The Snow Queen [Paperback]

Joan D. Vinge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2001

The imperious Winter colonists have ruled the planet Tiamat for 150 years, deriving wealth from the slaughter of the sea mers. But soon the galactic stargate will close, isolating Tiamat, and the 150-year reign of the Summer primitives will begin. All is not lost if Arienrhod, the ageless, corrupt Snow Queen, can destroy destiny with an act of genocide. Arienrhod is not without competition as Moon, a young Summer-tribe sibyl, and the nemesis of the Snow Queen, battles to break a conspiracy that spans space.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Aspect; Edition Unstated edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446676640
• ISBN-13: 978-0446676649
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books of all time, May 31, 2005

By 

jancola (Encino, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Snow Queen (Paperback)

The best one-line description of this book that I can come up with is this: Imagine if "Dune" had been written by a female anthropologist. It is a book about the changing of power on a planet, much like Dune. Instead of a planet that is almost entirely desert, Tiamat is a planet almost entirely ocean. Instead of sandworms and the Spice, Tiamat has dolphin-like mers and the Water of Life. Instead of featuring one man with a unique ability, it stars Moon, a woman who is seemingly less than unique; she is the clone of the current queen of Tiamat. As the book continues, however, it becomes clear that Moon is unique, as she is the only one with the ability to see the truth about their place in the universe, and the only one trusted with the secret of the sybil mind.

But it is so much more than Dune, really. The world of Tiamat and the Hegemony is as large and complex and ancient as the world of Arrakis and its empire, perhaps larger; it is so large that it is not even apparent that this is the future of humankind as we know it until you get deep into it. There are layers upon layers of political scheming in this universe, so deep that no single character can explain it all. There are so many different levels of conspiracy and technology and religion that is difficult to grasp it all at once. But none of it will mean anything unless Moon can keep them from destroying themselves....

It is a brilliant book, and its sequel, the Summer Queen, is as good or better. Joan D. Vinge has a unique insight that makes you feel like you are discovering something new instead of reading a book. I heartily recommend it to anyone who has interest in the kind of thoughtful science fiction that opens the mind with possibilities.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, however not wonderful, September 12, 2002

By 

Mindy (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Snow Queen (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this book and marveled at some of the truly original ideas in it. Yes, it's *loosely* based on Hans Christian Anderson's _Snow Queen_, however Vinge indeed created a singular world with this novel.

The Snow Queen has ruled Tiamat for 150 years, so when she sees that her rein is about to end, she plots to retain her throne despite the traditional Change that takes place every 150 years. the gist of her plot is to basically clone herself. Her clone is Moon, the protagonist of this story.

I liked how Vinge has included many political and social issues such as sexism, prejudice and imperialism. The setting and even the plot have merit.

The only downfall to this book (and this is entirely on a personal level) is one of the main characters. Sparks Dawntreader is Moon's love interest, and I just dislike his character so much! I think he represents the frailty of humanity in that each person has their own heinous sins, however, he never redeems himself!! I keep holding my breath, waiting for him to do something that makes me like him, but he never does it!

Despie my one complaint, this novel is still worthy or reading. Who knows, you may find that, unlike me, you do like Sparks!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantasy/SciFi Favorite, December 3, 2002

By 

D. Black "Paike" (NOVA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Snow Queen (Paperback)

From page one of this book, I was hooked. Published in the 1980, this book was cutting edge with one dreamt about ideas of successful cloning. Amazing how the power and awe of this book lasts today.

The story is a futurized version of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow Queen." Personally, I'm an admirer of writers who can successfully translate traditional stories into modern literary works, and Joan D. Vinge pulls it off spectacularly.

Her main character, Moon, is a loving young woman who loves her cousin Sparks and goes through several trials and torments to save him from her clone, the ruthless, power-hungry, and vain Snow Queen Arienrhod. But Sparks isn't the person Moon remembers. He gets swept up in the crazy city of Carbuncle. Soon, Moon is also swept up in this whirlwind.

Love, suspence, action, and a mystery more cosmic than the people of Tiamat realize. This is a substantial book (but not quite as much as its sequel) that leads the reader beyond the imagination and into a whole new world.