This Star Shall Abide [Paperback]

Sylvia Louise Engdahl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1979

Now available separately again, this classic science fiction novel -- Book One of the Children of the Star trilogy -- is enjoyed by readers age 12 and up as well as by older teens and adults who go on to read the other two books (Beyond the Tomorrow Mountains and The Doors of the Universe, also now available as e-books). It was the winner of a Christopher Award, given for "affirmation of the highest values of the human spirit."

Noren knew that his world was not as it should be -- it was wrong that only the Scholars, and their representatives the Technicians, could use metal tools and Machines. It was wrong that only they had access to the mysterious City, which he had always longed to enter. Above all, it was wrong for the Scholars to have sole power over the distribution of knowledge. The High Law imposed these restrictions and many others, though the Prophecy promised that someday knowledge and Machines would be available to everyone. Noren was a heretic. He defied the High Law and had no faith in the Prophecy's fulfillment. But was defiance enough, or could some way be found to make it come true?

This book was originally published in hardcover by Atheneum in the US as Young Adult fiction, and by Gollancz in the UK (the UK edition appeared under the title Heritage of the Star). In 2000 the entire trilogy Children of the Star was republished as adult science fiction in one volume, in both hardcover and softcover editions, by Meisha Merlin. A new paperback edition of this book alone was published by Ad Stellae Books in 2010.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Tension-filled, beautiful and haunting.” —Commonweal

“Both logically and consistently suspenseful.... This Star will Abide a good deal longer than most here today, gone tomorrow sci-fi.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An excellent plot and remarkable character development make this tale of the future highly satisfying and thought-provoking.” —Top of the News, American Library Association

“This is not the electronic-light-flashing-exterminate-him-thing from outer space type of science fiction. It is an allegory which poses one of the most heart-searching dilemmas of the human race, perhaps in the C. S. Lewis tradition. I mean Perelandra rather than Narnia.... This is a thought-provoking book distantly related to Lord of the Rings and The Glassbead Game, and may appeal to a similar readership.” —The Junior Bookshelf, London

“Superior future fiction concerning the fate of an idealistic misfit, Noren, who rebels against his highly repressive society.... The attention of mature sci-fi readers will be held by the skillful writing and excellent plot and character development.” —School Library Journal

“A powerful novel for any science fiction buff.... Technology, truth, knowledge and freedom are words given new meanings.” —North American Moravian

“In another superior and thoughtful science fiction novel, the author has created a believable civilization ... on a far-off planet in a far-distant time.... What happens to the hero Noren when he forces admission to the inner city makes for fascinating reading.” —Chicago Daily News

“This is more than an exceptionally fine book about outer space. It is a wonderful book, perhaps telling the subtle story of many faiths. Watch for this for awards.” —Fresno Bee --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Author

This novel is in print in the recent omnibus edition CHILDREN OF THE STAR (Meisha Merlin, 2000) which you can find by clicking on my name. The individual novels of the trilogy will never appear separately again, as the story is best read as a whole. The omnibus was issued as adult science fiction, although these novels were originally published as Young Adult; the second and third are best liked by readers of high school age or older.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co; Stated First Edition edition (May 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689704585
• ISBN-13: 978-0689704581
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,702,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the author of eight science fiction novels, most recently two adult novels, STEWARDS OF THE FLAME and its sequel PROMISE OF THE FLAME. There's a lot of information about them at www.stewardsoftheflame.com. My six Young Adult novels (which are also enjoyed by adults) were originally pubished by Atheneum in the 1970s but have all been reissued by different publishers, in both hardcover and paperback, in the 21st century. CHILDREN OF THE STAR contains my trilogy THIS STAR SHALL ABIDE (aka HERITAGE OF THE STAR), BEYOND THE TOMORROW MOUNTAINS and THE DOORS OF THE UNIVERSE -- although these were originally published as YA novels, the omnibus was issued in 2000 by Meisha Merlin as adult SF. A new hardcover edition of my YA novel ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS, a Newbery Honor Book, was published by Walker in 2001 and an updated hardcover edition of the related novel THE FAR SIDE OF EVIL (which is for older teens) in 2003; both are also available in Firebird paperback editions. The updated hardcover edition of JOURNEY BETWEEN WORLDS, a romance for teenage girls, was published by Putnam in 2006 and is also available as a Firebird paperback.

I now work as a freelance editor of nonfiction anthologies. These appear in my list of titles but they consist of reprinted material by other authors; I write only the introductions.

Besides my main website about my writing and the Stewards of the Flame website, I maintain a large Space subsite -- which can be reached either from my home page or by going directly to www.sylviaengdahl.com/space/ -- and "Space Quotes to Ponder" (www.spacequotes.com) which is a collection of quotations from well-known people, and some not well known, about why it's essential for our species to expand into space.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A science fiction triumph, February 28, 2000

By 

Carrie Laben (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Star Shall Abide (Paperback)

Why is all of my very favorite science fiction out of print?

Ah, well, do whatever you have to to dig up a copy of This Star Shall Abide. It's an amazing otherworldly tale of a society wherein superstition and tradition are followed as rigidly as possible, for survival's sake, and how that society deals with a man who is driven to question even at the risk of all his dreams.

Like The Giver, this story is sophisticated enough for an adult audience, but nothing is barring intelligent kids from reading it (except perhaps that their parents might not want them thinking too hard about some of the ideas about the nature of authority and the nobility of independence.)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best, January 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: This Star Shall Abide (Paperback)

This is probably the best novel I have ever read (out of several thousand) - not just the best SF novel or best young adult novel, but simply the best. It weaves philisophical points about the nature of truth and scientific method into a thrilling adventure of defiance to a represive regeme, with many surprise plot twists. I have a copy that I have saved for over 4 years and will save for another 6 to be able to give it to my niece at the appropriate age.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Compelling, January 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: This Star Shall Abide (Paperback)

BEing an avid Science-fiction lover, I was gleeful when I found this book. I first read Enchantress from the Stars, then the Far Side of Evil. Then I moved into the Star triology. I can't say what happened in the 2nd book because my library didn't have it. This book is captivating and wonderful and delicious in everyway. I recommend it to any person who calls themself a true science fiction fan like myself.