This Star Shall Abide: aka Heritage of the Star

Children of the Star #1

by Sylvia Engdahl

Children of the Star trilogy, Book One. Noren knew that his world was not as it should be—it was wrong that only the Scholars and Technicians could use metal and Machines. It was wrong that only they had access to the knowledge hidden in the mysterious City. He was a heretic. He defied the High Law and had no faith in the Prophecy’s promised fulfillment. But was defiance enough, or could some way be found to make it come true?

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia, Childrens, Speculative Fiction

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Sylvia Engdahl is the author of eleven science fiction novels, six of which, including the Newbery Honor book Enchantress from the Stars, are YA books also enjoyed by many adults. Although she is best known as an author for Young Adults, her most recent novels, the Founders of Maclairn duology (Stewards of the Flame and Promise of the Flame) and the Captain of Estel trilogy (Defender of the Flame, Herald of the Flame, and Envoy of the Flame) are adult science fiction and are not appropriate for readers below high school age. For FAQs about them and more, visit her website.

She has also written a nonfiction book, The Planet-Girded Suns: Our Forebears' Firm Belief in Inhabited Exoplanets, of which updated and expanded paperback and ebook editions were published in 2012, and three collections of her essays. Most of the nonfiction books listed under her name were edited, rather than written, by her as a freelance editor of anthologies for high schools.

Engdahl says, "I never listed more than a few of the books I read here and now the list is so outdated that i have removed all but a very few that are still among my favorites, plus ebooks I produced for my mother and for my friend Shirley Rousseau Murphy. For current lists of good books on the subjects I care about, please visit the Opinion section of my website."

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book affected me very, very strongly as a young teenager. The themes in the book of expected blind belief, and striving for truth in spite of the (perceived) consequences struck deep into the core of me.

Noren's quest for the truth of *why* his society is set up how it is still moves me despite the fact I already know the end as I have read the book before.

Noren perceives that something is wrong in the rigid, non-evolving society that he's grown up in. Why are machines sacred, and who are the scholars living in the only city which is closed to all others and who are never seen except at the gates of the city once a day?

The story of Noren's growing heresy against society and the religion of the "Mother Star", and the consequences of his questioning it is one of the most unusual science fiction books that I have ever read. It's not about science, it's a lack of science. It's the nature of belief, and also whether one can stick to one's principles even when those principles are found to be based on untruths.

I highly recommend this book both to young adults and also to grown adults.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am utterly amazed by this book. I would definitely push the rating to four and a half stars.

Sylvia Louise Engdahl is one of the finest masters of science fiction writing I have ever come across, and This Star Shall Abide is a work of dizzying significance, questions of profound ethos and its connection to truth protruding far beyond whatever borders would have governed the reader's thoughts before picking up the book. This is a novel that extends past the parameters of basic literature; This Star Shall Abide carries the inert power to transform minds and stretch one's ability to think to his or her perceived breaking point and beyond, touching on countless points of nearly unfathomable depth that relate to the experience of being a human, and the internal and external powers that we strive against in all things.

Through the person of Noren, an independent thinker living in his village in an unknown but primitive world, we are given eyes into a scene that is far different from our own, yet at the same time similar in surprising ways. Above all else, Noren cares for absolute truth, and is willing to sacrifice anything to earn access to that truth, which is restricted from the villagers by the mysterious Scholars in their walled city. Noren strongly disbelieves the religion of the villagers, a religion that seems to place the villagers on the lowest level of privilege, followed upwards by the roving Technicians, who are followed upwards by the Scholars, who are the proclaimed agents of the godlike entity known as the "Mother Star". Scholars are to be obeyed by the villagers above all else; in fact, to do otherwise is a violation of High Law, possibly subjecting the offender to charges of the worst crime of all: heresy.

Unlike his peers, Noren rebels against this caste lifestyle. He believes that the Scholars have set up a false religion to control the people and keep them under their thumb permanently, and he bitterly resents the fact that the immense knowledge owned by the Scholars is kept from the majority of the people. Knowledge, asserts Noren, should be free to everyone, and no class of person should have to worship another simply because of where they were born.

With little but his fantastic theories and overwhelming desire for truth to accompany him, Noren bravely sets out to find that truth, knowing all along that he stands virtually no chance against the impregnable strength of the Scholars set up in their magnificent city. The result of Noren's journey is one of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had in the scope of literature, a totally unpredictable, mind-bending odyssey of truth and its consequences that will rock the reader's mind to its core several times, then a few times more, but will never lose the permanence of its effect. This is a book that is impossible to forget.

This Star Shall Abide really sets the ultimate standard for several kinds of writing. It is one of the most suspenseful books that I've ever read, treading to perfection in that aspect; it's one of the great masterpieces of science fiction writing of which I know; it is also one of the most effectively resonant emotional rides that a reader could ever ask to take, exploring universal themes of such importance that it hardly seems possible to truly address them between the covers of a book. Nevertheless, that is just what this book has done. Sylvia Louise Engdahl is without a doubt one of the greatest authors whose works I have ever read, and I would present This Star Shall Abide as being as much of a must-read as just about anything else out there. I am, to be honest, in awe.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in junior high school (we won't say how many years ago) and still go back and re-read it on a regular basis. The story itself is excellent in terms of plot, character, pacing, etc, but it's the philosophical and ethical questions -- both personal and social/political -- that bring me back repeatedly. All of Engdahl's books have these elements, but this one seems to crystallize them in a way that's both readable and thought-provoking. How can a system built on unquestioning obedience promote the independent thought necessary for innovation? What are one's choices when the status quo -- unpleasant as it is -- is proven to be a literal lie but true both ethically and symbolically? How/when/why is it right for an ethical person to support short-term injustice in the service of long-term good? Like other authors who ask big questions, this book transcends the "YA" label and is a great read for anyone who likes books that make them think.

[Darcey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gift from a friend, who pretty much perfectly nailed 14-year-old me's taste in books. (Current me quite enjoyed it too.) It's a dystopia along the lines of This Perfect Day or Brave New World, but with the difference that the system was instituted out of material necessity rather than the greed of those in power or some misguided attempt at utopia. So this means that, rather than asking the standard philosophical question of "Is this a utopia or a dystopia?"/"Are the tradeoffs of this society better or worse than the tradeoffs of ours?", it asks a different question, of "Was this worth it?"/"Could there have been another way?". So I found it to be a refreshing change and a useful addition to the genre. (Tbh I'm genuinely surprised that I never encountered this book while going through my dystopia phase in 9th grade.)

My main complaint, for this book, was that the plot was extremely predictable (though maybe it's less predictable for its target audience of middle schoolers who haven't read a million dystopias already?). I also found some of Noren's philosophical musings, in the first half of the book, to be rather repetitive (especially when I'd already predicted the ending of the book pretty accurately). But overall, this was a well-written book; the plot, worldbuilding, and characters were simple, but reasonable and consistent, and I found the backstory for the dystopia to be well-thought-out.

Significant spoilers for the rest of the review:

** It seems to be a staple of the dystopian genre that the protagonist spends a long time interacting with some older gentleman who serves as a representative of the dystopia's social order, whom I refer to as "the man in the chair with the glasses", since that's what this archetype often looks like. This book absolutely had such a person, in the form of the Scholar Stefred, and Noren's interactions with Stefred felt very typical of the genre. (I don't think Stefred sat in a chair or had glasses though.) ** As with most dystopias, it's clear that the author holds strong enlightenment values; she also seems to believe that, barring material constraints such as these, societies will evolve toward the progressive enlightenment classical liberal ideal. I tend to disagree, and to think of that as "just one possible culture", but this disagreement didn't prevent me from enjoying the book. ** One of the parts of the book I found least plausible was the fidelity of cultural and information transmission over the years; I would have expected more accumulation of noise. The villagers' culture seems to have accumulated some noise over the years, but still not as much as I'd expect. And the scholars seem to have transferred information with perfect fidelity. This is partially explained by sci-fi technology; they have machines for recording thoughts and replaying them. But even then, it's mentioned that the reconstruction of the thoughts, by the listener, depends a lot on the listener's own concepts and experiences. (I actually can't help but wondering whether the thought-recording technology influenced Engine Summer, which came out just a few years later.) ** I also found it implausible that no one would guess how new Scholars were chosen. I expected Noren to guess way before it actually happened (in fact, I expected from the very beginning of the book that Noren would be chosen as a Scholar due to his heresy, just because that's a standard dystopian plot structure). It definitely seems implausible that Technicians who live in the inner city, and who interact with heretics as they're undergoing the process, would not guess. But the premise that no one will guess is central to the conceit of the book. Oh well; I'm able to look past this implausibility. ** One of my favorite parts of the book was the recantation at the end, which was really the initiation to being a Scholar; I liked how they had Noren ceremonially go through a similar ordeal to the First Scholar, in order to drive home the point of the initiation. It fit with the overall idea of the prophecy, that symbolism and mythology were ok if rooted in truth.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvia Engdahl is known primarily for her YA book Enchantress from the Stars for which she received a Newberry Honor. She is known less for the Far Side of Evil a better and much darker not quite YA sequel. This Star Shall Abide is better than both and apparently quite lesser known.

The edition I read it is paperback bound with it's two sequels. I got it from the local library for which they had exactly one copy and I waited months for it. And yet it was pretty obvious by the condition of the book that it had never been read.

This book is basically a political colonization allegory. It is simple but powerful. Truth over comfort and conformity. 5 of 5. A new favorite and I will re-read and buy.

[Craig Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am delighted to have discovered this book again. I read it in Primary School, grade six or seven, and expected it to be in my High School Library. It wasn't. I have been searching for it for thirty years. The main problem being that I misremembered the name, "Heritage of the Star" as "The Heretic Star."

A wonderful book, including a powerful, well realised world setting and a main character with whom I truly identified. I am off to Amazon to buy a copy. The two sequels I was not aware of and they also join my shopping list.

[J.L. Langland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this book and the two that follow are the reason that I have avoided libraries since sometime near the end of High School, when I had money to buy books.

In Junior High, and continuing into High School to feed the reading habit that my wallet couldn't satiate at a bookstore using my lunch money...I read hundreds of books from both the public library and school libraries.

I read these particular books several times from my local public libraries and loved them during 5th and 6th grade and some in Junior High. Eventually, I stopped going to the libraries because I bought all my books and retained them for ever.

By college, I still remembered these books, but couldn't recall the titles or author. Thus when I wanted to read the books, yet again, I couldn't. It was insanely frustrating.

In grad school one of my best friends who was every bit the SF/Fantasy freak that I was, also remembered and loved these books, but he himself had spent years trying to remember the titles and author. He couldn't.

We spent hours discussing what we remembered and how frustrated we were that we couldn't find the books again. (This was at the dawn of the Internet Age or rather when our browser was Mosaic)

And this is why I swore off libraries. If you don't "own" a book, can't see it on your shelf, caress its binding, smell its pages...you might forget it, lose it, never to be found again. Library books, are simply too ephemeral. Every time you see the read book on your shelf, its words are brought to mind, and you remember the joy it gave you.

If it's lost and locked in a library somewhere, you'll never get this pleasure, once you forget its title.

Over the years I made repeated attempts to find them, to no avail.

Tonight, I remembered them again as I was reminiscing here on GoodReads about my favorite and most influential books...and I said...time to use the full power of "The Google."

"the city",scholars,novel, young adult, science fiction.

Voila.

Of course the funny thing is: I still remembered the title, This Star Shall Abide, or very close to that...I just didn't know that it was "this" book.

It's been well over thirty years since I last read these books, but just peaking inside the book at Amazon and reading a few lines brings back so incredibly much. Things I hadn't recalled from the story started resurfacing with just a few words.

For me at least, these books are a testament to the power of words, of books and of memories. So much of what I later came to treasure as values were shaped by these books, and while I may have forgotten the titles for 30+ years, the lessons were never lost.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by AdrienneBe for TeensReadToo.com

The future is never written in stone, or so the saying goes. The sands of time may fall, but what stops someone from building a dam?

In the future, knowledge, and therefore thought, is totally controlled. Noren is one of the few who decides that thought and knowledge are important, and that everyone should be able to exhibit both freely. He knows the difference from what is right and completely unfair, even when his world tells him differently.

The only problem is, can he stop the Scholars, who are the only ones who can give the power of knowledge, on his own, or will he fail in the worst way? Running from the law, Noren is almost helpless, but the Scholars and Technicians can't take away his one power - hope.

Sylvia Engdahl weaves her story in a beautiful way. Not only does she create a totally different world from the one we live in, but also changes the roles of humankind. Her characters are both ones seen on the street and ones locked behind steel doors. Readers will be changed by the abrupt outlook on this amazing world and the surprises the plot presents as a whole.

THIS STAR SHALL ABIDE is a thoroughly enjoyable science fiction novel.

[Sylvia]

This is Book 1 of my Children of the Star trilogy. Unlike Books 2 and 3, it is available in paperback separately as well as in the omnibus. The cover of the current edition, but not the book itself, was changed in July 2015.

[Shaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well-paced and absorbing story that I enjoyed quite a bit. But what's remarkable is that I could also read this from the viewpoint of very-young-past-me and I know she would have loved it.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best works of science fiction I have ever read. This book made a deep impression on me as a child, and has delighted me when re-read as an adult.

Set in a world where scholars lock themselves away in a city of technology, and keep the rest of the world in thrall through laws and strictures that force people to use sleds instead of wheels, to not drink water from rivers and such like. One teenager dares to think differently and argues against the intellectual tyranny - living in fear of being captured and tortured and forced to recant his beliefs.

One of my all time favourite books, I am delighted to see the author on Librarything, and to hear there are sequels I never read - I will track these down!

[Valerie]

The first time I read this book, I felt, when I had got to the end, the need to go back and read it again, to see if I could trace the clues I missed in the first reading.

I would recommend to another first-time reader to go much more carefully the FIRST time. Note, for example, the fact that rain always falls at the same time of day.

I haven't, unfortunately, got a good copy of this to review fully. I keep looking out for one, but no luck so far.

But I should say that, on reflection, it's about much more than the water. Why don't hoes have handles? All right, no wood. But what about fiberglass? Why no wheelbarrows? No metal, ok. But again, why not glass wheelbarrows? There are some on Ganymede, in Farmer in The Sky. As for wheels and axles, there's a lot to be done with oil-based plastics. No rubber could be a problem: but why are there no plants to make artificial rubber? Is there nothing remotely like milkweed on this planet?

There's too much general tendency in this series to privilege the wisdom and capacities of physicists and to belittle the minds of others. Granted there would have been suicides and losses in the original colony. The situation was very bad. But systematically depriving the common folk of even the most elementary technical knowledge is not a workable answer.

Still, it lends itself to a rewritten 'alternate universe' version, in which, with the initial situations being identical, different thinking comes up with better solutions.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm floored by Sylvia Engdahl once again. This Star Shall Abide does a stellar job of telling a tale that is both psychologically intriguing and thought-provoking. This book falls into the same category (and feels remarkably similar) as the better known book The Giver by Lois Lawry. In fact, I think that may be exactly the reasoning Lawry wrote the introduction to the re-release of Engdahl's Enchantress From the Stars. But where Lois Lawry's tale devolves into what I can only describe as a non-resolution, Engdahl's story of rebellion against a perceived dystopia treats us to her take on the dystopian YA novel. One where we learn through Noren's experiences the machinations of this particular society. So, unlike The Giver...we receive a proper ending, albeit one that is open enough to continue into the next book.

I didn't give this the full marks that I did Enchantress of the Stars, because as impressive as I found it, it just seemed to lack the same pacing of her better known work.

Similar to Enchantress, I always got the sense that I knew where Engdahl was headed, so the shock was lessened considerably when it finally came time for the reveal. But then I consider that Engdahl wrote this over 40 years ago and it makes me wonder if she feel into a common trope or if this book helped to pioneer some of these tropes.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fascinating concept for a book: a teenager growing up in a primitive society run by a group of Scholars & High Priests becomes a heretic for doubting the truth of the claims and creation myth (known as the Prophecy) he was taught (particularly he has a problem with most knowledge and technology being kept for those in the city only). Although he expects his heresy to, possibly, cost him his life he ends up finding out that not only is he right about the information being kept from them, but that he is wrong about the myth being false--it's a poeticized version of the actual truth told them (without getting into the details) to ensure the survival of the human race. Along the way it explores not only the morality of ends justifying means but explores the role of myth and religion in the development of culture as well as humanism and the value of knowledge. It has it's semi-clunky didactic moments (particularly as Noren learns the truth about the Prophecy) but, for the most part, it's well written although, clearly for a younger audience. From what I understand the 2nd & 3rd books in the trilogy are written for older teens / adults so I'm anxious to continue the trilogy!

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4 stars. This is the type of YA novel that reminds you from the very first page that published literature for children and teens and young adults has SIGNIFICANTLY changed over the past 40 years. And then it makes you consider what kiddos read even further back, 100 or more years ago. And then you feel depressed because what happened to our ability to learn vocab and language and to sit patiently with slow moving, complex themes? And also: thank goodness there are more interesting books nowadays. All of that.

Of this story: what to say, what to say... It's sci-fi but it's not especially tech-focused nor does it rely on aliens. It's philosophy and history. It's erudite. It's in your head. It's old-fashioned and silly and too much and challenging.

I liked it, and I will (after a break) start on the 2nd in the trilogy.

[Sula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a little slow to start with, but around about half way through when your perception of the world she has created starts to shift ... I was gripped! This twisting of your understanding of the world reminds me of some of the twists in Diana Wynne Jones's books. However, unlike Diana Wynne Jones's books, I felt the characters did feel a little flat and two-dimensional - just there to create a backdrop for this thought-provoking concept.

[Piotr Reysner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't do it. I just can't. I tried to like this book. I really did. I've tag internal books by Engdahl and loved them. But the writing was just awful. It was beyond repetitive. Yes yes, I get it, knowledge should be shared. But do you have to proclaim it on nearly every page?

And for the love of all things holy, stop with the exclamation points! Seriously, they were everywhere. And they were usually completely unnecessary. Do you have any idea how an exclamation point can affect the internal reading voice? It's awful.

This was just one big book of nothing much happening and it doing so at a slow pace.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

6/2011 Written in 1972, this book still resonates with readers today. It won the Christopher Award – given for “affirmation of the highest values of the human spirit”. I kept finding the title on readers’ lists of most influential books and decided to read it. The question presented in the book is – Would there ever be a justifiable reason for a truth honoring, equalitarian society to withhold the truth from the masses and purposefully create a caste system? The book would lend itself to great discussion for high ability students, middle school age and up.

[Lindley Walter-smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This hasn't really stood up to the test of time. The writing is heavy on narrative summary, constant reiteration of the main phiosophical points, and characters standing around telling each other what they already know. And it reads uncomfortably like a justification of fascism. The stars I've given it are for the fascinating setting and concept.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a teenager and at the time it totally blew me away. I never forgot the storyline, but I did forget the name of the author and the title. I'm glad to say I have tracked these down thanks to the group "What's the Name of That Book" and can now add it to my shelf.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, an older scifi novel that's not hopelessly dated and masochistic. Reminds me a bit of Lois Lowry books.

[Rob Hopwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Star Shall Abide by Sylvia Engdahl

Noren was a heretic. He defied the High Law and had no faith in the Prophecy’s fulfillment. But was defiance enough, or could some way be found to make it come true?

The back cover blurb is certainly intriguing.

This Star Shall Abide was first published in 1972, and is the opening book of a trilogy. It is dystopian fiction with a major difference.

When it was first appeared on the shelves, the School Library Journal issued the following comment:
“Superior future fiction concerning the fate of an idealistic misfit, Noren, who rebels against his highly repressive society…. Although there is little overt action, the attention of mature sci-fi readers will be held by the skillful writing and excellent plot and character development.”

In a nutshell, This Star Shall Abide is the story of an intelligent teenager named Noren, who feels compelled to rebel against the repressive society in which he has grown up, and by degrees comes to declare openly that he believes the central tenet of the people’s religion (the future appearance the Mother Star) and an accompanying prophecy to be deliberately fabricated by the Scholar (or High Priest) Class to keep everyone else under their control.

In 1973, it won the Christopher Award, bestowed for “affirmation of the highest values of the human spirit.”

There are aspects of this book which some readers have objected to. An example is that the society in which Noren lives is clearly sexist, which some may feel is not in accord with modern standards for Young Adult fiction. On her website, though, the author explains that this is just a part of the repressive nature of a society which has reverted to primitive conditions after the loss of all high technology. Certain readers have also misunderstood the values held by the author, imagining that she is somehow in favor of autocratic regimes. However, concluding that anything a writer describes in his or her work must be something that they support or advocate seems exceedingly odd to me. On the contrary, the very opposite is quite often true.

Specific themes which were present in Enchantress from the Stars and The Far Side of Evil appear again in this novel. Examples are, how important should the pursuit of truth be to the individual, to what extent and in what situations do ultimate ends justify the taking of drastic and even unfair action, and whether symbolism can be considered a valid method for expressing truths indirectly. Also, the idea that expansion into space is essential to the survival of humanity is once more alluded to. (Note: In Engdahl’s books ‘humanity’ does not necessarily refer to people originating from the planet Earth, but to any humanoid species.)

After reading three of her books, I must confess that I am already thinking of Sylvia Engdahl as one my favorite authors.

Below are some quotes from book which epitomize the general tone and flavor:

“I don’t want my faith restored,” he said heatedly. “I want to know the truth. The truth is the most important thing there is, Talyra. Don’t you care about finding it?” “I already know what’s true,” she maintained vehemently.

“That’s blasphemous; I won’t listen.” “No, I don’t suppose you will. I can see how fraud has greater appeal than truth from your standpoint.”

That was the difference between himself and the others: he cared about the truth, and they did not.

We can’t be forced to do or to believe anything against our will.

...he was sorry for all of them, sorry because they truly did not understand the thing they were lacking. They could not see that there was more to life than working, eating, and making love.

“I respect it too much to believe anything merely because some book or some person tells me I should. I want to really know! Maybe you’d rather accept stories that make you feel comfortable about the way things are, but I care more for truth than for comfort.”

He would undoubtedly be hurt in the City; in the end he would be killed; but as long as he kept on caring, nothing could touch the freedom of his inner thoughts.

“It’s not enough just to learn what there isn’t; we need to know what there is. . .”

They will never change me, Noren promised himself grimly. No matter what they do or what they threaten, I will not deny the truth; I will not become like that man; I will not recant!

“Knowledge is worthless apart from truth. It’s the truth I really value, but if I recanted, I’d be lying. Truth belongs to everybody; to recant would be to accept your right to keep it from the other villagers.”

"Truth, Noren, can be quite terrible. Not everyone can face it."

“If we don’t give people symbols for the truths we cannot express openly,” he explained, “in time they’ll fall prey to superstition."

“Societies, like people, cannot be controlled without destroying their ability to grow and develop.”

“Truth is truth, and it’s more important than what people think of me.”

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief overview of the plot: Noren lives in a world where technology, Machines, and knowledge are limited to the Technicians and Scholars who live in the City. He has just finished school and is betrothed but has to go on the run when his family realise he is a heretic: he does not believe in the Prophecy that knowledge will be spread to the villagers once the Mother Star appears in the sky. He is eventually captured, interrogated, and put on trial to repent in front of many - however, before the latter happens, he finds out a lot more about the world...

As for the characters, Noren is the definition of chaotic good and I love him for that. The only other main character really is Stefred, who was the cause of a lot of semantic-related, waffley conversations with Noren. Those I enjoyed less.

The book really made me think about humans' relationship with the Earth, how we evolved on this planet and therefore basic human obstacles did not need to be addressed. It was interesting to imagine a primitive society on a new planet, who did not have the scientific knowledge to advance technologically, let alone sustain themselves in terms of food, water, oxygen.

I did enjoy the direction of the plot, I was pleasantly surprised at the unexpected reveal of how the world had come to be. It was a conflicting outcome; where those who question the with-holding of knowledge from the masses are rewarded with the knowledge. However, overall, the toss-up between different evils was an interesting theme.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

 
Another beloved bookstore closes, another treasure to add to my shelves for mere pennies – a sad happiness... This story, published in 1972, was a surprise. I enjoyed the unfolding, the philosophical perplexities that are unraveled when the goal of all seemingly distorted or false activities and ideas is the survival of an already greatly reduced human population. So many questions! Just at what point does continued open rebellion against the system end up merely feeding the shadow, the illusion? Indeed the greatest light is often found in the quiet work, which is full of Truth and Knowing.

“With sudden insight Noren perceived that all he had ever believed, all he had ever done, had led inexorably to this moment. This, not the inquisition, was the true trial of his convictions. It was easy to uphold them when to do so meant merely to defy authority. To do so in secret, when not even his fellow-rebels would give him credit for it, was the only real proof that they meant more to him than anything else – and that he could trust himself to follow his own way.”

Another happy note - the story is illustrated by Richard Cuffari whose drawings in The Wind in the Willows continue to enchant ~
 

[Daniel Macha · Rating 3 out of 5]

21st book of 2022

I give this three stars, but this book resides in the upper echelon of my three-star ratings.

Of the many Fantasy for Youth books I have read in the past three months, This Star Shall Abide stood out as the most interesting. Having read 1984 & The Giver in the past year, I couldn't help but be intrigued with a highly structured & controlling society, and I was really quite intrigued throughout the majority of the novel. The story itself was rather predictable, but that's okay. And I found that I eventually grew tired of Noren's & Stefred's conversations. There are just so many times when Noren would not stop being so demanding, yet I think that is the consequence of Engdahl writing a novel that is determined to be exploratory in nature.

[Tara Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would have given this two stars, but it stirred up some nostalgia from when I was a child reading the Tripod series or the Homecoming Saga . I think 8 year old me might have enjoyed this book. The writing style was very readable, but the main character was ridiculously dumb and the plot painfully predictable. As another reviewer pointed out, the author spent so much energy forcing her character to avoid coming to glaringly obvious conclusion, that the reader has to groan when “shock and gasp” that supper reasonable possibility that he inexplicably never contemplated comes to pass.

[Nick Russell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Very poor characterisation meaning i couldn't relate at all to Noren. And why on earth would you choose to tell the story in third person when it only tells the story of one character? First person would have been much more effective. The meaning/message is too obvious and the characters felt plastic. Female characters even more one-dimensional. The exclamation marks throughout felt like i was reading an online fan-fiction written by a 14 year old. Gave up half way through the second book - only a certain number of books you can read in your life and I'm not spending any more time reading one that makes me angry.

[Hypatia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than I thought it would be based on the first little bit. I was kind of annoyed by how old-fashioned society seemed. The fact that Talyra could only be a nurse or a teacher or a farmwife annoyed the heck out of me. It seems that’s how villager society evolved though, since life inside the city is clearly less restrictive.
I did find the story to be predictable. I had figured out that heretics became scholars before Noren was even arrested, and when he escaped I was disappointed because it meant it took longer for him to reach the city.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. How fortunate - my mom has had a few of Sylvia Engdahl's books for decades AND I'M REAPING THE BENEFITS!

This is a type of sci-fi I love. It's not just about space travel or a cool new world to explore - it is as much (more, really) about exploring human nature and how we might respond to a great disaster. There are so many philosophical and ethical questions explored here... and much like Star Trek, it chooses to have a hopeful view of humanity and what we're capable of.

Cannot wait to read book 2... and happily it's already on my shelf!

[unperspicacious · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting world-building, let down by thinly-sketched characters and a rather predictable plot. Could stand in as a primer for discussions about colonialism/modernity/authoritarian rule. Not sure if I'll read the rest of the trilogy though, unless I am vetting books for the kids....