Customer Reviews

The Keeper Of The Isis Light

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are plenty of books out there about powerful young women. In these stories the female protagonists usually either have super powers or were born as magical semi-human beings. "The Keeper of the Isis Light" is a little different than partly because the main character spends much of the book in a complete fog about her life, her capabilities, and who she truly is. The book is as much about overcoming the prejudices of others as it is about the meaning of happiness and its importance. If you're looking for a book that explores deep emotional and spiritual issues in a sci-fi context, I think you've found your match.

Olwen Pendennis was born on the planet Isis ten years ago (sixteen by Earth's sun). Living alone with only her faithful companion Guardian to keep her company, Olwen leads a rich and exciting life on her planet's surface. As the official Keeper of the Isis Light, Olwen's job is to maintain the signal that radios information about Isis's surface to Earth for future colonists. When these settlers appear one day, Olwen finds her world strangely shaken. Guardian has done his best to keep Olwen safe and happy while living on Isis, but now she must deal with other people and all the good and bad things humans can do. Through it all, Olwen discovers truths about herself and her own inner strength and abilities that she might never have found while living contentedly on her own. In the end, the reader is left wondering whether or not it's a good thing Olwen met with these colonists and, if good, how.

I was incredibly disappointed that the book flap accompanying this little novella gave away too many of the book's delightful secrets. My advice to you if you want to read this story is to go into it blind. Don't read any more of the synopsis than the one I've given you above. It'll only ruin the surprises that dot this intricate book. There are many things to love here as well. The plot is tight and well formed. Olwen never questions her happy existence until the moment that things begin to change. In many ways she's like Miranda in "The Tempest". In others, she's Caliban. Author Monica Hughes is particularly good as conjuring up a visual sense of the Isis landscape. In this story you see the planet as the heroine does and you regret (as she does) that settlers have arrived to muck it up. I also loved the Guardian in this tale. A character that professes to not feel emotions, he often belies this idea by growing agitated, touched, or worried at key moments.

Now for my favorite part of any review. The flaws! Actually, there aren't many to complain about in this book. Originally published in 1980, "The Keeper of the Isis Light" suffers from a few pre-P.C. terms. A black child, for example, is referred to as "negroid" at one point. Later, that same child (though supposedly nine years of age) acts far more like a six year old. Thus ends my summary of all flaws this book contains. As you can see, they're few in number.

Great science fiction books use metaphors and grandiose plots to discuss universal ideas. In many ways, "The Keeper of the Isis Light" is very similar to the great Sylvia Engdahl book, "Enchantress From the Stars". Both books talk about prejudice and feature incredibly strong female characters. In this book, however, there are some uniquely emotional moments. The story is written in a crisp approachable style that will never go out of date. If you've a kid interested in sci-fi or just wants a low key introduction to it, this book is the perfect offering. A book that will be well remembered for years to come (I hope).

This is a wonderful book. Beautifully written with exquisite description and characters who become so real that you remember them 6 or 7 years after you read it (I know I do). Anyone who hasn't read The Guardian of Isis and The Isis Pedlar I urge you to do so at the earliest opportunity.

Of the many books I have read in my life, a few made a truly unforgettable impression on the way I see the world.
This short novel is a true gem - a simple, entertaining, economically written story that delivers an emotional punch that leaves the sensitive reader reeling.
Unfortunately, if you have read the "card catalog description" above, I'm not sure if I can recommend the book as you will have been robbed of much of the dramatic impact. That awful "description" is more spoiler dense than any almost any other sentence I can imagine.
Ms. Hughes, where are you? Please get them to at least hide that "card catalog description" from this site.
I'm so happy that I read this book years ago in another edition.

I got all three of the Isis books about four years ago. My mom reviews books and we get a ton for free in the mail. I never really got into them, partly because mine had terrible drab and depressing covers and next to nothing on the back. The I found the first one at my cottage with an extremely interesting cover and I was hooked emediatly.

I love this book the best out of the first two I've read (I plan to finish the third today so I can't comment on it at present) because it is so unlike your usual romance imbedded in a science fiction or fantasy. Usually the plot is so complicated already that any romance works out perfectly. I not going to give any thing away but lets just say that some of the characters weren't what they seemed. I loved Guardien because he was so eager to please but so determined to do what he thought was right for Olwen at the same time. I liked Jody as well even though he didn't really act like a nine-year-old.

I have placed this book on the shelf with the rest of my absolute favourites and I hope everybody will get to read as good a science fiction as this.

Though I am currently a college student, when I first read this book in 9th grade I was captivated by the young woman who is the main character. A book that deals with preconceptions and the need for acceptance.

I loved this book, it is science fiction but it is also about companionship and belonging. I won't tell you the ending, it would spoil it.

I first found out about this novel when I was assigned it for my book report. I kept glancing back at the front cover to match it with the part of the book I was at. (I found out about this place while doing reseach for the book report.) I was a bit confused in the beginning about "Guardian" and the other things Olwen (The Keeper, and the main character of the story) was talking about. In the middle/end everything started to make sence, and that's when I really stared to get into the book and could not put it down. I thought that it was exhilarating at times. I hope to read more of Monica Hughes books soon. I think I would suggest this to anyone who enjoys a good book and anyone that can read!(by the way I'm in grade six but this book is suitable for younger/older readers aswell) I would write more but i do not want to give away the story, so please, read "The Keeper Of The Isis Light" !

I read this book some 30 years ago and never forgot it...but could not recall the title. Finally, after being haunted by it for all those decades, a librarian friend helped me find it. I was not disappointed. The shock was not there, the 2nd time reading, because I did recall most of the plot twists (a remarkable testament to the story, I'd say), but my fears that I'd reread it as an adult and be disappointed did not come true by any means. I've now ordered book #2 in the series & cannot wait to read the story of Guardian.

I thought this was a great book! Well written and thought provoking. I think it should be read in schools. We all need to learn to be more open to differences in each other. I enjoyed how she grew up and changed throughout the book and am looking forward to reading the next book.

Olwen is sixteen by Earth years, but only ten by Isis years, which is more important to her. That makes sense, since she has lived her entire life on the planet Isis, far away from Earth. In a home carved out of the rocks she lives with her Guardian, who gives her everything she ever wanted, and her pet, Hobbit. Olwen's job is to keep the beacon, the light, up to date. It sends out signals to Earth about the planet, in case others from Earth ever want to colonize. Olwen is completely happy with her near-solitary life, and she feels grateful to have the entire beautiful planet of Isis to herself.

Then, shortly after her birthday, the settlers come to colonize. That is when the trouble starts. First of all, Olwen doesn't want anyone else on her planet. She is happy to live there just with Guardian and Hobbit. Then she begins to feel curious about these people, and she develops an attachment to one, a boy a year older than her named Mark. Olwen becomes frustrated with her solitary life and with the protective suit she has to wear whenever she is around any of the colonists. She is falling in love with Mark and would like him to be able to look at her face, rather than at a protective mask.

One day by chance, Mark and Olwen are together when she does not have her protective suit on. But it is not at all like Olwen imagined. Suddenly, she is forced to confront some scary truths about herself and for the first time she questions her Guardian about the reality she has taken for granted.

The descriptions of the planet Isis were really well done. It seemed very peaceful, yet strange that Olwen would not be lonely. I really liked the ending of this book. Olwen didn't do the thing I expected she would do, which pleased me. I was confused about Guardian, though. I wasn't sure who or what he was, since I only got hints about him from Olwen.