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25 Remote Warehouse Science Fiction and Fantasy- Adventure
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The Steerswoman's Road

by Rosemary Kirstein

The Steerswoman's Road Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

If you ask, she will answer. If she asks, you must reply. A steerswoman will speak only the truth to you, as long as she knows it—and you must do the same for her. And so, across the centuries, the Steerswomen— questioning, searching, investigating—have slowly learned more and more about the world through which they wander. All knowledge the Steerswomen possess is given freely to those who ask. But there is one kind of knowledge that has always been denied them: Magic.

When the steerswoman Rowan discovers a small, lovely blue jewel of obviously magical origin, her innocent questions lead to secret after startling secret, each more dangerous than the last—and suddenly Rowan must flee or fight for her life. Or worse, she must lie.

With every wizard in the world searching for her, Rowan finds unexpected assistance. A chance-met traveler turned friend, Bel is a warrior-poet, an Outskirter, and a member of a barbaric and violent people. Or, so it would seem.

For Bel, unknowing, possesses secrets of her own: secrets embedded in her culture, in her people, in the very soil of her homeland. From the Inland Sea to the deadly Outskirts, surrounded by danger and deceit, Rowan and Bel uncover more and more of the wizards’ hidden knowledge. As the new truths accumulate, they edge closer to the single truth that lies at the center, the most unexpected secret of them all. . . .

Synopsis:

The Steerswoman and The Outskirter's Secret-two beloved novels long out of print-are once again available in one unforgettable volume, in preparation for the long-awaited sequel coming fall 2003.
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Table of Contents

The steerswoman — The outskirter's secret.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
gordonr, January 2, 2010 (view all comments by gordonr)
This series is some of the best, most thoughtful fantasy/science fiction that I have read this decade. The protagonist is a "steerswoman," someone whose job it is to travel the world and learn how it's put together. And, in the best possible sense of a cliche, all is not as it first appears.
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Jameson, October 9, 2009 (view all comments by Jameson)
With a society-building talent that merges Ursula K Leguin with Tolkien, and a healthy dose of action and philosophy, this could have been my favorite series ever. (Actually, that sentence is not as much of a book review cliche as it sounds. Leguin's sharp anthropological eye and Tolkein's heroic nobility are both purer, in their way, than Kirstein's blend; so my praise is not too overwrought.)

But Kirstein's downfall is her attraction to clever mysteries. She was one of the first in the "fantasy- that's- really- science- fiction" subgenre, so you can't blame her for the obviousness of the related mysteries, and honestly, though the reader catches on far before the characters, it's still enjoyable to watch the process. But you can fault the fact that with each new book of the series, she opens another (almost too) astonishing and clever subplot, without really resolving the previous ones. Combine that with her one- book- every- million- years pace, and one begins to wonder if she will ever finish.

Still, if you can live with that, this is an absolutely rewarding read. Her ability to infuse the most fast-paced action scenes with layers of meaning - for instance, a swordfight where the very cut-and-parry is actually a scientific test of identity and betrayal - is something that will stay with you.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780345461056
Author:
Kirstein, Rosemary
Publisher:
Del Rey Books
Location:
New York
Subject:
Science Fiction - General
Subject:
Science fiction
Subject:
Science Fiction - Adventure
Subject:
Fantasy fiction, American
Edition Number:
1st trade pbk. ed.
Series Volume:
4176
Publication Date:
July 2003
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
672
Dimensions:
8.67x5.44x1.62 in. 1.85 lbs.
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