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5.0étoiles sur 5
Seeking the Before People, Mars 22 2004
No Night Without Stars is a post-apocalyptic novel that takes place three centuries after the cataclysm that caused the Dark Time. When the Earth danced, mountains belched fire and sea waves hammered the land, many animals and countless men had perished. The cold and great choking clouds of evil air killed many more. Only a handful of men and animals survived here and there.After the skies cleared once again, there were changes. Some animals grew larger, like the clever and adaptable koyots who became riding animals for the Mobs. And the Traders spoke of distant species of men who had grown into giants. In this novel, Sander left Jak's Mob to search for the secret of working the strange metals found among the ruins of the Before People. Together with Rhin, his mount, Sander came East seeking the ancient ruins where such metals were found. He finds a village by the sea that has been attacked by the Sea Shark slavers. Although he only takes some food and tools from the village, a survivor tracks him down during the night and questions him. The next day, Fanyi finds him again under the open sky. She and her companions, the fishers Kai and Kayi, had been away when the raiders attacked Padford. Now, as the village shaman, she works to pay back the blood debt. She tells Sander that her foreseeing has shown their paths to run together, following her pendant toward the Great Place of the Before People. In this story, Sander, Fanyi and their animal companions trek north and east, crossing forests, rivers and dry sea beds. They discover strange and dangerous new species, demolished cities, and ocean bottoms littered with huge bones, dead ships and ancient ruins. Eventually, they find the cache of old knowledge for which they are searching and face therein a danger greater than any other they have encountered. This story has many of the author's signature elements. Two young persons and their mutated animals are engaged in a quest that takes them through ruins, tunnels and mountains of debris. They find an ancient and mysterious machine with mental powers which presents a danger to humanity. Despite learning that their hopes have been based on mistaken ideas, they persevere anyway and overcome all obstacles to emerge triumphantly and with new found wisdom. This is not one of the author's major works, but is still an enjoyable read. Recommended for Norton fans and for anyone else who enjoys quest tales among the ruins of civilization. -Arthur W. Jordin
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