world and trying to understand what might be happening and where it was going kept me hooked.
August 6, 2018
You really get the imagery here of the last of humanity fading at the edge of the sea. A quick read, but satisfying.
February 23, 2019
Sehr eigenartig geschrieben. Unlogische Handlungen, aber durchaus interessant.
October 11, 2022
The first half of the book doesn´t build unto the second.
April 5, 2025
FUCK YES
May 4, 2023
I enjoyed this short, spare novel. Lee has a distinctive tone and style and she's worth reading if you're interested in scifi/fantasy in the 70s and 80s.
May 15, 2013
Pero la anticipación no te prepara, solo subraya tu indefensión, tu inutilidad; te quedas ahí al lado observando el lento avance que lo barre todo
Cuando comencé a leerlo no tenía la más mínima idea de que era, lo escogí al azar porque creo que es una forma más justa de leer los libros en digital que leo y no dejar los que menos me llaman la atención para el final.
Es una historia que al principio no ofrece mucho y como la trama no se explica hasta la página 20 (+/-) no sabía si seguir leyendo y por eso busqué la sinopsis y le di la oportunidad de que me pudiera sorprender, aunque la realidad es que lo que dice en la sinopsis no pasa así en la historia, o más bien si, pero de una forma diferente.
Leí que el libro es de 1990, así que tal vez para su época era algo diferente que ofrecer a los lectores, por todo la onda de una sociedad que vive oculta de aquellos que hace más de siglo y medio los atacaron y se vieron en la necesidad de esconderse para poder vivir y pasar desapercibidos y tratar de llevar el día a día lo mejor que se pueda. En la actualidad, creo que dicha realidad alterna descrita no es tan sorprendente, hay muchas películas con temática similar, así como libros, que aunque ofrecen distintos escenarios, la mayoría termina contando una historia en donde la humanidad sufre algún tipo de desgracia que los llevan a ser diferentes.
La protagonista tiene su lado agradable porque no es predecible, se vale por si misma y creo que ya sabrán que agradezco que un libro tenga a una mujer capaz de defenderse y de no necesitar de un hombre para sobrevivir o sin el cual se sienta incompleta. Esther tiene esa característica, no actúa conforme a lo esperado y se da cuenta que al preocuparse por alguien más no tendría una oportunidad de supervivencia porque al final según ella se valora más la vida propia que la de alguien más cuando se trata de vivir aunque sea un poco más.
La aportación masculina no es del todo extraordinaria, supongo que la autora quería realzar el poder femenino y no darle presencia innecesaria a una figura masculina, si, hay hombres pero pasan a segundo termino completamente y la historia recae en Esther.
Es rápido de leer y lo hubiese terminado antes pero no les pasa que encuentran otras cosas que hacer (como ver series por ejemplo) y hasta que encuentran el tiempo necesario se ponen a leer? pues ese fue mi caso y hago mi esfuerzo por no tardarme en leer libros relativamente cortos.
No es LA historia ni EL libro, no hay grandes aportaciones en la realidad que describe, pero entretiene lo suficiente como para terminarlo y recomendarlo si les gustan ese tipo de libros.
Cuando comencé a leerlo no tenía la más mínima idea de que era, lo escogí al azar porque creo que es una forma más justa de leer los libros en digital que leo y no dejar los que menos me llaman la atención para el final.
Es una historia que al principio no ofrece mucho y como la trama no se explica hasta la página 20 (+/-) no sabía si seguir leyendo y por eso busqué la sinopsis y le di la oportunidad de que me pudiera sorprender, aunque la realidad es que lo que dice en la sinopsis no pasa así en la historia, o más bien si, pero de una forma diferente.
Leí que el libro es de 1990, así que tal vez para su época era algo diferente que ofrecer a los lectores, por todo la onda de una sociedad que vive oculta de aquellos que hace más de siglo y medio los atacaron y se vieron en la necesidad de esconderse para poder vivir y pasar desapercibidos y tratar de llevar el día a día lo mejor que se pueda. En la actualidad, creo que dicha realidad alterna descrita no es tan sorprendente, hay muchas películas con temática similar, así como libros, que aunque ofrecen distintos escenarios, la mayoría termina contando una historia en donde la humanidad sufre algún tipo de desgracia que los llevan a ser diferentes.
La protagonista tiene su lado agradable porque no es predecible, se vale por si misma y creo que ya sabrán que agradezco que un libro tenga a una mujer capaz de defenderse y de no necesitar de un hombre para sobrevivir o sin el cual se sienta incompleta. Esther tiene esa característica, no actúa conforme a lo esperado y se da cuenta que al preocuparse por alguien más no tendría una oportunidad de supervivencia porque al final según ella se valora más la vida propia que la de alguien más cuando se trata de vivir aunque sea un poco más.
La aportación masculina no es del todo extraordinaria, supongo que la autora quería realzar el poder femenino y no darle presencia innecesaria a una figura masculina, si, hay hombres pero pasan a segundo termino completamente y la historia recae en Esther.
Es rápido de leer y lo hubiese terminado antes pero no les pasa que encuentran otras cosas que hacer (como ver series por ejemplo) y hasta que encuentran el tiempo necesario se ponen a leer? pues ese fue mi caso y hago mi esfuerzo por no tardarme en leer libros relativamente cortos.
No es LA historia ni EL libro, no hay grandes aportaciones en la realidad que describe, pero entretiene lo suficiente como para terminarlo y recomendarlo si les gustan ese tipo de libros.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2012
Recently reread this after finding it on my shelves and drawing a complete blank in memory. I don't usually put books away without having read them, but I must have done with this one.
Technically it's sf, with a setting very clearly derived from War of the Worlds, with great striding metallic 'spiders' roaming about on the surface frying things with heat-rays, and humanity reduced to pitiful underground-dwelling colonies. The protagonist is Esther, a stubborn and rather disagreeable girl who has the initiative to explore 'outside' and is fostered by Standish, the old man who leads the colony. But as usual with Lee, there are mythic over/undertones, and some tossing around of mythological references - Persephone, Mercury, Anubis, though this felt rather unrealised to me. The latter part of the book has one of those odd passive courtships that seem to recur in Lee's stories.
A lesser effort, I'd say.
Technically it's sf, with a setting very clearly derived from War of the Worlds, with great striding metallic 'spiders' roaming about on the surface frying things with heat-rays, and humanity reduced to pitiful underground-dwelling colonies. The protagonist is Esther, a stubborn and rather disagreeable girl who has the initiative to explore 'outside' and is fostered by Standish, the old man who leads the colony. But as usual with Lee, there are mythic over/undertones, and some tossing around of mythological references - Persephone, Mercury, Anubis, though this felt rather unrealised to me. The latter part of the book has one of those odd passive courtships that seem to recur in Lee's stories.
A lesser effort, I'd say.
October 26, 2013
Huh. Okay, well. Kind of wonder what the POINT was to any of that. It's a Tanith Lee book, so there's some beautiful imagery, mostly towards the end, and all having to do with the alien overlords. And a twist ending, but it comes and goes in the space of about five pages, so by the time you've processed what's happening the book's already over. I think my biggest problem was that I didn't really LIKE anybody in the book. Esther was just too much like Rachaela from The Blood Opera stories: beautiful and steel-hard and totally pointless, since she never really accomplishes anything that wasn't already planned out by someone else.
June 8, 2009
It was an enjoyable read, possessed of a strong female lead, a good pace, and a hopeful, if sad, ending, but it sure showcases Tanith Lee's writing talent. As far as I know she doesn't dabble in science fiction as much as in fantasy and horror, but she uses it as a backdrop to a character study, and to place humankind in a particular situation that allows her to study the human psyche. Science, the postapocalyptic setting, and the invader's advance technology are not the focus of the story, but almost incidental.
April 15, 2015
Weird book, as all of Tanith Lee's are, but I enjoyed it. I liked main character Esther a lot, how strong and angry she is, and though you think you know where the story is leading about a quarter of the way through, that turns out to be completely wrong. Or, right in a way, but the way Esther gets there is...crazy. Lee's books can never really be described as predictable, other than predictable in their unpredictability. I haven't read anything by her I disliked yet, so I'm going to keep trying to track them down!
February 14, 2013
I last read this about twenty years ago,and only remembered the first half.
And now i know why. The first half is the sort of grumpy girl-protagonist adventure story I was drawn to at that age. The second half is...annoyingly Tanith Lee-ish. Visually descriptive in a way that I would ordinarily enjoy,but empty. All pretty alien interior decoration and a tragic lack of much plot.
Three stars for the first half,one for the second.
And now i know why. The first half is the sort of grumpy girl-protagonist adventure story I was drawn to at that age. The second half is...annoyingly Tanith Lee-ish. Visually descriptive in a way that I would ordinarily enjoy,but empty. All pretty alien interior decoration and a tragic lack of much plot.
Three stars for the first half,one for the second.
September 3, 2012
The writing was choppy and didn't really draw me in. The story had an unexpected ending and was thought provoking. Took me so long to finish, since I was always setting this book aside for some other book. Glad to have read it all the way through.
June 6, 2012
I do not entirely recall what I liked about this book (read in the 80s, I think), but I do remember liking it quite a lot, and thinking about it a lot. Perhaps it was one of the first post-apocalypse books I'd read.
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