Sylvia Engdahl's Blog, page 2

New novel: Defender of the Flame

My newest novel Defender of the Flame is now available. While it continues the series begun with Stewards of the Flame and Promise of the Flame, it is a completely independent story set two hundred years later and can be read alone. Like the first two books of the series, it is not a YA book and is not appropriate for middle-school readers. (If you're wondering why, please read the Flame Trilogy FAQ at www.sylviaengdahl.com/flame-faq.htm.) However, it will be of interest to grownups who have enjoyed Enchantress from the Stars and The Far Side of Evil, as it deals with some of the same themes.

Updated Edition of The Planet-Girded Suns

I have just published an updated edition of my nonfiction book The Planet-Girded Suns. (This is an expanded edition of the book originally published in 1974, but has a different subtitle: The History of Human Thought About Extrasolar Worlds.) The historical chapters are unchanged except for minor wording such as the substitution of "humankind" for "man," but the chapters dealing with current views have been revised to reflect the progress of science during the past 40 years. In addition, I have added formal source notes, an Appendix including more 18th-century poetry, and a long Afterword titled "Confronting the Universe in the Twenty-First Century" that should be of interest to all space advocates.

Although the 1974 edition was published as a YA book, it was always too difficult for readers below high school age and was of greater value to adults; so the 2012 edition is issued as adult nonfiction.

For more information and to order signed copies, visit http://www.adstellaebooks.com. Schools and libraries can order from me at 50% off.

New Edition of Children of the Star

I have recently issued a new paperback edition of Children of the Star, with text identical to the Meisha Merlin edition, of which all copies are now gone.

For more information and to order signed copies, visit http://www.adstellaebooks.com. Schools and libraries can order from me at 50% off.

This Star Shall Abide is back in print

My YA novel This Star Shall Abide (known in the UK as Heritage of the Star) is now back in print, separate from its inclusion in the one-volume edition of the Children of the Star trilogy. It's of interest to younger readers (age 12 up) than the rest of the trilogy, so I've reissued it to be enjoyed by a new generation.

For more information and to order signed copies, visit http://www.adstellaebooks.com. Schools and libraries can order from me at 50% off.

New edition of Stewards of the Flame

There is a new edition of Stewards of the Flame, formatted to match Promise of the Flame -- it's slightly smaller and easier to hold, has wider page margins, and is on off-white paper. Also the lettering on the cover is a little larger. The text has not changed except for minor error corrections and the addition of a reading group discussion guide. (You can tell the difference if ordering from Amazon because the publisher stated on the new edition is Ad Stellae Books.) The list price is a little lower than the earlier edition, and I am offering a 20% discount -- or both books for $25 -- plus free shipping at www.stewardsoftheflame.com.

Sequel to Stewards of the Flame now available

My new novel Promise of the Flame has just been published. Though it's a sequel to Stewards of the Flame, it can be read by itself -- it doesn't depend on any more knowledge of the first book's plot than is explained in it. (However, reading it first will spoil the suspense of Stewards if you plan to read both.) People to whom the controversial view of health care in Stewards didn't appeal may like it better, as it doesn't deal with that -- but I can't say what it's about without giving away the ending of Stewards, so I won't do so here. There's full information about it at
www.adstellaebooks.com.