Customer Reviews

Beyond Corista (Shadowside Trilogy, The)

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Oriannon and her friends barely managed to escape the danger on Corista and are now headed to a way station. Oriannon's mentor, Jesmet, has given her a mission: warn the different way stations that the Troikans are coming. Her friends aren't as supportive as she'd like, and soon Oriannon wonders if the threat is real.

This story stands alone fine apart from the trilogy. In fact, it might be better if you haven't read the first two. Elmer creates a fascinating space world of way stations and different races. This book didn't take place on Corista at all, though. The story seemed to end too soon. As the third book in a trilogy, I wanted a bit more closure, especially as to what was happening on Corista. Margus is my favorite character and I wanted to see more of him. Oriannon struggles to do the right thing and learns some good lessons about forgiveness and obedience in the face of opposition. This was a fun trilogy that I recommend to teens who love science fiction.

Beyond Corista is the third book in The Shadowside Trilogy; I think Elmer did a pretty good job of making it quite possible to read book three without having read the first two. However, I'm sure it would make a lot more sense if I had read the first two!

The novel is about a girl named Oriannon on a planet called Corista. In the preceding novels there has been a kind of civil war that has killed off most of the planet's ruling party, with the exception of Oriannon's father. Oriannon and her two friends, Margus and Wist, are aboard a spaceship along with her badly injured dad and their enemy, the woman who spearheaded the uprising. Oriannon's mission is to pass news of the uprising on to the Way Stations that orbit the planet. She is to warn them of the alien race that is behind Corista's problems and whose goal is to wipe out the Way Stations as well. But one Way Station completely disappears before they get to it, they barely escape with their lives from the second, and the third is so into peace and unity that they ignore the message. With the alien race on their heels, Oriannon and her friends (along with the enemy in her own spaceship) have difficulty getting anyone to listen.

I'd recommend this novel to teens, with the caveat that they should start with the first book!

Oriannon Hightower is thrown into a situation of full leadership as her dying father and several supporters are leaving their beloved Corista to reach out to warn other worlds of impending dome. Sola, a blind enemy happens to be on their ship as well.

Oriannon learns quickly of forgiveness, betrayal and decision making as they travel as a little rag tag group. The pilot stone guides them with it's songs of praise to Jesmet who was killed in the uprising and is her mentor. She tries to convince others that he still lives and will bring them successfully home.

I found this a little hard to follow and repetitive at times, but was fascinated with what Mr. Elmer did with the character Jesmet. I believe young readers may enjoy this trilogy. I haven't read the other two books and that may have been what the problem was in staying with it. Otherwise, it was enjoyable and the author did a good job in his creation of other worlds.

This book surprised me. I was a little afraid when I first started this book, I stopped and handed it off my thirteen year old son, thinking it would be better for him than for me. Boy am I glad I got it back from him.

This novel broke all my rules. First, it's the third book in a series and I didn't read the first two, which I thought would be a set back. But I had no problems jumping right into the story and connecting with the characters.

The second rule it broke for me is that I normally don't read YA. I've read a Margaret Haddix Peterson book once but thought it was a fluke that I liked it. This book is not written as basic as Peterson's books so it didn't feel like YA.

The third rule it broke is the face that it's Sci-Fi. Now don't get me wrong, I love watching sci-fi and everything from Mork and Mindy to Star Trek to Star Wars. I just don't read sci-fi too often. Ok, none that I remember.

I think the best thing is that Elmer laid the Christian symbolism on thick, but it wasn't annoying. I know it was done so that younger readers could catch the symbolism but it was tastefully done. I loved the Pilot Stone and Jesmet. And I particularly love the way Elmer showed that biblical truths can transcend time and space. Oriannon's encounter Alymas was quite beautiful.

I would recommend this book to any tweener, especially boys. Now I can give the book back to my son.

A la C.S. Lewis, Robert Elmer weaves a fascinating tale containing intrigue, unlikely alliances, struggles, and friendship. Throughout the story, he weaves in spiritual analogies that demonstrate God's mercy and love.

Following a harrowing ordeal on her home planet Corista, Oriannon, the daughter of a Coristan elder, together with her friends, Wist and Margus steal a shuttle and inadvertently save the life of Sola Minnick, the planet's dictator who perceives herself as the true savior of Corista. They find shelter on Asylum 1, an outpost of scribes. Oriannon receives a vision from her mentor, Jesmet, whom only she can see, that the Troikans are on their way to destroy Corista and the outposts.

Sola continues to create problems for Oriannon, and she wonders if her mercy was misplaced. Facing disbelief and ridicule, Oriannon's task is made even more difficult by the death of her father, injured in the escape. Determines to be faithful to Jesmet's instructions, Oriannon is warns the people. Along the way, some listen. Some want to learn more about Jesmet. Some believe Oriannon should be the true leader of Corista. Some are drawn to the Pilot Stone she carries and its beautiful music.

I had a difficult time following the book, but that may have been because this is the third in the series. Even so, the read was enjoyable. Robert Elmer is a gifted writer. Old and young alike can relate to Oriannon's struggles. Second-guessing an act of kindness which proves to be a thorn in the flesh and the sacrifice of following the call of Christ, in this case Jesmet.

After a narrow escape from her home planet Corista, Oriannon and her friends Wist and Margus seek refuge on Asylum 1, an outpost of scribes. But there are a few problems: they've brought their enemy, Sola Minnik, along with them. And something strange is happening at the outpost.

Oriannon's mentor, Jesmet, visits her in a vision and reveals to her the real threat to the survival of Corista: the Troikans. He charges Oriannon with spreading a warning to the other outposts.

But when Oriannon repeats Jesmet's message to the masses, it hardly goes according to her expectations. If she tries to carry out Jesmet's plan, it may cost more than her life. But if she is silent, the Troikans may destroy everyone anyway. She must find a way to stop them, even if she has to do it alone.

Oriannon's internal struggles added a lot of depth to the story. The characters they met along the way were really fun and different. I liked the Troikan culture/descriptions. Definitely worth a read.

Beyond Corista is Book 3 in the Shadowside Trilogy, which chronicles the journeys of fifteen-year-old Oriannon, daughter of a Coristan elder. At this point I have not read the other two books in the series, but when we first meet Oriannon in this story, she and her friends are fleeing away from Corista, their planet, with government security chasing after. Also on board is Sola, who previously tried to become Corista's dictator and was intent on ridding the planet of one of its races of people.

As the journey progresses, Oriannon is visited three times in visions by her Mentor Jesmet, who was killed by the government. He gives her instructions to travel to outlying space stations to warn of the danger from a conquering enemy. Oriannon's friends become increasingly skeptical of the messages from Jesmet, since no one else can see him. Still they fly on, encountering various types of opposition on the stations they visit. The mention of Jesmet invariably leads to conflict.

But along the way, Oriannon also meets people who want to hear her message and learn of Jesmet. These individuals help her, each in their own way, and many are touched by the music that emanates from the Pilot Stone she carries. There are many spiritual overtones in what is essentially a space opera story, but it's done with a light touch. Over all arcs Oriannon's hope to return to Corista and establish a lasting peace, with help from Jesmet and the people she encounters on her journey.

I admit I was a bit lost at times, but I'm sure that's because this is the third book in a continuing story. It certainly makes interesting reading and is suitable for young teens also. I recommend this series for anyone wanting sci-fi with distinct inspirational tones, and anyone looking for an epic space journey. Here you'll find danger, adventure and the saving of an entire society.

This book tells the story of Oriannon Hightower, a young woman from a plant named Corista. The story starts with her and her friends on the run from Coristan security. They've apparently stolen a shuttle and managed to kidnap the planet's despotic dictator. But a new threat has invaded their system, one that has destroyed an asylum station. Now Ori has been sent on a mission to warn the other stations. The mission was given to her by Jesmet, her former mentor who apparently died and came back to life. Can Ori fulfill her mission? Can she warn the other asylum stations of the on-coming Troikan threat?

I had a bit of a problem getting into this book, but that's because it is the third book of a trilogy and I haven't read the first two. I got the feeling that the second book ended on a high point and Beyond Corista picked up where it left off. At the same time, figuring out the events from the first two books (or the relevant parts) isn't that difficult. Elmer makes sufficient reference to them that a reader could conceivably pick this book up and follow the action. But I think it would probably be better to read the other books first. I suspect that the story would fit a bit better in its larger context.

Elmer's worlds and creatures are very interesting. Wist the Owling, Alymas the Translucent, the Makabi, and especially the Troikans, are colorful and fascinating. The Troikans especially intrigued me. The fact that the planet Corista seems to have a slower rotation than Earth's fascinated me as well. I can only guess about that; this didn't really come into play in this book.

My only real complaint is the way the book ended. It didn't have a whole lot of finality, especially as the final book in a trilogy. It seemed more like Elmer was leaving things open for a fourth book. Maybe there will be one. But given that this was a trilogy, I thought a slightly "punchier" ending would have been better. That's probably just my own taste, though.

So it's a good book, definitely worth a read, especially if you know any young sci-fi fans.

Robert Elmer is a most unique author. He is equally at home writing a tender love story as a young adult fiction series about another universe, another world. Beyond Corista is the third book in The Shadowside Trilogy. Some sequels disappoint readers by not taking them on as grand a journey as the first book, The Shadowside books do not. Each book begins where the last one left off and the action and adventure grows with each successive book.
Beyond Corista begins with Oriannon and her friends Margus and Wist traveling through space on some unknown mission guided only by the glowing red stone that sings to Oriannon's heart. They have an unwelcome guest with them, Sola, who is now blind and bitter. Oriannon would like nothing better than to drop Sola off in some obscure planet, but her mentor, Jesmet, always taught forgiveness. As they travel from planet to planet they are to give the inhabitants the message that the Troikans are coming to destroy Corista. When warnings go unheeded, doubt sets in, and even Oriannon begins to wonder if her visions are nothing more than hallucinations.
This book completes the Shadowside Trilogy and will grab the reader from page one. There are new planets and new creatures and challenges for the three friends. The book can be read as a standalone. However, if you would like the full story I would recommend the entire trilogy which includes, Trion Rising and The Owling.