Customer Reviews

Restoree

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is Anne McCaffrey's first published novel. Despite having been originally published decades ago, the story is only slightly dated. I think it shows how far ahead of her time she was when it came to depicting strong women in Science Fiction. The heroine and hero have attitudes that would not be out of place in a current SF book.

This book has a bit of everything in it, alien abduction, political intrigue, battles against horrific aliens, and a romance. The heroine is an earth woman who somehow finds herself on an alien planet. She slowly returns to a normal mental state to find herself in some sort of mental institution, not as a patient, but as a worker! She soon realizes that the man she is caring for is being drugged against his will and decides to save him. From that point on she becomes entangled in the political intrigues of the planet she is on and will come to play a pivotal role in the salvation of the planet, both from dangers within and from space!

"Restoree" is no literary masterpiece, but it's still great fun to read. It's the kind of book to curl up with when you want something relatively mindless but comforting and not too trashy. It's not McCaffery's strongest, but it's my favorite. The SF elements are a bit dated in concept and the characters are not too deep, but it all work wells in combination with the romance. The ugly duckling-to-swan motif is one that rings a lot of bells. The thought of waking up as a better version of yourself, saving the day, and in the process snagging the hero always has appeal.

Fans of Pern should be interested to read this early McCaffrey, published in 1967.

This book features the strong-minded heroine Sara, who finds herself suddenly on another planet with a new body and a big problem. Sara becomes involved in the politics and intrigues of her new environment. Her better nature and her fear for her new love overcome the risk that she faces as an illegal and dreaded Restoree.

The book stands up well after all this time. McCaffrey is a talented writer and the book does not read as either dated or stilted. It may not be for everyone (I preferred Pern myself) but if you like the genre, it could well turn into a McCaffrey favorite. It should appeal to McCaffrey fans, fans of Science Fiction romance, and romance readers in general. Although there are some mild sexual situations, it is safe and probably very enjoyable reading for younger readers.

This is one of the first sci-fi romance/adventures, with Sara being kidnapped by evil, man-eating aliens and carried away to a distant world where she finds adventure, love, AND a fabulous new body! This heroine is anything but weak, and guys, don't pass it up as a "romance." There's plenty of action for you here too, with space battles and male characters who are definitely "real men." Read and enjoy!

I really liked the Dragons of Pern series, and loved the Crystal Singer books, but none of them caught my attention like Restoree. I found myself absolutely unable to put the book down, even though it meant staying up into the wee hours of the morning. I read it again in the same week, which is unheard of for me. If you like McCaffrey, you'll love this.

I love this book. A new alien world, a homely librarian who is transformed into the widely admired and beautiful girlfriend of a world leader, a little romance, a happy ending, what more is there to ask for? No deep thinking or surprises in this romantic "formula" book with a sci-fi twist, just kick back and enjoy. I've re-read this book several times, most recently aloud to my 15 year old daughter, who also loved it. However, I suspect it could be catagorized as a "woman's" book, guys might not like it as well. My husband says "too much feelings, not enough blood and guts!"

This was one of the first Anne McCaffrey books I ever read. Humorous, intriguing, well written, RESTOREE covers the story of Sara, a less than perfect young woman who suddenly finds herself whisked off of Earth and transported by the Mil for their own dark uses. Sara comes out of deep shock much later to discover, much to her surprise, that she is not the patient, but an attendant TO a patient. Overhearing a suspicious conversation about Lord Harlan, the man to whom she was assigned, Sara comes to realize that she has not only been dropped into the middle of a major mystery, but she's on another Planet altogether!

What follows is a great Sci-Fi Fantasy adventure, complete with a bit of romance.

This is one of three books that a wonderful couple lent me in 1981 (as I was sick in bed with pneumonia in Bicester England). The other two were Terry Brooks break out novel "The Sword of Shanara", and CJ Cherryh's the "Pride of Channur". This was my first foray into fictional literature for fun since Jr. High School. If you have read any of these three books, you will understand why that illness changed my life forever.

These three books are so well written that I had no choice but to fall in love with reading and start a tradition of averaging one book per week ever since.

Restoree, is Sci-Fi, but be advised it is mostly romance... However, this isn't sappy romance; it is thoughtful romance with a very strong female protagonist.

If you aren't familiar with Anne McCaffrey, Restoree is a very good place to start, (then go to The Ship Who Sang, The Crystal Singer series and of course the Dragonrider books (which were more hit and miss with me, but overall an excellent series).

So here's the deal, good books can change your life, and this is a pretty darn good book!

This was a great start to Anne McCaffrey's writing career. It hooked me from the very first. The reviewer who thought it laughable that Sarah learned the language in 6 months was very wrong. You can actually learn any language in less than that time by total immersion. This remains one of my favorite books.

Anne McCaffrey is legendary in the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. This novel, which she wrote in rebellion to all the insipid female characters she read in Sci-Fi at the time, is excellent. So, I ask, why has it never been released in hardcover in the US?

All Laurell K. Hamilton's early books are being re-released in hardcover first editions. Even McCaffrey's "To Ride Pegasus" got the hardcover treatment years after it was initially released in paperback. This pivotal work deserves better!