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Seven Worlds #2
The Snows of Jaspre
Morgan Farraday, an administrator from Earth, becomes involved in the destiny of the planet Jaspre when her daughter Dee meets the charismatic Anders Ahlwen, whose followers receive psychic powers and a transcendent spiritual reality from the artificial sun Argus.The controversial question of whether or not to melt the great snow plain of the planet Jaspre becomes personal for the Farraday family when their daughter moves to a city under the ice
234 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Mary Caraker
15 books2 followersBorn in 1929, Mary Jane Lumijarvi is the granddaughter of Finnish immigrants who
settled near Astoria, Oregon. She grew up in a rural Finnish-American community,
and attended Willamette University, the University of Oregon, and San Francisco
State University. She holds a BA and an MA degree in English Literature.
Mary was married in 1957 to Edward Emmett Caraker, and was widowed in
1989. She has taught in secondary schools, and now works as a freelance writer.
She is most often anthologized as a science fiction writer. She lives in California.
settled near Astoria, Oregon. She grew up in a rural Finnish-American community,
and attended Willamette University, the University of Oregon, and San Francisco
State University. She holds a BA and an MA degree in English Literature.
Mary was married in 1957 to Edward Emmett Caraker, and was widowed in
1989. She has taught in secondary schools, and now works as a freelance writer.
She is most often anthologized as a science fiction writer. She lives in California.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 14, 2022
This was an interesting book. I happened to read this book in late Winter in the midst of an unusual Midwestern cold snap. The book takes place on a marginally inhabitable planet that was colonized under harsh conditions. At some point a satellite that acted as an artificial sun was added to the planet and made the equator more habitable. Morgan Farraday is the main character. Her husband is Arnie and she has two children Matt and Dee. Dee was accepted at the space academy and lasted for about a semester when she was forced to drop out due to illness.
The book is about the relationships that Morgan has with her family, coworkers and the people she meets after being moved from living near the equator to the harsh climate associated with the northern latitudes.
Mary Caraker gives a very vivid description of the problems associated with living in a harsh, unforgiving climate and how this influences the characters in her book.
Most of the narrative in the book is from the viewpoint of Morgan Farraday. The beginning and end of the book are from the viewpoint of another character. Since you have the viewpoint of two characters in the book, you have a good introduction and an ending that ties up all the plot elements.
The book is about the relationships that Morgan has with her family, coworkers and the people she meets after being moved from living near the equator to the harsh climate associated with the northern latitudes.
Mary Caraker gives a very vivid description of the problems associated with living in a harsh, unforgiving climate and how this influences the characters in her book.
Most of the narrative in the book is from the viewpoint of Morgan Farraday. The beginning and end of the book are from the viewpoint of another character. Since you have the viewpoint of two characters in the book, you have a good introduction and an ending that ties up all the plot elements.
May 2, 2019
Interesting read... But honestly it’s so obscure and grotesquely defines situations repetitively. It’s like reading a encyclopedia at times - learn a lot but nothing that is particularly memorable... also a little dated.
September 1, 2020
3.5 Stars
Excellent world building! I had read this book a while ago and while the story didn't stick with me, the images of the multicolored snows of Jaspre did. Also, oddly, the first few chapters from Anders' point of view are much better than the rest of the book from Morgan's point of view.
Excellent world building! I had read this book a while ago and while the story didn't stick with me, the images of the multicolored snows of Jaspre did. Also, oddly, the first few chapters from Anders' point of view are much better than the rest of the book from Morgan's point of view.
January 15, 2025
A cozy, short, and sweet story about an icy cold planet.
March 4, 2019
I read this book when I was a kid and lost it, so I recently replaced it. This book stuck with me the entire time, and every time I see snow, I think of this book. The descriptions are gorgeous and brings a beauty to the ice and snow that I've never forgotten. The main character is married, which is rare, and I enjoyed the dynamics of their relationship, plus how they had to deal with a daughter struggling to find her own path.
Absolutely beautiful book. I'm so glad it has rejoined my collection.
Absolutely beautiful book. I'm so glad it has rejoined my collection.
October 21, 2016
Set a few centuries in the future, a solution to an ice world has an interesting effect on people living in its northern latitudes. Originally settled by people from Finland, the planet Jaspre is caught between competing interests, a situation hitting close to home for many of us here in the 21st century--progress vs. a people's way of life.
The author's world-building, research into it, delightful and accessible characters, and their plights turned personal, made this a fun and imaginative read.
The author's world-building, research into it, delightful and accessible characters, and their plights turned personal, made this a fun and imaginative read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews