SOUTHSHORE: Vol. II of THE AWAKENERS

by Sheri S. Tepper ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 15, 1987

The other half of what Tepper began in Northshore (p. 267); the uproar continues amid a welter of scheming characters and uncontrolled subplots. Pamra Don, inspired and mad, leads a great crusade of Northshore peoples to free the land of the alien, winged, carnivorous Servants of Abricor (now called ""Thraish""). In turn the Thraish plot to abduct and kill her. The Awakener Tharius Don plots with General Jondar to overthrow the Awakener bigwigs (they're in league with the Thraish) and save Pamra Don and her weird child Lila. Meanwhile, boatman Thrasne, with Medoor Babji (representative of the Noor, an oppressed people of northern Northshore), sets sail to find the fabled land of Southshore; along the way they discover some mid-River islands occupied by humans and the Treeci, sort of flightless, civilized Thraish. They also discover the secret of the Blight (it's an infestation prepared by some visiting aliens, designed to allow dead humans to live again in woody bodies). Finally, various Northshore subplots come together, as Thraish, Awakeners, Crusaders, Noor, Jondarites, etc., flail away at each other; Pamra Don burns to death despite all their efforts. Some promising ideas here and there, but wildly overcomplicated and overstuffed with uninvolving characters: a bloated and unappealing stew, only for Northshore fans who desperately need to know how it all comes out.

Pub Date: June 15, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Tor--dist. by St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION