Six Moon Dance [Import] [Paperback]

Sheri S Tepper (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 460 pages
• Publisher: New York, Avon Books, 1998; Advance copy edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0006511872
• ISBN-13: 978-0006511878
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,491,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute gem, October 6, 2000

By 

Steve Benner "Stonegnome" (Lancaster, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Six Moon Dance (Mass Market Paperback)

There are those who say that Sheri Tepper has only one story to tell and that she tells it over and over again in her books. There is a degree of truth to that statement. Certainly, in "Six Moon Dance", Tepper spins her usual futuristic speculative yarn of mankind threatening a wider planetary intelligence through ignorance and greed, in a world run by a matriarchal society rigorously controlled through the creation and manipulation of religious taboos. As usual, her tale is supercharged with gender issues and cultural curiosities, as she holds up her giant mirror for us all to gaze upon. No doubt many readers of her works will feel they've heard it all before...

With writing this good, though, I for one will forgive Tepper her constant recycling of ideas (and it has to be admitted that she draws on a good many ideas from her earlier books here). Indeed, I consider this to be her best book to date, featuring an involved and complex plot, crafted with Ms. Tepper's impeccable eye for detail, as well as her uniquely wry sense of humour and wit - to say nothing of her sense of the bizarre! All of the book's many strands fall beautifully into place, constantly luring the reader on, whilst continually keeping one guessing.

As always, there is the deep, dark secret - alluded to throughout but kept carefully concealed until the end. And naturally, there are the usual shocks and jolts for the reader along the way, too. Indeed, she manages to keep the surprises coming right through to the very last page, this time.

This book may make you mad, or it may make you weep, and even at times laugh, but ultimately its true worth is like that of the special pool it features: impossible to pass through without being altered forever. Highly recommended, whether you're an established Tepper fan or just looking for a cracking read.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe this is Tepper's best book yet!, April 6, 2001

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Six Moon Dance (Mass Market Paperback)

I love most of Sheri Tepper's books. But I keep going back and re-reading this one over and over. It's just fascinating!

The plot involves a planet with some DEEP problems; earthquakes, mysterious monsters, a virus that kills 1 of about 2 girl babies at birth, and worst of all, a visit pending from the Questioner; a robotic device designed to make sure all sentient planets are in compliance with "human" rights laws. OR ELSE!

The society on Newholme is downright strange; men wear veils so their faces won't excite lust in women. Women are the dominant sex; they go for high bride prices and the birth of daughters is a cause for celebration. They make or break a family fortune. Every man gets to father his own genetic line, that is, if he can afford a wife. And so that women are not just chattel, when they are finished with their procreative contracts, they are free to hire consorts, or trained companions of the opposite sex. Consorts are fantasy men, who dance, know wines, duel gallantly (but mostly harmlessly) and accompany their patronesses to cultural events, plus give them the love and companionship missing in their contractual marriages. Married men are free to conduct business and need not spend the time to pleasure their wives. Everyone gets something they want.

But all is not totally peachy on Newholme and this forms a very inventive plot for a cast of very diverse and interesting characters. This is one fun and interesting book. I think it's one of the most inventive science fiction novels in years and it is fun to read. Don't miss it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Slow Start But Fun Reading, January 1, 2000

By 

Andy Rector (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Six Moon Dance (Mass Market Paperback)

Things I liked about this book: the imaginative cultures and scenery; the way Ms. Tepper wove the plot together at the end; the Questioner character. Things I felt needed improvement: character development - I found it hard to care about the characters; plot-driven ‹ because the plot was so intricate I felt little time was given to character development; slow-start - I didn't "get into" the story until after about 250 pages. Overall, I'm glad I gave this book a chance because it got interesting mid-way through. I felt the characters had the potential to be more interesting but because there were so many of them and such an involved plot, I didn't feel like I got to know them. Would like to see more books with these characters in further adventures. I will probably give other of Ms. Tepper's books a shot to be fair.