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Isis #1-3
The Isis Trilogy
The Keeper of the Isis Light is the first book in Monica Hughes’ acclaimed trilogy, and it is the story of Olwen Pendennis, the Keeper of the Isis Light. She and her companion, Guardian, have lived alone on the remote planet Isis since the death of her parents. Now, colonists from an overcrowded and polluted Earth have landed and are settling in the valleys. Olwen fears these new inhabitants may ruin her world forever, and it seems she may
be right.
Years later, in Hughes’ sequel, The Guardian of Isis, the planet remains pristine and remote, even after the arrival of settlers from Earth. Over time, the settlers have abandoned the technological knowledge of their ancestors and replaced it with myth. But one young man seeks the truth, and he soon gets the chance to find it.
The final chapter in the Trilogy, The Isis Pedlar, brings the devious Michael Joseph Flynn and his daughter, Moira, to Isis. Michael’s magic firestone, his strangely delicious ambrosia, and his mysterious Forever Machine are beguiling to the humble members of the Isis community. Only Moira can expose this smooth-talking pedlar for the charlatan that he is. But will she be able to do it in time to save the simple agricultural community?
be right.
Years later, in Hughes’ sequel, The Guardian of Isis, the planet remains pristine and remote, even after the arrival of settlers from Earth. Over time, the settlers have abandoned the technological knowledge of their ancestors and replaced it with myth. But one young man seeks the truth, and he soon gets the chance to find it.
The final chapter in the Trilogy, The Isis Pedlar, brings the devious Michael Joseph Flynn and his daughter, Moira, to Isis. Michael’s magic firestone, his strangely delicious ambrosia, and his mysterious Forever Machine are beguiling to the humble members of the Isis community. Only Moira can expose this smooth-talking pedlar for the charlatan that he is. But will she be able to do it in time to save the simple agricultural community?
568 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Monica Hughes
580 books120 followersMonica Hughes was a very popular writer for young people, and has won numerous prizes. Her books have been published in the United States, Poland, Spain, Japan, France, Scandinavia, England, and Germany. She has twice received the Canada Council Prize for Children's Literature, and was runner-up for the Guardian Award.
She is the author of Keeper of the Isis Light, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, which also received a Certificate of Honor from the International Board on Books for Young People; Hunter in the Dark, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Sandwriter, among many other titles.
She is the author of Keeper of the Isis Light, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, which also received a Certificate of Honor from the International Board on Books for Young People; Hunter in the Dark, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Sandwriter, among many other titles.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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August 31, 2024Books for Keeps has:
(The Keeper of the Isis Light, The Guardian of Isis and The Isis Pedlar are all ranked as MG on arbookfind.com, and therefore the entire trilogy is eligible for the Middle Grade Madness (August) Readthon. ;)
The Keeper of the Isis Light
Monica Hughes, Hamish Hamilton,
0 241 10405 X, £4.50
'Not another science fiction' was my first
reaction — not being a sci-fi fan. But this
one is different. It's a story of boy meets
girl; of deep urgent feelings and conflicting
confusing emotions. Girls of twelve and over
will enjoy it more than boys, as it's basically
sixteen-year-old Olwen's search for the truth
about herself. With a few most unusual
surprises. Also, a very modern story -
raising ethical and moral issues which linger
in the mind long after the final page. A
paperback edition can't come too soon. YW
(The Keeper of the Isis Light, The Guardian of Isis and The Isis Pedlar are all ranked as MG on arbookfind.com, and therefore the entire trilogy is eligible for the Middle Grade Madness (August) Readthon. ;)
February 6, 2012
I loved these books when I was a kid - funny how when I was younger, I preferred the first book (more pretty clothes, more romance) and the third book (also some pretty clothes and romance) and eschewed the second book (no romance). As an adult, I loved the second one the best - so interesting to read how the settlers of Isis turn from their technological ways and return to the patriarchal bullshit of biblical times and how that affects the population.
These are definitely YA fiction - I'd say 10-11 year olds. The stories are fairly simple and straightforward, not too many layers and they read quickly.
These are definitely YA fiction - I'd say 10-11 year olds. The stories are fairly simple and straightforward, not too many layers and they read quickly.
December 9, 2017
Yikes.
The three stories in this book were written in 1980, 1981, and 1982 by someone that was born in 1925. The biggest problem is that the main character in the first book is a bratty little girl that acts like a nine-year-old, but then she wants her romantic interest to see her naked? Seems like they tried to clean up the story at the last minute by saying she was older, but the girl is so immature throughout that it doesn't work at all.
The books are BORING and -- I'm not sure if there is a tactful way to say this -- written by someone who was obviously very old fashioned. She was terrible at picking names -- I think she named one of the moons 'Nut'. I kept waiting for something to happen -- was desperate for anything of interest. The books -- all of them -- just aren't interesting.
I bought the collection as one series because it won awards, but in today's landscape of shortened attention spans, I don't think this book would have been published, nor would it have survived.
I also bought it because I needed all books to arrive before I left the country and making one purchase was the easiest way to do it. If you do decide to buy the series, buy the paperbacks separately and save yourself $60+.
The three stories in this book were written in 1980, 1981, and 1982 by someone that was born in 1925. The biggest problem is that the main character in the first book is a bratty little girl that acts like a nine-year-old, but then she wants her romantic interest to see her naked? Seems like they tried to clean up the story at the last minute by saying she was older, but the girl is so immature throughout that it doesn't work at all.
The books are BORING and -- I'm not sure if there is a tactful way to say this -- written by someone who was obviously very old fashioned. She was terrible at picking names -- I think she named one of the moons 'Nut'. I kept waiting for something to happen -- was desperate for anything of interest. The books -- all of them -- just aren't interesting.
I bought the collection as one series because it won awards, but in today's landscape of shortened attention spans, I don't think this book would have been published, nor would it have survived.
I also bought it because I needed all books to arrive before I left the country and making one purchase was the easiest way to do it. If you do decide to buy the series, buy the paperbacks separately and save yourself $60+.
June 18, 2012
I really liked this trilogy, how the setting each time was the same, but the characters changed as the years progressed. The mythology that a sheltered society can create was interesting and had good tension. The thing that upset me the most was that the later generations were not taught to read and write, so nothing could be recorded. I can see how thoughts and beliefs can be manipulated by an oral history so controlled, and I thought it was interesting to see it all from a YA perspective, but still dealing with adult concepts.
How would you want to start a new colony on an almost deserted planet? Would you want all the tech that made your group leave Earth in the first place, to corrupt a new landscape? Or rather start fresh, learn how to live a better way, without having to own and destroy the planet you live on?
Do you need other human beings around, or can the "loving" companionship of a robot be enough?
Can you actually shelter a community from the greed of the galaxy, or are they just naive victims to anyone who wishes to exploit them?
Lots to think about, in a beautifully described setting. I wish I could explore a new planet such as this; although dangerous, it would be so exciting to see an untouched landscape, just the power of nature to carve the valleys and grow the plants. Very cool.
How would you want to start a new colony on an almost deserted planet? Would you want all the tech that made your group leave Earth in the first place, to corrupt a new landscape? Or rather start fresh, learn how to live a better way, without having to own and destroy the planet you live on?
Do you need other human beings around, or can the "loving" companionship of a robot be enough?
Can you actually shelter a community from the greed of the galaxy, or are they just naive victims to anyone who wishes to exploit them?
Lots to think about, in a beautifully described setting. I wish I could explore a new planet such as this; although dangerous, it would be so exciting to see an untouched landscape, just the power of nature to carve the valleys and grow the plants. Very cool.
October 15, 2016
Strange to see some backwards, sexist attitudes on display here and the whole asshole-gets-the-girl trope, i.e., Olwen falling for a douchebag who tells her what to do and freaks out when he realizes she's not the beautiful woman he thought she was. I guess it may have been Hughes's way of telling girls that boys are inherently dicks so be careful? Which may have been good advice had Olwen stood up to the abuse instead of pining after her abuser. I hope that all just went right over my head when I read these books as a kid.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews