9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gulag of Misfits, April 2, 2003
Obernewtyn (1987) is the first SF novel in the Obernewtyn series. Death fell from the skies during the Great White, leaving lingering radiation and chemical destruction over much of the land. During the Age of Chaos, those fortunate enough to live on untainted land ruthlessly slaughtered refugees who poured from the cities. Thereafter, mutations among men and beast were frequent, so the Council decreed that any who born with abnormalities were to be burned.
The Herder Faction, a fledging religious order who worshipped Lud, were appointed to perform the burnings. Gradually the law and dogma fused to condemn all technology other than simple farm implements. Later the Herder Faction announced that some mental aberrations did not show at birth, but manifested later. These mutants were called Misfits.
In this novel, Elspeth Gordie is a Misfit who has been raised in orphanages following the execution of her parents for Sedition. Now she and her brother, Jes, are residents of the Kinraide orphan home. Jes has just become a Herder assistant and wants to advance in the Herder Faction, but this career would be ruined if she is accused of being a Misfit. She cannot have any friends, due to the danger to herself and them, except Maruman, the mutant cat.
Maruman has visions, once telling her that the mountains will call for her. Another time he confessed that a Guanette bird had told him that his destiny was twinned with hers. For the rest of the time he was haughty, conceited, full of opinions about everything. Maruman was instrumental in discovering the extent of her telepathic powers; one day she scared away a bird that Maruman was stalking and Maruman said a rude comment into her mind and she responded in kind. Every since then, she has been bonded with Maruman.
Maruman predicted that a "darkOne" would come from the mountains seeking her. Elspeth knew the mountains meant Obernewtyn, the most remote work farm. An ancient institution in the Western Mountains, Obernewtyn accepted only the worst afflicted of the Misfits and those Misfits sent there were never heard of again. The Obernewtyn keeper arrived three days later.
Madame Vega detects some small part of Elspeth's ability, but that is enough to send her to Obernewtyn. There she meets other Misfits, the working staff, and the supervising triumvirate: Alexi, Ariel, and Madame Vega. Later, she meets the nominal director, Doctor Seraphim.
This post-apocalyptic novel is much like
The Stars Are Ours in several respects, including theocratic restrictions by the government and underground resistance to those repressions. Moreover, there is the element of hope at the end. Subsequent volumes in this series further develop the mental powers aspect as well as the the role of the mutated animals.
Recommended for Norton fans and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted novel of suspense and adventure in a SF setting.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It has changed my life...wonderful, July 9, 2000
Obernewtyn is fabulous. If you read it, you WILL go on and read Farseekers, Ashling and The Keeping Place. Isobelle has created the most beautiful characters, so moral and nice and interesting, very well defined, and not typical heroes - ie gods and godesses that can't be beaten. Everyone has faults, weaknessess. It is set in a post-apocalyptic place, simply called the Land. The novel centers on Elspeth Gordie, a 'Misfit' with extraordinary psychic abilities. She thinks that she is the only person in the Land that harbours powers, and hates her mutation for what it makes her in her brother's eyes (but likes being able to talk to Maruman, a wild cat). When the Mistress of Obernewtyn does a routine visit to her orphan home, Elspeth is sure that she is bound for the horrendous Obernewtyn, which is said to be a place where Misfits are tortured and studied. Many go into Obernewtyn, and none ever come out. But Obernewtyn and the never-present Doctor Seraphim, Matster of Obernewtyn, is not as bad as the tales make out...on the outside.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a pleasure to read, September 26, 2001
I have never had much desire to read post-apoctalyptic literature, so it took me awhile to actually get around to reading this book. What I found was pleasantly surprising. While the book is naturally full of anti-nuclear war sermonizing, it (thankfully) is not a story of bitter characters who spend most of their time whining about how bad things are. Instead, I found a captivating introduction to a world of survivors who must live with the consequences of "The Great White", but who are prevented from knowing anything about the era which created such weapons. In fact, the ruling Council ascribes the event to their god and hence burns all mutants as further evidence of divine punishment.
The whole series focuses on a group of so-called Misfits whose mutations are mental and have allowed them to have unusual abilities (such as talking to animals and forms of ESP). This book chronicles the events in which the characters discover their abilities and bind together to stand against those who would destroy them or use them to evil ends.
The story is told from the viewpoint of a very talented misfit, Elspeth. Her personal struggles and fears are focus point of similar aspects in other characters. It is a beautiful and deadly world in which she lives. She must face poisons from the Great White, the restrictive Council, and the hatred of mutants.
This book begins the story of the fight against such evil. Get all the books you can at once since you will want to get as much of this story in as you can. (I just wish that the publishers would be quicker about getting these published in America!)
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