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The Sergey Chronicles #1
Ganwold's Child
Tristan grew up human among aliens, now he must use his alienness to survive among humans.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
25 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Diann Thornley Read
12 books32 followersDiann "D.T." Read is the author of The Sergey Chronicles and The Seventh Shaman series.
The Sergey Chronicles is a military science fiction trilogy, the story of a military family caught at the center of politics and war in an interstellar alliance.
Diann is currently working on The Seventh Shaman series, a military space fantasy in which a young man flees his shamanic society to become a fighter pilot, only to learn that the gods have set a more powerful Path for him. Four of the seven planned books have been published so far.
Diann served for 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, a career that included tours of duty in South Korea, Bosnia, and Iraq, and those experiences indelibly influence the stories she tells. She learned her craft from such mentors as Orson Scott Card, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon, and David Farland.
Diann is married to Jon Read, and they live in Texas.
Diann would love to hear from you and answer your questions about her books. You may reach her at:
Website: https://d-t-read-author.com
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/stores/D.T.-Read/autho...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/seventhshaman
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092084...
The Sergey Chronicles is a military science fiction trilogy, the story of a military family caught at the center of politics and war in an interstellar alliance.
Diann is currently working on The Seventh Shaman series, a military space fantasy in which a young man flees his shamanic society to become a fighter pilot, only to learn that the gods have set a more powerful Path for him. Four of the seven planned books have been published so far.
Diann served for 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, a career that included tours of duty in South Korea, Bosnia, and Iraq, and those experiences indelibly influence the stories she tells. She learned her craft from such mentors as Orson Scott Card, C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon, and David Farland.
Diann is married to Jon Read, and they live in Texas.
Diann would love to hear from you and answer your questions about her books. You may reach her at:
Website: https://d-t-read-author.com
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/stores/D.T.-Read/autho...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/seventhshaman
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092084...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 20, 2025
Ganwold's Child was published by a small press in June of 1991 and then reissued by Tor, who also printed the two sequels, a few years later. I don't know if this one was revised much for the new edition or not; I read the original printing in 1992. It's a good coming-of-age military science fiction novel about a young man who's the son of a leader in the Unified Worlds military forces. He's been raised in an alien culture and sets off to locate his father when he turns eighteen, accompanied by his alien foster brother. The political and military scenes are very well crafted, and it's a good, engaging read.
October 23, 2014
This had a good blurb from Roger Zelazny so I read it. It wasn't bad, kind of a space opera. I have the second book, but I'm not in a rush to read it.
It is the story of a boy who is raised among aliens at the hunter-gatherer level going on a quest to find his father among the stars. His mother is dying & he naively sets out searching for his father to cure her. He winds up in the middle of nasty politics, old hatreds & more. It's not a super new idea, but it was done pretty well.
It is the story of a boy who is raised among aliens at the hunter-gatherer level going on a quest to find his father among the stars. His mother is dying & he naively sets out searching for his father to cure her. He winds up in the middle of nasty politics, old hatreds & more. It's not a super new idea, but it was done pretty well.
December 8, 2012
(Note: this book is now available on Kindle--and that's the one I just read.)
The wife and young son of a top military commander escape abduction by enemy slavers and make a life for themselves with a tribe of friendly alien hunter-gatherers on the planet Ganwold. Years later, the grown son and his alien "brother" go in search of help for his dying mother from his fellow "flat teeth" and a father he barely remembers.
The ensuing "culture shock" as the son encounters human technology and lifestyle for the first time was sometimes painful, often amusing, and always entertaining to read. Reminded of a foreign bathroom I once dared use in a Chinese hotel, I laughed out loud as the character fumbled his way through his first shower on a starship.
The author's military experience added exciting detail to the fight scenes, flight training, and battle engagements which were so realistic that I felt I was right there dodging blows, pulling g's, and issuing orders. Unlike less seasoned authors, Read expertly feeds the reader just the right amount of information about how equipment works or society is arranged without bogging down the action or dialog.
My only complaint is that the book ended with a bang instead of the usual denouement that more slowly brings the reader back to the surface of the real world. Thankfully, this is only the first in a series, and I'm anxious to dive right back into the depths of this character and his universe in Echoes of Issel.
The wife and young son of a top military commander escape abduction by enemy slavers and make a life for themselves with a tribe of friendly alien hunter-gatherers on the planet Ganwold. Years later, the grown son and his alien "brother" go in search of help for his dying mother from his fellow "flat teeth" and a father he barely remembers.
The ensuing "culture shock" as the son encounters human technology and lifestyle for the first time was sometimes painful, often amusing, and always entertaining to read. Reminded of a foreign bathroom I once dared use in a Chinese hotel, I laughed out loud as the character fumbled his way through his first shower on a starship.
The author's military experience added exciting detail to the fight scenes, flight training, and battle engagements which were so realistic that I felt I was right there dodging blows, pulling g's, and issuing orders. Unlike less seasoned authors, Read expertly feeds the reader just the right amount of information about how equipment works or society is arranged without bogging down the action or dialog.
My only complaint is that the book ended with a bang instead of the usual denouement that more slowly brings the reader back to the surface of the real world. Thankfully, this is only the first in a series, and I'm anxious to dive right back into the depths of this character and his universe in Echoes of Issel.
November 23, 2017
This would have been enjoyable had the characters achieve some depth or dimension to them. After reading Lincoln Lawyer ... God ... this book was a real drop in quality, as in the bottom of the Grand Canyon if not the Mariana Trench. The lack of dimensional context (where the characters actually are) and the confused timelines made this paperback a chore to read.
Now for something positive: There are some good ideas but I get the impression that this was an outline, a character list, an interstellar timeline invented, filled in and slammed together. Take more time and let the story develop. This novel read like a square peg hammered into a round hole.
Now for something positive: There are some good ideas but I get the impression that this was an outline, a character list, an interstellar timeline invented, filled in and slammed together. Take more time and let the story develop. This novel read like a square peg hammered into a round hole.
October 2, 2023
Who owns your loyalty?
It's not a trivial question, under any circumstances. DT Read has chosen the field of military science fiction to illustrate some aspects of how loyalty is both personal and corporate, but I THINK that the implications are present in just about everything humans do, or think about doing.
The central character is a human boy named Tristan, who we briefly meet as a toddler. He is in the care of his mother, Darcie. She teaches him what may be his first formal lesson in loyalty, by risking her own life to save his. I'm not sure if the significant emotional content in this brief first chapter is due to the talented writing, or if it's my own parent/grandparent/great-grandparent identity responding to the situation, but the action seemed particularly vivid to me.
After the intro, we skip forward enough years that Tristan is apparently an adolescent, in the company of a number of his non-human peers. Read gives us more to think about, along the lines of the value of loyalty, as there is CLEARLY some conflict within the group. It's difficult to say if this is primarily because Tristan is a member of an alien species with respect to his companions, OR if this is a function of age-appropriate competition for reproductive rights. Read doesn't waste the opportunity to address loyalty permutations, by merely addressing the procreation issues; in THIS society, the matriarchy takes precedence over almost everything else, with different levels of respect corresponding to age and child-bearing status of the females. The one POSSIBLE relationship that may require a higher loyalty than that males give females exists between paired hunting companions, but it's likely that this is relationship is subordinate as well.
The frame that the story hangs on, is the way on which Tristan's loyalty to Darcie drives him to abandon the safety of their isolated community, and seek assistance from his father, who he hasn't seen since he was a toddler. In this decision, loyalty figures prominently as well, but it's a case where the CULTURAL norms don't match up with his personal beliefs; in his adopted community, fathers serve ONLY as donators of genetic material, with no later obligations toward their offspring.
It seems to me that Read never misses and opportunity to show all the permutations of loyalty, both upstream and downstream. At the same time, she allows the context that Tristan was raised in to remain with him, at least in come part. For example, he is far more likely to trust the women he encounters than the men.
I don't want to give the impression that this is some dull academic work, or one of those thinly-veiled political tracts that slaps a coat of gunfire over a lengthy proof that this diet will lead you to despair, while that diet will lead you to paradise. That ISN'T the case; this is a lively, classic hero struggle, with good guys, bad guys, and an acceptable amount of exploding spaceships. If that's all you get out of it, you've had some great entertainment! However, I hope you will be as challenged as I have been to look at your personal loyalties, and come to a conclusion about your next step.
It's not a trivial question, under any circumstances. DT Read has chosen the field of military science fiction to illustrate some aspects of how loyalty is both personal and corporate, but I THINK that the implications are present in just about everything humans do, or think about doing.
The central character is a human boy named Tristan, who we briefly meet as a toddler. He is in the care of his mother, Darcie. She teaches him what may be his first formal lesson in loyalty, by risking her own life to save his. I'm not sure if the significant emotional content in this brief first chapter is due to the talented writing, or if it's my own parent/grandparent/great-grandparent identity responding to the situation, but the action seemed particularly vivid to me.
After the intro, we skip forward enough years that Tristan is apparently an adolescent, in the company of a number of his non-human peers. Read gives us more to think about, along the lines of the value of loyalty, as there is CLEARLY some conflict within the group. It's difficult to say if this is primarily because Tristan is a member of an alien species with respect to his companions, OR if this is a function of age-appropriate competition for reproductive rights. Read doesn't waste the opportunity to address loyalty permutations, by merely addressing the procreation issues; in THIS society, the matriarchy takes precedence over almost everything else, with different levels of respect corresponding to age and child-bearing status of the females. The one POSSIBLE relationship that may require a higher loyalty than that males give females exists between paired hunting companions, but it's likely that this is relationship is subordinate as well.
The frame that the story hangs on, is the way on which Tristan's loyalty to Darcie drives him to abandon the safety of their isolated community, and seek assistance from his father, who he hasn't seen since he was a toddler. In this decision, loyalty figures prominently as well, but it's a case where the CULTURAL norms don't match up with his personal beliefs; in his adopted community, fathers serve ONLY as donators of genetic material, with no later obligations toward their offspring.
It seems to me that Read never misses and opportunity to show all the permutations of loyalty, both upstream and downstream. At the same time, she allows the context that Tristan was raised in to remain with him, at least in come part. For example, he is far more likely to trust the women he encounters than the men.
I don't want to give the impression that this is some dull academic work, or one of those thinly-veiled political tracts that slaps a coat of gunfire over a lengthy proof that this diet will lead you to despair, while that diet will lead you to paradise. That ISN'T the case; this is a lively, classic hero struggle, with good guys, bad guys, and an acceptable amount of exploding spaceships. If that's all you get out of it, you've had some great entertainment! However, I hope you will be as challenged as I have been to look at your personal loyalties, and come to a conclusion about your next step.
November 27, 2019
Premier roman d'une trilogie de science-fiction militaire, par une vétérane de l'armée de l'air américaine, qui s'intéresse particulièrement à l'aviation et à la médecine, ce qui ajoute un surplus d'authenticité à ses histoires.
Un enfant et sa mère, rescapés d'une attaque sur leur vaisseau spatial, échouent sur une planète proche. Ils sont accueillis dans une communauté d'extra-terrestres, du niveau des chasseurs cueilleurs. Pour aider sa mère, l'enfant rendu presque adulte, s'aventure, avec son binôme chasseur, un Ganan, dans un campement humain lointain. Ils sont capturés et sa vie bascule. Il tombe entre les mains du pire ennemi de son père. En plus, il doit s'habituer aux coutumes humaines. Tout cela sur un fond de conflit interstellaire, en devenir.
Le roman débute lentement, mais le rythme s'accélère doucement pour déboucher sur une finale pleine d'actions, dont des batailles spatiales. J'ai aimé et j'ai hâte à la suite qui me semble encore plus prometteuse.
Un enfant et sa mère, rescapés d'une attaque sur leur vaisseau spatial, échouent sur une planète proche. Ils sont accueillis dans une communauté d'extra-terrestres, du niveau des chasseurs cueilleurs. Pour aider sa mère, l'enfant rendu presque adulte, s'aventure, avec son binôme chasseur, un Ganan, dans un campement humain lointain. Ils sont capturés et sa vie bascule. Il tombe entre les mains du pire ennemi de son père. En plus, il doit s'habituer aux coutumes humaines. Tout cela sur un fond de conflit interstellaire, en devenir.
Le roman débute lentement, mais le rythme s'accélère doucement pour déboucher sur une finale pleine d'actions, dont des batailles spatiales. J'ai aimé et j'ai hâte à la suite qui me semble encore plus prometteuse.
September 27, 2023
Military Sci-Fi with Real people
At the end of an interstellar war, amother and child are captured by third party slavers. They escape, and integrate into a hunter-gatherer society of non-humans. Seventeen years later, the boy, Tristian speaks and thinks like the natives, is an excellent hunter. With his doctor mother dying of an 'incurable' disease, he and his friend go on a quest that spans planetary systems to find his missing father. The twists and turns in his quest are made believable by the inclusion of his character growth, his mistakes caused by his hunter-gatherer understanding that doesn't apply to star-hoping technological societies.
I won't say more because of spoilers, but I'm waiting for the next book in the series to see how he handles the massive losses his quest caused.
At the end of an interstellar war, amother and child are captured by third party slavers. They escape, and integrate into a hunter-gatherer society of non-humans. Seventeen years later, the boy, Tristian speaks and thinks like the natives, is an excellent hunter. With his doctor mother dying of an 'incurable' disease, he and his friend go on a quest that spans planetary systems to find his missing father. The twists and turns in his quest are made believable by the inclusion of his character growth, his mistakes caused by his hunter-gatherer understanding that doesn't apply to star-hoping technological societies.
I won't say more because of spoilers, but I'm waiting for the next book in the series to see how he handles the massive losses his quest caused.
September 22, 2023
Ganwold’s Child has some of the best military backdrop and battle scenes I’ve read. Author DT Read’s 23 years in the US Air Force are skillfully apparent. Like an inverted Dances with Wolves, the hero’s journey spans cultures and technologies. The contrast of them adds a fun twist, a heart-wrenching twist, and gives a thoughtful perspective in the smoke of battles. For fans of explosions, Read crafts them so expertly I could almost smell vaporized durasteel. Enjoy the read!
November 1, 2023
Very good.
The story has a slow build and burn but is well-crafted.
One could have wished perhaps a bit more background information, to understand the motivations of the antagonist and protagonist better.
The book is full of twists and turns which keep you on edge.
Looking forward to the rest of the story, as it is the first of a trilogy.
The story has a slow build and burn but is well-crafted.
One could have wished perhaps a bit more background information, to understand the motivations of the antagonist and protagonist better.
The book is full of twists and turns which keep you on edge.
Looking forward to the rest of the story, as it is the first of a trilogy.
June 11, 2023
Awesome book, lots of action
String characters. Page turning action. A strong arc for the main character. Just enough surprises to keep it interesting. I'll be reading the sequel soon.
String characters. Page turning action. A strong arc for the main character. Just enough surprises to keep it interesting. I'll be reading the sequel soon.
March 19, 2015
"All the elements of outstanding sci-fi explode with extraordinary detail"
This military sci-fi saga is not only extremely well-written but captures what sci-fi fans want most as far as alien cultures, strong heroic characters, and detailed space battles. Don't be fooled by the title. This is far from a child's bedtime story. While it definitely fits the story, it fails to convey the story's complexity and depth.
The prologue describes how Tristan Serege and his mother, Darcie, become marooned on primitive Ganwold when the spacecraft on which they're passengers comes under attack by masuk space pirates. Darcie is a medic in the military and her quick thinking allows her and her toddler son to get away in an escape pod which lands on Ganwold. Tristan thus grows up amongst the gan, a primitive but intelligent race with strong cultural traditions, one of which is reverence for one's mother as well as all females in this matriarchal society. Tristan is accepted as one of their own in spite of being a "flat tooth." His hunting partner, Pulou, is more like a brother since gan culture dictates a bond between them which is the ultimate in protection, devotion and loyalty up to and including death.
When Tristan's mother, Darcie, develops a serious illness, Tristan knows it's his duty to do whatever it takes to save her. This goes far beyond love for his mother; it's more obsession that defies reason, set in stone by the influence of gan culture. He's determined to find his father, Lujan, a war hero from a previous galactic battle, whatever it takes, and obtain the medical help Darcie needs to survive.
The only human settlement on Ganwold is a military outpost occupied by Dominion forces, the very ones that his father was key to defeating prior to Tristan's birth. Nonetheless, it's the only connection to the technology needed to leave Ganwold and find his father. Naively hoping to stow away onboard a spacecraft, Tristan and Pulou are captured and turned over to Governor Mordan Renier, a man who's not only his father's political adversary but a vengeful personal enemy as well. Renier proceeds to use Tristan as a tool to exact revenge on his father, who had long before given up that Tristan and Darcie might still be alive.
As part of his devious intent, Renier "cleans up" Tristan, whose appearance is initially less than civilized. His hair and nails are long, his mannerisms those of the gan even though his mother has taught him as much as she could. Tristan not only undergoes significant culture shock but is brainwashed with regard to who and what his father is as Renier puts on the facade of helping Tristan find his father and assistance for his ailing mother. Nonetheless, Tristan suffers much abuse at Renier's hands but is fortunate enough that one of the military doctors who tends to his injuries is sympathetic to his situation.
Renier sends troops to capture Darcie as well and notifies Lujan that he's holding his son hostage. Lujan is caught between saving his family and Renier's outrageous demands which as a high ranking military officer he cannot ethically meet. He thus sends his own special forces team out to covertly rescue Tristan and Darcie. Peace was already tenuous and the situation escalates back into overt war.
As a military veteran the author does an excellent job with the military side of the story. The characters and their actions, including battle strategies and terminology, put you into the heat of battle. There's a lot of violence in this story, both in the form of the abuse Tristan suffers as well as battle scenes. There are parts that are downright painful to read as many of the "good guys" don't survive and sympathy for Tristan and Lujan is strong. Both are flesh and blood characters who are not omnipotent making them individuals with whom the reader can connect strongly. The story captures the heartbreak and internal conflicts of individuals caught in horrific circumstances, in this case against the stark imagery of interstellar war.
There are numerous analogies to the world today from the primitive wisdom of the gan, reminiscent of that depicted in the movie "Avatar," to the savage brutality of the masuk which reflects "business as usual" in the Middle East. Star Wars/Star Trek fans won't be disappointed by this complex story with its vivid imagery, strong characters, numerous subplots and nail-biting suspense. Better yet, its the first volume of a trilogy so fans don't have to bid the characters a fond farewell as this story concludes.
This military sci-fi saga is not only extremely well-written but captures what sci-fi fans want most as far as alien cultures, strong heroic characters, and detailed space battles. Don't be fooled by the title. This is far from a child's bedtime story. While it definitely fits the story, it fails to convey the story's complexity and depth.
The prologue describes how Tristan Serege and his mother, Darcie, become marooned on primitive Ganwold when the spacecraft on which they're passengers comes under attack by masuk space pirates. Darcie is a medic in the military and her quick thinking allows her and her toddler son to get away in an escape pod which lands on Ganwold. Tristan thus grows up amongst the gan, a primitive but intelligent race with strong cultural traditions, one of which is reverence for one's mother as well as all females in this matriarchal society. Tristan is accepted as one of their own in spite of being a "flat tooth." His hunting partner, Pulou, is more like a brother since gan culture dictates a bond between them which is the ultimate in protection, devotion and loyalty up to and including death.
When Tristan's mother, Darcie, develops a serious illness, Tristan knows it's his duty to do whatever it takes to save her. This goes far beyond love for his mother; it's more obsession that defies reason, set in stone by the influence of gan culture. He's determined to find his father, Lujan, a war hero from a previous galactic battle, whatever it takes, and obtain the medical help Darcie needs to survive.
The only human settlement on Ganwold is a military outpost occupied by Dominion forces, the very ones that his father was key to defeating prior to Tristan's birth. Nonetheless, it's the only connection to the technology needed to leave Ganwold and find his father. Naively hoping to stow away onboard a spacecraft, Tristan and Pulou are captured and turned over to Governor Mordan Renier, a man who's not only his father's political adversary but a vengeful personal enemy as well. Renier proceeds to use Tristan as a tool to exact revenge on his father, who had long before given up that Tristan and Darcie might still be alive.
As part of his devious intent, Renier "cleans up" Tristan, whose appearance is initially less than civilized. His hair and nails are long, his mannerisms those of the gan even though his mother has taught him as much as she could. Tristan not only undergoes significant culture shock but is brainwashed with regard to who and what his father is as Renier puts on the facade of helping Tristan find his father and assistance for his ailing mother. Nonetheless, Tristan suffers much abuse at Renier's hands but is fortunate enough that one of the military doctors who tends to his injuries is sympathetic to his situation.
Renier sends troops to capture Darcie as well and notifies Lujan that he's holding his son hostage. Lujan is caught between saving his family and Renier's outrageous demands which as a high ranking military officer he cannot ethically meet. He thus sends his own special forces team out to covertly rescue Tristan and Darcie. Peace was already tenuous and the situation escalates back into overt war.
As a military veteran the author does an excellent job with the military side of the story. The characters and their actions, including battle strategies and terminology, put you into the heat of battle. There's a lot of violence in this story, both in the form of the abuse Tristan suffers as well as battle scenes. There are parts that are downright painful to read as many of the "good guys" don't survive and sympathy for Tristan and Lujan is strong. Both are flesh and blood characters who are not omnipotent making them individuals with whom the reader can connect strongly. The story captures the heartbreak and internal conflicts of individuals caught in horrific circumstances, in this case against the stark imagery of interstellar war.
There are numerous analogies to the world today from the primitive wisdom of the gan, reminiscent of that depicted in the movie "Avatar," to the savage brutality of the masuk which reflects "business as usual" in the Middle East. Star Wars/Star Trek fans won't be disappointed by this complex story with its vivid imagery, strong characters, numerous subplots and nail-biting suspense. Better yet, its the first volume of a trilogy so fans don't have to bid the characters a fond farewell as this story concludes.
October 12, 2023
Great story
This is a great start to the series written by a great author. Can’t wait to read the next one.
This is a great start to the series written by a great author. Can’t wait to read the next one.
November 10, 2014
I've been trying to review a book every month and so far i'm on track. This month I've had the joy of reading Ganwold's Child. I have only done three others so far, but this is definitely my favourite. As I go through my usual way of reviewing I'll explain why I loved this story.
Pace- A good pace. There were a few well detailed sci-fi technical aspects, which added to the world building, that I decided to skim pass so I could find out what happen's to Tristan. This is a subjective thing, as I didn't mind sacrificing a bit of world building to find out what happened to Tris. Other readers won't skip over it because they enjoy it as much as Tristan's actual story. The story also follows a number of perspectives, but this works well and doesn't stop the pace of the story.
The World/Environment- This is the biggest strength of the story. The world is written so well that I felt like Tristan's story was real. I can't really say much more than the world/environment is brilliant and makes this story a great read.
Themes- There is action, importance of family, overcoming adversity, and probably more, but these are the ones that stood out to me.
Characters- There are a lot of characters, but only Tristan is given a huge amount of time, but he is the main character so that isn't really a bad thing. He is a great main character and his journey absorbed me and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to him. A solid main character that most readers will like.
Originality- Not hugely original, but the story is so well written, the world so vivid, and Tristan's journey so interesting, that it doesn't need to be massively original.
Last thoughts- Loved it! Will be getting the next one in the next few days. Also I think there's a nod to Battlestar Galactica in there which made me smile, and if it wasn't intentional it's a nice little coincidence.
Pace- A good pace. There were a few well detailed sci-fi technical aspects, which added to the world building, that I decided to skim pass so I could find out what happen's to Tristan. This is a subjective thing, as I didn't mind sacrificing a bit of world building to find out what happened to Tris. Other readers won't skip over it because they enjoy it as much as Tristan's actual story. The story also follows a number of perspectives, but this works well and doesn't stop the pace of the story.
The World/Environment- This is the biggest strength of the story. The world is written so well that I felt like Tristan's story was real. I can't really say much more than the world/environment is brilliant and makes this story a great read.
Themes- There is action, importance of family, overcoming adversity, and probably more, but these are the ones that stood out to me.
Characters- There are a lot of characters, but only Tristan is given a huge amount of time, but he is the main character so that isn't really a bad thing. He is a great main character and his journey absorbed me and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to him. A solid main character that most readers will like.
Originality- Not hugely original, but the story is so well written, the world so vivid, and Tristan's journey so interesting, that it doesn't need to be massively original.
Last thoughts- Loved it! Will be getting the next one in the next few days. Also I think there's a nod to Battlestar Galactica in there which made me smile, and if it wasn't intentional it's a nice little coincidence.
May 15, 2013
(This review was written and rating given by Marianne Dyson. She originally posted it on Amazon.com in November 2012)
The wife and young son of a top military commander escape abduction by enemy slavers and make a life for themselves with a tribe of friendly alien hunter-gatherers on the planet Ganwold. Years later, the grown son and his alien "brother" go in search of help for his dying mother from his fellow "flat teeth" and a father he barely remembers.
The ensuing "culture shock" as the son encounters human technology and lifestyle for the first time was sometimes painful, often amusing, and always entertaining to read. Reminded of a foreign bathroom I once dared use in a Chinese hotel, I laughed out loud as the character fumbled his way through his first shower on a starship.
The author's military experience added exciting detail to the fight scenes, flight training, and battle engagements which were so realistic that I felt I was right there dodging blows, pulling g's, and issuing orders. Unlike less seasoned authors, Read expertly feeds the reader just the right amount of information about how equipment works or society is arranged without bogging down the action or dialog.
My only complaint is that the book ended with a bang instead of the usual denouement that more slowly brings the reader back to the surface of the real world. Thankfully, this is only the first in a series, and I'm anxious to dive right back into the depths of this character and his universe in Echoes of Issel.
The wife and young son of a top military commander escape abduction by enemy slavers and make a life for themselves with a tribe of friendly alien hunter-gatherers on the planet Ganwold. Years later, the grown son and his alien "brother" go in search of help for his dying mother from his fellow "flat teeth" and a father he barely remembers.
The ensuing "culture shock" as the son encounters human technology and lifestyle for the first time was sometimes painful, often amusing, and always entertaining to read. Reminded of a foreign bathroom I once dared use in a Chinese hotel, I laughed out loud as the character fumbled his way through his first shower on a starship.
The author's military experience added exciting detail to the fight scenes, flight training, and battle engagements which were so realistic that I felt I was right there dodging blows, pulling g's, and issuing orders. Unlike less seasoned authors, Read expertly feeds the reader just the right amount of information about how equipment works or society is arranged without bogging down the action or dialog.
My only complaint is that the book ended with a bang instead of the usual denouement that more slowly brings the reader back to the surface of the real world. Thankfully, this is only the first in a series, and I'm anxious to dive right back into the depths of this character and his universe in Echoes of Issel.
May 16, 2013
Ganwold's Child was Diann Read's first novel and at times it shows, but what also shows is the deep thought that she put into the world she created and the reality that stems from her clear military background. Together, these elements make for a fun and light but engaging read that will appeal to many Science Fiction fans. Indeed, though I would categorize this both under YA (because of the youthful age of the central protagonist) and Military Science Fiction (because of clear military elements in the second half of the book), I think it will appeal to any fan of Sci Fi who wants a straight forward, fun "does what it says on the tin" type of a read.
For my full review go to www.sophyanempire.wordpress.com, or for a short link to the review itself go to:
http://wp.me/pWa2h-AF
For my full review go to www.sophyanempire.wordpress.com, or for a short link to the review itself go to:
http://wp.me/pWa2h-AF
August 25, 2014
Interesting world, too much politics for me. I tended to scan over detail to see what would happen next. The 'sidekick' character had a lot of promise, but ultimately was simply dragged along with our main character - supplying thoughtful insights when necessary to allow better choices.
I liked the world building, but was skeptical of moving our two youngsters across entire galaxies in order to move the story along.
That being said, I'd rather have read it than not. But, I won't look for other stories by this author, or be buying a copy for myself.
I liked the world building, but was skeptical of moving our two youngsters across entire galaxies in order to move the story along.
That being said, I'd rather have read it than not. But, I won't look for other stories by this author, or be buying a copy for myself.
February 16, 2015
A good read, well written and well edited. The characters are fleshed out well, but I never developed an attachment to any of them. The best friend of the main character was my favorite, but he became less relevant as the story unfolded despite his wiser outlook. This in itself would not have reduced the rating. However, combined with the lack of empathy I had for the other characters my interest waned toward the end.
That said, it is a well crafted story with personal, familial, cultural, and interplanetary conflict.
That said, it is a well crafted story with personal, familial, cultural, and interplanetary conflict.
December 8, 2015
FANTASTIC SPACE OPERA
I really enjoyed this book as it reminded me a bit of early Andre Norton, the Grande Dame of Sci/Fi & Fantasy as well as CJ Cherryh. Diann created a plot to capture one’s attention. The character development (both human and non-human) was well thought out. I am glad that Diann was able to use her military background and connections to write such a thought provoking story. When money allows I will buy the continuing story.
I really enjoyed this book as it reminded me a bit of early Andre Norton, the Grande Dame of Sci/Fi & Fantasy as well as CJ Cherryh. Diann created a plot to capture one’s attention. The character development (both human and non-human) was well thought out. I am glad that Diann was able to use her military background and connections to write such a thought provoking story. When money allows I will buy the continuing story.
January 29, 2008
Ganwold's Child is Diann Thornley's first book, and the first in a trilogy. It is about a young man who grew up among natives on a planet behind enemy lines. Now he searches for his long-lost father in order to help his mother.
See "Unified Worlds".
See "Unified Worlds".
January 29, 2008
See my other review on "Ganwold's Child", as it is the same book.
I also have an original paperback copy printed in 1991. I met the author before the trilogy was published.
I also have an original paperback copy printed in 1991. I met the author before the trilogy was published.
March 9, 2010
Good book!:)
February 12, 2014
This is a new Sci-Fi world that I love!!! Very well
Written. It kind of felt like a take on Tarzan and it pulled me in because of that. Sort of the Tarzan story told in space. Loved it!
Written. It kind of felt like a take on Tarzan and it pulled me in because of that. Sort of the Tarzan story told in space. Loved it!
November 2, 2015
good story
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