The Doors of the Universe [Library Binding]

Sylvia Louise Engdahl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1981

Children of the Star trilogy, Book Three. Noren had found faith in the Prophecy's fulfillment in the face of overwhelming odds. Yet the more he learned of the grim truth about his people's situation, the less possible it seemed that their world could ever be changed. It would take more drastic steps than anyone imagined to restore their rightful heritage--and he alone could do what was needed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Although it is the third book of a trilogy, The Doors of the Universe stands powerfully by itself as a quest for survival on a planet that is basically alien. . . . This is a contemplative book, but one never gets bored with the story and it haunts the reader long after it is finished.” —Journal of Reading

“This Star Shall Abide and Beyond the Tomorrow Mountains serve as solid foundation for this powerful culminating volume that treats in far greater depth the philosophical/ethical/religious issues raised in the earlier books. . . . Almost as much a character study (albeit of a very special individual) as science fiction, Engdahl’s latest story is certain to appeal to the thoughtful good reader.” —Booklist

“More than stands on its own as an exquisite story of the lonely quest for knowledge and the burden of unsought leadership. Noren is . . . the ultimate ‘different drummer.’” —Voice of Youth Advocates

“Engdahl again proves herself a master storyteller in this third book of her sci-fi trilogy. As a converted sci-fi hater, I am again impressed with the depth of ideas that she explores. . . . The constant twists and expansions of plot keep the reader’s attention from lagging.” —Provident Book Finder, Scottsdale, Pennsylvania

“The last few chapters become compelling, showing a power and mythic ‘rightness.’” —Locus

“[The novels were first] marketed as young adult books, but there is nothing juvenile about them. . . . Engdahl tells an important and pertinent story. . . . The writing is plain and direct, the only lyricism in the stunning liturgical language she invents.” —San Jose Mercury News

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Author

This novel is the third volume of a trilogy and is included in the out-of-print omnibus edition Children of the Star . It is also available in a Kindle edition. The omnibus was issued as adult science fiction, although these novels were originally published as Young Adult; the second and third are best liked by readers of high school age or older.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 262 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (March 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689308078
• ISBN-13: 978-0689308079
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,830,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the author of eight science fiction novels, most recently two adult novels, STEWARDS OF THE FLAME and its sequel PROMISE OF THE FLAME. There's a lot of information about them at www.stewardsoftheflame.com. My six Young Adult novels (which are also enjoyed by adults) were originally pubished by Atheneum in the 1970s but have all been reissued by different publishers, in both hardcover and paperback, in the 21st century. CHILDREN OF THE STAR contains my trilogy THIS STAR SHALL ABIDE (aka HERITAGE OF THE STAR), BEYOND THE TOMORROW MOUNTAINS and THE DOORS OF THE UNIVERSE -- although these were originally published as YA novels, the omnibus was issued in 2000 by Meisha Merlin as adult SF. A new hardcover edition of my YA novel ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS, a Newbery Honor Book, was published by Walker in 2001 and an updated hardcover edition of the related novel THE FAR SIDE OF EVIL (which is for older teens) in 2003; both are also available in Firebird paperback editions. The updated hardcover edition of JOURNEY BETWEEN WORLDS, a romance for teenage girls, was published by Putnam in 2006 and is also available as a Firebird paperback.

I now work as a freelance editor of nonfiction anthologies. These appear in my list of titles but they consist of reprinted material by other authors; I write only the introductions.

Besides my main website about my writing and the Stewards of the Flame website, I maintain a large Space subsite -- which can be reached either from my home page or by going directly to www.sylviaengdahl.com/space/ -- and "Space Quotes to Ponder" (www.spacequotes.com) which is a collection of quotations from well-known people, and some not well known, about why it's essential for our species to expand into space.