Wheel of the Winds

by M.J. Engh

"This unusual, enjoyable second novel by Engh ( Arslan ) is a charming picaresque adventure set on another planet. To this unnamed planet comes the odd-looking man known as the Exile. The Warden, Lethgro, has captured the Exile after his escape from Sollet Castle, and now holds him prisoner on the small sailing ship Mouse. But when an inspector of the Council of Beng is about to board the Mouse , Captain Repnomar, seeing that her friend the Warden does not wish to surrender the Exile to the Council, cuts and runs. And so begins for Lethgro, Repnomar and the Exile (who we have begun to suspect is an Earthman) an around-the-world journey over sea and land, through strange places previously unseen by civilized eye. Engh tells the story in a 19th century prose (``For, as he said, they did not know when they would come to water again; and Repnomar thought this so prudent that she filled the little bailer that dangled always at her belt.''). This device is appropriate to the level of civilization on this planet, which resembles life here a century ago." -Publisher's Weekly

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1988

About the author

M. J. Engh is a science fiction author and independent Roman scholar. In 2009, Engh was named Author emerita by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She is best known for her 1976 novel Arslan, about an invasion of the United States.

Reviews

[Daniel Dydek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well enough, for a sci-fi lol The writing is a bit dry and journalistic at times, but not often. It’s certainly a strange new world we’re introduced to, though much of the people and cultures are familiar enough. But I can’t say it wowed me. Too much, I felt, was left unexplained so that while we see strange sights and peoples it was difficult to apprehend any sort of overarching connections. Maybe that was the point, but it didn’t satisfy what I want in a new world.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Remember 2 stars still means it was ok. However I was bored by halfway through and and only got to the end by skipping a lot of detail. Fascinating as it must be to create an alien world and move your characters around it - it's not so fascinating to read about, or not for me. The writing is good but more plot please.

[Mircea Valcea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is written very distant and dry. No character feels like a real person and no dialogue feels like it's actually happening. It feels like a cold retelling of a second hand story.
This is my second try of this author and the second failure...

[Megan]

DNS 7/15/2021

[Cissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good read in the Boys' Own Adventure school of novel (although there are important women in it as well). It's pretty much 100% adventure plot. There's a bit of mystery surrounding the Exile... but not much for anyone who knew they were reading sf.

The world is pretty interesting. It's a cloud-covered world like Venus, and one in which one hemisphere is always facing the sun, and the other always dark. I'm not sure if the science behind it is plausible; I'd think that the hot side would be much hotter, and the cold side much colder- but there is an atmosphere, so it's plausible enough if one doesn't think about it too hard.

The motivations of the Exile and his people also seem a bit weak. They're going around to other planets, at great expense, to... collect weather data? Why?

While the characterization is pretty consistent, it's also pretty one-note. There's no bothering with that pesky growth stuff! But then, who'd have time when the plot is so eventful?

So- in my opinion it's OK, and probably more fun for people who like adventure tales. For myself, I prefer more thoughtfulness, like character intricacy and growth, a well-thought-out world that is more grounded in the science, etc. This could have been such a novel... but it's not.

[Marniy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite all time scifi adventure books. Very "Around the World in 80 days" in space.
I just found it again and need to reread it.

[Mysteryfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is how early explorers must have felt, sailing into uncharted waters and encountering new species. Except here there's an overlay of alien strangeness. A good read.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides]

Sadly this didn't really work for me. Wasn't able to engage with the events or the characters.