Snowbrother [Paperback]

S. M. Stirling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 1985

As all in her tribe, Shkai'ra was trained from childhood with one goal in mind--efficiency in the arts of war. At the age of 19, Shkai'ra is given a mission by the elders of her tribe--cross the steppes and enslave a Mintzan city or die in disgrace. Formerly published by NAL (1984) in a substantially different form.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: Roc; First Edition edition (March 10, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451134907
• ISBN-13: 978-0451134905
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,161,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft -- I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bloody-minded, but Fun!, September 14, 1998

By 

Andrew Carey (Newtown, CT, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Brother (Mass Market Paperback)

To begin with a warning: this is a fairly typical (if there is such a thing) S.M. Stirling novel. If graphic (though never gratuitous) sex and violence bother you, you really shouldn't read it. If you don't listen to me and do so anyhow, please don't write a review whinging about how disappointed you were, as some unfortunate people seem to do around here. It's not for children, it's not for idiotic people who think that everyone on the planet, now and in the future, should speak 20th century American English. But if you're a person who likes fully developed cultures and the characters who live in them, who likes beautiful description and interesting plot, this is a novel for you. Three thousand years in the future, the ill-tempered descendants of USAF personnel, bred up into one of the most dangerous mounted forces ever to ride the earth (think Mongols with compound bows and an incredible level of discipline), tangle with forest dwelling anarcho-syndicalists (think hippies with more sense and no shortage of guts). The contest is more even than one might think. Sound intriguing? I thought so. Now go buy the book!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It stuck, like chewing gum sticks., February 18, 2007

By 

theamazingcatherine "theamazingcatherine" (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Brother (Mass Market Paperback)

It's been many years since I read this, when I was a teenager. I didn't exactly find it enjoyable at the time - the protagonist is not 'good' by most definitions (she could have been worse?), unpleasant things happened (rape, murder etc.), and, well, it just existed in shades of gray that, at the age I read it, I was not entirely happy with.

Half a lifetime later, I still remember that book.

It's a tale of a peaceful little village up in the mountains that's just been invaded by barbarians, who then hunker down and occupy the place. Much of the book is about how the villagers deal with the occupation and mount their own resistance. It's about the weak versus the strong, about caring for people who you really shouldn't, about a rough, tough barbarian who's silly enough to fall in love.

I've read and forgotten a lot of generic fantasy novels where the Heroes and Proponents of All That Is Good lay into the Forces of Darkness and win, because that's how the plot has to go.

Sh'kaira(sp?), and her lover playing twisty little flute-songs, has stayed with me.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barbarian Queen, June 7, 2001

By 

Alan Ng (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snow Brother (Mass Market Paperback)

I was surprised at the protagonist of the story who is a barbarian queen that prefers female flesh. All told, an exciting read (and I don't mean just suspenseful either). As a male reader, I usually have problems identifying with the female warrior/amazon. However, I have no problems here.