Venturing into dangerous territory against orders, Kardith and her missing friend's brother Terricel, set off to find Avi, leaving Laureal City in turmoil after an assassination and uncovering a secret beyond their wildest imaginings. Original.
Northlight
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A beautifully constructed fantasy with characters who grow and mature before the reader's eyes and who are engagingly human while being fantastically heroic. This book is a keeper." -- Rickey Mallory --Affair de Coeur
"A style and manner reminiscent of McCaffrey's Crystal Singer series." --The Bookwatch
"An unusual saga that starts slowly but builds to a startling climax." --Sherry S. Hoy --Kliatt
"Solid characters and a well-designed world make for good reading." --Philadelphia Press
"The plot moves briskly... And the culmination quite satisfactorily evokes the sense of wonder." --Tom Easton --Analog --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
"A style and manner reminiscent of McCaffrey's Crystal Singer series." --The Bookwatch
"An unusual saga that starts slowly but builds to a startling climax." --Sherry S. Hoy --Kliatt
"Solid characters and a well-designed world make for good reading." --Philadelphia Press
"The plot moves briskly... And the culmination quite satisfactorily evokes the sense of wonder." --Tom Easton --Analog --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
From the Author
Every story contains at least one other story, sometimes in its creation, other times in how the telling affected the writer's life or what came about as a result of the completed tale. Northlight is no exception.
My first professional sale was a short story, "Imperatrix," to the very first Sword & Sorceress anthology edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley and published by DAW Books in 1984. Buoyed by the euphoria of that first sale, I embarked on a novel set in the same world. I created a race of "Weires," giant silver-coated ape-like creatures that can travel between dimensions. I had this idea of going back in time to the first contact between this race and humans, how the Weires became devoted to the "Imperial" family, people who could sense the "paths between the worlds." At least, that was the general idea.
In my typical flailing-about way, I bumbled through a rambling, disjointed approximation of a novel (which was about my skill level at the time) and sent it off to DAW. A couple of years later, to my great surprise, I received a thoughtful and encouraging rejection letter from Sheila Gilbert. Meanwhile, I had drafted another novel (Jaydium) and joined a writer's critique group. The group minced no words in telling me what was wrong with the early drafts of Jaydium, and I applied myself to the daunting task of learning to write at novel length. Finally, I sent off that book to Sheila and settled in for a long wait.
I continued to write and sell short stories, not only to Marion's anthologies but to other markets as well. By 1990, I had made my first sale to a major magazine ("Madrelita" to F & SF). The "Weiremaster" story kept calling to me. Armed with my new skills, I took out Sheila's letter and began revision. As is often the case, the story took off in directions of its own until the Weires completely disappeared. How I could lose track of eight-foot telepathic Yetis, I don't know, but between one draft and another, they wandered off to their own world.
I found myself more and more drawn into the politics and relationships of the people of "Newarth" ("New Earth" -- I cringe to admit it). I kept adding more and more fore-story, pushing the point of entry farther back in time. My group said it was all very well written and incredibly boring. Kardith (who you will meet on page 1 of this edition) didn't make her entrance until page 150, but when she did, she set the story on fire.
Two things happened about this time: I slashed those first 150 pages and I lived in France. My family had a rare opportunity to stay in a furnished house in Lyons, an adventure too marvelous to pass up. For the first time since I'd started writing seriously, I had child care most of every week day, no day job, and very few other distractions. I set up my portable computer and got to work.
"Newarth" metamorphosed Laurea. Kardith's twisted past pushed the story in new directions. Terricel opened his heart to me as I watched him grow from a young scholar to a visionary leader. The horses, especially Kardith's nameless gray mare, carried me through a landscape I'd never guessed was there. When I stood with Terricel in the northern light, I had no idea what would come next. I typed as fast as I could, just trying to keep up with the unfolding scenes.
By the time we returned to California, I had a solid revision. No Weires, no Imperial bloodlines, just a world full of wonders . . . and characters I cared deeply about. Even though it was financially terrifying, I folded up my day job to focus on writing.
Three months later, Sheila called me with an offer for Jaydium. I couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect affirmation that I was on my true path.
Here you have Northlight, the book I wrote in France, a tale of healing and adventure and some very cool horses. It came before and after that breakthrough first sale. I'm glad it stuck with me long enough for me to make it the best it could be.
As a final note, the book is dedicated to my kung fu teacher, Jimmy H. Woo. Jimmy brought kung fu san soo to the United States, and schools run by his students and their students still carry on this marvelous fighting style. Many of the techniques Kardith uses are based on moves I learned in san soo. (Not, however, the crazy leap.) Jimmy passed away while I was in France. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
My first professional sale was a short story, "Imperatrix," to the very first Sword & Sorceress anthology edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley and published by DAW Books in 1984. Buoyed by the euphoria of that first sale, I embarked on a novel set in the same world. I created a race of "Weires," giant silver-coated ape-like creatures that can travel between dimensions. I had this idea of going back in time to the first contact between this race and humans, how the Weires became devoted to the "Imperial" family, people who could sense the "paths between the worlds." At least, that was the general idea.
In my typical flailing-about way, I bumbled through a rambling, disjointed approximation of a novel (which was about my skill level at the time) and sent it off to DAW. A couple of years later, to my great surprise, I received a thoughtful and encouraging rejection letter from Sheila Gilbert. Meanwhile, I had drafted another novel (Jaydium) and joined a writer's critique group. The group minced no words in telling me what was wrong with the early drafts of Jaydium, and I applied myself to the daunting task of learning to write at novel length. Finally, I sent off that book to Sheila and settled in for a long wait.
I continued to write and sell short stories, not only to Marion's anthologies but to other markets as well. By 1990, I had made my first sale to a major magazine ("Madrelita" to F & SF). The "Weiremaster" story kept calling to me. Armed with my new skills, I took out Sheila's letter and began revision. As is often the case, the story took off in directions of its own until the Weires completely disappeared. How I could lose track of eight-foot telepathic Yetis, I don't know, but between one draft and another, they wandered off to their own world.
I found myself more and more drawn into the politics and relationships of the people of "Newarth" ("New Earth" -- I cringe to admit it). I kept adding more and more fore-story, pushing the point of entry farther back in time. My group said it was all very well written and incredibly boring. Kardith (who you will meet on page 1 of this edition) didn't make her entrance until page 150, but when she did, she set the story on fire.
Two things happened about this time: I slashed those first 150 pages and I lived in France. My family had a rare opportunity to stay in a furnished house in Lyons, an adventure too marvelous to pass up. For the first time since I'd started writing seriously, I had child care most of every week day, no day job, and very few other distractions. I set up my portable computer and got to work.
"Newarth" metamorphosed Laurea. Kardith's twisted past pushed the story in new directions. Terricel opened his heart to me as I watched him grow from a young scholar to a visionary leader. The horses, especially Kardith's nameless gray mare, carried me through a landscape I'd never guessed was there. When I stood with Terricel in the northern light, I had no idea what would come next. I typed as fast as I could, just trying to keep up with the unfolding scenes.
By the time we returned to California, I had a solid revision. No Weires, no Imperial bloodlines, just a world full of wonders . . . and characters I cared deeply about. Even though it was financially terrifying, I folded up my day job to focus on writing.
Three months later, Sheila called me with an offer for Jaydium. I couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect affirmation that I was on my true path.
Here you have Northlight, the book I wrote in France, a tale of healing and adventure and some very cool horses. It came before and after that breakthrough first sale. I'm glad it stuck with me long enough for me to make it the best it could be.
As a final note, the book is dedicated to my kung fu teacher, Jimmy H. Woo. Jimmy brought kung fu san soo to the United States, and schools run by his students and their students still carry on this marvelous fighting style. Many of the techniques Kardith uses are based on moves I learned in san soo. (Not, however, the crazy leap.) Jimmy passed away while I was in France. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A tale of many forms of love, regret, and second chances,
By
This review is from: Northlight (Paperback)
A version of this review was originally published at Goodreads and Live Journal. I read the new e-book edition.
Oh, how did I miss this when it first came out in paperback! This is a wonderful SF novel of the tradition I think of as cultural-anthropological SF. It was just re-released on e-book under the author's current writing name, Deborah J. Ross, but it's the same Northlight released in 1995 by Deborah Wheeler. If I was to sum this story up in one sentence, I would say that Northlight is a tale about the many forms of love, regret, and second chances. Kardith the Ranger is an exiled woman of the steppes who has found a home and a purpose working as a border ranger for the the country of Laurea on the planet Harth. When we meet her, she is in a panic, half-killing her beloved hill pony as she tries to reach the capital city in time to get permission to search for her partner, the Ranger Aviyya, who has gone missing in the badlands. Laurea is on the verge of war with the northern barbarians, and Kardith's superiors will not allow any ranger to go off on a fruitless rescue mission. Kardith has a slim hope she can convince their beloved leader Pateros to give her that permission -- partly because her partner Avi is the daughter of a powerful government official, a woman who saw her people through a great plague and now tries to moderate the military's influence on their peaceful land. Kardith's hope fails when a would-be assassin strikes Pateros, leaving the capital in chaos. As it turns out, Kardith has one person who believes in her and will help her. Avi's brother Terricel has grown up into a young man dangling at loose ends, relegated to his mother's shadow, his own future as a scholar threatened by his mother's power and fame. Terricel wants to help Kardith and the sister he remembers fondly. He's smothered by his mother's protection, and worried that something is rotten in Laurea -- something that the assassin's appearance reveals is ripening. Ever since he was a child, Terr has been uncomfortable in the great hall of the government, prone to "spells" that amuse those who feel nothing strange about the building. Terr has done all he can to help his mother hold the government -- now, it's time to make new choices. Terr's a person who notices things -- like Kardith's awareness of something "wrong" before the would-be assassin even struck. Kardith has a talent for recognizing "breakers" -- the heart of a group, the focus of energy, the end point of a chain of events. Together they will discover conspiracy at home, secrets beyond belief and a future poised on the brink of disaster. Where do you go when you need answers, when myth may actually be history, and some kinds of progress may destroy an entire civilization? The barbarians go to Northlight -- and in the end, so will Kardith and Terricel. The story starts with the Ranger, and this was a brilliant choice. Kardith's status as outsider turned Ranger, her hyper-aware training and her innate abilities are what tells you that something is rotten in the system -- and keeps you looking beneath the surface at every point. Things seem to take a breath once you reach Laurea and Ter's POV, but not really. Look closely -- it's a fine watch works moving with precision. Although the world is old and layered, the weight of it is light. We learn only what we need to know, even as other glimpses intrigue. You will not forget the POV characters, or the others who help and hinder them on their quest.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Characters to root for!,
By
This review is from: Northlight (Kindle Edition)
Kardith is everything you could want in a strong heroine--confident and determined, but with a past that gives her depth. Terricel has a softer strength that even he is unaware of at the beginning of the book.
Very unlikely companions that join together on a journey that is important to each of them personally and to the survival of all they hold dear. Northlight is an expertly crafted tale with many layers that is sure to entertain.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Strong characters, rich landscapes and deeply experienced life-altering events,
By SJM (aka Cookie's Mom) (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Northlight (Kindle Edition)
If you like strong female leads and beautiful landscapes, you'll enjoy Northlight by Deborah J. Ross, "a tale of healing and adventure and some very cool horses" (Northlight Introduction).
Ross cares deeply about her characters, and this is clear in her writing. The main protagonist Kardith is a tortured but beautiful soul that your heart will ache for. Kardith and her beloved gray mare take us on a journey through rich landscapes and deeply experienced life-altering events. Ross has a colourful and unique way of leading you into the world she has created. In the opening chapter, the character Kardith of the Rangers describes the landscape: "Where [the river] dumped into the Serenity, colder than winter snot, the trees bunched up as if they'd scrambled up on each other. Buildings hid among them, glass and rock as pale as weathered bone." I read this passage and felt chills up my spine. Northlight is classified as a science fiction/fantasy novel, but it is mainly a fantasy. There is a minor science fiction element. NOTE: A version of this review appeared on my blog on April 22, 2011.
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