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The Seventh Shrine
A grisly murder has taken place in the ruins of an ancient city on the peaceful world of Majipoor and the Pontifex Valentine has arrived to investigate the crime. But as Valentine and his companions delve deeper into the mystery, they discover that these ruins contain secrets much deeper than anyone ever knew. And that the indigenous Metamorphs are holding back information related to their own dark history. Can Valentine and his friends locate the murderer or did the violent act have something to do with a ritual sacrifice related to the fabled Seventh Shrine?
112 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2006
About the author
Robert Silverberg
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Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 15, 2025
The Seventh Shrine is a novella that was published in the iconic anthology Legends (which was edited by Silverberg) in 1998 and subsequently collected in his second volume of Majipoor short fiction, Tales of Majipoor. It features Valentine a few years after he's become Pontifex, investigating a murder at an historical archaeological excavation. It's an entertaining mystery (archaeological stories are usually fun!), gives some interesting background about the history of the gigantic and ancient world which is Majipoor, but is mostly a fascinating character study of Magadone Sambisa, the lead archaeologist. This version has been slightly edited to make it fit better with the format and the profuse illustrations, but it's a fine and enjoyable stand-alone story. The illustrations are lush and lovely, though somewhat darker in tone than I'd pictured. Note: This is not a comic book or a graphic novel or an example of sequential art, despite the publisher being best-known for that. It's a novella, it's text, it's a prose story. There are some reviews calling it a graphic novel or a comic book, but they were posted by people who either don't know what that is or who never opened the book.
August 25, 2015
This novella is also printed in the "Tales of Majipoor" collection. This Marvel edition features beautiful artwork by Anders Finer. It's so rare to see even fan art from this series that the illustrations were a treat.
Comparing the text with that in "Tales" revealed a passage omitted in this edition from the middle of the story, just at the centerfold, where Valentine is visiting the Metamorph village near the ruins. I don't know if this would shed any light for those wandering bewildered on Majipoor for the first time, but it was helpful to me to read the few missing paragraphs. As a stand-alone story, "The Seventh Shrine" possibly works better as the culmination of the "Tales of Majipoor," wherein mythology and archaeology are recurring themes. I like this version for the artwork, however.
"The Seventh Shrine" is, in my view, mainly a character study, not of the lovely Valentine himself, but of Magadone Sambisa, the chief archaeologist at the Velalisier dig. She is a scientist beset by the superstitions of those around her, and she is also anxious to establish her career and her reputation. A murder at the site complicates her work, and an unexpected discovery tests her ethics and her professionalism.
Comparing the text with that in "Tales" revealed a passage omitted in this edition from the middle of the story, just at the centerfold, where Valentine is visiting the Metamorph village near the ruins. I don't know if this would shed any light for those wandering bewildered on Majipoor for the first time, but it was helpful to me to read the few missing paragraphs. As a stand-alone story, "The Seventh Shrine" possibly works better as the culmination of the "Tales of Majipoor," wherein mythology and archaeology are recurring themes. I like this version for the artwork, however.
"The Seventh Shrine" is, in my view, mainly a character study, not of the lovely Valentine himself, but of Magadone Sambisa, the chief archaeologist at the Velalisier dig. She is a scientist beset by the superstitions of those around her, and she is also anxious to establish her career and her reputation. A murder at the site complicates her work, and an unexpected discovery tests her ethics and her professionalism.
March 18, 2017
This short story gives the reader a plunging overview of the long saga that is Manjipoor: its politics, history, and the ruler that events swirl around, Pontifex Valentine.
In a time when different species were not so congenial, Pontifex Valentine gave orders that a city be excavated. One human and one indiginous life-form would be co-leaders. But then the Piurivar co-leader was murdered.
Valentine uncovers hidden secrets, and discovers the secret of the shrine while keeping the guardian of the shrine from fulfilling his duty.
Who murdered the Piurivarian?
In a time when different species were not so congenial, Pontifex Valentine gave orders that a city be excavated. One human and one indiginous life-form would be co-leaders. But then the Piurivar co-leader was murdered.
Valentine uncovers hidden secrets, and discovers the secret of the shrine while keeping the guardian of the shrine from fulfilling his duty.
Who murdered the Piurivarian?
December 22, 2012
Poorly written, cloudy narrative and disjointed. Failed to capture my imagination and failed to fulfil my book lust. I love comics, I adore fantasy and science fiction so it's not because I don't read similar to this. This book was basically aliens and pyramids with a murder, the aliens seem to have been given long names because that of course makes them aliens. The only positive I can find about this book is that some of the concept art at the back was interesting.
September 13, 2022
This short, in between novel was fascinating. Completely in the real of fantasy, and yet also a great mystery! Having not read read this series, I still had no problem being transported to this intricately constructed world and it's history!
May 16, 2018
I found this boring and over-written, a rather laborious read.
March 24, 2019
A good short story, actually it was better than the 2nd Valentine book.
September 2, 2012
Ok I have missed something here - I will admit this is the first outing in to the world of Majipoor and I deeply feel that its not the best place to start! I do have the other books from the series but feeling like a quick read I opted to read this one (also its a Marvel graphic-ish novel too) and to be honest it was not the best.
The story is a good read in its own right - just that it makes a lot of reference to previous events both recent (as in they happened in other books) and historic (they happened in the distant past but still shaped the politics and relationships of the various races). However thankfully I knew a lot of the books so I was not totally lost - now don't get me wrong - you could read this book with no knowledge of the other titles but I do feel you would miss a lot if you did. And conversely if you knew the series the characters and the references would have a much greater impact.
So all in all an interesting read though I feel that I have missed much of its relevance for not reading the other books in the series. I feel that I will be returning to this book at a later date once I have completed that task!
The story is a good read in its own right - just that it makes a lot of reference to previous events both recent (as in they happened in other books) and historic (they happened in the distant past but still shaped the politics and relationships of the various races). However thankfully I knew a lot of the books so I was not totally lost - now don't get me wrong - you could read this book with no knowledge of the other titles but I do feel you would miss a lot if you did. And conversely if you knew the series the characters and the references would have a much greater impact.
So all in all an interesting read though I feel that I have missed much of its relevance for not reading the other books in the series. I feel that I will be returning to this book at a later date once I have completed that task!
May 24, 2008
As much as I have loved this series of books, I found this to be a major disappointment. I purchased it thru Barnes and Noble (on-line) and was not aware that is was not really a "book." It is a giant comic book, now referred to in the politically correct fashion as a "graphic novel." It is actually only a short story that does nothing to add to the series and brings the main, formerly beloved character across as mostly an egotistical jerk. Do not waste your money on this.
July 23, 2012
This was a short story that converted into two comic books and finally combined back together into a graphic novel. Although many many are upset that it is not actually a "book", graphic novels do have their place. A teen with a short attention span can pick up one of the all time greats like Silverberg and eventually read the novels. I actually did enjoy this one.
December 19, 2011
Apparently I liked it but now I don't remember it.
December 28, 2014
This being the first book i've read set in this universe i fount it a bit confusing as it refers to many places and characters and is not that accessible. As for the story it was a bit average too.
January 3, 2016
sacrosanct
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews