Razor's Edge (Sholan Alliance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lisanne Norman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1997 | Series: Sholan Alliance

Still adjusting to the revelations about its long-buried past, the Sholan race must now also face the increasing numbers and independence of the new human-Sholan telepathic pairs. Meanwhile, Carrie, Kusac, Kaid, and T?Chebbi are sent to the planet Jalna on a rescue mission that will see them caught up in the midst of a local revolution...even as they uncover a shocking truth that threatens both of their species!

Editorial Reviews

Review

The fourth novel in Lisanne Norman's "Sholan Alliance" is a fascinating science fiction work that provides in-depth insight into various species inhabiting the universe. To Ms. Norman's credit, all the species seem very authentic and the story line is fast-paced and fun to read. Fans of cultural exploration of otther worlds will enjoy this entire series.
--BookReview.com

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: DAW (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886777666
• ISBN-13: 978-0886777661
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 15th February, destined, according to my mother, to be a Valentine present for my father.

"Strong-willed, independent, a whirlwind, a dreamer, she lives in another world." These phrases followed me around from my earliest days. They were partly right: I had grander plans than a world, though, I was all ready creating the universe of the Sholan Alliance, where magic, Warriors, and science all co-exist.

Following my dreams, and the sun, I moved to the USA 5 years ago. I live in a menagerie and am owned by 2 cats, Ramesses and Bast, and a very furry dog called Domino.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally the Mission, January 23, 2003

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Razor's Edge (Sholan Alliance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Razor's Edge is the fourth novel in the Sholan Alliance series, following Fire Margins. The initial work in this series is Turning Point.

In the previous volume, Kiad formed a Triad with Carrie and Kusac and they have walked the Fire Margins. This trance state has taken them back in time to just before the Cataclysm, where they have met ancient Sholans, including one who will become the god Vartra. They have also sent Tallinu, a young cub who will become Kaid, forward in time to be raised as a foundling and have brought back the Valtegan General, Kezule, and his dupe Kyak to Khezi'ipik, the ancient Valtegan hatching grounds. Kyak has been faced with the Valtegan who had pretended to be his god and caused him to raise a jihad, the Elders have declared Kyak a false prophet, and the desert tribes have repudiated the Kezule worshippers. Kaid has Challenged Ghezu, Guildmaster of the Brotherhood, for his treasonous acts. The Fire Margins have advanced Carrie's pregnancy, so Kaid and Kusac have delivered the cub in an aircar on the way home from the desert.

On Jalna, a Keissan team, with Sholan support, has penetrated Lord Killian's castle to find the contents of a wrecked Valtegan shuttle. There they accidentally release two Sholans, Rezac and Zashou, from a stasis capsule where they have been trapped since the time of the Cataclysm. Before they could escape, the team was detected and held captive by the Jalnians.

In this novel, the recon team on Jalna pretends to rebuild the shuttle laser system while awaiting rescue and Rezac has vivid dreams of his life prior to the Cataclysm. On Shola, the Brotherhood interrogates General Kezule and plants an agent, Keeza Lassah, in his cell. The En'shalla Clan is formally recognized by the Clan Council and is ceded the long abandoned Valsgarth estate; Kusac and Carrie are the Clan Lords and the clan members include all current and future mixed Leska pairs as well as the Vartra Brothers previously assigned as guardians for such pairs. Kusac formally registers Kaid as the third of their Triad and the three of them start planning for a rescue operation on Jalna. Kiad is troubled as his early childhood memories resurface and, having more visions of Vartra as both the man and the god, he moves to Stronghold to resolve his conflicts. A human archaeological team moves onto the estate and supervises the monastery dig.

This novel bridges the transition from the personal problems of the En'shalla clan members to the interstellar problems of the Sholan Alliance. Now that the immediate problems are solved, or at least being managed, the En'shalla Clan begins to fulfill their function as special operatives for Alien Relations. Obviously, their first mission will be to Jalna.

A reviewer has noted that story lines start in one book and are resolved in a later volume. First, this is a technique used by accomplished writers to ease the readers into situations instead of dropping them -- kerplunk -- into a new complication without warning. Second, this technique mirrors real life, where most problems start small and are only solved -- assuming that they are solved -- after a great deal of hand-waving, finger-pointing, head-scratching, and so forth.

Another reviewer has questioned the term "gestalt". It is a German world used by the Gestalt School of perceptual psychology to refer to "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts" phenomena in pattern recognition; for example, a smiley face is recognizable as a face even by very young infants, yet it lacks many of the characteristics of a human face. Thus, Carrie and Kusac can form a relationship that is much stronger together than as individuals.

Recommended for all Norman fans and anyone who enjoys tales of interpersonal relationships and problem solving in a SF setting.

-Arthur W. Jordin

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!, January 5, 2001

By 

Beth Case (Lubbock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Razor's Edge (Sholan Alliance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm also a little surprised by some of the negative comments. I have read the first four books in this series in a week and a half -- I just couldn't put them down! The only reason laundry is getting done is because I done yet have the next one...

You definitely need to start at the beginning, though. This series is not one of those where you can pick up a book in the middle of the series and have any idea what's going on. It's more like one really long book -- don't expect things to be resolved at the end of each book.

Yes, there is a lot about relationships. Yes, there is love and romance. So what? There is also political intrigue. And just enough mystery. I'm sick of SF books which are so technical you need an engineering degree to have a clue about what is going on. There are a lot of characters, but if you start with the first book, they are introduced slowly so it's not confusing.

Bottom line: I haven't been sucked this deeply into a series since...well, ever. I can't wait until I get the next one!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!!, January 25, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Lake Charles, La.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Razor's Edge (Sholan Alliance) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read some of the other reviews on this book and was really shocked! Well here it is! I loved the charactors and the plot.So many times I read a book and think, "Is this all there is? What happened to-Whoever or whatever? Very few authors have the Guts to carry a storyline this many booksand still have me pre-ording the next one as soon as it comes out!-and rereading the prior books to more enjoy the new book! Lisanne- Please keep the books coming! These books in your Sholon series reminds me of the phrase,"Where do you want to go today?" They are a lovely escape for a quiet moment to relive stress and bring a smile! Keep Up The Good Work!