EXILE ON VLAHIL

by Ardath Mayhar ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 18, 1984

A fluttery, half-baked little sf parable, from the author of the dreadful Warlock's Gift (1982). Young Ila, exiled to the distant planet Vlahil by the ruthless computer-ruled Instrumentality for the crime of nonconformity, finds herself in a vegetarian paradise decreed by the telepathic, bird-like, musical Via and the music-loving, mute, teddy-bear-like Ered. Soon in communication with the aliens via her faithful computer, Alice, Ila finds that a human scout ship has crash-landed and that the occupants, a couple of scared kids trained to brutality by the Instrumentality, are slaughtering the peaceful animals. (Meanwhile, the younger generation of Via are making rebellious noises, but nothing comes of it.) So the Oldest Ered and the Via, after consulting the Gods (they inhabit a higher dimension), put a force field around the scout ship; and Ila makes contact with the kids, proceeding to teach them the error of their ways--an appropriately rudimentary conclusion to a generally thoughtless performance. Juvenile gush.

Pub Date: May 18, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION