The Selkie (Signet) [Paperback]

Charles Sheffield (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Signet (May 3, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451167791
• ISBN-13: 978-0451167798
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,684,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book should be a movie!, October 21, 2003

By 

Kelli Clark (Nampa, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Selkie (Hardcover)

I have to agree with that lady above in Florida;) I first read this book when I was 17, and appreciate it even more now that I'm in my 30s. I related to Mary's charachter since I'm a writer myself, and an artist. Jamie filled me with conflict, since his loyalty to the Elders came before everything else, even innocent human lives. In some ways I really liked him, but his uncaring murders of the women he used and pretended to love ruined what good he had in him. Petherton's endurance amazed me, and I feel sorriest for the poor pastor Walter Campbell, who was only trying to protect the people of Laxford. Only one complaint I have...Selkies and Blue Men of the Minch are two different species. Besides, if Jamie was a Selkie, then Mary could have stolen his seal skin and had control over HIM;) I'd like to see a sequel to this book very much...I might even write one myself. I'm not a MacVeagh, but I am a Stewart who has ancestral ties to Scotland...hence part of my interest. A few pictures of the charachters are in order too, especially Jamie;) If anybody wants to contact me regarding this interest in the book, please email me at: [e-mail]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book..., May 22, 2004

By 

Julie C. Lyons "tinker_bell" (Folsom, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Selkie (Hardcover)

I stumbled across this book in a used book store. The title is what caught me. I found it in the same section that Peter Benchley's JAWS is located, and I don't normally have an interest in these kinds of books.
Well, I finished it in about 3 days - and I have a toddler! :D
This book was very well written and like others have mentioned, I was torn between not liking Jamie, and then wanting a Selkie of my own! It would have been a nice twist to see him actually fall in love with Mary, however, the reality is that he was just using her and the other women for one purpose.
Again, very good book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the few books I've read several times, February 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Selkie (Signet) (Paperback)

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since this book first came out. I've since read it several more times since 1982, something I rarely do with a book. I don't usually read fantasy either but "The Selkie" is a fantastic book. Some of its high points: very unique and unusual subject matter, sexy, good character development (even the minor characters from the pub are interesting), and excellent descriptive passages of the remote Scottish hinterlands. I recommend this book, it's an entertaining read. Like all good fiction, it puts you into its own little world. They've even included a map inside the front page! Now if only they would have included a sample of Mary's strange Lochinver perfume...