Customer Reviews

Gameplayers of Zan

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I read the "Ler" trilogy when it was first published in the late '70s and thought that it was excellent then. Recently, I found the books again and re-read them. If anything, I am even more impressed now than I was then. This was the second book published, but serves as a "prequel" to the first, "The Warriors of Dawn". My edition contains a note from the publisher claiming that three years were spent writing it, which would indicate that Foster started it a year before "Warriors" was published; and in fact "Warriors" contains a major spoiler for "Gameplayers". For this reason, I strongly recommend reading this book first. "The Gameplayers of Zan" is about the ler, an artificially created offshoot of Home sapiens. Although Foster never uses the word, they resemble elves in that they are slightly smaller than humans and are unable to grow any bodily hair "lower than their eyebrows". While not immortal, they live longer than humans but have a correspondingly low birthrate. Finally, they live a decidedly rustic life. The story takes place on Earth in the year 2550, but life in the ler reservation strongly resembles that of present day Quakers. Prior to my re-reading it after 20 years, the most memorable part of this book was the ler themselves. They are one of the most fully realized non-human races that I can recall. As Tolkien did in the Lord of the Rings, Foster devotes many pages to discussions of language and lifestyle yet leaves you wishing for even more. And although the ler are much more alien than hobbits ever were, Foster succeeds in taking the reader inside their minds, so that even when they act in non-human ways, the reader understands exactly why. Now that I have read it again, I am most impressed with the plot. Though the ler are living in an Eden, a snake has secretly made its home among them and planted the seeds of evil. One of my biggest complaints with the whole "Star Wars" trilogy is that although Darth Vader keeps urging Luke to join the Dark Side, you never see any reason why Luke would spend even a second considering doing so. "The Gameplayers of Zan" does not have this problem; by the climax of the book the protagonist will discover that his species is in mortal danger, and its salvation may require him to acquiesce to the desires of a murderous madman. In summary, I feel that this book is the equal to any science fiction I have ever read. I do not know how it managed to avoid nominations for the Hugo or Nebula awards, but the fact that it is out of print is a crime, especially when I compare it to contemporaneous stories that did get nominations. From checking old Usenet postings, I see that M. A. Foster only wrote 8 books, the last being published in 1985 when he was only 46. I don't know what happened to him, but I for one certainly miss him.

I have been reading SF for 35 years, and this is one of the best science fiction books I have read. The other reviewers of this and Foster's "Warriors of Dawn" are right - intelligent SF books, with fascinating plots and wonderful atmosphere. It beats me why they are not better known; they are head & shoulders above most of the pulp that is called SF. Some publisher should show some brains and reissue them! I was excited to learn from the other reviews that there may be a third book in the "Ler Series" - if so, would someone please let me know!? Thanks!

A rare book in any style,....especially science fiction. Few books have both the scientific depth and human-alien development with credibility. A joy to read...follow up with the other 2 books in the trilogy.

There is so much to this novel, it's hard to decide what to talk about. I must summarize up front by saying this is Foster's best work, and as a writer, he is right up there with the best of the rest.

In "Gameplayers," centuries have passed since the experimentation with human genetics produced the Ler, and the Earth is now shared between the densely-populated humans and their highly-intelligent but less fecund offspring. The Ler have built a complex, and largely incomprehensible society, but all this is in jeopardy, as the humans covet most of what space the Ler have.

The Ler, impeccably described by Foster in a most entertaining way, are, in secret, in the process of creating an interstellar ship that will take many of them off-earth. This ship is like nothing you've ever heard of: evolving as the Ler tend it. And when it unexpectedly comes to life during the watch of a young and unprepared cadet, she must bend her mind in order to save the project. Something breaks in the process, and only a former lover (our hero) can save her, the ship, and the Ler race.

The climax is astonshing, but getting there is even more fun. This is a "must get".

This little gem has been on my bookshelf since the mid-80's, and about every three years or so I pick it up and indulge myself by re-reading every word. It remains a stellar example of how not to write like everyone else. It's engaging and thought-provoking, and one of those rare books that invites you to completely lose yourself in the storyline and the characters. I can't recommend this book more highly.

This is one of the most complex, compelling sagas of the far future I have ever read, and I've read a LOT of science fiction, including most of the "classic age" authors like Heinlein, Asimov, Clement, and Clarke. The characters are so realistic it's hard to return to "reality" after finishing any of Foster's books, and this is no exception. Read it!

Now here's some good news for those fans who have been trying to find a copy of this book since it went out of print a couple of decades ago: it's back, and as part of a one-volume edition of the three "Ler" books, called "The Book of The Ler", available right here on Amazon. Enjoy!

I first read this when it was released 10 years ago and it remains one of my five favourite science fiction novels. My copy was permanently borrowed 5 years ago andyet the characters are as clear in my mind as if I had read it last week. The setting is beautifully crafted with no detail out of place and scenes so well constructed that you step into them as you read. An excellent murder mystery, a great love story, well told and sci-fi to boot. This book has everything.

This book is a fabulous read, breathtakingly brilliant in both conception and execution. One of my all-time favorites, the kind of thing I would take to a desert isle and deconstruct and reconstruct, just to find out how the author put together a world filled with such delicate intricacies . .