Rituel de chasse

by Sheri S. Tepper

book data

1,001 ratings, 4.06 average rating, 84 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		36%
4		38%
3		21%
2		3%
1		0%

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published

March 5th 1993 by Flammarion diffuseur (through UNFR) (first published 1989)

details

Paperback, 501 pages

isbn

2277232440 (isbn13: 9782277232445)

description

=Ritual Hunting

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1,371)

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Aug 02, 2007

Kay rated it:

(review of isbn 0553285653)

bookshelves: fantasy_sci-fi

Read in May, 2001

One of my favorite science fiction books in recent years, this intricately plotted book creates a complete world and is utterly absorbing. Tepper reminds me a bit of another favorite woman sci-fi author, C.J. Cherryh, in that she takes a somewhat anthropological approach to the alien societies she creates. I won't go into details of the plot -- it's one of those complex sagas that doesn't summarize too well, but I will mention that I enjoy her style, which is lyrical and lush, much like the pl...more

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Aug 10, 2007

Julian rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

bookshelves: science-fiction

Read in October, 2007

A family of ambassadors comes to the planet Grass, inhabited by isolated, rural aristrocrat families and one large commoner town, to figure out why it's the only human-inhabited planet where people are dying of plague. Really great human-alien interaction as well as between humans of extremely different cultures. The whole thing takes place in a universe dominated by a religion called Sanctity that is trying to cover up the existence of the plague. On the planet, the aristocrats could care le...more

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Aug 02, 2007

Krista rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Once again, I am not a fan of Science fiction, but the blurb about this book intrigued me. Generations in the future, when humanity has spread to other planets and Earth is ruled by Sanctity, a religion that looks to resurrection of the body by storing cell samples of its communicants, a plague is threatening to wipe out mankind. The only planet that seems to be spared is Grass, so-called because that is virtually all that grows there. It was settled by families of European nobility who live on ...more

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Feb 01, 2008

Sam Grace rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

bookshelves: fiction, genre, she-has-eggs, to-own

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: Joaquin Munoz

I have a friend who was literally scared off by another of Tepper's books, and I can see why. This book is dark and, yes, scary, in a very human way. It takes on religion and faith (not necessarily the same thing) as essential questions, and answers them in ways that I ended up likely immensely. Which is not to say that I necessarily agree with the conclusions, but they fit the heroine very well.

This was my first Sherri Tepper novel and it was very very good. I will be picking up mor...more

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2 comments

Jun 29, 2009

Phoebe North rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

bookshelves: phreminism, sciffy

Read in June, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

In her Pern novels, Anne McCaffrey introduced readers to telepathic dragons who bond psychically with humans. In her Valdemar series, Mercedes Lackey introduced readers to telepathic horses who bond psychically with humans. In Grass Sherri S. Tepper plays on the same theme, introducing telepathic fox . . . things who have . . . psychic sex (I think?) with humans.

Okay, so it's not quite the same. But Tepper is dabbling with a well-known science fiction and fantasy trope here. The Gra...more In her Pern novels, Anne McCaffrey introduced readers to telepathic dragons who bond psychically with humans. In her Valdemar series, Mercedes Lackey introduced readers to telepathic horses who bond psychically with humans. In Grass Sherri S. Tepper plays on the same theme, introducing telepathic fox . . . things who have . . . psychic sex (I think?) with humans.

Okay, so it's not quite the same. But Tepper is dabbling with a well-known science fiction and fantasy trope here. The Grassian nobility participate in the hunt, a version of the English fox hunt where all the animals are both alien and slightly horrific. During the hunt, strangely sexual things happen and young girls often disappear. Yet because of their bonds with their mounts the Hippae, the Grassians turn a blind eye until they are forced to pay attention when the daughter of a Terran ambassador disappears.

The development of the details of the hunt is slow and suspenseful. They're paired with gorgeous prose and strong character development. Majorie Westriding is a wonderful feminist heroine and the supporting characters are just as finely rendered. Several exiled monks who round out the cast stand out in my mind as terrifically, realistically, and subtly written.

Unfortunately, though, Grass is otherwise an uneven experience. The plot moves painfully slowly through the first two hundred pages; it was only the mystery of the hunt that kept me reading. And, even more unfortunately, the truth of the hunt never quite congealed for me into something satisfying or even particularly believable. The relationship between the Hippae and the Foxen or even these species and humans is unclear (okay, so they're the same species, but what exactly do the Hippae need the humans for?), the evolutionary science dubious, and the connection between this mystery and a plague subplot really poorly done. Too bad. Tepper's prose is fine enough that I'll probably pick up the next novel in the series, but I have a limited tolerance for science fiction that isn't believable even within its own framework, so hopefully I won't find the same there.(less)

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Jan 13, 2010

Matt rated it:

(review of isbn 0385260121)

Read in February, 2010

I had a difficult time determining the rating for this book...to be transparent, I would have given it 3.5 stars if the option were available. The selection of this book continued my foray into various genres and topics that previously held little interest to me. There is a certain amount of risk that is assumed when partaking in a somewhat haphazard selection process. I decided to read Grass after reading the brief intro to the book...the combination of plague and aristocracy in a foreign land ...more

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Dec 30, 2009

Mya rated it:

(review of isbn 055376246X)

Read in December, 2009

This is a remarkable book and probably deserves a second reading from me. It has so many parallels, metaphors and intricacies that I am certain that I may have missed a few things. While the biology and theology that Tepper uses in this SF novel are quite intriguing, I was still in the mindset of WTF as I finished the book.

The narrative follows an Ambassador and his family who are sent to Grass, a dangerous world to find the cure for a plague that threatens nearly the entire univers...more

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Mar 06, 2010

Becca rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in February, 2010

Sheri Tepper is really quite phenominal. Hmmm - that is not how you spell that word but really i cannot be bothered to correct it. Anyhoo - she is fantastic at looking at societal issue/cultural evolutions from a unique perspective and then telling a gosh darn good tale! This was one of her first I think and well worth reading (this is me going through my bookcase to read old favorites). I have not said anything about the plot - hmm - well a plague is threatening the human race and there is ...more

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Feb 02, 2010

Krystle Yanagihara rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in February, 2010

Hmm… what do I say about this book? It’s complex, thought-provoking, and confusing. It is most certainly in-your-face science fiction but not the number crunching formulaic info driven ones. This is what you would call an adventure; one that takes place on another planet.

The driving force behind the book is the mystery behind the plague that’s striking the entire universe and potentially wiping out the human race. As the plot got more involved and I got deeper into the story I ...more

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Nov 18, 2008

Jamie rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in December, 2004

Excerpt from the back cover:

Generations ago, humans fled to the cosmic anomaly known as Grass. Over time they evolved a new and intricate society. But before humanity arrived another species had already claimed Grass for its own. It, too, had developed a culture....
Now a deadly plague is spreading across the stars. No world save Grass has been left untouched. Marjorie Westriding Yrarier has been sent from Earth to discover the secret of the planet's immunity. Amid alien social ...more

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Jan 27, 2009

Laurie rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in January, 2009

Well, I'm a science fiction freak so of course I loved this book. I only treat myself to scifi once in a while because I get so into it I ignore other things in my life that I should be doing. This book was no exception...I read it very quickly because I enjoyed it so much. Some of the concepts weren't as developed as I would've liked. Such as the impetus for the evolutionary adaptations of life on the planet.

In any case, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes sci fi...more

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Jul 08, 2008

Tracy rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

I read Grass within a couple of years after I read The Gate to Women's Country. It is, once again, a science fiction novel with a great mystery guiding the action.
This book is more highly reviewed than any of Tepper's other books. It is intriguing, and it is one of the books that I like to read of Tepper's because it challenges me. It forces me to ask what I believe about humankind. Are we inherently good and trustworthy, as I've believed in the past? Or, are we inherently evil...at least ...more

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4 comments

Jun 06, 2007

Amanda rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Sanctity (a thiny disguised Mormon church) is ruling the universe with an iron fist, a deadly plague is spreading everywhere, and the Westriding family has been sent as ambassadors to the only planet where people aren't getting sick to see if they can find out what's going on. They are told that the "Bons" (Grassian aristocrats) like to hunt, so they take their own horses, only to find out that the hunt isn't exactly for foxes, and the mounts aren't anything like horses.
Marjorie ...more

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Mar 22, 2008

Jillian rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in July, 2009

recommended to Jillian by: Eric

I was hoping more from this book that what I got. The story is good, though predictable here and there. The characters are poorly developed and shallow, save for one or two. The narration drove me up the wall. For example, after an encounter where a character has decided to remain ignorant rather than admit a fault, the narrator states something like "he preferred to remain ignorant rather than admit he was wrong." No shit! Why emphasize the one-dimensionality of this character w...more

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Apr 20, 2009

Kim Knapp rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

recommends it for: Anyone

This book deals with multiple subjects in a highly entertaining and compelling manner. Religion, gender, good and evil, guilt as motivation, man's relationship with companion animals and with God all intertwine in this densely-written, deliciously detailed novel about a family of Old Catholics in a universe dominated by the religion of Sanctity, who are sent to the planet Grass looking for the antidote to a plague entering human space that has the capacity to wipe out humanity for all time.

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Jul 27, 2009

Buzzy rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

A suspenseful, planet-hopping, incredibly complicated mystery story of sorts. I really enjoyed how Tepper communicated the odd class dynamics of the family moving to a new planet, and new society, and intermingled those dynamics while unfolding a really compelling search for answers about the strange nature of the planet. As usual, Tepper builds really strong characters about whom you actually grow to care.

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Oct 04, 2009

Meg Powers rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

bookshelves: feminist-science-fiction-horror, pastoral-dystopia

Read in August, 2009

One of the most original sci-fi novels I've read in a long time. The female lead is heroic without falling into that grating, "spunky," tough as nails,tank-top wearing cliche. Grass takes an non-cynical philosophical approach towards Catholicism without being preachy and dogmatic. Horrific and inspiring. It combines a creative bestiary with an interesting religious and political hierarchy.

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Jul 22, 2009

Elegant Elbow rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in January, 1988

This is one of my favorite books ever. I love the main character as a healer that travels across the world with her snakes -- she uses their venom to help people. Her smallest snake, Grass, is killed by a terrified person. So, she must travel to replace the snake. Beautifully told story, with excellent conclusion.

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Nov 15, 2008

Maggie rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

Read in December, 2008

recommended to Maggie by: Camille B.

This was an interesting sci-fi book, which I didn't know that at first so the beginning was a little confusing. The story is about a planet where the plague hasn't spread and so a religious group is trying to figure out why. It turns out this planet has some very strange but intelligent creatures on it who aren't too thrilled with humans! Overall I liked it, though at times it seemed to drag. The main female character ends up being the strength for most all the other characters.

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May 19, 2009

Robin rated it:

(review of isbn 1857987985)

bookshelves: required-read

Read in September, 2007

For a Science Fiction class. I skimmed a lot of it, just because I was on deadline to finish, but I liked what I read. Basically, there's some almost-bestiality going on and a whole lot of alien cunnilingus. Our teacher chose all the SF books with the weird sex scenes. (Or are they all like that?)

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